Integrating Cone Cavity for High Power LED Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solid state illumination devices, particularly in the green/yellow/amber range (520-600 nm), face inefficiencies and high costs due to limitations in semiconductor materials and coupling efficiency, making them unsuitable for applications like fluorescence imaging that require high optical power and cost-effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a cone cavity with high reflectivity and Lambertian scattering properties in solid state LED systems to reshape and concentrate light, improving coupling efficiency from large area LEDs to microscope objectives, thereby enhancing optical power in the green band.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the LED emitting area is increased to provide higher power, then the optical power output increases, but the coupling efficiency to the microscope objective decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the illumination system into multiple independent LED modules, each with its own integrating cone. This allows the total optical power to be increased by adding more modules while each module maintains optimal coupling efficiency to the microscope objective.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrating cone acts as an intermediary optical element that decouples the LED chip size from the effective source size. It redistributes the light from the large LED area, creating a virtual image that maintains high coupling efficiency while allowing the physical LED area to be large for high power output.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional solid state LED approaches are used, then the system cost is reduced compared to arc lamps, but the optical power in the green/yellow/amber range is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the spectral parameters by using phosphor materials with specific emission characteristics that enhance green/yellow/amber light output. The phosphor conversion process transforms blue LED light into a spectrum with enhanced power in the 520-600 nm range, achieving arc-lamp-like performance at lower cost.
3Illumination intensity
If single crystal Ce:YAG LED pumped by LED array is used to achieve bright yellow and amber light, then the brightness in yellow and amber bands improves, but the device complexity and thermal requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the phosphor conversion layer directly with the LED chip structure, eliminating the need for separate single crystal Ce:YAG components and complex LED arrays. This integration maintains high brightness in yellow and amber bands while significantly reducing device complexity and thermal management requirements.
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
This approach significantly increases optical power and coupling efficiency in the green and yellow bands, achieving performance comparable to arc lamp systems at a lower cost, with improved fluorescence imaging capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
A phosphor layer on the LED converts some of this light to green and yellow light
Implementation Method 2
The reflector interior surface reflects a second portion of the received blue light back to the phosphor layer
Implementation Method 3
The integration of a cone cavity with high reflectivity and Lambertian scattering properties in solid state LED systems to reshape and concentrate light, improving coupling efficiency
Data Source
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Figure 3A
AI summary
A device for increasing the optical power of a solid state light source in the green and/or yellow bands, is disclosed. The device has an integral body having an ingress surface configured to receive light from an emitting portion of the solid state light source, an egress surface substantially opposite the ingress surface, and a recess formed within the body. The recess has an input opening in the ingress surface, an output opening in the egress surface, and a recess surface within the body extending between the input opening and the output opening. The recess surface is configured to reflect visible light with Lambertian scatter characteristics.