Spotlight Unit Comprising Means For Adjusting The Light Beam Direction

• US 20080186720A1
• Filed: 01/11/2006
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Verbrugh, Stefan Marcus
• Application Number:
  US11/813,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20080186720A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/383
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/15 specially adapted for power operation, e.g. by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/30 the beams of light being detected by photocells
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light

Abstract

A spotlight unit (1) comprising a light source (7) for producing a light beam (10), and motor means for adjusting the direction of the light beam (10). A detector (11) detects a laser beam (13; 17) of a laser pointer (12) being directed towards the spotlight unit (1). The detector (11) comprises means for detecting the location of said laser pointer (12), while motor control means control said motor means in order to direct the light beam (10) towards the laser pointer (12).

Claims

1. A spotlight unit comprising a light source for producing a light beam, motor means for adjusting the direction of the light beam, and a detector for detecting a laser beam of a laser pointer being directed towards said spotlight unit, characterized in that the detector comprises means for detecting the location of said laser pointer, while motor control means are present for controlling said motor means in order to direct the light beam towards the laser pointer.

2. A spotlight unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said detector comprises a lens and a plurality of photodiodes, wherein the laser beam can pass through the lens and can be received by one or more of the photodiodes.

3. A spotlight unit as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said detector comprises four photodiodes arranged as a quadrant photodiode.

4. A spotlight unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said detector is connected with said light source, so that both are jointly moved by said motor means.

5. A spotlight unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said detector comprises a switch for automatically switching on said motor control means as long as said laser beam is directed towards said detector.

6. A spotlight unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said control means can vary the position of the detector when the detector is impinged upon by the laser beam while the laser pointer is located outside the scope of the detector.

7. A spotlight unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said detector comprises means for recognizing a certain modulation of said laser beam.

8. A method of directing the light beam of a spotlight unit, wherein motor means adjust the direction of the light beam, and a laser beam of a laser pointer is directed towards the spotlight unit, which laser beam is detected by a detector, characterized in that the detector detects the location of said laser pointer, while motor control means control said motor means in order to direct the light beam towards the laser pointer.