Image projection lighting devices with visible and infrared imaging

• US 20040090524A1
• Filed: 11/08/2002
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard S. Belliveau
• Original Assignee: Richard S. Belliveau
• Inventors: Belliveau, Richard S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,390,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/102
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission

Abstract

A lighting system comprised of a central controller, a digital communications path, and a plurality of image projection lighting devices (IPLDs) is provided. The IPLDs contain cameras that can capture both visible light and infrared light. Address signals sent from the central controller first address a particular IPLD and then command signals sent from the central controller control an infrared blocking filter to be positioned in and out of a camera optical path of the particular addressed IPLD.

Claims

1. A lighting apparatus comprising:

a lamp housing including a light valve and a main projection lamp;

a communications port for receiving address and command signals from a central controller;

a camera;

a visible light cut filter;

wherein the camera is capable of capturing visible and infrared images, and wherein the camera has an optical path;

wherein the visible light cut filter is located in the optical path of the camera;

and wherein the visible light cut filter is controlled to be placed in or out of the camera optical path by one or more command signals received by the communication port.

46. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the main projection lamp has an optical path;

and wherein the position of the camera can be adjusted so that the optical path of the camera is adjusted with respect to the optical path of the main projection lamp.

47. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein

the camera can be adjusted so that the optical path of the camera is substantially aligned with respect to the optical path of the main projection lamp.

2. A lighting apparatus comprising:

a lamp housing including a light valve and a main projection lamp;

a communications port for receiving address and command signals from a central controller;

a camera, having an optical path;

a visible light cut filter;

wherein the camera is capable of capturing visible and infrared images;

wherein the visible cut filter is located in the optical path of the main projection lamp;

wherein the visible light cut filter is controlled to be placed in or out of the optical path of the camera by one or more command signals received by the communication port.

3. A lighting apparatus comprising:

a lamp housing including a light valve and a main projection lamp,

a communications port for receiving address and command signals from a central controller,

an auxiliary light source,

wherein the auxiliary light source projects a modulated infrared control signal and the modulated infrared control signal is used to control an external device

4. A lighting apparatus comprising:

a lamp housing including a light valve and a main projection lamp,

a communications port for receiving address and command signals from a central controller,

an auxiliary light source,

wherein the auxiliary light source projects a modulated infrared control signal that provides control instructions.

5. An apparatus comprising

a first lighting device comprising

a main projection light source;

a light valve;

an output lens;

a camera;

an auxiliary light source;

wherein a first light can be directed from the main projection light source to the light valve and through the output lens onto a projection surface;

wherein a second light can be projected from the auxiliary light source onto the projection surface; and

wherein the camera captures an image on the projection surface wherein the image is illuminated by the second light.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein

the second light projected from the auxiliary light source is infrared light.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein

the camera can capture images in infrared light or in visible light.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein

the first light has at least one parameter which can be controlled by a central controller.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising

a first filter capable of substantially blocking infrared light;

and

wherein a central controller can cause the first filter to substantially prevent the camera from receiving infrared light.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising

a first filter capable of substantially blocking visible light;

and

wherein a central controller can cause the first filter to substantially prevent the camera from receiving visible light.

45. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising

a second lighting device;

a central controller which communicates with the first and second lighting device;

wherein the second lighting device is comprised of;

a main projection light source

a light valve;

an output lens;

a camera;

an auxiliary light source;

wherein a third light can be directed from the main projection light source of the second lighting device, to the light valve and through the output lens of the second lighting device onto a second projection surface;

wherein a fourth light can be projected from the auxiliary light source onto the second projection surface; and

wherein the camera of the second lighting device captures an image on the second projection surface wherein the image is illuminated by the fourth light.

11. A lighting device comprising

a main projection light source which generates a first light;

a light valve;

a lamp housing in which the main projection light source and the light valve are located;

a communications port capable of receiving an address signal which selects the lighting device and the communications port capable of receiving one or more command signals from a central controller which can control a parameter of the first light generated by the main projection light source.;

an auxiliary light source,

a camera,

wherein the auxiliary light source can illuminate a projection surface; and

wherein the camera can capture an image of the projection surface as illuminated by the auxiliary light source.

12. The lighting device of claim 11 wherein

the auxiliary light source can be controlled by one or more command signals from the central controller received by the communications port.

13. The lighting device of claim 12 wherein

the auxiliary light source can be controlled by one or more command signals from the central controller to be on or off.

14. The lighting device of claim 12 wherein

the auxiliary light source can be controlled by one or more command signals from the central controller to produce a modulated infrared control signal.

15. The lighting device of claim 14 further comprising

an infrared light cut filter;

wherein the camera has an optical path;

and wherein the infrared light cut filter can be controlled to be placed in or out of the camera optical path by one or more command signals received from the central controller by the communications port.

16. The lighting device of claim 14 further comprising

a visible light cut filter;

wherein the camera has an optical path;

and wherein the visible light cut filter can be controlled to be placed in or out of the camera optical path by one or more command signals received from the central controller by the communications port.

17. A lighting device comprising:

a lamp housing;

a light valve which is located inside the lamp housing;

a main projection light source which is located inside the lamp housing;

a communications port capable of receiving an address signal for selecting the lighting device and the communications port capable of receiving one or more command signals from a central controller which can control a parameter of the main projection light source,

a camera which has an optical path;

an infrared cut filter;

wherein the camera is capable of capturing visible light images and infrared light images;

wherein the infrared cut filter can be controlled to be placed in or out of the camera optical path by one or more command signals from the central controller received by the communications port.

18. A lighting device comprising:

a main projection light source;

a light valve;

a lamp housing in which is located the main projection light source and the light valve;

a communications port capable of receiving from a central controller one or more address signals for selecting the lighting device, and one or more command signals for controlling a parameter of the main projection light source;

a camera having an optical path;

a visible light cut filter;

wherein the camera is capable of capturing visible light images and infrared light images; and

wherein the visible light cut filter can be controlled to be placed in or out of the camera optical path by one or more command signals received by the communication port from the central controller.

19. A lighting device comprising:

a main projection light source;

a light valve;

a lamp housing in which is located the main projection light source and the light valve;

a communications port capable of receiving from a central controller one or more address signals for selecting the lighting device, and one or more command signals for controlling a parameter of the main projection light source; and

a camera;

wherein the camera captures infrared monochrome images; and

wherein the lighting device colorizes the infrared monochrome images so that different intensities of the monochrome images are associated with different levels of red, green or blue and where the colorization of the monochrome images are controlled to be associated or not associated by one or more command signals received by the communication port from the central controller.

20. The lighting device of claim 19 further comprising

an auxiliary light source which emits infrared light.

21. The lighting device of claim 19 further comprising

a visible light cut filter;

and

wherein the camera has an optical path;

and wherein the visible light cut filter is controlled to be placed in or out of the camera optical path by one or more command signals received by the communications port from the central controller.

22. The lighting device of claim 19 further comprising

An infrared light cut filter;

wherein the camera has an optical path;

and wherein the infrared light cut filter can be controlled to be placed in or out of the camera optical path by one or more command signals received by the communications port from the central controller.

23. A lighting device comprising

a main projection light source having an optical path;

a light valve;

a lamp housing in which is located the main projection light source and the light valve;

a communications port capable of receiving from a central controller one or more address signals for selecting the lighting device, and one or more command signals for controlling a parameter of the main projection light source; and

a camera;

a hot mirror located in the optical path of the main projection light source; and

wherein the hot mirror can be controlled to be placed in or out of the optical path of the main projection light source by one or more command signals received by the communications port from the central controller.

24. A lighting device comprising

a main projection light source having an optical path;

a light valve;

a lamp housing in which is located the main projection light source and the light valve;

a communications port capable of receiving from a central controller one or more address signals for selecting the lighting device, and one or more command signals for controlling a parameter of the main projection light source; and

a camera;

a visible light cut filter located in the optical path of the main projection light source; and

wherein the visible light cut filter can be controlled to be placed in or out of the optical path of the main projection light source by one or more command signals received by the communication port from the central controller.

25. A lighting device comprising:

a main projection light source having an optical path;

a light valve;

a lamp housing in which is located the main projection light source and the light valve;

a communications port capable of receiving from a central controller one or more address signals for selecting the lighting device;

an auxiliary light source;

wherein the auxiliary light source projects an infrared control signal and the infrared control signal is used to control a device that is external to the lighting device.

26. The lighting device of claim 25 wherein

the infrared control signal is a modulated infrared control signal.

27. A first lighting device comprising:

a main projection light source having an optical path;

a light valve;

a lamp housing in which is located the main projection light source and the light valve;

a communications port capable of receiving from a central controller one or more address signals for selecting the lighting device, and one or more command signals for controlling a parameter of the main projection light source; and

an auxiliary light source;

wherein the auxiliary light source projects a modulated infrared control signal that provides control instructions to a second lighting device.

28. A method comprising the steps of

directing a first light from a main projection light source, through a light valve and through an output lens onto a projection surface;

projecting a second light from an auxiliary light source onto the projection surface; and

capturing an image on the projection surface wherein the image is illuminated by the second light.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein

the second light projected from the auxiliary light source is infrared light.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein

the image is captured using infrared light

31. The method of claim 28 wherein

the image is captured using visible light.

32. The method of claim 28 further comprising

controlling at least one parameter of the first light by a central controller.

33. The method of claim 28 further comprising

substantially blocking infrared light so that the image captured is substantially free of infrared light.

34. The method of claim 28 further comprising

substantially blocking visible light so that the image captured is substantially free of visible light.

35. A method comprising the steps of

directing a first light from a main projection light source to a light valve of a lighting device, wherein the main projection light source and the light valve are located in a lamp housing;

receiving an address signal which selects the lighting device;

receiving one or more command signals from a central controller which can control a parameter of the first light of the main projection light source.;

illuminating a projection surface with an auxiliary light source; and

capturing an image of the projection surface with a camera as illuminated by the auxiliary light source; and

wherein the auxiliary light source and the camera are located within the lamp housing.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising

controlling the auxiliary light source by one or more command signals received from the central controller.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising

controlling the auxiliary light source to be on or off by one or more command signals from the central controller.

38. The method of claim 35 further comprising

controlling the auxiliary light source by one or more command signals from the central controller to produce a modulated infrared control signal.

39. The method of claim 35 further comprising

controlling an infrared cut filter to be placed in or out of an optical path of the camera by one or more command signals from the central controller.

40. The method of claim 36 further comprising

controlling an infrared cut filter to be placed in or out of an optical path of the camera by one or more command signals from the central controller.

41. A method comprising the steps of

directing a first light from a main projection light source to a light valve of a lighting device, wherein the main projection light source and the light valve are located in a lamp housing;

receiving an address signal which selects the lighting device;

receiving one or more command signals from a central controller which can control a parameter of the first light of the main projection light source.; and

controlling a hot mirror to be placed in or out of an optical path of the main projection light source by one or more command signals received from the central controller.

42. A method comprising the steps of

directing a first light from a main projection light source to a light valve of a lighting device, wherein the main projection light source and the light valve are located in a lamp housing;

receiving an address signal which selects the lighting device;

receiving one or more command signals from a central controller which can control a parameter of the first light of the main projection light source.;

projecting an infrared control signal from an auxiliary light source to control a device that is external to the lighting device.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein

the infrared control signal is a modulated infrared control signal.

44. A method comprising the steps of

projecting infrared light images created by a light valve from a lighting device using a visible light cut filter;

wherein the lighting device has a main projection light source which has an optical path; and

wherein the visible light cut filter is placed in the optical path of the main projection light source to allow only infrared images to be projected from the main projection light source.

48. A lighting apparatus comprising:

a lamp housing including a light valve and a main projection lamp;

a communications port for receiving address and command signals from a central controller; and

a camera;

wherein the main projection lamp has an optical path

whereing a projection field is established by the main projection lamp optical path;

wherein the camera has an optical path

whereing a camera field is established by the camera optical path; and

wherein the camera field is remotely positioned in relation to the projection field by one or more command signals received by the communication port.

49. The lighting apparatus of claim 48 wherein

the camera field is remotely positioned to be substantially aligned with the projection field on a projection surface.

50. The lighting apparatus of claim 48 wherein

the camera field is remotely positioned to substantially deviate the camera field away from the projection field on a projection surface.

51. A lighting apparatus comprising:

a lamp housing including a light valve, a lens and a main projection lamp, the main projection lamp having an optical path,

wherein the projection lamp optical path establishes a projection field;

a communications port for receiving address and command signals from a central controller; and

a camera having an optical path

wherin the camera optical path establishes a camera field;

wherein the lens is remotely positioned by one or more command signals received by the communication port; and

wherein the camera field is remotely positioned in relation to the projection field by referencing the lens wherein referencing the lens includes moving the lens an incremental value.

52. A lighting apparatus comprising:

a lamp housing including a light valve, a lens and a main projection lamp, the main projection lamp having an optical path,

wherein the projection lamp optical path establishes a projection field;

a communications port for receiving address and command signals from a central controller; and

a camera having an optical path

wherin the camera optical path establishes a camera field;

wherein the lens is remotely positioned by one or more command signals received by the communication port; and

wherein the camera field is remotely positioned in relation to the projection field by referencing the lens includes moving the lens a distance value from the light valve to the lens.

53. A lighting apparatus comprising:

a lamp housing including a light valve and a main projection lamp;

a communications port for receiving address and command signals from a central controller; and

a camera;

wherein the main projection lamp has an optical path

wherein the main projection lamp optical path establishes a projection field;

wherein the camera has an optical path

wherein the camera optical path establishes a camera field

further comprising means for remotely positioning the camera field in relation to the projection field by one or more command signals received by the communication port.