Illuminator systems having light emitting diodes with UV activation

1 . An illuminator apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a first light source array disposed on at least one first side surface of the housing, including at least one first plurality of LEDs configured to output first light of a first wavelength of 280 nm such that a maximum efficiency for driving reactions between tryptophan and haloalkanes of a gel is achieved;

a second light source array disposed on at least one second side surface of the housing, including at least one second plurality of LEDs configured to output second light of a second wavelength within a range of from 200 nm to 780 nm and different from the first wavelength such that excitation of the gel is visualized;

a controller for controlling ranges of operational parameters of the at least one first plurality of LEDs and the at least one second plurality of LEDs, wherein the controller is configured to modulate an intensity of light output from the first light source array by adjusting optical power of the first light source array and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the wavelengths of at least one first plurality of LEDs to emit lights of a variety of different colors;

at least one LED light emission cone disposed on the at least one first side surface and the at least one second side surface of the housing, surrounding the at least one first plurality of LEDs and the at least one second plurality of LEDs to collect light emitted by the LED and transmit the light through the housing;

a plurality of vertical prism layers;

a clip disposed on inner side surfaces of the housing to surround an entire perimeter of the housing; and

a total internal reflection (TIR) layer disposed in a central space of the housing, wherein the TIR layer is configured such that light emitted by the at least one first plurality of LEDs propagates through the TIR layer within space of the housing;

a diffusing layer disposed on a top surface of the TIR layer for diffusing light;

the plurality of vertical prism layers disposed on a top surface of the diffusing layer; and

a retaining structure disposed on inner side surfaces of the housing to surround the entire perimeter of the housing;

wherein the TIR layer comprises a plate made of borosilicate glass or quartz, a light-scattering pattern being formed on one side of the plate such that the light incident on elements of the light-scattering pattern is not reflected and is instead emitted toward a sample when an incident angle of the incident light is greater than a TIR angle,

wherein the TIR layer is formed with a tapered shape,

wherein the light-scattering pattern is applied by laser etching,

wherein the first light source array is a one-dimensional array of the at least one first plurality of LEDs, and the second light source array is a one-dimensional array of the at least one second plurality of LEDs,

wherein the controller is configured to individually switch on or off a different LED to emit lights of a variety of different colors, each LED being individually operable to emit light of a predetermined color within a range of wavelengths, and

wherein the illuminator apparatus further comprises a reflective layer disposed on a bottom surface of the TIR layer.

2 . The illuminator apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to vary the intensity of one or more LEDs of the at least one first plurality of LEDs.

3 . The illuminator apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the TIR layer is formed with random or patterned diffusing surface.

4 . The illuminator apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to modulate the intensity of light output from the first light source array.

5 . The illuminator apparatus according to claim 4 ,

wherein, when the at least one first plurality of LEDs emits light having the optimum wavelength of 280 nm, the controller is configured to adjust optical power of the at least one first plurality of LEDs to vary activation time of the at least one first plurality of LEDs.

6 . The illuminator apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to modulate an intensity of light output from the first light source array to determine an optimum intensity for thorough activation or fast activation of a sample upon which the light is incident.

7 . The illuminator apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light emitted from the first light source array is incident upon a sample comprising the gel that comprises a product of UV light induced reaction between tryptophan and a haloalkane.

8 . The illuminator apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light emitted from the first light source array excites a fluorescent response of a sample.

9 . An imaging system comprising:

the illuminator apparatus according to claim 1 ; and

a detector for detecting the light output.

10 . An illuminator apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a first light source array disposed in the housing, including at least one first plurality of LEDs configured to output first light of a first wavelength of 280 nm such that a maximum efficiency for driving reactions between tryptophan and haloalkanes of a gel is achieved;

a second light source array disposed in the housing, including at least one second plurality of LEDs configured to output second light of a second wavelength within a range of from 200 nm to 780 nm and different from the first wavelength such that excitation of the gel is visualized;

a controller for selecting the at least one first plurality of LEDs of a certain wavelength and the at least one second plurality of LEDs, wherein the controller is configured to modulate an intensity of light output from the first light source array by adjusting optical power of the first light source array and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the wavelengths of at least one first plurality of LEDs to emit lights of a variety of different colors;

at least one LED light emission cone disposed on the at least one first side surface and the at least one second side surface of the housing, surrounding the at least one first plurality of LEDs and the at least one second plurality of LEDs to collect light emitted by the LED and transmit the light through the housing;

a plurality of vertical prism layers disposed on a top surface of a diffusing layer;

a clip disposed on inner side surfaces of the housing to surround an entire perimeter of the housing; and

a total internal reflection (TIR) layer disposed in a central space of the housing, configured such that light emitted by the at least one first plurality of LEDs propagates through the TIR layer within space of the housing;

a diffusing layer disposed on a top surface of the TIR layer for diffusing light; and

a retaining structure disposed on inner side surfaces of the housing to surround the entire perimeter of the housing;

wherein the TIR layer comprises a plate made of borosilicate glass or quartz, a light-scattering pattern being formed on one side of the plate such that the light incident on elements of the light-scattering pattern is not reflected and is instead emitted toward a sample when an incident angle of the incident light is greater than a TIR angle,

wherein the first light source array and the second light source array each is a two-dimensional array,

wherein the first light source array and the second light source array interlace with each other, and

wherein the TIR layer is formed with a tapered shape,

wherein the light-scattering pattern is applied by laser etching,

wherein the first light source array is a one-dimensional array of the at least one first plurality of LEDs, and the second light source array is a one-dimensional array of the at least one second plurality of LEDs,

wherein the controller is configured to individually switch on or off a different LED to emit lights of a variety of different colors, each LED being individually operable to emit light of a predetermined color within a range of wavelengths, and

wherein the illuminator apparatus further comprises a reflective layer disposed on a bottom surface of the TIR layer.

11 . An apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a first light source array disposed in the housing, including at least one plurality of LEDs configured to output first light of a first wavelength of 280 nm such that a maximum efficiency for driving reactions between tryptophan and haloalkanes of a gel is achieved;

a second light source array disposed on at least one side surface of the housing, including at least one second plurality of LEDs configured to output second light of a second wavelength within a range of from 200 nm to 780 nm and different from the first wavelength such that excitation of the gel is visualized;

a controller for selecting the at least one plurality of LEDs of a certain wavelength, wherein the controller is configured to modulate an intensity of light output from the first light source array by adjusting optical power of the first light source array and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the wavelengths of at least one first plurality of LEDs to emit lights of a variety of different colors;

at least one LED light emission cone disposed on the at least one first side surface and the at least one second side surface of the housing, surrounding the at least one first plurality of LEDs and the at least one second plurality of LEDs to collect light emitted by the LED and transmit the light through the housing;

a total internal reflection (TIR) layer disposed in a central space of the housing, configured such that light emitted by the at least one first plurality of LEDs propagates through the TIR layer within space of the housing,

a diffusing layer disposed on a top surface of the TIR layer for diffusing light;

a plurality of vertical prism layers disposed on a top surface of the diffusing layer; and

a retaining structure disposed on inner side surfaces of the housing to surround the entire perimeter of the housing;

wherein the TIR layer comprises a plate made of borosilicate glass or quartz, a light-scattering pattern being formed on one side of the plate such that the light incident on elements of the light-scattering pattern is not reflected and is instead emitted toward a sample when an incident angle of the incident light is greater than a TIR angle,

wherein the apparatus is an epifluorescence (EPI) illuminator apparatus,

wherein the TIR layer is formed with a tapered shape,

wherein the light-scattering pattern is applied by laser etching,

wherein the first light source array is a one-dimensional array of the at least one first plurality of LEDs, and the second light source array is a one-dimensional array of the at least one second plurality of LEDs,

wherein the controller is configured to individually switch on or off a different LED to emit lights of a variety of different colors, each LED being individually operable to emit light of a predetermined color within a range of wavelengths, and

wherein the apparatus further comprises a reflective layer disposed on a bottom surface of the TIR layer.