LED Light Concentrator for Fundus Camera Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fundus camera lighting devices are bulky, complex, and costly, with inefficient light transmission due to high demagnification requirements for LED light sources, leading to reduced light power density and increased peripheral illumination, which complicates image quality and installation.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device comprising a light source with commercial LED devices and a solid transparent light concentrator made of plastic, using protrusions and reflection surfaces to collimate and concentrate light, achieving high power density and uniformity with smaller divergence angles, and simplified industrial production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional lighting devices with incandescent lamps and Xenon tubes are used, then sufficient light power is achieved, but the device structure becomes bulky and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple LED devices emitting different wavelengths (infrared and visible light) into a single integrated light source array, eliminating the need for separate incandescent lamps and Xenon tubes. This merging approach reduces structural complexity while maintaining sufficient light power for both infrared illumination and flash illumination functions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the light source technology from conventional incandescent/Xenon systems to LED technology, utilizing the electroluminescence property of LEDs to generate both infrared and visible light. This parameter change enables compact design with reduced device dimensions while achieving the required illumination performance
2Volume of moving object
If LED devices are used to reduce device size, then compact design is achieved, but light power density decreases due to large light emission surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a curved reflective surface (cylindrical or conical) to redirect light from the LED array into a collimated beam. This dimensional transformation converts the divergent light from a large emission surface into a parallel beam with high power density, effectively solving the power density problem while maintaining compact device volume
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a reflective surface as an intermediary element between the LED light source and the target retina. This reflective mediator collects light from the extended LED emission surface and redirects it into a focused parallel beam, thereby concentrating the light power without increasing device volume
3Reliability
If high demagnification optical systems are used to conjugate large LED emission surface with small pupil area, then light coupling is improved, but the solid angle increases causing light loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional high demagnification optical system with a reflective beam shaping approach. Instead of using complex lens systems to demagnify the LED emission surface, the patent uses a curved reflective surface to directly shape the light into a parallel beam, eliminating the need for high demagnification optics and avoiding the associated solid angle expansion and light loss
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 provides a compact, cost-effective lighting device with high power density and uniformity, improving image quality and reducing the risk of electric shock, while simplifying the fundus camera's structure and production process.
Implementation Method 1
At the input section, the transparent body comprises a plurality of protrusions to perform collimation of the light radiation coming from the light source
Implementation Method 2
The protrusions and the reflection surfaces are mutually positioned so as to convey the light radiation, coming from the light source, along a predefined path
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a lighting device comprising a light concentrator device operatively associated with a light source comprising a plurality of LED devices. The light concentrator device is composed of a solid transparent body comprising: a first surface (51), at which a light input section (5) is defined to receive the light radiation emitted by the light source; and—a second surface (61), at which a light output section (6) is defined to transmit a light beam having a ring shape; and a plurality of protrusions (7) that protrude from said first surface, at said light input section, said protrusions acting as collimation lenses of the light radiation coming from said light source; and—a plurality of reflection surfaces (8, 9) of the light radiation received from said light input section, said protrusions and said reflection surfaces being mutually positioned so as to convey the light radiation coming from said light source along a predefined path, which extends internally to said transparent body, between said light input section and said light output section.