LIGHT MODULES AND DEVICES INCORPORATING LIGHT MODULES
According to one implementation an assembly is provided that facilitates a coupling of one or more light diffusing optical fibers to one or more light emitting diodes. According to one implementation the assembly includes a light emitting diode positioned inside a cavity of a frame that is equipped with means to directly or indirectly electrically couple the anode and cathode of the light emitting diode to a printed circuit board. A proximal end portion of the light diffusing optical fiber is supported inside a through opening of a lid positioned over a front side of the frame. The light diffusing optical fiber includes a core that is surround by a cladding. According to some implementations the proximal end of the light diffusing optical fiber is butt-coupled to the light emitting diode with there being no gap between the proximal end of the fiber and the light emitting side of the light emitting diode.
1 . An assembly comprising:
a frame including a front side, a backside and a cavity located between the front side and backside that opens to the front side;
first, second, third and fourth electrically conductive pads located on the frame;
a first light emitting diode having an anode and a cathode, the first light emitting diode being located inside the cavity of the frame with the anode and cathode respectively being electrically connected to the first and fourth electrically conductive pad;
a second light emitting diode having an anode and a cathode, the second light emitting diode being located inside the cavity of the frame with the anode and cathode respectively being electrically connected to the second and fourth electrically conductive pad;
a third light emitting diode having an anode and a cathode, the third light emitting diode being located inside the cavity of the frame with the anode and cathode respectively being electrically connected to the third and fourth electrically conductive pad;
a first light diffusing optical fiber having a core and a cladding surrounding the core, the core having a proximal end that is butt-coupled to the first, second and third light emitting diodes;
a lid having a front side, a backside, and a through opening that extends between and through the front side and backside of the lid, the backside of the lid being attached to the front side of the frame, the first light diffusing optical fiber extending through the through opening; and
a printed circuit board having first, second and third power supply voltage terminals and a power supply ground terminal, the first, second, third and fourth electrically conductive pads being respectively electrically coupled to the first, second and third voltage terminals and ground terminal.
2 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first light emitting diode emits red light, the second light emitting diode emits green light, the third light emitting diode emits ultraviolet light.
3 . The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a resilient strain relief housing enclosing at least a portion of the first light diffusing optical fiber, the resilient strain relief having a proximal end portion that resides inside the through opening of the lid.
4 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the first light diffusing optical fiber protrudes proximally from the backside of the lid.
5 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second and third light emitting diodes includes a front side from which light is emitted, a distance between the backside of the lid and the front side of the first, second and third light emitting diodes being equal to or less than 1 millimeter.
6 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second third and fourth electrically conductive pads is located on the backside of the frame, the first, second and third electrically conductive pads being respectively coupled to the first, second and third voltage terminals of the printed circuit board via a first, second and third electrically conductive pins that extend into the printed circuit board, the fourth electrically conductive pad being coupled to the ground terminal of the printed circuit board via a fourth electrically conductive pin that extends into the printed circuit board.
7 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth electrically conductive pads is located on a bottom side of the frame, each of the first, second and third voltage terminals and ground terminal of the printed circuit board residing on a surface of the printed circuit board, the first, second, third and fourth electrically conductive pads being respectively surface mounted in an electrically conducive manner to the first, second and third voltage terminal and ground terminal.
8 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each of the anodes of the first, second and third light emitting diodes is respectively electrically coupled to the first, second and third electrically conductive pad by first, second and third electrically conductive wires that each have a first end and a second end, the first ends of the first, second and third electrically conductive wires being respectively attached to and electrically coupled to the anodes of the first, second and third light emitting diodes, the second ends of the first, second and third electrically conductive wires being respectively attached to and electrically coupled to the first, second and third anode connectors of the frame.
9 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the anode of each of the first, second and third light emitting diode is respectively electrically coupled to a first, second and third electrical conductor elements residing inside the frame, the first, second and third electrical conductor elements respectively comprising a first, second and third metallic mass that is respectively electrically coupled to the first, second and third electrically conductive pad.
10 . The assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the anode of the first light emitting diode is electrically coupled to the first electrical conductor element by a first electrically conductive wire having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to and electrically coupled to the anode of the first light emitting diode, the second end being attached to and electrically coupled to the first electrical conductor element, the anode of the second light emitting diode is electrically coupled to the second electrical conductor element by a second electrically conductive wire having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to and electrically coupled to the anode of the second light emitting diode, the second end being attached to and electrically coupled to the second electrical conductor element, and the anode of the third light emitting diode is electrically coupled to the third electrical conductor element by a third electrically conductive wire having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to and electrically coupled to the anode of the third light emitting diode, the second end being attached to and electrically coupled to the third electrical conductor element.
11 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the cathode of each of the first, second and third light emitting diode is electrically coupled to a fourth electrical conductor element residing inside the frame, the fourth electrical conductor element comprising a fourth metallic mass that is electrically coupled to the fourth electrically conductive pad.
12 . The assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the cathode of each of the first, second and third light emitting diodes is surface mounted to the fourth electrical conductor element in an electrically conductive manner.
13 . The assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the cathode of each of the first, second and third light emitting diodes is electrically coupled to a fourth electrical conductor element residing inside the frame, the fourth electrical conductor element comprising a fourth metallic mass that is electrically coupled to the fourth electrically conductive pad.
14 . The assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the cathode of each of the first, second and third light emitting diodes is surface mounted to the fourth electrical conductor element in an electrically conductive manner.
15 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the cladding of the first light diffusing optical fiber abuts the front side of the first, second and third light emitting diodes.
16 . The assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the through opening of the lid comprises a first bore that opens to the front side of the lid and a second bore that opens to the backside of the lid, the first bore having a first diameter and the second bore having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, at least a portion of the first light diffusing optical fiber being fixed inside the second bore; the distal end portion of the resilient strain relief housing residing inside the first bore.
17 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a refractive index matching material is disposed between the proximal end of the core of the first light diffusing optical fiber and the front side of the first, second and third light emitting diodes.
18 . The assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the refractive index matching material is an adhesive.
19 . The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising an injection port that extends from an external surface of the frame to the cavity of the frame to facilitate an injection of an index matching material into the cavity.