Trimmer iris for use with a digitally shape-controlled lighting system

• US 20030206328A1
• Filed: 04/08/2003
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Production Resource Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Light and Sound Design Limited
• Inventors: Evans, Nigel
• Granted Patent: US 6,865,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/291
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0018 with means for preventing ghost images anti-reflection coatings G02B1/11
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/005 Diaphragms for cameras G03B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3155 for controlling the light source light source control per se H05B35/00 – H05B47/00; control of an illumination source for displays in general G09G3/3406

Abstract

A variable diameter iris is used to change the pass gate of a shaped image produced by a digital mirror device.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory, storing a library of images which are used for gobos the to shape projected light, and also storing size information indicative of a size of said image; and

a processor, controlling projecting light in specified shapes based on shapes that are stored in said library.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a mechanical device which adjusts an amount of light which passes, based on said size information.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said mechanical device is a motor driven iris, and said motor is driven to open the iris to a size that is based on said size information.

4. An apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising a light shape altering device, controlled based on a selected one of said images, to shape the projected light.

5. An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said light shape altering device is a digital mirror device.

6. An apparatus as in claim 4, further comprising a light projection element, projecting light to said light shape altering device, and wherein said mechanical device is located optically between said light shape altering device, and a light output port.

7. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said Iris has a driven piece whose position determines an open diameter of said Iris, and wherein said driven piece includes a bearing surface, and an extending part extending from said bearing surface, and a spring element, pressing between said extending piece and said bearing surface.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a user interface, selecting an image from a library of images, which are used to control a light beam to be displayed in a size and/or shape based on information in said library of images; and

a processor, responsive to said user interface, operating to select the image, produce an output signal based on the image, and to produce another output signal which indicates a size of the selected image.

9. An apparatus as in claim 8, further comprising a mechanical device, responsive to said another output signal, and controlling a size of a light gate which is produced based on said another output signal.

10. An apparatus as in claim 8, further comprising a digital mirror device, coupled to receive said output signal from said processor.

11. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said processor automatically determines a size of said image, and produces said another output signal based on the size.

12. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said processor detects a user entered signal indicative of the size of said image, and produces said another output signal based on said user entered signal.

13. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said library of images stores information indicative of a size of said image, and wherein said processor produces said another output signal based on said information.

14. An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said mechanical device includes an Iris, a motor, a pulley assembly, connected between said Iris and said motor, and wherein said motor is controlled by said processor.

15. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said processor is a digital signal processor.

17. A method as in claim 15, wherein said using said image comprises using a digital mirror device to shape the light beam based on information contained in said image.

18. A method as in claim 15, wherein said obtaining a size comprises automatically determining a size of said image.

19. A method as in claim 15, wherein said obtaining a size comprises manually entering a size of said image.

20. A method as in claim 15, wherein said obtaining a size comprises storing a size in a memory record associated with a memory record of said image.

21. A method as in claim 15, wherein said using said size to select a size of an output gate comprises controlling a controllable iris to a size which is expected to pass said image, but to block portions of the light beam outside said image.

22. A method as in claim 21, wherein said controlling a controllable iris comprises driving a motor that is connected via pulley, to said Iris.

16. A method, comprising:

obtaining an image for use in shaping a light beam;

obtaining a size required to pass said image;

using said image to shape said light beam, and using said size to select a size of an output gate which passes said light beam.

23. A method as in claim 16, further comprising initializing said output gate by determining fully closed and fully open positions of said output gate.

24. A method as in claim 23, wherein said initializing comprises driving said output gate to a fully closed position, storing information indicative of said fully closed position, and driving said output gate to a fully open position, and storing information indicative of said fully open position.

25. A method, comprising:

selecting a computer file indicative of an image to be used to shape a light beam been projected;

determining a size of said image; and

reducing projected light which is outside of said size of said image.

26. A method as in claim 25 wherein said reducing comprises gating an output light beam according to said size of said image.

27. A method as in claim 25, wherein said determining a size comprises automatically determining a size of said image.

28. A method as in claim 25, wherein said determining a size comprises manually entering a size of said image.

29. A method as in claim 25, further comprising storing a size record associated with said computer file, and using said size record to determine said size of said image.