초록 ▼

The present invention is related to an UV LED curing apparatus, and more particularly, to a portable UV LED curing apparatus with improved illumination and timer control to solidify a UV hardening gel, such as acrylic gel. The present invention provides an UV LED curing apparatus comprising a housin

The present invention is related to an UV LED curing apparatus, and more particularly, to a portable UV LED curing apparatus with improved illumination and timer control to solidify a UV hardening gel, such as acrylic gel. The present invention provides an UV LED curing apparatus comprising a housing and an UV LED lighting assembly enclosed in the housing. The housing is provided with a light aperture allowing UV light shone from an UV LED light source on the UV LED lighting assembly and controlled by a timer and a current regulator integrated thereon. The UV LED lighting assembly is further provided with an optical element to direct and confine UV light shine toward the light aperture of the housing, capable of providing a focused illumination and preventing leakage of UV light outside of the housing. The UV LED light source is preferably of a short wavelength such as between 360 nm and 410 nm, and the current supplied from a power supply to the UV LED light source on the substrate is preferably controlled automatically by the timer and the current regulator integrated thereon to shine UV light toward the light aperture of the housing for a prescribed period of time preferably less than 30 seconds triggered by a switch electrically connected thereto.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An UV LED curing apparatus, comprising: a housing comprising a top shell attached to a bottom cover and a light aperture formed on one end thereof;a substrate comprising a timer means and a current regulator, secured within the housing and enclosed by the top shell and the bottom cover of the hou

1. An UV LED curing apparatus, comprising: a housing comprising a top shell attached to a bottom cover and a light aperture formed on one end thereof;a substrate comprising a timer means and a current regulator, secured within the housing and enclosed by the top shell and the bottom cover of the housing;an UV LED light source affixed to the substrate and having a light emitting side facing toward the light aperture formed on the one end of the housing;an optical element comprising a collimator having a light output surface aligned with the light aperture of the housing, secured to the substrate and positioned adjacent to the UV LED light source;a power supply comprising an input terminal electrically connected to the UV LED light source via the current regulator on the substrate, attached to the substrate and at a distance away from the UV LED light source;a switch electrically connected to both the timer means and the current regulator on the substrate; andwhereby the current regulator regulates current from the input terminal of the power supply to the UV LED light source with reference to a predefined interval of time signaled from the timer means and triggered by the switch to control an on-off state of the UV LED light source. 2. The UV LED curing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the timer means and the current regulator are integrated on a first surface of the substrate and the switch is attached to a second surface of the substrate opposite to the first surface thereof. 3. The UV LED curing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the UV LED light source comprises at least one UV LED having a short wavelength between 360 nm and 410 nm. 4. The UV LED curing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light emitting side of the UV LED light source is substantially perpendicular to the substrate. 5. The UV LED curing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the collimator of the optical element is a plano-convex lens having a convex light output surface. 6. The UV LED curing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical element further comprises a reflector aligned to the collimator and having a reflective surface circumferencing the UV LED light source to reflect and confine light emitted therefrom toward an external of the light aperture of the housing. 7. The UV LED curing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the reflective surface of the reflector of the optical element is formed of any one of the following metal alloys: silver, nickel, cobalt, aluminum and combinations thereof. 8. The UV LED curing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate is a MCPCB. 9. The UV LED curing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate further comprises a heat sink attached to the substrate and disposed beneath the UV LED light source attached thereon. 10. The UV LED curing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power supply further comprises a rechargeable battery electrically connected to the input terminal and the current regulator. 11. The UV LED curing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the current regulator is a MOSFET. 12. The UV LED curing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch is a tag switch. 13. The UV LED curing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predefined interval of time signaled from the timer means to the current regulator is between 5 and 40 seconds. 14. The UV LED curing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input terminal of the power supply comprises an USB connector. 15. The UV LED curing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate further comprises a PWM electrically connected to the timer means and the current regulator. 16. A handheld UV LED curing apparatus, comprising: a housing comprising a top shell including a handle portion formed thereon, a bottom cover attached to the top shell and a light aperture formed on the bottom cover;a substrate secured within the housing and enclosed by the top shell and the bottom cover of the housing, having a first surface and a second surface, integrated with a timer means and a current regulator thereon;an UV LED light source attached to the first surface of the substrate, comprising at least one UV LED emitter having a short wavelength and a light emitting side facing toward the light aperture of the bottom cover of the housing;an optical element secured onto the substrate and positioned adjacent to the UV LED light source, comprising a collimator having a light output surface aligned with the light aperture of the housing and a reflector circumferencing the UV LED light source;a power supply attached to the substrate and at a distance away from the UV LED light source on the substrate within the housing, comprising an input terminal electrically connected to the UV LED light source via the current regulator on the substrate;a switch attached to the second surface of the substrate and electrically connected to both the timer means and the current regulator on the substrate;whereby the current regulator regulates current from the input terminal of the power supply to the UV LED light source with reference to a predefined interval of time signaled from the timer means and triggered by the switch to control an on-off state of the UV LED light source automatically; and whereby the optical element directs and confines UV light emitted from the UV LED light source toward the light aperture of the housing. 17. The handheld UV LED curing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the short wavelength of the UV LED emitter of the UV LED light source is between 360 nm and 410 nm. 18. The handheld UV LED curing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the collimator of the optical element is a plano-convex lens having a convex light output surface; and the reflective surface of the reflector of the optical element is formed of any one of the following metal alloys: silver, nickel, cobalt, aluminum and combinations thereof. 19. The handheld UV LED curing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the predefined interval of time signaled from the timer means and triggered by the switch is between 5 and 40 seconds. 20. The handheld UV LED curing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the power supply further comprises a rechargeable battery electrically connected to the input terminal and the current regulator.