IMPORTANT : (1) LED’s can ONLY be driven by a constant-current source, and NOT a voltage source (e.g. a battery, or a AC/DC power supply etc.); (2) Please always verify LED’s current rating first before applying current to the LED, and please always make sure NOT to apply current that is above the LED’s current rating.

Multi-Wavelength Collimated LED Sources can be constructed by combining the following components:

• Mightex multi-wavelength beam combiners; and
• Mightex collimated LED sources.

As shown in the pictures below, depending on the specific configuration geometry, Multi-Wavelength Collimated LED Sources can be largely categorized into two groups:

(1) “Straight-through” type, in which each additional LED/wavelength is added to the assembly in series, and hence the first LED/wavelength will have the longest optical path length while the last LED/wavelength will have the shortest; or

(2) “Equal-path” type, in which all LEDs/wavelengths have equal optical path length at the output.

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to construct a multi-wavelength collimated LED source:

(I) – “Straight-through” Type

Step-1: Select your desired collimated LED sources (up to 8 or more LED’s) based on wavelengths and output powers, according to the specific requirements for your application. Currently, only 22mm-diameter collimated LEDs can be DIRECTLY combined using Mightex multi-wavelength beam combiners, while 11mm-diameter collimated LEDs can be attached to a beam combiner using an adapter and then combined.

Low-power collimated LED’s (e.g. 5W or below) have a Type-A package, while high-power collimated LED’s (e.g. 7W or above) have a Type-B package (with a cooling fan), as shown below.

Step-2: Rank the selected collimated LED’s by their wavelengths (from long to short). For example, a customer may choose the following four (4) LED’s for his specific application:

1.       LED#1, 740nm, 1W, Type-A;
2.       LED#2, 590nm, 10W, Type-B;
3.       LED#3, 530nm, 15W, Type-B; and
4.       LED#4, 470nm, 5W, Type-A.

Step-3: Combine LED#1 and LED#2 (i.e. the two LED’s with the longest wavelengths), by selecting the appropriate beam combiner. In this specific example, LCS-BC25-0660 (or LCS-BC25-0685) can be used to combine LED#1 (740nm) and LED#2 (590nm). Result as shown below.

Step-4: Add LED#3 to the sub-assembly, by selecting a 2nd beam combiner. A connecting plate (P/N: ACC-BC25-CP-01/02/03) is used to hold the two beam combiners together. In the specific case discussed here, LED#3 (530nm) can be added to the sub-assembly using a beam combiner LCS-BC25-0560. Result as shown below.

Step-5: Add LED#4 to the sub-assembly, by selecting a 3rd beam combiner. A 2nd connecting plate (P/N: ACC-BC25-CP-01) is used to attach the beam combiner (along with LED#4) to the sub-assembly. In the specific case discussed here, LED#4 (470nm) can be added to the sub-assembly using a beam combiner LCS-BC25-0505. Result as shown below.

Now, all four (4) LED’s have been successfully combined together to form a combined collimated output beam. The following step is OPTIONAL, and it only applies if one would like to (a) further connect the multi-wavelength collimated LED to a microscope; or (b) further couple the combined LED beam into a lightguide.

Step-6 (optional):
(a)    The multi-wavelength collimated LED can be attached to a microscope using a microscope adapter.  Result as shown below.

or
(b)   A lightguide adapter can be added to couple the combined collimated LED beam into a lightguide.

Process complete.

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(II) – “Equal-Path” Type
Step-1: Select your desired collimated LED sources (up to 8 or more LED’s) based on wavelengths and output powers, according to the specific requirements for your application. Currently, only 22mm-diameter collimated LEDs can be DIRECTLY combined using Mightex multi-wavelength beam combiners, while 11mm-diameter collimated LEDs can be attached to a beam combiner using an adapter and then combined.

Low-power collimated LED’s (e.g. 5W or below) have a Type-A package, while high-power collimated LED’s (e.g. 7W or above) have a Type-B package (with a cooling fan), as shown below.

Step-2: Rank the selected collimated LED’s by their wavelengths (from long to short). For example, a customer may choose the following four (4) LED’s for his specific application:

1.LED#1, 740nm, 1W, Type-A;
2.LED#2, 590nm, 10W, Type-B;
3.LED#3, 530nm, 15W, Type-B; and
4.LED#4, 470nm, 5W, Type-A.

Now, one may put LED#1 and #2 into one group (“Group-1”), and LED#3 and #4 into the other group (“Group-2”).

Step-3: Combine Group-1 (i.e. LED#1 and LED#2, the two LED’s with the longest wavelengths), by selecting the appropriate beam combiner. In this specific example, LCS-BC25-0660 (or LCS-BC25-0685) can be used to combine LED#1 (740nm) and LED#2 (590nm). Result as shown below:

Similarly, Combine Group-2 (i.e. LED#3 and LED#3, the two LED’s with the shortest wavelengths), by selecting the appropriate beam combiner.. In this specific example, LCS-BC25-0515 (or LCS-BC25-0495) can be used to combine LED#3 (530nm) and LED#4 (470nm).

Step-4. Choose a 3rd beam combiner. (e.g. LCS-BC25-0550, and combine Group-1 and Group-2 assemblies into one large assembly, as below:

Now, all four (4) LED’s have been successfully combined together to form a combined collimated output beam. The following step is OPTIONAL, and it only applies if one would like to further connect the multi-wavelength collimated LED to a microscope.

Step-5 (optional): The multi-wavelength collimated LED can be attached to a microscope using amicroscope adapter.

Process complete.