PHOTOELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE COLOR ILLUMINATOR

• US 3,564,332 A
• Filed: 06/24/1968
• Issued: 02/16/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kenneth L. Blakeslee
• Original Assignee: Kenneth L. Blakeslee
• Inventors: Blakeslee, Kenneth L.
• Application Number:
  US04/739,357
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• US Class Current: 315/154
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence

Abstract

A variable color illuminator is a solid state electronic control apparatus designed to operate on alternating current having two or more separate electrical circuits wherein the rate of power dissipation in each circuit is separately controlled and continuously changed. The controlled power dissipation in all circuits is accomplished with a single light attenuation recording which has variations of attenuation from point to point. The recording is continuously moving and is located between light sensitive elements and fixed intensity light sources. The light sensitive elements are an integral part of combined phase shift and pulse networks which activate the power control switches located in each electric circuit. Light variations on the light sensitive elements caused by the light attenuation variations in the moving recording are reproduced as power variations in the control circuits. When colored lights are attached to the power circuits and grouped in clusters, lighting effects are produced for advertising and architecture.

Claims

1. A continuously variable color illuminator comprising:

an alternating voltage source;

a plurality of phase controlled electronic switches each having a control electrode;

a plurality of colored electric light sources connected in series with each electronic switch and the voltage source;

an electronic variable phase shift network connected to each control electrode, each electronic network having a light sensitive resistance element whose resistance determines the phase of the network output;

a corresponding number of light sources each located in close proximity to each said light sensitive resistance element;

a light modulation means having a point to point variation of light attenuation and located between said light sources and said light sensitive resistAnce elements; and

means for moving the light modulation means.

2. A continuously variable color illuminator according to claim 1 wherein said light sensitive resistance elements are disposed in an arrangement whereby each said light sensitive element has a different resistance value.

3. A continuously variable color illuminator according to claim 1 wherein the brilliance of each said light source is fixed by a series connected current limiting resistor.

4. A continuously variable color illuminator according to claim 1 wherein the resistance of each said light sensitive element is sufficiently reduced to cause maximum brilliance from the colored light sources when the light modulation means causes a minimum attenuation of light between each said fixed light source and its corresponding said light sensitive element.

5. A continuously variable color illuminator according to claim 1 wherein the resistance of each said light sensitive element is sufficiently increased to cause no discernable light emission from the colored light sources when the light modulation means causes a maximum attenuation of light between each said fixed light source and its corresponding said light sensitive element.

6. A continuously variable color illuminator according to claim 1 wherein the light modulation means is continuously moved between said fixed light sources and said light sensitive resistance elements.

7. A continuously variable color illuminator according to claim 1 wherein the resistance of each said light sensitive element is varied continuously between the maximum and minimum value required to cause the brilliance of the colored light sources to be varied continuously between maximum brilliance and no discernable light emission as the light modulation means causes the light intensity from each said fixed light source impinging upon each said light sensitive element to be varied continuously between the required minimum and maximum value.