Patent US5975895A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5975895A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Strobe light curing apparatus and method
Assignee: Coltene Whaledent AG
•
Filing: 1997-11-12
•
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 22:01
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.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4229658A
Cited
US4309617A
Cited
US4385344A
Cited
US4450139A
Cited
US4538070A
Cited
US4582998A
Cited
US4790919A
Cited
DE3436830A1
Cited
US4874315A
Cited
US5151031A
Cited
US5171150A
Cited
US5169318A
Cited
US5092773A
Cited
US5449703A
Cited
US5049068A
Cited
US5388987A
Cited
US5147204A
Cited
US5290169A
Cited
US5634711A
Cited
US5397892A
Cited
US5521392A
Cited
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 |