Scanning illumination system and method

• US 20070177250A1
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wayne O. Duncan
• Original Assignee: Wayne O. Duncan
• Inventors: Duncan, Wayne O.
• Granted Patent: US 8,102,580 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/101 with both horizontal and vertical deflecting means, e.g. raster or XY scanners colour television using laser beams scanning a display screen H04N9/3129

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the multi-dimensional control of a light source'"'"'s brightest point over a targeted area is disclosed. Control and drive electronics are presented to the beam-steering device causing the beam-steering component to steer the spot of light toward a targeted area in at least a two-dimensional scanning pattern about a vertical and horizontal axis. The result is an illuminated pattern displayed on a targeted area that appears to be a solid, uniformly illuminated light pattern, having the intensity of a spot beam and the area of a broad beam.

Claims

1. A scanning illumination system, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a light source connected to said housing;

(c) a MEMS beam-steering device connected to said housing and positioned in the path of light emitted by said light source;

(d) a controller in communication with said beam-steering device;

.and

(e) a power source operatively connected to said light source, said beam-steering device, and said controller.

2. The scanning illumination system of claim 1, further comprising beam shaping optics positioned in the path of light emitted by said light source, wherein said beam shaping optics comprises a reflector and a set of piano-convex lenses.

3. The scanning illumination system of claim 2, wherein said beam shaping optics comprises one or more diffractive optical elements.

4. The scanning illumination system of claim 2, wherein beam shaping optics comprises a microlens.

5. The scanning illumination system of claim 4, wherein said controller is in communication with said microlens.

6. The scanning illumination system of claim 1, wherein said beam-steering device comprises a two-dimensional micro-mirror.

7. The scanning illumination system of claim 1, wherein the beam-steering device comprises a plurality of one-dimensional micro-mirrors.

8. The scanning illumination system of claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode.

9. The scanning illumination system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a xenon light source.

10. The scanning illumination system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises high intensity discharge light source.

11. The scanning illumination system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises an infrared device.

12. The scanning illumination system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a coherent lighting source.

13. The scanning illumination system of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is in communication with said light source.

14. The scanning illumination system of claim 1, further comprising a light-sensing device in communication with said controller.

15. A scanning illumination system, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a light source in connection with said housing;

(c) a transmissive beam steering device connected to said housing and positioned to receive a spot beam of light from said light source;

(d) a controller in communication with said beam-steering device; and

(e) a power source in communication-with said light source, said beam-steering device, and said controller.

16. The scanning illumination system of claim 15, further comprising beam shaping optics positioned to receive the spot beam of light from said light source, wherein said beam shaping optics comprises a diffractive optical element.

17. The scanning illumination system of claim 15, wherein said beam-steering device comprises a two-dimensional transmissive beam-steering device.

18. The scanning illumination system of claim 15, wherein said beam-steering device comprises two one-dimensional transmissive beam-steering devices.

19. The scanning illumination system of claim 15, wherein said light source comprises a coherent lighting device.

20. A scanning illumination system, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) an exterior lighting device in connection with said housing;

(c) a MEMS beam-steering device connected to said housing and positioned to receive a spot-beam from said exterior lighting device;

(d) a controller in communication with said beam-steering device;

(e) a power source in communication with said beam-steering device, said lighting device, and said controller; and

(f) beam shaping optics connected to said housing and positioned in the path of the spot-beam from said exterior lighting device.

21. A scanning illumination system having a square-shaped illumination pattern, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a light source connected to said housing;

(c) a MEMS beam-steering device connected to said housing and positioned in the path of light emitted by said light source;

(d) a beam shaping optics system connected to said housing and positioned in the path of the light emitted by said light source;

(e) a controller in communication with said beam-steering device for determining the square-shaped illumination pattern; and

(f) a power source operatively connected to said light source, said beam-steering device, and said controller.

22. A scanning illumination system having a square-shaped illumination pattern, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a light source connected to said housing;

(c) a transmissive beam steering device connected to said housing and positioned in the path of light emitted by said light source;

(d) a beam shaping optics system connected to said housing and positioned in the path of the light emitted by said light source;

(e) a controller in communication with said beam-steering device for determining the square-shaped illumination pattern; and

(f) a power source operatively connected to said light source, said beam-steering device and controller.