Illumination system

Abstract

An illumination system and methods for controlling the illumination system are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a plurality of illumination sources, monitoring optical output power of the plurality of illumination sources over a period of time, and controlling the plurality of illumination sources to maintain a predetermined level of optical output power. The method further includes compensating for degradations of one or more of the plurality of illumination sources to maintain the predetermined level of optical output power, predicting a lifetime of the illumination system based on the parameters of the plurality of illumination sources, and performing periodic maintenance of the plurality of illumination sources according to a quality control schedule.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling an illumination system, comprising:
 providing a plurality of illumination sources;   monitoring optical output power of the plurality of illumination sources over a period of time; and   controlling the plurality of illumination sources to maintain a predetermined level of optical output power.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of illumination sources comprises at least one of:
 actinic illumination sources and non-actinic illumination sources; and   a first set of illumination sources having a first exposure wavelength and a second set of illumination sources having a second exposure wavelength.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein monitoring optical output power of the plurality of illumination sources comprises:
 calibrating a subset of the plurality of illumination sources sequentially to determine optical output of the subset of the plurality of illumination sources being calibrated.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the plurality of illumination sources comprises:
 compensating for degradations of one or more of the plurality of illumination sources to maintain the predetermined level of optical output power.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein compensating for degradations of one or more of the plurality of illumination sources comprises at least one of:
 increasing current applied to the plurality of illumination sources to increase optical output power; and   increasing number of active illumination sources to increase optical output power.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the plurality of illumination sources comprises:
 maintaining a first set of the plurality of illumination sources in an active state;   maintaining a second set of the plurality of illumination sources in an inactive state; and   converting at least one illumination source in the second set of plurality of illumination sources to the first set of plurality of illumination sources to compensate for at least one failed illumination source in the first set of the plurality of illumination sources.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprises:
 detecting at least one defective illumination source in the plurality of illumination sources; and   controlling at least one non-defective illumination source in the plurality of illumination sources to replace illumination of the at least one defective illumination source.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
 predicting a lifetime of the illumination system based on the parameters of the plurality of illumination sources; and   performing periodic maintenance of the plurality of illumination sources according to a quality control schedule.   
     
     
         9 . An illumination system, comprising:
 at least one processor;   a controller configured to work with the at least one processor, wherein the controller includes   logic configured to provide a plurality of illumination sources;   logic configured to monitor optical output power of the plurality of illumination sources over a period of time; and   logic configured to control the plurality of illumination sources to maintain a predetermined level of optical output power.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of illumination sources comprises at least one of:
 actinic illumination sources and non-actinic illumination sources; and   a first set of illumination sources having a first exposure wavelength and a second set of illumination sources having a second exposure wavelength.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein logic configured to monitor optical output power of the plurality of illumination sources comprises:
 logic configured to calibrate a subset of the plurality of illumination sources sequentially to determine optical output of the subset of the plurality of illumination sources being calibrated.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein logic configured to control the plurality of illumination sources comprises:
 logic configured to compensate for degradations of one or more of the plurality of illumination sources to maintain the predetermined level of optical output power.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein logic configured to compensate for degradations of one or more of the plurality of illumination sources comprises at least one of:
 logic configured to increase current applied to the plurality of illumination sources to increase optical output power; and   logic configured to increase number of active illumination sources to increase optical output power.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein logic configured to control the plurality of illumination sources comprises:
 logic configured to maintain a first set of the plurality of illumination sources in an active state;   logic configured to maintain a second set of the plurality of illumination sources in an inactive state; and   logic configured to convert at least one illumination source in the second set of plurality of illumination sources to the first set of plurality of illumination sources to compensate for at least one failed illumination source in the first set of the plurality of illumination sources.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprises:
 logic configured to detect at least one defective illumination source in the plurality of illumination sources; and   logic configured to control at least one non-defective illumination source in the plurality of illumination sources to replace illumination of the at least one defective illumination source.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one of:
 logic configured to predict a lifetime of the illumination system based on the parameters of the plurality of illumination sources; and   logic configured to perform periodic maintenance of the plurality of illumination sources according to a quality control schedule.   
     
     
         17 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory medium storing computer programs for execution by one or more computer systems, the computer program product comprising:
 code configured to provide a plurality of illumination sources;   code configured to monitor optical output power of the plurality of illumination sources over a period of time; and   code configured to control the plurality of illumination sources to maintain a predetermined level of optical output power.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of illumination sources comprises at least one of:
 actinic illumination sources and non-actinic illumination sources; and   a first set of illumination sources having a first exposure wavelength and a second set of illumination sources having a second exposure wavelength.   
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein code configured to monitor optical output power of the plurality of illumination sources comprises:
 code configured to calibrate a subset of the plurality of illumination sources sequentially to determine optical output of the subset of the plurality of illumination sources being calibrated.   
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein code configured to control the plurality of illumination sources comprises:
 code configured to compensate for degradations of one or more of the plurality of illumination sources to maintain the predetermined level of optical output power.   
     
     
         21 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein code configured to compensate for degradations of one or more of the plurality of illumination sources comprises at least one of:
 code configured to increase current applied to the plurality of illumination sources to increase optical output power; and   code configured to increase number of active illumination sources to increase optical output power.   
     
     
         22 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein code configured to control the plurality of illumination sources comprises:
 code configured to maintain a first set of the plurality of illumination sources in an active state;   code configured to maintain a second set of the plurality of illumination sources in an inactive state; and   code configured to convert at least one illumination source in the second set of plurality of illumination sources to the first set of plurality of illumination sources to compensate for at least one failed illumination source in the first set of the plurality of illumination sources.   
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , further comprises:
 code configured to detect at least one defective illumination source in the plurality of illumination sources; and   code configured to control at least one non-defective illumination source in the plurality of illumination sources to replace illumination of the at least one defective illumination source.   
     
     
         24 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one of:
 code configured to predict a lifetime of the illumination system based on the parameters of the plurality of illumination sources; and   code configured to perform periodic maintenance of the plurality of illumination sources according to a quality control schedule.