LED-Based solar simulator system and method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10094524-B2
Application number	US-201415025261-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2014
Priority date	Sep 23, 2013
Publication date	Oct 9, 2018
Grant date	Oct 9, 2018

Abstract

The present application discloses a LED-based solar simulator light source having at least one LED array formed by multiple LED groups of LED assemblies, at least one field flattening device, at least one diffractive element, and at least one optical element configured to condition the broad spectrum light source output signal and direct the light source output signal to a work surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A LED-based solar simulator light source, comprising:
at least one LED array formed by multiple LED groups of LED assemblies, each LED group configured to output at least one optical signal within a discrete spectral range;
at least one field flattening device configured to flatten at least one optical characteristic of the multiple outputs from the LED groups forming the LED array;
at least one diffractive element configured to receive and combine the optical signals from the multiple LED groups to produce a broad spectrum light source output signal;
at least one optical element configured to condition the broad spectrum light source output signal and direct the light source output signal to a work surface; and
at least two alignment devices positioned on the LED light source, the alignment devices configured to output at least two alignment signals from the LED light source to the work surface at an angle wherein the alignment signals intersect on the work surface when the LED light source is located at a desired height from the work surface.

2. The LED-based solar simulator light source of claim 1 further comprising multiple LED arrays.

3. The LED-based solar simulator light source of claim 1 wherein the field flattening device comprises at least one Fresnel lens.

4. The LED-based solar simulator light source of claim 1 wherein the field flattening device comprises at least one planar Fresnel lens.

5. The LED-based solar simulator light source of claim 1 wherein the field flattening device comprises at least one arcuate Fresnel lens.

6. The LED-based solar simulator light source of claim 1 wherein the field flattening device comprises at least one holographic Fresnel lens.

7. The LED-based solar simulator light source of claim 1 wherein the diffractive element comprises at least one ruled echelle grating.

8. The LED-based solar simulator light source of claim 1 wherein the diffractive element comprises at least one diffraction grating.

9. The LED-based solar simulator light source of claim 1 wherein the diffractive element comprises at least one prism.

10. The LED-based solar simulator light source of claim 1 wherein the optical element comprises at least one beam homogenizer.

11. The LED-based solar simulator light source of claim 1 wherein the optical element comprises at least one device selected from the group consisting of lenses, mirrors, beam homogenizers, and filters.

12. A LED-based solar simulator light system, comprising:
at least one LED-based light source having at least one LED array positioned therein, the LED array formed by multiple LED groups of LED assemblies, each LED group configured to output at least one optical signal within a discrete spectral range, wherein the multiple LED groups cooperatively output at least one light source output signal having a wavelength spectra;
at least one control device in communication with LED-based light source and configured to selectively control the output of at least one LED group thereby permitting selective variation of the wavelength spectra of the light source output signal; and
at least two alignment devices positioned on the LED light source, the alignment devices configured to output at least two alignment signal from the LED light source to the work surface at an angle wherein the alignment signals intersect on the work surface when the LED light source is located at a desired height from the work surface.

13. The LED-based solar simulator system of claim 12 wherein the control system is in communication with the LED-based light source via at least one conduit.

14. The LED-based solar simulator system of claim 12 wherein the control system is in communication with the LED-based light source wirelessly.

15. The LED-based solar simulator system of claim 12 wherein the LED-based light source includes multiple LED arrays.

16. The LED-based solar simulator system of claim 12 wherein the LED-based light source includes at least one field flattening device configured to flatten at least one optical characteristic of the multiple outputs from the LED groups forming the LED array.

17. The LED-based solar simulator system of claim 16 wherein the field flattening device comprises at least one Fresnel lens.

18. The LED-based solar simulator system of claim 16 wherein the field flattening device comprises at least one planar Fresnel lens.

19. The LED-based solar simulator system of claim 16 wherein the field flattening device comprises at least one arcuate Fresnel lens.

20. The LED-based solar simulator system of claim 16 wherein the field flattening device comprises at least one holographic Fresnel lens.

21. The LED-based solar simulator system of claim 12 wherein the LED-based light source includes at least one diffractive element configured to receive and combine the optical signals from the multiple LED groups to produce a broad spectrum light source output signal.

22. The LED-based solar simulator system of claim 21 wherein the diffractive element comprises at least one ruled echelle grating.

23. The LED-based solar simulator system of claim 21 wherein the diffractive element comprises at least one diffraction grating.

24. The LED-based solar simulator system of claim 21 wherein the diffractive element comprises at least one prism.

25. The LED-based solar simulator system of claim 12 wherein the LED-based light source includes at least one optical element configured to condition the broad spectrum light source output signal and direct the light source output signal to a work surface.

26. The LED-based solar simulator light source of claim 25 wherein the optical element comprises at least one beam homogenizer.

27. The LED-based solar simulator light source of claim 25 wherein the optical element comprises at least one device selected from the group consisting of lenses, mirrors, beam homogenizers, and filters.

28. The LED-based solar simulator system of claim 12 wherein the control device includes at least one spectrum control system, the spectrum control system comprising:
at least one wavelength power control actuator configured to selectively permit variation of the intensity of the optical signal emitted from at least one LED group of at least one LED assembly of the LED array;
at least one wavelength power designator configured to identify the wavelength of the optical signal emitted from at least one LED group of the LED assembly;
at least one wavelength range power indicator configured to display the output power of the optical signal emitted from at least one LED group of the LED assembly within the wavelength range designed by the wavelength power designator; and
at least one wavelength range actuator configured to permit user variation of the power of the optical signal emitted from at least one LED group of the LED assembly within the wavelength range designed by the wavelength power designator as selected by the wavelength power control actuator.

29. The LED-based solar simulator system of claim 12 wherein the control device further includes at least one information display configured to display the output power of the LED-based light source.

30. The LED-based solar simulator system of claim 13 wherein the control device further includes:
at least one power supply therein, the power suppl

Assignees

• Newport Corp

Inventors

• Switzer Greggory W
• Mcfarland Todd A
• Buczala Ii Robert K
• Rishel Paul E
• Kuntz Jr Eugene W

Classifications

• H05B45/20

  Controlling the colour of the light · CPC title

• G02B5/1814

  structurally combined with one or more further optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors, prisms or other diffraction gratings (G02B5/189 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01J1/0422

  using light concentrators, collectors or condensers · CPC title

• G01J1/08

  Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for photometry {standard sources, also using luminescent or radioactive material} · CPC title

• G01J1/0474

  Diffusers (cavities G01J2001/0481) · CPC title