Theatrical lighting system with moving lights

• US 20020149940A1
• Filed: 04/12/2001
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hermann Fruhm
• Original Assignee: Hermann Fruhm
• Inventors: Fruhm, Hermann, Charron, Francois Eugene
• Granted Patent: US 6,769,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/286
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/35 with direct electrical contact between the supporting element and electric conductors running along the guiding element
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control

Abstract

A light is mounted on each one of a plurality of movable light supporting carts. The carts are moved along a predefined path. The lights can be energized to produce light beams as the carts move. Alternatively, the lights may remain off as the carts are controllably moved along the path to position each cart at a selected location along the path, and the lights energized after the carts are position. The carts, or selected carts, can be controllably moved at a selectably variable speed or speeds and/or in a selectably variable direction or directions while the lights are energized to produce the light beams. The lights themselves can be controllably moved with respect to their respective support carts, to controllably pan, tilt, swivel, etc. each light as the carts move, thereby facilitating production of a wide range of illumination effects.

Claims

1. A lighting method, comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of lights, each one of said lights for producing a light beam;

(b) providing a plurality of movable light supports;

(c) mounting each one of said lights on a corresponding one of said supports;

(d) defining a path to be traversed by said supports and said lights; and

, (e) moving said supports and said lights along said path.

2. A lighting method as defined in claim 1, further comprising controllably moving said supports and said lights along said path to position each one of said supports at a selected location along said path.

3. A lighting method as defined in claim 1, further comprising controllably moving said supports and said lights along said path at a selectably variable speed while energizing said lights to produce said light beams.

4. A lighting method as defined in claim 1, further comprising controllably moving said supports and said lights along said path at a selectably variable speed and in a selectably variable direction while energizing said lights to produce said light beams.

5. A lighting method as defined in claim 1, further comprising controllably moving selected ones of said supports and said lights along said path at a selectably variable speed while energizing said lights to produce said light beams.

6. A lighting method as defined in claim 1, further comprising controllably moving selected ones of said supports and said lights along said path at a selectably variable speed and in a selectably variable direction while energizing said lights to produce said light beams.

7. A lighting method as defined in any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, further comprising controllably moving said lights with respect to said supports.

8. A lighting method as defined in any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, further comprising controllably moving said lights with respect to said supports to aim said lights at a selected focal point.

9. A lighting method as defined in any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, further comprising controllably moving said lights with respect to said supports to keep said lights aimed at a moving focal point.

10. A lighting method as defined in any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, further comprising selectably varying the color of said light beams.

11. A lighting method as defined in any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, further comprising controllably maintaining a selected distance between adjacent ones of said supports.

13. Lighting apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said lights are further mounted on said respective supports for controllable movement of said lights with respect to said respective supports.

14. Lighting apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said drive mechanism further comprises a drive motor on each one of said supports.

15. Lighting apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said drive motors are variable speed motors.

16. Lighting apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said drive motors are variable speed and reversible motors.

17. Lighting apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising a controllable brake mounted on each one of said respective supports.

18. Lighting apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising a controller coupled to said power supply and to said drive mechanism for controllably moving said supports and said lights along said track and for controllably actuating said lights to produce said light beams.

19. Lighting apparatus as defined in claim 13, further comprising a controller coupled to said drive mechanism and to said respective lights for controllably moving said supports and said lights along said track and for controllably actuating and moving said lights to produce said light beams.

12. Lighting apparatus, comprising:

(a) a plurality of movable light supports;

(b) a light beam producing light mounted on each one of said supports;

(c) a track traversable by said supports and said lights;

(d) a power supply couplable to each one of said lights to energize said respective lights; and

, (e) a drive mechanism for driving said supports and said lights along said track.