# US 9,435,496 B2 · Full spectrum LED illuminator

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- Number: US 9,435,496 B2
- Document ID: US9435496B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/658,869
- Filed: 2015-03-16
- Published: 2015-07-02
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2011-03-08
- Assignees: Novadaq Technologies Inc.
- Applicants: Novadaq Technologies Inc.
- Inventors: Frederick Allen Moore
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435496B2

## CPC

- A61B 1/063: {for monochromatic or narrow-band illumination}
- A61B 1/046: {for infrared imaging}
- A61B 1/0638: {providing two or more wavelengths}
- A61B 1/0684: {using light emitting diodes [LED]}
- A61B 1/128: {provided with means for regulating temperature}
- A61B 5/0071: {by measuring fluorescence emission}
- F21K 9/60: Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction
- F21V 9/08: for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light (with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40)
- F21V 15/01: Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts (F21V15/02 takes precedence {housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04})
- F21V 23/02: the elements being transformers, impedances {or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier}
- F21V 29/70: characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
- F21V 29/89: Metals
- G02B 6/0001: {specially adapted for lighting devices or systems (lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00)}
- G02B 23/2469: {using optical fibres}
- A61B 2090/306: {using optical fibres}
- A61B 2090/309: {using white LEDs}
- F21Y 2103/10: comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
- F21Y 2113/13: comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
- F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED]
- F21Y 2115/30: Semiconductor lasers
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- F21K: NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED

## Abstract

An apparatus for providing a light output to an optical guide for illumination of an imaged object including a plurality of solid state light-emitting sources each of which are independently powered and independently controlled, each light-emitting source emitting light at a wavelength which is different from the wavelength emitted by the other light-emitting sources. The apparatus also includes a heat sink configured to thermally couple the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources and provide conduction of heat generated by the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources. The apparatus further includes an optical elements to collect, collimate, and combine the emissions from the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources into a combined beam of light to be optically coupled to the light guide.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for providing a light output to an optical guide for illumination of an object to be imaged, the apparatus comprising:
a plurality of solid state light-emitting sources each of which are independently powered and independently controlled, each light-emitting source emitting light at a wavelength that is different from a wavelength emitted by the other light-emitting sources;
a heat sink configured to thermally couple the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources and provide conduction of heat generated by the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources; and
optical elements configured to collect, collimate, and combine the emissions from the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources into a combined beam of light to be optically coupled to a light guide at an output of the apparatus,
wherein light emitted from each of the light-emitting sources travels an optical path length from the respective light-emitting source to the output, the optical path lengths from the light-emitting sources to the output increasing as the wavelength of the light emitted from the respective light-emitting source decreases from a nearest one of the light-emitting sources relative to the output to a farthest one of the light-emitting sources relative to the output.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid state light sources are selected from the group comprising light emitting diodes and diode lasers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical elements include a field lens and an aspheric lens configured to collect and collimate the emission from each of the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a dichroic filter configured to couple the collimated emission from each of the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources into the combined beam of light directed along a common path to an output port.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical elements are arranged such that the optical path length of each of the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources increases as said wavelength decreases.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources is substantially at a focal point of a compound collector group.