Claims
- 1. A light source for examination of a substance which emits light at a wavelength greater than a wavelength of light emitted from the light source when the substance is excited by the wavelength of light emitted from the light source, the light source comprising:
a housing having a light outlet; and a light emitting diode oriented to emit light through the light outlet, wherein the light source is capable of being connected to a source of electrical power, wherein the light emitting diode emits light of a wavelength within a predetermined range effective to enhance the detection of emission of light from a substance when the substance is excited by the wavelength of light emitted from the light source.
- 2. The light source of claim 1, wherein the light emitting diode is a non-diffused type light emitting diode.
- 3. The light source of claim 1, wherein the light emitting diode is a diffused type light emitting diode.
- 4. The light source of claim 1, wherein the light emitting diode emits light primarily in the blue wavelength range.
- 5. The light source of claim 1, wherein the light emitting diode emits light primarily in the ultraviolet wavelength range.
- 6. The light source of claim 1, wherein the wavelengths of light emitted from the light emitting diode is substantially between 300 and 500 nanometers.
- 7. The light source of claim 1, wherein the source of electrical power is a battery.
- 8. A method of detecting a leak in a system containing a substance capable of emitting an emission wavelength of light after being excited by an excitation wavelength of light, the method comprising:
providing light within a predetermined wavelength range from a light source to a leak site, the light emitted from a light emitting device, wherein the light emitting device is capable of being connected to a source of electrical power; and detecting emission of light from the substance.
- 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the light emitting device emits light primarily in the blue wavelength range.
- 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the light emitting device emits light primarily in the ultraviolet wavelength range.
- 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the wavelengths of light emitted from the light emitting device is substantially between 300 and 500 nanometers.
- 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the light emitting device is connected to a source of electrical power and the source of electrical power is a battery.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/704,543, filed Nov. 3, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/406,871, filed Sep. 28, 1999, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/943,903, filed Oct. 3, 1997, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/598,435, filed Feb. 8, 1996, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Continuations (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09704543 |
Nov 2000 |
US |
Child |
10465778 |
Jun 2003 |
US |
Parent |
08943903 |
Oct 1997 |
US |
Child |
09406871 |
Sep 1999 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09406871 |
Sep 1999 |
US |
Child |
09704543 |
Nov 2000 |
US |
Parent |
08598435 |
Feb 1996 |
US |
Child |
08943903 |
Oct 1997 |
US |