STAND-MOUNTED LIGHT PANEL FOR NATURAL ILLUMINATION IN FILM, TELEVISION OR VIDEO

• US 20060126319A1
• Filed: 03/02/2006
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Litepanels Limited (Vitec Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Contrast Lighting Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Fisher, Ken S., Pohlert, Rudy G., Grosswendt, Pat, Baxter, Kevin C,
• Granted Patent: US 7,510,290 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/11
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/06 by movement of refractors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/635
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/001 the light sources being semiconductors devices, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0885 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/116 Fixing lighting devices to arms or standards F21V21/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/02 Illuminating scene
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0539 Ringflash
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A lighting apparatus comprises a light panel having a panel frame, and a plurality of LEDs or other light elements secured to the panel frame. A self-contained battery unit securably attaches to the outside of the panel frame. The light panel may have a dimmer switch, and may also be capable of receiving power from a source other than the self-contained battery unit. The lighting apparatus can be mounted to a camera or a stand through adapters. Diffusion lenses or color gels can be integrated with or detachable from the light panel. The lighting apparatus may conveniently be provided in the form of a kit, with one or more of a light panel, self-contained battery unit, compact stand, connecting cable(s), adapter(s), lenses or color gels, and so on, provided in a single package.

Claims

1. An apparatus for illuminating a subject for film, photography or video, the apparatus comprising:

a frame having a front;

a plurality of semiconductor light elements disposed on the front of the frame and configured to provide a continuous source of illumination, said semiconductor light elements having a color temperature suitable for image capture, at least one of said semiconductor light elements individually emitting light in a daylight color temperature range or a tungsten color temperature range; and

a dimmer whereby an illumination intensity of said semiconductor light elements may be user adjusted;

wherein said frame is adapted for being mounted to and readily disengaged from a stand.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said frame further comprises a stand adapter bracket configured to be mounted to and readily disengaged from said stand.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said stand adapter bracket comprises a yoke for mounting said frame, and wherein said frame is configured to swivel and/or tilt when mounted to said yoke.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said frame has right and left sides, said apparatus further comprising a stand having a pair of arms attachable to the right and left sides of said frame in a manner allowing the frame to pivot up or down.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said stand comprises a base providing ground support for said stand.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said semiconductor light elements comprise light emitting diodes (LEDs).

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said LEDs are high output.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the rated power dissipation of said high output LEDs equals or exceeds one watt.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the rated power dissipation of said high output LEDs equals or exceeds three watts.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the rated power dissipation of said LEDs is less than one watt.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said semiconductor light elements each emit light at a substantially non-variable color temperature.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein substantially all of said semiconductor light elements emit light at substantially the same color temperature.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to adjust separately the intensity levels of at least two distinct groups of semiconductor light elements.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said frame comprises a printed circuit board, and wherein said semiconductor light elements are disposed on said printed circuit board.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said dimmer comprises a knob or manual control member attached to or otherwise integrated with said frame.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said frame comprises an assembly physically encasing or mechanically attached to an integrated power source.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said integrated power source comprises a battery.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a self-contained battery unit releasably attachable to an external portion of said frame.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said self-contained battery unit snaps on to a rear external portion of said frame.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an integrated power converter for providing power to said semiconductor light elements.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said integrated power converter includes a circuit board physically located within or attached to said frame.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said integrated power converter comprises a switched mode power regulator.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said integrated power converter provides a substantially fixed voltage output from a battery source that has an output voltage decaying over time, said integrated power converter providing a variable boost to said output voltage.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said semiconductor light elements are arranged in a plurality of linear arrays.

25. A lighting system for providing continuous illumination of a subject for film, photography or video, the system comprising:

a panel having a front, said panel adapted for being mounted to and readily disengaged from a stand whereby the panel may be swiveled and/or tilted;

a plurality of semiconductor light elements disposed on the front of the panel, said semiconductor light elements having a color temperature suitable for image capture, at least one of said semiconductor light elements individually emitting light in a daylight color temperature range or a tungsten color temperature range;

an integrated power converter; and

a dimmer whereby an illumination intensity of said semiconductor light elements may be user adjusted.

26. The lighting system of claim 25, wherein said semiconductor light elements are arranged in a plurality of linear arrays, said semiconductor light elements configured to provide a continuous source of illumination.

27. The lighting system of claim 25, wherein said integrated power converter comprises a switched mode power supply.