EFFECTS GENERATOR FOR A LIGHT FIXTURE

• US 20090196043A1
• Filed: 01/21/2009
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syncrolite, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Syncrolite, L.P.
• Inventors: Calmes, Jack
• Granted Patent: US 8,596,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/278
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/006 by means of optical elements, e.g. films, filters or screens, being rolled up around a roller
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/40 with provision for controlling spectral properties, e.g. colour, or intensity
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios

Abstract

A light fixture includes a light source, a first flexible material coupled to a first scrolling mechanism, and a second flexible material coupled to a second scrolling mechanism. The first flexible material includes a first pattern generator and the first scrolling mechanism is operable to move the first pattern generator from a first position to a second position in a beam of light from the light source. The second flexible material includes a second pattern generator and the second scrolling mechanism is operable to move the second pattern generator to a third position in the beam of light. A changing pattern is produced in the beam of light.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

scrolling a first flexible material comprising a first pattern generator from a first position to a second position in a beam of light from a light source of a light fixture; and

scrolling a second flexible material comprising a second pattern generator to a third position in the beam of light,

wherein a changing pattern is produced in the beam of light.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeatedly scrolling the first pattern generator from the first position to the second position and back to the first position in the beam of light.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pattern generator performs one of:

occluding a portion of the beam of light;

coloring a portion of the beam of light; and

diffusing a portion of the beam of light.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising scrolling the second pattern generator from the third position to a fourth position in the beam of light while the first pattern generator is scrolling from the first position to the second position.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising repeatedly scrolling the second pattern generator from the third position to the fourth position and back to the third position while the first pattern generator is repeatedly scrolling from the first position to the second position and back to the first position.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

scrolling the first pattern generator from the first position to the second position in a first direction; and

scrolling the second pattern generator from the third position to the fourth position in a second direction,

wherein the first direction is different than the second direction.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

scrolling the first pattern generator from the first position to the second position at a first speed; and

scrolling the second pattern generator from the third position to the fourth position at a second speed,

wherein the first speed is different than the second speed.

8. A light fixture, comprising:

a light source;

a first flexible material coupled to a first scrolling mechanism, where the first flexible material comprises a first pattern generator and the first scrolling mechanism is operable to move the first pattern generator from a first position to a second position in a beam of light from the light source; and

a second flexible material coupled to a second scrolling mechanism, where the second flexible material comprises a second pattern generator and the second scrolling mechanism is operable to move the second pattern generator to a third position in the beam of light,

wherein a changing pattern is produced in the beam of light.

9. The light fixture of claim 8, wherein the first scrolling mechanism is operable to repeatedly move the first pattern generator from the first position to the second position and back to the first position in the beam of light.

10. The light fixture of claim 8, wherein the first pattern generator comprises one of:

a reflective film;

a color filter film; and

a diffusing film.

11. The light fixture of claim 8, wherein the second scrolling mechanism is operable to move the second pattern generator from the third position to a fourth position while the first scrolling mechanism is moving the first pattern generator from the first position to the second position.

12. The light fixture of claim 11, wherein the second scrolling mechanism is operable to repeatedly move the second pattern generator from the third position to the fourth position and back to the third position while the first scrolling mechanism is repeatedly moving the first pattern generator from the first position to the second position and back to the first position.

13. The light fixture of claim 11, wherein:

the first scrolling mechanism is operable to move the first pattern generator from the first position to the second position in a first direction;

the second scrolling mechanism is operable to move the second pattern generator from the third position to the fourth position in a second direction; and

the first direction is different than the second direction.

14. The light fixture of claim 11, wherein:

the first scrolling mechanism is operable to move the first pattern generator from the first position to the second position at a first speed;

the second scrolling mechanism is operable to move the second pattern generator from the third position to the fourth position at a second speed; and

the first direction is different than the second direction.

15. An apparatus for use with a light source, the apparatus comprising:

a first flexible material coupled to a first scrolling mechanism, where the first flexible material comprises a first pattern generator and the first scrolling mechanism is operable to move the first pattern generator from a first position to a second position in a beam of light from the light source; and

a second flexible material coupled to a second scrolling mechanism, where the second flexible material comprises a second pattern generator and the second scrolling mechanism is operable to move the second pattern generator to a third position in the beam of light,

wherein a changing pattern is produced in the beam of light.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first scrolling mechanism is operable to repeatedly move the first pattern generator from the first position to the second position and back to the first position in the beam of light.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first pattern generator comprises one of:

a reflective film;

a color filter film; and

a diffusing film.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second scrolling mechanism is operable to move the second pattern generator from the third position to a fourth position while the first scrolling mechanism is moving the first pattern generator from the first position to the second position.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the first scrolling mechanism is operable to move the first pattern generator from the first position to the second position in a first direction;

the second scrolling mechanism is operable to move the second pattern generator from the third position to the fourth position in a second direction; and

the first direction is different than the second direction.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the first scrolling mechanism is operable to move the first pattern generator from the first position to the second position at a first speed;

the second scrolling mechanism is operable to move the second pattern generator from the third position to the fourth position at a second speed; and

the first direction is different than the second direction.