Artificial illumination of ornamental water fountains with color blending in response to musical tone variations

• US 4,305,117 A
• Filed: 03/17/1980
• Issued: 12/08/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rain Jet Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rain Jet Corporation
• Inventors: Evans, Stanley H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lechert, Jr., Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US06/130,982
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 362/96, 362/231, 362/252, 362/276
• US Class Current: 362/96
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/02 for fountains

Abstract

An ornamental water fountain is artificially illuminated by separate sets of differently colored lamps illuminated by a color blending system that responds to variations in musical tones. In one embodiment, there are three sets of lamps in separate principal colors, namely, red, blue and green, and the intensity of light from each set of lamps is independently controlled during the playing of a musical number, producing a multitude of different colors reflected by the fountain in response to variations in the amplitude and frequency of the musical tones. The color blending system operates in response to an input voltage representative of musical tones produced over a wide range of audio frequencies from a phonograph, tape player, radio receiver, or the like. The input voltage is separately coupled to low pass, band pass and high pass filters for producing separate frequency band signals representative of the content, i.e., combined amplitude and frequency, of the musical tones produced within low, intermediate and high frequency ranges, respectively. The three frequency band signals are fed to separate phase control circuits for independently adjusting power supplied to the different sets of lamps, thereby adjusting the intensity of the lamps in proportion to the content of sound produced within each frequency range.

Claims

1. A color blending system for artificially illuminated ornamental fountains comprising:

an ornamental fountain for producing a liquid display pattern;

separate sets of lamps for the liquid display pattern, each set of lamps being of a different color combination;

audio signal means for producing a system input signal representative of sound produced over a range of audio frequencies;

means responsive to the system input signal for producing a plurality of separate frequency band signals each representative of the content of sound produced within a corresponding different audio frequency range; and

control means for controlling the intensity of light produced by each set of lamps in response to a corresponding frequency band signal.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which each frequency band signal has a magnitude proportional to the amplitude of sound produced within said corresponding audio frequency range.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the magnitude of each frequency band signal also varies as a function of the frequency of sound produced within said corresponding audio frequency range.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the control means controls the intensity of light from each set of lamps in proportion to the magnitude of the corresponding frequency band signals.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which there are at least three sets of such lamps;

in which the means for producing the frequency band signals comprises high pass, band pass and low pass electrical filter means for producing output signals representative of sound produced within high, intermediate and low frequency ranges, respectively; and

in which the output of each electrical filter means is coupled to a respective set of lamps.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the audio signal means produces two separate audio input signals;

and including a mixing circuit responsive to both audio input signals for producing a composite system input signal representative of sound produced over said range of audio frequencies, said means for producing the frequency band signals being responsive to said composite system input signal.

7. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the magnitude of such a frequency band signal varies in direct proportion to the frequency of sound within the corresponding audio frequency range.

8. A color blending system for artificially illuminated ornamental fountains comprising:

an ornamental fountain for producing a liquid display pattern;

first, second and third sets of lamps for illuminating the liquid display pattern, each set of lamps being of a different color combination;

audio signal means for producing a system input signal representative of sound produced over a range of audio frequencies;

low pass filter means responsive to the system input signal for producing a first frequency band signal having a composite magnitude proportional to the amplitude of sound produced within a low audio frequency range and variable as a function of the frequency of sound within the low frequency range;

band pass filter means responsive to the system input signal for producing a second frequency band signal having a composite magnitude proportional to the amplitude of sound produced within an intermediate audio frequency range and variable as a function of the frequency of sound within the intermediate frequency range;

high pass filter means responsive to the system input signal for producing a third frequency band signal having a composite magnitude proportional to the amplitude of sound produced within a high audio frequency range and variable as a function of the frequency of sound within the high frequency range;

first lamp control means for supplying power to the first set of lamps in proportion to the magnitude of the first frequency band signal for adjusting the intensity of light produced by the first set of lamps;

second lamp control means for supplying power to the second set of lamps in proportion to the magnitude of the second frequency band signal for adjusting the intensity of light produced by the second set of lamps; and

third lamp control means for supplying power to the third set of lamps in proportion to the magnitude of the third frequency band signal for adjusting the intensity of light produced by the third set of lamps.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 in which the audio signal means produces two separate audio input signals;

and including a mixing circuit responsive to both audio input signals for producing said system input signal.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 in which the magnitude of each frequency band signal is directly proportional to the frequency of sound within the corresponding frequency range.