Visual display system with triangular cells

• US 4,622,881 A
• Filed: 12/06/1984
• Issued: 11/18/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fred Hayman Beverly Hills Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Michael Rand
• Inventors: Rand, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Wintercorn, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US06/679,064
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 364/514, 364/900, 40/457, 340/148, 340/701, 340/703, 362/86, 362/227, 362/228, 362/235, 362/252, 362/96, 84/464 R
• US Class Current: 84/464.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 17/00 Apparatus for performing colour-music
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/22 using controlled light sources

Abstract

Improvements to visual display units for producing aesthetically pleasing abstract lighting effects which employ light baffles to produce compartments which contain at least three light sources of different colors are disclosed. The benefits of a baffle arrangement defining compartments forming isoceles triangles with adjacent hypotenuses is described. Color range and fidelity are improved by employing four light sources with a combination of relatively broadband pigmented filters of red, yellow, and green and a relatively narrowband interference-type filter of blue. Improvements to the control system for visual display units of this type are also disclosed. A memory means if provided to record desired color values for each compartment in each of a number of patterns. A single arbitrary color number and a separate intensity value are recorded and at least one conversion table is employed to convert the color number and intensity to average power levels for the sources in the display. A keyboard is also provided, together with a memory means in which the lighting effects desired may be specified during a programming phase, whereby during operation the closure of each key will cause the automatic execution of a subroutine causing a preselected lighting effect to be produced.

Claims

1. In a visual display unit for producing aesthetically pleasing lighting effects, said display unit incorporating a diffusing surface and opaque light baffling means substantially perpendicular to that surface to produce a plurality of compartments of substantially similar shape, each such compartment containing at least three discrete light sources, each such light source adapted to produce a different color and separately controllable in intensity, the improvement comprising said light baffling means define compartments forming isoceles triangles having adjacent hypotenuses.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein four discrete light sources are provided, each discrete source including colored filter material, three of said light sources being provided with red, yellow, and green pigmented filter materials respectively, and the fourth of said sources having a blue interference-film filter material.

3. Apparatus aocording to claim 1, and further including means to vary the distance between said diffuser surface and said light baffling means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, and further including means to vary the distance between said diffuser surface and said light baffling means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further including means to vary the relative distance between said diffuser surface and said light baffling means.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2, and further including means to vary the relative distance between said diffuser surface and said light baffling means.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further including at least one further diffuser surface in parallel spaced relationship with said diffusing surface.

8. Apparatus according to claim 2, and further including at least one further diffuser surface in parallel spaced relationship with said diffusing surface.

9. In a visual display unit for producing aesthetically pleasing lighting effects, said display unit incorporating a diffuser surface and opaque light baffling means substantially perpendicular to said diffuser surface to produce a plurality of compartments of substantially similar shape, each such compartment containing four discrete light sources, each such light source adapted to produce a different color and separately controllable in intensity, each such source adapted to produce color by means of colored filter material, the improvement comprising three of said light sources being provided with red, yellow, and green pigmented filter materials respectively, and the fourth of said sources being provided with a blue interference-film filter material.

10. An improved lighting effect system comprising,

(a) a visual display unit including:

i. a diffuser surface

ii. a plurality of compartments each containing at least three discrete light sources, each source adapted to produce a different color, and each accepting a power input, and

(b) dimming means having an output coupled to the power input for each of the light sources in each of said plurality of compartments, each dimming means having a signal input, and varying the average voltage or current supplied to the power input of said light source in response to the value present at said input, and

(c) a first memory means for storing at least one first value for each of said plurality of compartments for each of a plurality of desired display conditions, the output of said said first memory means serving as an input to a second memory means, and

(d) a second memory means for storing at least one second value for each of a plurality of said first values, said second memory means having an input, and outputs coupled to said signal inputs of said dimming means, wherein the presence of a first value at the input of said second memory means will cause said second memory means to output said stored second value, and

(e) input means to specify said first and said second value, and

(f) control means to cause said first memory means to output said first value.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, and further including at least one variable signal source and at least one modifier means coupled between the output of said first memory means and the input of said second memory means, said modifier means accepting an input from said variable signal source and producing a relative change in said first value between the input of said modifier means and its output in response to said input from said variable signal source.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said second memory means stores a plurality of said second values for each said first value and further including means for specifying which of said second values is produced as an output for the input of said first value.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said second memory means stores a plurality of said second values for each said first value and further including means for specifying which of said second values is produced as an output for the input of said first value.

14. An improved lighting effect system comprising,

(a) a visual display unit including:

i. a diffuser surface

ii. a plurality of compartments each containing at least three discrete light sources, each source adapted to produce a different color, and each accepting a power input;

(b) dimming means with an output coupled to the said power input of each of the light sources in each of said plurality of compartments, each such dimming means having a signal input, and varying the average voltage or current supplied to the power input of said light source in response to the value present at said input;

(c) a first memory means for storing at least one first value for each of a plurality of compartments for each of a plurality of desired display conditions;

(d) input means for specifying said first value;

(e) a keyboard with a plurality of discrete actuators for an operator and having an output;

(f) a second memory with at least one location for each discrete actuator of said keyboard;

(g) information processing means coupled to said keyboard and said first and second memory means programmed such that the closure of at least one of said discrete actuators will cause said information processing means to consult said location in said second memory means and output said first value from first memory means to said display unit in accordance with data at said location of said second memory means.