DEVICE FOR EMITTING ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION, IN PARTICULAR UV RADIATION

Abstract

A device for emitting electromagnetic radiation, in particular UV radiation, including at least one radiating unit that only emits radiation at visible wavelengths. The device further includes a unit for detecting a functional error of the radiating unit. In practice, the radiating unit is provided for emitting only UV radiation and/or IR radiation and is formed by a light diode. The detection unit is designed to continuously monitor the radiating unit for functional errors, and the device includes an open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit which is provided to automatically switch off the radiating unit and/or display the functional error, upon detection of the functional error by the detection unit.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A device for emitting electromagnetic radiation, in particular UV radiation, comprising: at least one radiator that emits radiation only at invisible wavelengths; and a unit for detecting a malfunction of the radiator.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the radiator only emits UV radiation, blue-violet radiation, and/or IR radiation.

19. The device according to claim 17, wherein the radiator includes at least one light-emitting diode.

20. The device according to claim 17, wherein the detection unit is set up to continuously monitor of the radiator for malfunctions.

21. The device according to claim 17, wherein the device is configured to automatically switch off the device or at least the radiator upon detection of the malfunction by the detection unit.

22. The device according to claim 17, wherein the device is operative to indicate that a malfunction is present.

23. The device according to claim 17, further comprising a measuring unit for measuring an electrical voltage drop at the radiator.

24. The device according to claim 23, wherein the measuring unit is arranged to measure an electrical current flowing through the radiator.

25. The device according to claim 23, wherein the measuring unit is configured to measure heating caused by the radiator, measure intensity at which the radiator is emitting radiation, and/or measure a wavelength and/or a wavelength range of the radiation emitted by the radiator.

26. The device according to claim 17, further comprising an emitter that emits visible light, wherein the device is configured to change an intensity at which the radiator radiates, independently of an intensity at which the emitter radiates.

27. The device according to claim 26, wherein the emitter emits white light.

28. The device according to claim 17, wherein the device is configured as a lamp for inspection of workpiece surfaces.

29. The device according to claim 28, wherein the device is configured for detection of contaminants, for dye penetrant inspection, and/or for fluorescent magnetic powder inspection.

30. A method for operating a device for emitting electromagnetic radiation, in particular UV radiation, which comprises at least one radiator that emits radiation only at invisible wavelengths, the method comprising detecting malfunctions of the radiator using a detection unit.

31. The method according to claim 30, further including automatically switching off the device or the radiator upon detection of a malfunction by the detection unit.

32. The method according to claim 31, further including indicating presence of a malfunction.

33. A method for visual inspection of a workpiece surface comprising the steps of: providing a device according to claim 17; and directing the radiation from the radiator at the workpiece surface.

34. The method according to claim 33, including using the device for detection of contaminants, for dye penetrant inspection, and/or for fluorescent magnetic powder inspection.

Description

[0031] The invention is explained in greater detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment and the attached drawings pertaining to the exemplary embodiment:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a lateral cross section through a device according to the invention;

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the device according to FIG. 1; and

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the device according to FIG. 1.

[0035] A device 1 according to the invention shown in FIGS. 1-3 comprises eight UV-LEDs 2, which are provided to emit UV radiation (wavelength range, 200-400 nm), and eight white-light LEDs 6, which are provided to emit white light (wavelength range, 380-780 nm). In front of the LEDs 2, 6, optical components 4 are arranged to influence the associated paths of the radiation emitted by the LEDs. Behind the optical components 4 (i.e., behind with respect to the direction of the radiation), a front window 7 is arranged, which is connected by fastening means 10 to a housing 9 of the device 1 and which is provided with filters 8 for each of the UV-LEDs 2.

[0036] The LEDs 2, 6 are soldered onto a carrier circuit board 26, which is arranged on a cooling body 11. The cooling body 11 is connected by spacer pins 12 to a circuit board 13, which carries several electronic components such as microcontrollers. Also on the circuit board 13 is an indicator LED 14, which, as will be explained in greater detail below, is provided to indicate an operating state of the device 1. A light guide 15, by means of which light can be conducted from the indicator LED 14 to the rear, is arranged between the rear of the housing 9 and the indicator LED 14.

[0037] A temperature sensor such as a platinum precision resistor is arranged on the carrier circuit board 26 directly next to each of the UV-LEDs 2; this sensor measures the temperature, so that the degree of heating which has occurred as a result of the associated UV-LEDs 2 can be determined.

[0038] In addition, an optical sensor (not shown) such as a CCD sensor can be arranged on the inside surface of the front panel 7, e.g., facing but laterally offset from each of the UV-LEDs 2.

[0039] The electronic components form an open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit 4, which is set up to control and/or automatically to regulate the intensities at which the LEDs 2, 6 emit their radiation. The open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit 4 is also provided to change, separately from each other, the intensities at which the UV-LEDs 2 and the white-light LEDs 6 emit radiation by means of pulse-width modulation and/or by changing the amount of current supplied to them.

[0040] The electronic components also form a detection unit 3, which is connected to the temperature sensor 5 to detect malfunctions during the operation of the device 1.

[0041] The detection unit 3 is also wired in such a way that it can determine the voltage drop at each of the individual UV-LEDs 2 as well as the currents which are flowing through the UV-LEDs 2, wherein, under certain conditions, data which is available in the open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit can be accessed. If a UV-LED circuit comprising several UV-LEDs 2 is provided, the voltage drop and/or the current for the entire UV-LED circuit can be measured.

[0042] If a malfunction occurs in one of the UV-LEDs 2, such as a flickering, a decrease in light intensity, or a complete failure of a UV-LED 2, the detection unit 3 detects this on the basis of the reduced current or the absence of current flowing through the associated UV-LED 2 and/or on the basis of a change in the voltage drop at the UV-LED. Alternatively or in addition, it can be provided that the detection unit 3 is connected to the temperature sensors 5 and detects the malfunction on the basis of a comparatively low temperature or a change in the measured temperature.

[0043] In addition, the detection unit 3, alternatively or in addition to the current and/or voltage measurement and/or to the temperature measurement, can be set up to use the optical sensor to determine the intensity of the radiation emitted by the UV-LEDs 2 and possibly its wavelengths or wavelength range.

[0044] The detection unit 3 is wired in such a way that the device 1, upon the discovery of a malfunction of the UV-LEDs 2, transmits a signal to the open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit 4, which then switches off all the UV-LEDs 2 and possibly in addition produces a preferably optical, tactile, or acoustic warning signal to indicate the malfunction. It is also possible for the control unit to be set up to characterize the malfunction by displaying a code by means of the indicator LED 14 or some other indicator device.

[0045] If various circuits are provided in the device 1 for the UV-LEDs 2 and if a malfunction is discovered in only one or simultaneously in several individual circuits, all of the circuits for the UV-LEDs 2 are switched off so that the UV-LEDs 2 can no longer emit radiation.

[0046] In addition, the discovery of a malfunction by the open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit 4 could shut down the entire device 1.

[0047] The electronic components on the circuit board 13 also form an adjusting unit 28; this unit is provided to control automatically the power levels at which the LEDs 2, 6 emit radiation as a function of a temperature of the device 1 for the purpose of compensating for the change in the current intensity which occurs when the device 1 heats up and to adjust the intensities in question to match the specified values.

[0048] A fan 16 is provided to cool the device 1; this fan can be used to blow air onto the circuit board 13 and the cooling body 11. The housing 9 is provided on its rear surface with a ventilation grille 17, which is intended to accept a filter and through which the air is drawn in by the fan 16.

[0049] The device 1 also comprises a handle 18, into the lower end of which, by way of a strain-relief device 19, a power cord 20 is guided, through which the device 1 can be supplied with energy and possibly controlled.

[0050] As can be seen especially clearly in FIG. 3, the device 1 is provided on its rear surface with buttons 21, 22, 23, 24 and a rotary controller 25, which are provided to control the intensities at which the LEDs 2, 6 light up and which cooperate with the open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit 4.