US 8,783,893 B1Granted

Optical illuminator

OwnerJean F. Seurin, Chuni L Ghosh +2inventors

InventorsJean F. Seurin, Chuni L Ghosh, Qing Wang, Laurence S. Watkins

Life of this patent

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Abstract

VCSEL arrays with planar electrical contacts readily adaptable for surface mounting are provided. Monolithic VCSEL arrays are configured in array patterns on two and three-dimensional surfaces for configuring optical illuminator modules. Illuminator modules are easily expandable by increasing the array size or by modularly arranging more arrays with or without a transparent substrate, in different shapes by tiling array modules monolithically on a common substrate, or by tiling small modules. The surface mountable illuminator modules are easily assembled on a thermally conductive surface that may be air or liquid cooled for efficient heat dissipation. Array modules may be integrated with other electronic circuits such as current drivers, sensors, controllers, processors, etc. on a common platform, for example, a single or multiple layer printed circuit boards (PCB) to assemble illumination systems for different applications including a gesture recognition apparatus and a battery operated portable illuminator devices.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A portable illuminator comprising:

a cylindrical enclosure, said cylindrical enclosure further including;
an optical illuminator located on one end of the cylindrical enclosure, wherein the optical illuminator includes a plurality of VCSEL arrays mounted on an outer surface of a hemispherical member, said VCSEL arrays are electrically connected to emit light collectively;
a transparent protective surface disposed on the outer surface of the hemispherical member for protecting the plurality of VCSEL arrays, wherein said protective surface further includes a diffuser surface for directing the emission beam from the plurality of VCSEL arrays into a uniform illumination pattern;
a pump, said pump connected with a cooling tube to a liquid coolant source for providing a liquid coolant at high pressure, to an inner surface of the hemispherical member that is in physical and thermal contact with the plurality of VCSEL arrays located on the outer surface of the hemispherical member;
a printed circuit board including one or more electronic circuits electrically connected to the plurality of VCSEL arrays;
a battery chamber located at an opposite end from the hemispherical member for providing portable power source to operate the portable illuminator.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/166,664Filed 28 Jan 2014 · division
Priority: 5 Jul 2012
Published: US 2014/0218898 A17 Aug 2014
Granted: 22 Jul 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification22 codes

F21V 29/74
Characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks: with fins or blades
F21L 4/02
Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells: characterised by the provision of two or more light sources
F21V 29/56
Cooling arrangements: using liquid coolants
F21V 29/65
Characterised by the use of a forced flow of gas, e.g. air: the gas flowing in a closed circuit

Family

Application13/541,906Parent of this division · filed 5 Jul 2012
US 8,675,706 B2Parent of this division
US 2013/0163626 A1Published application
US 2014/0218898 A1Published application
US 8,783,893 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.