LED Illuminator Achromatic Doublet Lens Beam Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LED illuminators for medical and dental professionals suffer from poor light uniformity and unacceptable color separation at the edge of the beam due to their reliance on reflecting optical elements or single lenses.
Innovation Solution
An LED illuminator with an adjustable beam pattern featuring a high-intensity white-emitting LED, an achromatic doublet lens, and a singlet lens, where the distances between the lenses are adjustable via threaded connections, improving light distribution and quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If reflecting optical elements or single lenses are used in LED illuminators, then the device complexity is reduced, but the light uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is segmented into multiple distinct optical elements: a singlet lens and an achromatic doublet lens. Each lens performs a specific function in the light path, with the singlet lens providing initial collimation and the achromatic doublet correcting chromatic aberrations and further shaping the beam. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, resulting in improved overall light uniformity while maintaining reasonable device complexity through modular design.
2Ease of manufacture
If reflecting optical elements or single lenses are used in LED illuminators, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the color separation at beam edge becomes unacceptable
Solution Approach 1:
The achromatic doublet lens acts as an intermediary optical element that mediates between the LED light source and the final beam output. It specifically addresses chromatic aberrations by using a combination of crown and flint glass elements with different dispersive properties, thereby correcting color separation at the beam edge while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that does not require complex manufacturing processes.
3Device complexity
If fixed optical element distances are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the beam pattern adjustability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system incorporates adjustable distances between optical elements, allowing the beam pattern to be dynamically modified. The ability to adjust the spacing between the singlet lens and achromatic doublet lens, as well as the distance from the LED to the singlet lens, enables the system to adapt to different application requirements and achieve various beam patterns without requiring complex electronic control systems.
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 enhances light uniformity and reduces color separation, providing a superior beam quality for medical and dental applications by optimizing the placement and adjustment of optical elements.
Implementation Method 1
an achromatic doublet lens mounted in the opening in the housing
Implementation Method 2
achromatic doublet lens... improving light distribution and quality... reduces color separation
Implementation Method 3
a singlet lens disposed between the LED and the achromatic lens
Implementation Method 4
singlet lens disposed between the LED and the achromatic lens... optimizing the placement and adjustment of optical elements
Data Source
AI summary
An improved illuminator with an adjustable beam pattern to be worn by medical and dental professionals includes a housing, a light-emitting diode (LED) disposed in the housing outputting light through a distal opening in the housing, an achromatic doublet lens mounted in the opening in the housing, and a singlet lens disposed between the LED and the achromatic lens. The distance between the singlet lens and the doublet lens may be adjustable, and/or distance between the LED and the singlet lens may be adjustable, through a threaded connections, for example.