Compact Dental Lamp LED Collimation and Ellipsoid Reflector Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dental lamps are bulky and inefficient in concentrating light, leading to reduced mobility and suboptimal light focusing, while also failing to meet requirements for specific light characteristics and safety standards.

Innovation Solution

A compact lighting device using a pair of power LEDs with primary collimation groups and secondary reflectors arranged on an ellipsoid, allowing for symmetrical light concentration and axial focalization, with the barycentre positioned outside the light source area for improved mobility and reduced bulk.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If multiple LED light sources with shaped lenses or reflecting surfaces are used to concentrate light, then light concentration is improved, but device bulk and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight concentrationVSAvoiddevice bulk
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements nesting by placing the primary collimation optical group inside the secondary reflector structure. The LED light source is positioned at the focus of the ellipsoid-shaped secondary reflector, while the primary collimation group (lens or prism) is integrated within the same housing space. This nested arrangement allows both optical systems to work together without requiring separate mounting spaces, thereby achieving effective light concentration while minimizing device bulk and weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Stability of the object's composition

If traditional lateral pin rotation mechanism is used, then device stability is improved, but dentist mobility is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice stabilityVSAvoiddentist mobility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the rotation mechanism from the traditional lateral pin configuration and repositions it to rotate about the barycentre (center of gravity) of the device. By locating the rotation axis at the barycentre, the device achieves stable rotation with minimal effort, and the counterweight element is positioned to balance the device during movement. This extraction and repositioning eliminates the need for lateral pins that hinder mobility, while maintaining device stability through balanced rotation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Illumination intensity

If light sources emit broad spectrum including UV and IR, then general illumination is improved, but patient safety is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeneral illuminationVSAvoidpatient safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by selecting LED light sources with specific spectral characteristics that emit only in the visible range (400-700nm), excluding ultraviolet and infrared components. The optical system is designed to concentrate this filtered visible light onto the work area. Additionally, the device incorporates UV and IR filtering elements in the optical path to ensure that no harmful radiation reaches the patient, while maintaining high illumination intensity in the therapeutic visible spectrum.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution achieves optimal light concentration, reduces bulk and weight, and meets the necessary light characteristics and safety standards, enhancing the dentist's ability to precisely direct the light beam without hindering mobility.

Implementation Method 1

a secondary reflector (13) arranged on the surface of an ellipsoid, said secondary reflector (13) being able to concentrate the radiation emitted by the light source (11) at the second focus of the ellipsoid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a primary collimation group (12) associated with each light source (11), said primary collimation group (12) being able to concentrate the radiation emitted by the light source (11)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP1847762B1Compact lighting device, in particular for use in a dental lamp
Publication Date: 2009.07.08 FARO FABRICA APPARECCHIATURE RAZIONALI ODONTOIATRICHE SPA
  • EP1847762B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1847762B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1847762B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A lighting device (10), in particular for use in a dental lamp, characterised in that it comprises one or more optical groups, each of which comprises an LED light source (11), a collimation group (12) and a reflector (13), the collimation groups (12) being arranged close to the respective LED light sources (11) and converging the light radiation coming from them in respective cones, the vertices of which are located close to a common point, which defines the first focus of an ellipsoid, and which intersect the surface of the ellipsoid defining respective areas, at which the respective reflectors (13) are arranged, the surfaces of which come near to that of said ellipsoid.