Microscope Illumination Device with Composite Phosphor LED
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing white LED light sources for microscopes have inadequate color reproducibility and luminance compared to halogen light sources, making them unsuitable for applications requiring high color fidelity, such as pathological diagnosis, and suffer from insufficient illumination.
Innovation Solution
A microscope illumination device utilizing a white LED light source with a chip-on-board configuration, featuring a phosphor layer with three types of phosphors that emit excitation light in the near-ultraviolet wavelength region, generating fluorescence in visible wavelengths, and an optical system with an aperture stop to optimize light projection and luminance distribution, achieving a spectrum similar to halogen light sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a white LED light source with a single phosphor type is used, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but the color rendering and luminance uniformity are insufficient compared to halogen light sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining three different phosphor materials (first, second, and third phosphors) with distinct emission characteristics on a single substrate. This composite phosphor structure enables the generation of white light with improved color rendering and luminance uniformity, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and illumination quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by spatially distributing three different phosphor types across the substrate, where each phosphor region emits light with specific characteristics. This localized differentiation allows the overall light output to achieve superior color rendering and luminance uniformity while maintaining a relatively simple single-substrate structure.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple phosphor types are used to improve color rendering, then the color fidelity is enhanced, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the complexity issue by integrating multiple phosphor types into a unified composite phosphor layer on a single substrate, rather than using separate layers or components. This composite approach achieves high color fidelity through the combined emission of three phosphors while maintaining structural simplicity and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges three different phosphor materials and their respective light emission functions into a single integrated light source structure. By combining the phosphors on one substrate and controlling their spatial distribution, the patent achieves high color fidelity without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If LED chips are not arranged to project into the aperture stop, then the manufacturing alignment tolerance is relaxed, but the luminance uniformity and illumination quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specific luminance distribution pattern across the substrate, with higher luminance regions positioned to correspond with the aperture stop area. This localized luminance enhancement ensures that even with relaxed alignment tolerances, the light projected through the aperture stop maintains sufficient luminance uniformity and illumination 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 provides high color rendering and luminance uniformity, enabling bright and uniform illumination comparable to halogen light sources, thus addressing the limitations of existing white LED light sources in terms of color fidelity and luminance.
Implementation Method 1
a phosphor layer that is provided so as to cover the plurality of LED chips and that includes at least three types of phosphors
Implementation Method 2
LED chips that are arranged on the board and that each emit excitation light, and a phosphor layer that is provided so as to cover the plurality of LED chips
Data Source
AI summary
A microscope illumination device includes a white LED light source, and an illumination optical system that includes an aperture stop on a plane on which light from the white LED light source is condensed. The white LED light source includes a board, a plurality of LED chips that are arranged on the board and that each emit excitation light, and a phosphor layer that is provided so as to cover the plurality of LED chips and that includes at least three types of phosphors. The plurality of LED chips are arranged so as to be projected into an aperture of the aperture stop.