Patent landscapes › Electronics & gadgets

Is a ring light patented?

Short answer: specific designs of a ring light have been patented many times, but "a ring light" as a general idea is not what is protected. What matters is the exact combination of features in your version.

What our index shows
  • 2,279 US and WO patent publications since 2000 have a title matching “ring light” or a close variant (our index of 9.7 million patent families; one publication per family).
  • Among the 42 best keyword matches we examined, 7 were published in 2020 or later, and the earliest was published in 2000.
  • Most frequent assignees in those matches: OSRAM OPTO SEMICONDUCTORS GMBH (3), YANG CHIH-YI (2), US NAVY (2), ZEISS CARL MEDITEC AG (1).
  • Most common patent classes (CPC subclasses): G02B (10), G03B (9), G01N (8), F21V (8).

Counts come from keyword matching on titles and abstracts, so they are indicative, not a legal count. Some matches are different products that share a word.

14 real patent publications related to a ring light

  1. Ring light source with adjustable color temperature US-2026157002-A1 2026 · LI WENJIE
    A ring light source with adjustable color temperature are provided, relating to the technical field of light sources with adjustable color temperature. The ring light source includes a substrate and a light source group arranged o…
    View on Google Patents
  2. Led ring light and manufacture method of led ring light and image measuring device and optical device using led ring light US-2016147055-A1 2016 · MITUTOYO CORP
    An LED ring light including a holding frame having a generally annular shape in a plan view and an aperture into which an objective lens can be inserted around a center of the holding frame; an LED substrate held inside the holdin…
    View on Google Patents
  3. Ring light illuminator, beam shaper and method for illumination US-8926152-B2 2015 · BURGES DACIAN
    A ring light illuminator with annularly arranged light sources is disclosed. To each light source there corresponds a light collector, a homogenizing means for light from the light source, and an anamorphic system for imaging an o…
    View on Google Patents
  4. Ring light illuminator and beam shaper for ring light illuminator US-8807813-B2 2014 · HILL ANDY
    A ring light illuminator with annularly arranged light sources is disclosed. To each light source there corresponds a beam shaper comprising a light collector, a homogenizing means for light from the light source, and an imaging m…
    View on Google Patents
  5. Photographic apparatus having ring light module US-8224175-B2 2012 · YANG CHIH-YI
    A photographic apparatus having ring light module includes a camera, a support base and a plurality of light units. The camera has a lens having an optical axis. The support base is connected to the camera and surrounds the lens. …
    View on Google Patents
  6. Ring light fundus camera US-2011085137-A1 2011 · ZEISS CARL MEDITEC AG
    A fundus camera includes a viewing optical path, an imaging device, and an illuminating optical path including at least one LED and a pinhole mirror reflecting the at least one LED into the imaging device, wherein at least a porti…
    View on Google Patents
  7. Ring light with user manipulable control US-7344273-B2 2008 · BINARY WORKS INC
    An illumination device having a plurality of light sources, a user manipulable control and a circuit. The circuit receives an input from the user manipulable control, determines an illumination angle of the plurality of light sour…
    View on Google Patents
  8. Fiber optic darkfield ring light US-7461961-B2 2008 · RUDOLPH TECHNOLOGIES INC
    A fiber optic darkfield ring light with many angled fiber optic light lines with direct illumination in a very small package. The fiber optic darkfield ring light includes a base with multiple light heads and multiple light covers…
    View on Google Patents
  9. Device for increasing the contrast for ring light illumination systems WO-2007121890-A1 2007 · ZEISS CARL MICROIMAGING GMBH
    In order to provide a device for increasing the contrast for ring light illumination systems which are intended for illuminating objects to be observed from above in microscopy, in particular in stereomicroscopy, by means of which…
    View on Google Patents
  10. Ring light guide US-7127163-B2 2006 · EASTMAN KODAK CO
    A ring illuminator ( 20 ) has a light channeling section ( 22 ) with an input face ( 24 ) optically coupling the light channeling section ( 22 ) to a flash unit ( 16 ) of a camera ( 12 ) for obtaining flash illumination therefrom.…
    View on Google Patents
  11. Ring light guide device for camera US-6430371-B1 2002
    Disclosed is a ring light guide device for a camera. The ring light guide device comprises a housing having an adaptor inserting hole which is formed therethrough at a side thereof in a manner such that the adaptor inserting hole …
    View on Google Patents
  12. Ring lighting US-6454437-B1 2002
    An illuminator has a printed circuit board supporting a ring of light emitting diodes (LEDs). An annular Fresnel lens and the board are both mounted in a housing having a central though-hole for a camera field of view. The lens mi…
    View on Google Patents
  13. Ring light and method of use US-2002131266-A1 2002
    A ring light including a ring adapted to be inserted over a user's finger so that the finger extends both distally of and proximally of the ring, at least one power source carried by ring, at least one light source (preferably…
    View on Google Patents
  14. Low cost color-programmable focusing ring light US-6273338-B1 2001
    Provided herein are devices and methods of illuminating an object. The devices may include a housing having an inner reflective surface, an illumination source, disposed in a ring on the inner reflective surface of the housing, a …
    View on Google Patents

What this means for your idea

Because patents cover specific combinations of features, the useful question is not “has a ring light been patented?” but “has my combination of features been described before?” Consumer electronics are among the most heavily patented areas; the specific circuit, mounting, or interaction is what distinguishes a design.

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Guides that help with this

First-look landscape. Not exhaustive. Not legal advice. This page lists keyword-matched publications from a limited database; it does not say whether any product is or isn't covered by a patent, whether a patent is still in force, or whether your idea is patentable. Consult a registered patent attorney or agent.