COLOR PATTERN GENERATOR

• US 3,805,049 A
• Filed: 05/22/1972
• Issued: 04/16/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bruce Allen Frank, James C. Ahlstrom, John Arlington Miles
• Original Assignee: Bruce Allen Frank, James C. Ahlstrom, John Arlington Miles
• Inventors: Frank, Bruce Allen, Miles, John Arlington, Ahlstrom, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheer, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US05/255,789
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 240/2L,41.35A,41.35B,78D,41.25,10 355/70,113,115 40/13R,13L,13W,132R,132C,132E
• US Class Current: 40/444
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/20 with colour-mixing effects
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/09 with provision for moving the light beam or focus plane for the purpose of maintaining alignment of the light beam relative to the record carrier during transducing operation, e.g. to compensate for surface irregularities of the latter or for track following
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/811 Psychedelic lighting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 40/902 Circuit control, e.g. flashing light

Abstract

The apparatus produces varying color patterns on an object and comprises a plurality of color producing units connected together in assemblage. Each unit comprises a curved surface which supports a blue, a red, and a green light source. An object is supported a preselected distance from the assemblage by an associated support device. A control device connected to the light sources is adapted to selectively vary the intensity of the light sources of each one of the plurality of color producing units to obtain color patterns.

Claims

1. Apparatus for producing varying color patterns on an object comprising at least a curved support having a preselected radius of curvature, light source means comprising at least first and second different colored light sources mounted on said support and each having a central axis lying along the radii of curvature of the surface of the support, object support means positioned in a plane containing the center of curvature of said curved surface, and control means connected to said first and second light sources for selectively varying the intensity of said first and second light sources to produce said varying color patterns.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, in which said light source means comprises a first, a second and a third monochromatic light source wherein each of said first, second and third monochromatic light sources is a different color than the others.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2, in which said first monochromatic light source is a red light, said second monochromatic light source is a green light and said third monochromatic light source is a blue light.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1, in which said curved surface is a portion of a spherical surface.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1, in which said control means includes frequency varying means for selectively and individually varying the frequency of illumination of said first and second light sources.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1, in which said control means comprises a signal input means for receiving a multi-frequency signal, separate intensity varying means for varying the respective intensity of said first and second light sources, and separate filter means between said signal input means and each intensity varying means for respectively passing predetermined frequencies to the associated intensity varying means to control the operation thereof.

7. Apparatus for producing varying color patterns on an object comprising a plurality of color producing units connected together to form an assemblage;

each of said plurality of color producing units comprising a curved surface having a preselected radius of curvature, a first, second and third light source mounted on said curved surface and each having a central axis lying along the radius of curvature of said surface whereiN each light source is a different color;

object supporting means positioned at the plane containing the center of curvature of said curved surfaces in spaced relationship from said assemblage for supporting the object to be illuminated; and

control means for selectively varying the intensity of each one of said first, second and third light source of each one of said plurality of units.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7, in which said apparatus comprises a housing having a rear wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and opposed side walls, said assemblage forming said rear wall and a front opening adapted to receive said object supporting means therein.

9. Apparatus as in claim 8, in which said assemblage is substantially planar, said curved surfaces being formed by a portion of a sphere having a preselected radius of curvature, and said object support means is connected to at least one of said walls of said housing and positioned at the plane containing the center of curvature of said curved surfaces.

10. Apparatus as in claim 9, in which each of said first, second and third light source has a central axis;

means for mounting said first, second and third light source on the respective curved surface whereby the central axis of said first, second and third light sources intersect at the center of curvature of the curved surface.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10, and cooling means in said housing for cooling said light sources.

12. Apparatus as in claim 7, in which said control means comprises first intensity means for controlling the intensity of said first light sources in said assemblage, second intensity means for controlling the intensity of said second light sources in said assemblage, and third intensity means for controlling the intensity of said third light sources in said assemblage.

13. Apparatus as in claim 12, in which said first, second and third intensity means are responsive to respective pulses for varying the intensity of the associated light source in response to the frequency of said pulses;

and respective pulse means connected to said first, second and third intensity means each having selectively variable pulse frequencies.

14. Apparatus as in claim 12, in which said first light source is a high frequency light source, said second light source is an intermediate frequency light source, and said third light source is a low frequency light source, first filter means for applying a high frequency signal to said first intensity means to control the operation thereof, second filter means for applying an intermediate frequency signal to said second intensity means to control the operation thereof, and third filter means for applying a low frequency signal to said third intensity means to control the operation thereof.

15. Apparatus as in claim 12, in which said first, second and third intensity means are responsive to light signals for controlling the intensity of the associated light sources in proportion to the intensity of the light signal applied thereto, and means for selectively and individually applying light signals to said first, second and third intensity means.