Patent ID: 6331111
Filing Date: 2001-12-18
Classification: A61C,A61N,B23K,Y10S

Abstract:
A portable curing light system useful for curing light activated composite materials, the portable curing light system comprising:a light source, said light source includinga primary heat sink, said first heat sink being capable of drawing heat away from a light emitting diode,at least one well located on said first heat sink, said well being sized and shaped to accommodate a light emitting diode therein,an annular wall located in said well, said annular wall serving to reflect light in a desired direction,a light emitting semiconductor chip located on said first heat sink in said well, said chip diode being adjacent to and firmly attached to said primary heat sink so that heat generated by said chip may be drawn away from it by said primary heat sink and conducted to said secondary heat sink from which it may be dissipated, said chip including a substrate selected from the group consisting of insulting substrates and conductive substrates,a secondary heat sink attached to said first heat sink, said secondary heat sink having a larger volume than said first heat sink and serving to dissipate heat,a light source housing includinga body located about the exterior of said light source, said body serving to contain said light source,a light exit located on said body, said light exit being positioned so that light emitted by said light source can exit said housing and travel to a curing surface without first traveling through a light transport apparatus,a cover covering said light exit, said cover permitting light emitted from said light source to pass through it and travel to a curing surface,a flexible section on said body, said flexible section permitting bending articulation so that said light exit may be oriented toward a curing surface in order to direct light emitted by said light source to a curing surface, said flexible section comprising a soft protective material surrounding at least one bendable wire, anda curing light housing, said curing light housing serving as a handle for a user of the curing light system to use to hold and manipulate the curing light,a battery pack locatable within said housing, said battery pack serving to provide electrical power to said light source,control circuitry located within said curing light housing, said control circuitry serving to control electrical operation of the curing light, andan on and off switch, said on and off switch being located on said curing light housing, said on and off switch serving to selectively provide electrical power to said light source;wherein light beams from said chip may exit said light source and travel directly to a curing surface without passing through a light transport apparatus.