Illuminator assembly

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a lens having a light entrance end forming a recess defining a concave surface, wherein the lens is a non-imaging lens or a total internal reflection lens (TIR) configured to radiate optical radiation received at the concave surface;

a lens holder extending about the concave surface of the recess to receive the light entrance end of the lens;

a heat sink having an end portion facing the recess; and

a light source positioned to transmit light having a predetermined wavelength via the concave surface of the recess into the lens;

wherein the light source is in thermal communication with the heat sink to conduct heat generated by the light source to the heat sink; and

wherein the lens holder defines an inner wall that tapers in a direction toward the heat sink, the lens defining an outer surface that also tapers toward the heat sink and extends about the concave surface of the recess and in adjacent relation to the lens holder inner wall.

2. An apparatus, comprising:

a lens having a light entrance end forming a recess defining a concave surface, the lens being a non-imaging lens or a total internal reflection (TIR) lens configured to radiate collimated optical radiation therethrough, the lens further comprising a rearward portion extending about the lens recess and defining an outer surface tapering to a smaller diameter; and

a lens holder comprising a front portion extending about the lens recess, the front portion defining a first cavity for receiving the light entrance end of the lens, and a rear portion defining a second cavity to receive the end portion of a heat sink therein, the lens holder defining an inner wall therein tapering to a smaller diameter in a direction from the front portion of the lens holder to the rear portion of the lens holder;

wherein the tapered outer surface of the lens further extends into the rear portion of the lens holder and the tapered outer surface of the lens is oriented in adjacent relation to the tapered inner wall of the lens holder.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:

a light source facing the light entrance end of the lens to transmit light having a predetermined wavelength via the lens recess into the lens.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the light source comprises an LED.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising an annular interface board located on an end portion of a heat sink to receive the light source in a central aperture defined by the annular interface board.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the light source forms an electrical contact with the heat sink.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the light source is configured to emit light having a predetermined visible wavelength forwardly toward the lens recess.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the lens recess is re-entrant into the lens and the lens includes a rearward wall that is concave toward the lens recess.

9. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the lens recess contains at least one of the following:

i) a curable optical plastic material having an index of refraction substantially the same as that of the lens; or

ii) a light transmitting plastic material.

10. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising wiring extending between the lens holder and a heat sink to supply electrical current to the light source which comprises at least one LED.

11. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the lens includes a forward cylindrical portion extending from the rearward portion of the lens to a light exit end of the lens.

12. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a housing extending about the lens holder heat sink in coaxial relation therewith and the lens holder having an end portion received into the housing.

13. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a heat sink having an end facing the lens recess, wherein the heat sink comprises a metallic primary heat sink and a metallic secondary heat sink at an end of the primary heat sink opposite the concave surface of the recess.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a lens having a light entrance end forming a recess defining a concave surface, the lens being a non-imaging lens or a total internal reflection (TIR) lens configured to radiate collimated optical radiation therethrough, the lens further comprising a rearward portion extending about the lens recess and defining an outer surface tapering to a smaller diameter; and

a lens holder comprising a front portion extending about the lens recess, the front portion defining a first cavity for receiving the light entrance end of the lens, and a rear portion defining a second cavity to receive the end portion of a heat sink therein, the lens holder defining an inner wall therein tapering to a smaller diameter in a direction from the front portion of the lens holder to the rear portion of the lens holder;

wherein the tapered outer surface of the lens further extends into the rear portion of the lens holder and the tapered outer surface of the lens is oriented in adjacent relation to the tapered inner wall of the lens holder;

a light source facing the light entrance end of the lens to transmit light having a predetermined wavelength via the lens recess into the lens;

an annular interface board located on an end portion of a heat sink to receive the light source in a central aperture defined by the annular interface board; and

a metallic film formed on the interface board, wherein the light source is electrically connected to the metallic film formed on the interface board.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the light source comprises an LED.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the light source forms an electrical contact with the heat sink.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the light source is configured to emit light having a predetermined visible wavelength forwardly toward the lens recess.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the lens recess is re-entrant into the lens and the lens includes a rearward wall that is concave toward the lens recess.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the lens recess contains at least one of the following:

i) a curable optical plastic material having an index of refraction substantially the same as that of the lens; or

ii) a light transmitting plastic material.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising wiring extending between the lens holder and a heat sink to supply electrical current to the light source which comprises at least one LED.

21. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the lens includes a forward cylindrical portion extending from the rearward portion of the lens to a light exit end of the lens.

22. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a housing extending about the lens holder heat sink in coaxial relation therewith and the lens holder having an end portion received into the housing.

23. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a heat sink having an end facing the lens recess, wherein the heat sink comprises a metallic primary heat sink; and a metallic secondary heat sink at an end of the primary heat sink opposite the concave surface of the recess.

24. An apparatus, comprising:

a lens having a light entrance end forming a recess defining a concave surface, the lens being a non-imaging lens or a total internal reflection (TIR) lens configured to radiate collimated optical radiation therethrough, the lens further comprising a rearward portion extending about the lens recess and defining an outer surface tapering to a smaller diameter; and

a lens holder comprising a front portion extending about the lens recess, the front portion defining a first cavity for receiving the light entrance end of the lens, and a rear portion defining a second cavity to receive the end portion of a heat sink therein, the lens holder defining an inner wall therein tapering to a smaller diameter in a direction from the front portion of the lens holder to the rear portion of the lens holder;

wherein the tapered outer surface of the lens further extends into the rear portion of the lens holder and the tapered outer surface of the lens is oriented in adjacent relation to the tapered inner wall of the lens holder;

a light source facing the light entrance end of the lens to transmit light having a predetermined wavelength via the lens recess into the lens; and

an annular interface board located on an end portion of a heat sink to receive the light source in a central aperture defined by the annular interface board;

wherein the interface board comprises at least one conductive pad formed on a surface thereof, and wherein electrical current is supplied to the light source through the interface board via the conductive pad.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the interface board comprises a plurality of conductive pads formed on a surface thereof.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the interface board comprises three conductive pads spaced 120° apart.

27. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the light source comprises an LED.

28. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the light source forms an electrical contact with the heat sink.

29. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the light source is configured to emit light having a predetermined visible wavelength forwardly toward the lens recess.

30. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the lens recess is re-entrant into the lens and the lens includes a rearward wall that is concave toward the lens recess.

31. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the lens recess contains at least one of the following:

i) a curable optical plastic material having an index of refraction substantially the same as that of the lens; or

ii) a light transmitting plastic material.

32. The apparatus of claim 24 , further comprising wiring extending between the lens holder and a heat sink to supply electrical current to the light source which comprises at least one LED.

33. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the lens includes a forward cylindrical portion extending from the rearward portion of the lens to a light exit end of the lens.

34. The apparatus of claim 24 , further comprising a housing extending about the lens holder heat sink in coaxial relation therewith and the lens holder having an end portion received into the housing.

35. The apparatus of claim 24 , further comprising a heat sink having an end facing the lens recess, wherein the heat sink comprises a metallic primary heat sink; and a metallic secondary heat sink at an end of the primary heat sink opposite the concave surface of the recess.