Remote controlled illumination equipment

• US 4,598,345 A
• Filed: 06/06/1985
• Issued: 07/01/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeff Kleeman
• Original Assignee: Jeff Kleeman
• Inventors: Kleeman, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/741,947
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 362/269, 362/271, 362/272, 362/287, 362/383, 362/356, 362/286, 362/233, 318/16, 318/625, 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 315/292
• US Class Current: 362/233
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios

Abstract

A radio-controlled TV or movie studio spotlight or general purpose illumination instrument; two joy sticks, one for the pan or tilt, the other one for the dim or iris adjustments and settings, respectively, are installed on a panel of a 4-channel radio transmitter accessible for manual actuation to provide the respective commands for a four-channel radio receiver and thereby for the remote control of the lighting equipment functions.

Claims

1. A remotely controlled illumination equipment having a rotatable and tiltable spotlight with variable opening and variable light output, structural members and electrical wiring,

comprising:

a radio-frequency receiver mounted on a said structural member of said illumination equipment, having a plurality of operating channels adapted to receive signals providing power source outputs,

a plurality of servomotors each capable of operating a specific illumination equipment element, each said servomotor mounted in the proximity of the to be operated illumination equipment unit,

a radio-frequency transmitter, positioned remotely from said radio-frequency receiver, having a plurality of operating channels compatible with those of said radio-frequency receiver,

a plurality of multi-throw joy sticks connected with said radio-frequency transmitter,

each said joy stick throw, when manually actuated, causing a specific command signal for transmission through a specific channel to the corresponding channel of said radio-frequency receiver, the availability of a specific power source output energizing a said servomotor for the duration of a said command signal transmission and thereby the execution of said command.

2. A remotely controlled illumination equipment as defined in claim 1, wherein

a first servomotor operates the panning movement of the spotlight of said equipment.

3. A remotely controlled illumination equipment as defined in claim 1, wherein

a second servomotor operates the tilting movement of the spotlight of said equipment.

4. A remotely controlled illumination equipment as defined in claim 1, wherein

a third servomotor operates a spotlight-dimming potentiometer.

5. A remotely controlled illumination equipment as defined in claim 1, wherein

a fourth servomotor adjusts the iris opening of the spotlight of the illumination equipment.

6. A remotely controlled illumination equipment as defined in claim 1, wherein

the output speed of each servomotor shaft is reduced from the rotor speed by means of a single-thread worm and spur gear transmission imparting a self-locking feature on the movable members when the servo is de-energized.

7. A remotely controlled illumination equipment as defined in claim 1, wherein

each mechanical coupling between a movable instrument member and a servomotor shaft is equipped with a friction clutch calibrated so as to allow for manual over-riding of a sald element for adjustment correction and for manual movement in case of a power outage, respectively.