IP Library Granted Patent US 12,044,393
Granted Patent B2
US 12,044,393 · App. 17/906,951 · Granted Jul 23, 2024

Light source and method for operating a light source

Inventors: Marco Herold (Hanau, DE); Andreas Stahl (Frankfurt, DE)
Assignee: Excelitas Noblelight GmbH
F21V29/57F21V23/003F21V29/503H05B47/28F21Y2115/10
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,044,393
App. No.
17/906,951
Granted
Jul 23, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A light source comprises at least one light-emitting component, in particular a component emitting ultraviolet light and/or a semiconductor component, and a line system, through which a cooling fluid can flow in a flow direction, for controlling the temperature of the at least one light-emitting component, and also a first and a second cooling-fluid pressure sensor, which are arranged one after the other in the line system in the flow direction, and an electronics unit which is connected to the first and second cooling-fluid pressure sensors and configured to determine at least one diagnostic, control and/or regulating value on the basis of pressures captured by the first cooling-fluid pressure sensor and by the second cooling-fluid pressure sensor.

Claims (14)

1. A light source comprising at least one light-emitting component and a cooling-fluid line system, through which a cooling fluid can flow in a flow direction, for controlling a temperature of the at least one light-emitting component,

wherein a first cooling-fluid pressure sensor and a second cooling-fluid pressure sensor are arranged one after the other in the cooling-fluid line system in the flow direction; and an electronics unit is connected to the first cooling-fluid pressure sensor and the second cooling-fluid pressure sensor and is configured to determine at least one diagnostic, control and/or regulating value on the basis of pressures captured by the first cooling-fluid pressure sensor and by the second cooling-fluid pressure sensor, and

wherein the cooling-fluid line system comprises a distributor block with a cooling-fluid inlet opening and a cooling-fluid return opening, wherein the distributor block comprises a first cavity and a further cavity, wherein the first cavity and the further cavity are fluidically connected to one another by at least one fluid path; wherein the first cooling-fluid pressure sensor is arranged in the first cavity and the second cooling-fluid pressure sensor is arranged in the further cavity, wherein the first cooling-fluid pressure sensor is arranged at the cooling-fluid inlet opening and/or the second cooling-fluid pressure sensor is arranged at the cooling-fluid return opening, and/or

wherein, the first cooling-fluid pressure sensor is arranged at an end of the distributor block opposite the cooling-fluid inlet opening and/or the second cooling-fluid pressure sensor is arranged at the end of the distributor block opposite the cooling-fluid return opening.

2. The light source according to claim 1 , wherein the first cooling-fluid pressure sensor and/or the second cooling-fluid pressure sensor captures a pressure measurement value of the cooling fluid and provides a corresponding electrical pressure measurement signal to the electronics unit,

wherein the corresponding electrical pressure measurement signal is a proportional current or voltage signal.

3. The light source according to claim 1 , wherein the electronics unit has a flow control and/or regulation device which is configured to define a flow rate of the cooling fluid in the flow direction through the cooling-fluid line system.

4. The light source of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light-emitting component is a component emitting ultraviolet light and/or a semiconductor component.

5. A light source comprising at least one light-emitting component and a line system, through which a cooling fluid can flow in a flow direction, for controlling a temperature of the at least one light-emitting component,

wherein a first cooling-fluid pressure sensor and a second cooling-fluid pressure sensor are arranged one after the other in the line system in the flow direction; and an electronics unit is connected to the first cooling-fluid pressure sensor and is second cooling-fluid pressure sensor and is configured to determine at least one diagnostic, control and/or regulating value on the basis of pressures captured by the first cooling-fluid pressure sensor and by the second cooling-fluid pressure sensor,

wherein the electronics unit has a flow control and/or regulation device which is configured to define a flow rate of the cooling fluid in the flow direction through the line system, and

wherein the flow control and/or regulation device has a pump with a delivery rate for conveying the cooling fluid through the line system, wherein the flow control and/or regulation device is configured to adjust the delivery rate of the pump taking into account a desired temperature control of the at least one light-emitting component for a lowest desired cooling-fluid flow rate, wherein the flow control and/or regulation device is configured to adjust the lowest desired cooling-fluid flow rate as a function of a diagnostic, control and/or regulating value of the electronics unit.

6. The light source according to claim 5 , wherein the electronics unit comprises at least one power electronics unit for adjusting a light output of the at least one light-emitting component, wherein the electronics unit is configured to determine the diagnostic, control and/or regulating value on the basis of the light output and/or wherein the flow control and/or regulation device is configured to define the flow rate of the cooling fluid through the line system on the basis of the light output.

7. The light source of claim 5 , wherein the at least one light-emitting component is a component emitting ultraviolet light and/or a semiconductor component.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 1, 2024
From: HERAEUS NOBLELIGHT GMBH
To: EXCELITAS NOBLELIGHT GMBH
Reel/Frame 067288/0100 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2022
From: STAHL, ANDREAS; HEROLD, MARCO
To: HERAEUS NOBLELIGHT GMBH
Reel/Frame 061171/0963 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2020 108 372.6 · Mar 26, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230142332A1 · May 11, 2023