Optical Filter for Dental Light Curing Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current illumination systems for light curing plastics in dental medicine cause distorted color impressions due to gaps in the visible spectrum, particularly in the short-wave range, making it difficult to match the color of the plastic with teeth, and risk premature curing.
Innovation Solution
An illumination system with a filter system that allows low irradiance for short wavelengths and high irradiance for long wavelengths, using a broadband light source and a filter system with specific transmittance characteristics to minimize distortion while preventing premature curing, allowing for undistorted color perception and sufficient brightness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a broadband light source with a filter system is used to illuminate the object field, then the illuminance and brightness are improved, but the color impression becomes distorted due to gaps in the visible spectrum
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully selecting the transmission characteristics of the filter system. The filter is designed with a transmission edge at a specific wavelength (480-520 nm) to allow sufficient visible light transmission for bright illumination while blocking the harmful short-wave range (380-480 nm) that causes color distortion and premature curing. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between achieving high illuminance and maintaining accurate color rendering.
2Reliability
If a filter system blocks short-wave light to prevent premature curing, then the reliability of the processing process is improved, but the color rendering index deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by precisely controlling the filter transmission edge wavelength to be between 480 nm and 520 nm. This specific parameter range allows the filter to block the curing-active short-wave light (380-480 nm) while transmitting sufficient light in the 480-700 nm range to maintain acceptable color rendering (CRI > 60). The parameter optimization ensures both processing reliability and adequate color information transmission.
3Loss of time
If the irradiance in the short-wave range is reduced to delay curing, then the processing time is extended, but the overall illuminance of the object field decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses this contradiction by optimizing the filter transmission characteristics to have a sharp cutoff at 480-520 nm. This parameter selection allows the filter to completely block the harmful short-wave range (380-480 nm) that would cause premature curing, while simultaneously transmitting sufficient light in the visible range (480-700 nm) to maintain high illuminance levels. The result is extended processing time without sacrificing illumination intensity.
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 system provides a color impression that is as undistorted as possible with sufficient brightness, delaying the curing of light curing plastics, allowing for clinically relevant processing times without significant curing, and achieving a high color rendering index.
Implementation Method 1
a filter system with a first average transmittance T1 in a transmission range between a limit wavelength λG and a wavelength of 700 nm and a second average transmittance T2 in a dimming range between a wavelength of 380 nm and the limit wavelength λG
Implementation Method 2
A known illumination system comprises a broadband light source and a filter system
Implementation Method 3
Polymerization of the respective plastic is activated here by irradiating with light of corresponding wavelengths and, in the process, via activation of photoinitiators contained in the plastic
Data Source
AI summary
Presented herein is an optical filter system for visible light, which has a first average transmittance T1 between a limit wavelength λG and a wavelength of 700 nm and a second average transmittance T2 between a wavelength of 380 nm and the limit wavelength λG. In this case: 410 nm<λG<520 nm and 0.05<T1T2<0.60.