Computer controlled light with continuously variable color temperature, color, magnification, focus, and position

• US 5,045,983 A
• Filed: 04/25/1990
• Issued: 09/03/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary A. Shields
• Original Assignee: Gary A. Shields
• Inventors: Shields, Gary A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Application Number:
  US07/514,466
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 362/16, 362/17, 362/18, 362/268, 362/293, 362/301, 362/319
• US Class Current: 362/293
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Abstract

A lighting system is described having an electronic means for controlling the color, color temperature, magnification and focus in response to predetermined signals from a computerized system. A wide spectrum light beam having a wavelength of from 380 nm to 700 nm is passed through a heat absorbing condenser to control the predetermined color temperature thereof and said portion of the beam is separated into a first color beam having a wavelength of from 445 nm to 450 nm, a second color beam having a wavelength of from 555 nm to 570 nm and a third color beam having a wavelength of from 525 nm to 535 nm. The separated color beams are maintained at substantially equal focal length an the intensity of the respective color beams varied in response to an electronic signal. The color beams are then combined to form a composite beam of predetermined color. The colour and intensity of the resulting beam is thereby more accurately predetermined.

Claims

1. A lighting system for controlling the colour, colour temperature, magnification and focus of a light beam comprising:

a) means for providing a source of wide spectrum light of predetermined intensity,

b) means for deflecting that portion of said beam having a wavelength of from 380 nm to 700 nm through a heat absorbing condenser lens,

c) an electronically controlled colour generating prism having;

i) means for separating said deflected beam of light into a first portion, a second portion and third portion,

ii) a first liquid crystal window for controlling the intensity of said first portion and a first colour mixing window immediately downstream from said crystal window for passing said first portion having a wavelength of from 524 nm to 535 nm and thereby producing a first colour portion of said light,

iii) a second liquid crystal window for controlling the intensity of said second portion and a second colour mixing window immediately downstream therefrom for passing said second portion having a wavelength of from 555 nm to 570 nm and thereby produce a second colour portion of said light,

iv) a third liquid crystal window for controlling the intensity of said third portion and a third colour mixing window immediately downstream of said crystal window for passing said second portion having a wavelength of from 445 nm to 450 nm and thereby produce a third colour portion of said light,

v) means for discharging said first, said second and said third colour portions of light from said prism,

d) means for recombining said first, second and said third colour portions of light downstream of said prism to provide a composite beam, said means including an electronically responsive circuit for varying the intensity of each of said colour portions separately to thereby provide said composite beam with a predetermined colour and intensity.