Apparatus for presenting an audio signal to visual analog display

• US 5,050,056 A
• Filed: 12/20/1990
• Issued: 09/17/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wes Ellison
• Original Assignee: Wes Ellison
• Inventors: Ellison, Wes
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cole, Richard R.
• Application Number:
  US07/631,471
• Time in Patent Office: 271 Days
• Field of Search: 362/298, 362/300, 362/306, 362/806, 362/811, 40/427, 40/431
• US Class Current: 362/300
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/00 Lighting devices or systems producing a varying lighting effect
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/30 Semiconductor lasers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/811 Psychedelic lighting

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for presenting shiftable light patterns includes a translucent globe (12), a convex redirecting mirror (16) mounted adjacent the upper interior surface of the globe (12), a laser beam source (20), a pair of galvanic vibration mirrors (22,24), and amplifier assembly (28) for vibrating the mirrors (22,24) in accordance with a respective pair of stereophonic audio signals (22,24). In operation, the vibration mirrors operate to change the impingement location of the beam on the reflecting mirror in direction in transverse to one another and in accordance with the amplitude and frequency of the audio signals resulting in light patterns which shift in accordance with the audio signals.

Claims

1. An apparatus for presenting shiftable light patterns comprising:

a source of a beam of light;

a housing having substantially surrounding translucent wall presenting interior surfaces for transmitting and diffusing light impinging on said surfaces for viewing exteriorly of said housing and substantially therearound;

a redirecting mirror mounted stationary relative to said housing and positioned for redirecting said light beam onto said interior surfaces;

at least one vibration mirror including means for mounting said mirror in the path of said beam and positioning said mirror for reflecting said beam onto said redirecting mirror; and

vibration means coupled with said vibration mirror for receiving vibration signals from a source thereof and for vibrating said vibration mirror in accordance with said signals,

said vibration mirror being operable for shifting the impingement location of said beam on said redirecting mirror in accordance with said vibrating,

said redirecting mirror presenting a curved surface and being operable for shifting the impingement position of said beam on said interior surfaces in accordance with the shifting of the beam impingement location of redirecting mirror and in accordance with the curvature thereof for thereby presenting shiftable light patterns.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said beam including a collimated beam of light.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said collimated beam including a laser beam.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said housing walls being configured to present a globe.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, said globe presenting an upper interior surface, said apparatus further including means for mounting said redirecting mirror within said globe and adjacent said upper interior surface thereof.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, said redirecting mirror including a convex mirror.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, said vibration signals presenting respective amplitudes and frequencies, said vibration means, vibration mirror, redirecting mirror and housing being configured such that the magnitude of shifting of said beam varies in correlation with said amplitudes, and the frequencies of shifting of said beam vary in correlation with said signal frequencies.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said housing presenting an upper interior surface, said apparatus further including means for mounting said redirecting mirror in said housing adjacent said upper interior surface thereof.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said redirecting mirror including a convex mirror.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9, said redirecting mirror presenting a central axis, said vibrating mirror being mounted for reflecting said beam along said central axis.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said vibrating mirror including a galvanic mirror.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including a second vibration mirror mounted in the path of said beam, said mirrors being configured for shifting the impingement location of said beam on said redirecting mirror in respectively transverse directions.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, said vibration signals including a pair of stereophonic audio signals, said vibration means including means for vibrating said mirrors respectively in accordance with said pair of signals.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said vibration signals presenting respective amplitudes and frequencies, said vibration means, vibration mirror, redirecting mirror and housing being configured such that the magnitude of shifting of said beam varies in correlation with said amplitudes, and the frequencies of shifting of said beam varies in correlation with said signal frequencies.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said vibration means including amplifier means for amplifying said vibration signals.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said vibration signals including audio signals.

17. An apparatus for presenting shiftable light patterns comprising:

a source of a beam of laser light;

a globe having translucent walls and presenting interior surfaces for transmitting and diffusing light impinging thereon for viewing exteriorly of said globe, said globe presenting a central vertical axis and an upper interior surface;

a convex redirecting mirror mounted stationary relative to said globe and positioned adjacent said upper interior surface thereof with said axis passing centrally therethrough for redirecting said light beam onto said interior surfaces;

a pair of vibration mirrors including means mounting said mirrors in the path of said beam and positioning said mirrors for reflecting said beam onto said redirecting mirror; and

vibration means coupled with said mirrors for receiving a pair of audio signals from sources thereof and for vibrating said vibration mirrors respectively in accordance with said pair of signals,

said vibration mirrors being configured and operable for changing the impingement location of said beam on said redirecting mirror in directions transverse to one another and in accordance with said signals.