US5975895A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Strobe light curing apparatus and method
Assignee: Coltene Whaledent AG
•
Filing: 1997-11-12
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Granted: 1999-11-02
•
Expires: 2017-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A strobe light curing apparatus which includes trigger electronics for producing a series of pulses at a predetermined frequency. A flash lamp is coupled to the trigger electronics for producing flashing light according to the series of pulses. A reflector is further disposed from the lamp at a first predetermined distance for reflecting and focusing the flashing light at a second predetermined distance.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerry Sullivan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:48
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C19/00; A61C19/003; A61C19/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A strobe light dental curing apparatus, comprising: trigger electronics for producing a series of pulses at a predetermined frequency; a flash lamp coupled to said trigger electronics for producing flashing light according to said series of pulses; and a reflector disposed from said lamp at a first predetermined distance for reflecting and focusing said flashing light at a second predetermined distance wherein said reflector is configured to reflect light in the wavelength range of 400-525 nano-meters.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A strobe light dental curing apparatus, comprising: trigger electronics for producing a series of pulses at a predetermined frequency; a flash lamp coupled to said trigger electronics for producing flashing light according to said series of pulses; and a reflector disposed from said lamp at a first predetermined distance for reflecting and focusing said flashing light at a second predetermined distance wherein said reflector is configured to reflect light in the wavelength range of 400-525 nano-meters.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said trigger electronics includes: a switching circuit coupled to said lamp; and a controller coupled to said switching circuit for switching said switching circuit on and off at said predetermined frequency in order to produce said series of pulses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said controller switches said switching circuit on and off for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said trigger electronics further includes a timer coupled to said controller for providing said predetermined period of time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said trigger electronics further includes a high voltage filter coupled between said lamp and said switching circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said trigger electronics further includes a current limiter coupled between said lamp and said switching circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, which further includes a band pass filter disposed in front of said reflector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said band pass filter is configured to pass light in the wavelength range of 400-525 nano-meters.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said predetermined frequency of said series of pulses is 15-50 pulses per minute.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said series of pulses has a voltage level in the range of -2 to -18 Kilo-volts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said series of pulses has a flash energy in the range of 10-300 Joules.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first predetermined distance is in a range of 15-50 milli-meters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, which further includes a fiber optic bundle disposed in front of said reflector for transferring the light from said apparatus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
70 words
A strobe light dental curing apparatus, comprising: trigger electronics for producing a series of pulses at a predetermined frequency; a flash lamp coupled to said trigger electronics for producing flashing light according to said pulses; and a reflector disposed from said lamp at a predetermined orientation for reflecting the flashing light in a predetermined direction wherein said reflector is configured to reflect light in the wavelength range of 400-525 nano-meters.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
A strobe light dental curing apparatus, comprising: trigger electronics for producing a series of pulses at a predetermined frequency; a flash lamp coupled to said trigger electronics for producing flashing light according to said pulses; and a reflector disposed from said lamp at a predetermined orientation for reflecting the flashing light in a predetermined direction wherein said reflector is configured to reflect light in the wavelength range of 400-525 nano-meters.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said predetermined frequency of said series of pulses is 15-50 pulses per minute.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 14, which further includes a housing including a handle portion and a barrel portion, wherein said lamp and said reflector is disposed in said barrel, and said predetermined direction is parallel with a length of said barrel.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for curing dental composites, comprising the steps of: producing a series of pulses at a predetermined frequency; applying said pulses to a flash lamp for producing flashing light according to said pulses; and reflecting said flashing light onto an area containing said dental composites wherein said reflector is configured to reflect light in a wavelength range of 400-525 nano-meters.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for curing dental composites, comprising the steps of: producing a series of pulses at a predetermined frequency; applying said pulses to a flash lamp for producing flashing light according to said pulses; and reflecting said flashing light onto an area containing said dental composites wherein said reflector is configured to reflect light in a wavelength range of 400-525 nano-meters.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said predetermined frequency of said series of pulses is 15-50 pulses per minute.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
102 words
A strobe light curing apparatus, comprising: a trigger electronics having a power supply with an output signal for producing a series of pulses at a predetermined frequency; a zero crossing detector coupled to said trigger electronics for monitoring the output signal of said power supply; a flash lamp coupled to said trigger electronics for producing flashing light according to said series of pulses; and a reflector disposed from said lamp at a first predetermined distance for reflecting and focusing said flashing light at a second predetermined distance wherein said reflector is configured to reflect light in the wavelength range of 400-525 nano-meters.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
102 words
A strobe light curing apparatus, comprising: a trigger electronics having a power supply with an output signal for producing a series of pulses at a predetermined frequency; a zero crossing detector coupled to said trigger electronics for monitoring the output signal of said power supply; a flash lamp coupled to said trigger electronics for producing flashing light according to said series of pulses; and a reflector disposed from said lamp at a first predetermined distance for reflecting and focusing said flashing light at a second predetermined distance wherein said reflector is configured to reflect light in the wavelength range of 400-525 nano-meters.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-01 | 2003-05-03 | 2003-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-01 | 2007-05-03 | 2007-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-01 | 2011-05-03 | 2011-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |