IP Library Granted Patent US 12,644,575
Granted Patent B2
US 12,644,575 · App. 19/185,522 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Illumination assembly including a microlens array

Inventors: Jason D. Hallack (Zeeland, MI); Danny L. Minikey, Jr. (Fenwick, MI); Eric P. Bigoness (Ada, MI)
Assignees: GENTEX CORPORATION; MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
F21V5/007F21K9/233F21V5/004F21V21/03F21V21/26G06F3/011F21W2131/20F21Y2105/18F21Y2115/10
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 12,644,575
App. No.
19/185,522
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An illumination system includes an array of LEDs including a plurality of first LEDs and a plurality of second LEDs. A microlens array overlays the plurality of LEDs and includes a plurality of first lenses corresponding to the plurality of first LEDs and a plurality of second lenses corresponding to the plurality of second LEDs. A first geometry of at least one of the plurality of first lenses is different than a second geometry of at least one of the plurality of second lenses. An imaging device is configured to capture an image based on light reflected from the array of LEDs. At least one processing device is in communication with the array of LEDs and the imaging device. The at least one processing device is configured to identify a shadow cast on the target region by an obstruction and selectively activate the array of LEDs based on the shadow.

Claims (30)

1 . An illumination system comprising:

an array of light-emitting diodes including a plurality of first light-emitting diodes and a plurality of second light-emitting diodes;

a microlens array overlaying the plurality of first and the second light-emitting diodes and including a plurality of first lenses corresponding to the plurality of first light-emitting diodes and a plurality of second lenses corresponding to the plurality of second light-emitting diodes, wherein a first geometry of the plurality of first lenses corresponds to a first illumination angle that includes a first central illumination axis oriented to illuminate a first region a second geometry of the plurality of second lenses corresponds to a second illumination angle that includes a second central illumination axis that is different than the first illumination central axis and oriented to illuminate a second region, wherein the first and second regions are the same size at different focal distances with respect to a target region; and

a control system is configured to selectively activate the array of light-emitting diodes to obtain at least one of the first central illumination axis or the second central illumination axis while the array of light-emitting diodes and the microlens array are statically positioned.

2 . The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the second region is spaced from the first region.

3 . The illumination system of claim 2 , wherein the microlens array defines an outer perimeter and at least one of the first central illumination axis and the second central illumination axis are oriented outwardly from the outer perimeter.

4 . The illumination system of claim 2 , wherein the microlens array is integrally formed.

5 . The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the first illumination angle is different than the second illumination angle.

6 . The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the first region at least partially overlaps a target region and the second region at least partially overlaps the target region.

7 . The illumination system of claim 6 , wherein the control system is further configured to:

determine the plurality of first light-emitting diodes is the cause of a shadow in the target region;

deactivate the plurality of first light-emitting diodes to limit the shadow; and

activate the plurality of second light-emitting diodes to illuminate the target region.

8 . The illumination system of claim 7 , wherein the first region at least partially overlaps the second region.

9 . The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the second region is located within the first region.

10 . The illumination system of claim 9 , wherein the first illumination angle is larger than the second illumination angle.

11 . The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second regions overlap each other.

12 . The illumination system of claim 11 , wherein the first illumination angle is larger than the second illumination angle.

13 . An illumination system comprising:

an array of light-emitting diodes including a plurality of first light-emitting diodes and a plurality of second light-emitting diodes, wherein the plurality of first light-emitting diodes are arranged concentrically around the plurality of second light-emitting diodes;

a microlens array overlaying the plurality of first and the second light-emitting diodes and including a plurality of first lenses corresponding to the plurality of first light-emitting diodes and a plurality of second lenses corresponding to the plurality of second light-emitting diodes, wherein a first geometry of the plurality of first lenses corresponds to a first illumination angle that includes a first central illumination axis a second geometry of the plurality of second lenses corresponds to a second illumination angle that is different than the first illumination angle and includes a second central illumination axis that is substantially parallel to the first central illumination axis; and

a control system is configured to selectively activate the array of light-emitting diodes to obtain at least one of the first central illumination axis or the second central illumination axis while the array of light-emitting diodes and the microlens array are statically positioned.

14 . The illumination system of claim 13 , wherein the first central illumination axis is oriented to illuminate a first region and the second central illumination axis is oriented to illuminate a second region that at least partially overlaps the first region.

15 . The illumination system of claim 13 , wherein the first and second regions are the same size at different focal distances with respect to a target region.

16 . An illumination system comprising:

an array of light-emitting diodes including a plurality of first light-emitting diodes and a plurality of second light-emitting diodes;

a microlens array overlaying the plurality of first and the second light-emitting diodes and including a plurality of first lenses corresponding to the plurality of first light-emitting diodes and a plurality of second lenses corresponding to the plurality of second light-emitting diodes, wherein a first geometry of the plurality of first lenses corresponds to a first illumination angle that includes a first central illumination axis oriented to illuminate a first region a second geometry of the plurality of second lenses corresponds to a second illumination angle that includes a second central illumination axis that is different than the first illumination central axis and oriented to illuminate a second region, wherein the first and second regions are the same size at different focal distances with respect to a target region; and

a control system is configured to identify a shadow cast on a target region by an obstruction between the target region and the first central illumination axis and selectively activate the plurality of second light-emitting diodes to illuminate the target region from an unobstructed orientation corresponding to the second central illumination axis.

17 . The illumination system of claim 16 , wherein the microlens array is integrally formed.

18 . The illumination system of claim 16 , wherein the first illumination angle is different than the second illumination angle.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2025
From: GENTEX CORPORATION
To: MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
Reel/Frame 071020/0492 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 22, 2025
From: HALLACK, JASON D.; MINIKEY, DANNY L., JR.; BIGONESS, ERIC P.
To: GENTEX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 070907/0712 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 18519461 · Nov 27, 2023
Provisional Application 63428175 · Nov 28, 2022
Related Publication 20250251110A1 · Aug 7, 2025
References Cited (18)
US 6796690B2 · Bohlander · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 9169017B2 · Palagashvili et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 11054108B2 · Van Gheluwe et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20140084809A1 · Catalano · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140254153A1 · Vissenberg · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20150055323A1 · Schreiber · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20190249847A1 · Hallack · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20200107422A1 · McReynolds · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20220037856A1 · Ghosh et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220086988A1 · Coleman · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220099985A1 · Li · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20220214030A1 · Xu · 2022 [cited by applicant]
CN 102484914A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
CN 109654406A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
JP 2022159091A · 2022 [cited by applicant]
KR 102411503A · 2022 [cited by applicant]
KR 102411503B1 · 2022 [cited by examiner]
English translation of Hee KR-102411503-B1 (Year: 2022). [cited by examiner]