Infra-red coupling mechanism for a light projector

• US 5,176,442 A
• Filed: 09/04/1990
• Issued: 01/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Morpheus Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Morpheus Lights, Inc.
• Inventors: Richardson, Brian E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hagarman, Sue
• Application Number:
  US07/577,414
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 359/142, 359/143, 359/144, 359/154, 359/152, 359/147, 359/165, 362/35, 362/269, 362/271, 362/272, 362/285, 362/286, 362/287, 362/418, 362/419, 362/428
• US Class Current: 362/286
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/00 Circuit arrangements or apparatus for operating incandescent light sources structurally associated with the incandescent lamps H01K1/62

Abstract

A light projector is presented including a wireless power coupling mechanism and infra-red communications coupling mechanism which provide a portion of the projector with the capability of complete full-circle rotation about its pan-axis. A stationary base is provided which includes a first transmitter and receiver means for transmitting control signals to and receiving information signals from a second transmitter and receiver means on the rotating portion of the projector. A pan-axis shaft includes the second transmitter and receiver means for transmitting information signals to and receiving control signals from the transmitter-receiver means on the stationary base, and is operative to rotate the rotatable portion of the projector. The infra-red coupling mechanism and wireless power coupling mechanism eliminate the need for hard-wiring between the base and rotating portion of the projector, greatly facilitating continuous and efficient motion thereof.

Claims

1. A light projector of the type including a stationary portion having a panning mechanism mounted thereon and a rotatable portion suspended from said stationary portion by a support means coupled by a rotatable shaft to said panning mechanism, and further including a communications means for coupling information and control signals between the stationary portion and the rotatable portion, said communications means comprising:

first transmitting and receiving means affixed to said rotatable portion; and

second transmitting and receiving means affixed to said stationary portion for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from said first transmitting and receiving means, said first transmitting and receiving means and said second transmitting and receiving means being conjunctively operative to communicatively couple information between said upper and lower portions during continuous full-circle rotation of said rotatable portion relative to said stationary portion.

2. A light projector as described in claim 1 wherein said first transmitting and receiving means includes a first photo-transmitter unit and a first photo-receiver unit, and further wherein said second transmitting and receiving means includes a second photo-transmitter unit and a second photo-receiver unit for optically communicating with said first photo-transmitter and photo-receiver units whereby information signals can be coupled between said rotatable and stationary portions without the use of wires connected therebetween.

3. Improved communications means as described in claim 2 wherein said first photo-transmitter unit and first photo-receiver unit are secured to one end of said rotatable shaft, and further wherein said second photo-transmitter unit and second photo-receiver unit are disposed on said stationary portion opposite said one end whereby said information is effectively coupled between said stationary and rotatable portions regardless of the rotational position of said shaft.

4. A light projector as described in claim 3 wherein said first photo-transmitter unit and first photo-receiver unit are disposed on opposite sides of said one end of said shaft, and wherein said second photo-receiver unit includes a plurality of individual second photo-receivers which surround said second photo-transmitter, said second photo-receivers being disposed in a circular path having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the circular path circumscribed by said first photo-transmitter during rotation of said shaft, and further wherein said first photo-receiver is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of said shaft and directed towards said second photo-transmitter, whereby information signals are effectively coupled between said rotatable and stationary portions regardless of the rotational position of said shaft.

5. A light projector comprising:

a stationary projector portion including a base with panning mechanism secured thereto;

a rotatable projector portion, including a housing and support means for retaining said housing;

a shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end being fixedly attached to said support means and said second end being fixedly attached to said panning mechanism, said panning mechanism being operative to effectuate rotation of said shaft, thereby effectuating rotation of said rotatable projector portion;

power coupling means for supplying electrical operating power to electrical components of said rotatable projector portion from said upper projector portion without the use of wires connected therebetween, said power coupling means functioning to supply power during continuous full-circle rotation of said rotatable portion; and

,

communication coupling means for transmitting and receiving control and information signals between said rotatable portion and said stationary portion without the use of wires connected therebetween, said communication coupling means functioning to supply said control and information signals during continuous full-circle rotation of said rotatable portion.

6. A light projector as described in claim 5 wherein said power coupling means includes a contact means secured to said shaft for providing a conductive path to said rotatable projector portion, and a brush means secured to said base and disposed such that substantial contact is made with said contact means, said brush means receiving power from a remote power source and being operative to couple said power to said contact means at all rotational positions of said shaft.

7. A light projector as described in claim 6 wherein said contact means comprises a circular plate with a plurality of individual annular conductive contact strips which are connected to various electrical components of said rotatable projector portion, and further wherein said brush means includes a plurality of individual brush members disposed in a manner to make substantial electrical contact with said individual strips such that said electrical contact is maintained even during continuous rotation of said shaft.

8. A light projector as described in claim 5 wherein said communication coupling means includes first electro-optical transmitter and receiver means disposed on said rotatable portion and second electro-optical transmitter and receiver means disposed on said stationary portion for establishing a wireless communications signal path between said rotatable and stationary portions.

9. A light projector as described in claim 8 wherein said first electro-optical transmitter and receiver means includes a first photo-transmitter and a first photo-receiver, both of which are attached to said second end of said shaft, and further wherein said second electro-optical transmitter and receiver means includes a second photo-transmitter and a plurality of second photo-receivers attached to said base and disposed in relation to said first electro-optical transmitter and receiver means such that a continuous communications path is provided between the rotatable and stationary projector portions regardless of the rotational position of said shaft.

10. A light projector as described in claim 9 wherein said plurality of second photo-receivers are arranged in compact relationship about said second photo-transmitter, whereby at least one of said plurality of second photo-receivers is disposed directly above said first photo-transmitter and further wherein said first photo-receiver is angled with respect to the central longitudinal axis of said shaft and toward said second photo-transmitter such that signals transmitted from said stationary projector portion can be continuously received by said rotatable projector portion and signals transmitted from said rotatable projector portion can be continuously received by said stationary projector portion at all rotational positions of said shaft and lower projector portion.

11. An individual light projector of a lighting system comprising a communications coupling mechanism, said communications coupling mechanism comprising:

a stationary base including a central control unit;

a rotatable portion including a local control unit;

a rotatable shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end being coupled to said stationary base and said second end being coupled to said rotatable portion, for coupling said rotatable portion to said stationary base;

first transmitter and receiver means attached to said rotatable portion for receiving control signals from said central control unit and for transmitting information signals to said central control unit;

second transmitter and receiver means attached to said stationary base for relaying control signals to said first receiver means from said central control unit and for relaying information signals to said central control unit from said first transmitter.

12. A light projector as described in claim 11 wherein said first transmitter and receiver means includes a first photo-transmitter unit and first photo-receiver unit, and further wherein said second transmitter and receiver means includes a second photo-transmitter unit and second photo-receiver unit disposed in communicative relationship to said first photo-transmitter and receiver units, whereby effective relay of said control and information signals is achieved between said rotating portion and said stationary base.

13. A light projector as described in claim 12 wherein said first photo-transmitter unit and first photo-receiver unit are disposed at said second end of said shaft, and wherein said second photo-receiver unit includes a plurality of individual second photo-receivers which surround said second photo-transmitter forming a substantially circular configuration with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the circular path circumscribed by said first photo-transmitter during rotation of said shaft, and further wherein said first photo-receiver is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of said shaft and towards said second photo-transmitter, whereby information signals are effectively coupled between said rotatable and stationary portions at all rotational positions of said shaft.

14. A light projector comprising a communications coupling mechanism which includes a rotatable portion coupled by a shaft to a stationary portion, said communication coupling mechanism comprising:

transmitter means mounted to said stationary portion for transmitting control signals to said rotatable portion;

receiver means mounted to said rotatable portion for receiving control signals from said transmitter means, said transmitter means and receiver means effectively establishing a communicative link between said rotatable and stationary portions without the connection of wires therebetween, and providing said rotatable portion with the capability of uninterrupted communications during continuous full-circle rotation relative to said stationary portion.

15. The light projector as described in claim 14 wherein said receiver means includes a photo-receiver disposed upon said shaft coupled to said rotatable portion, and further wherein said transmitter means includes a photo-transmitter disposed in a direct optical line with said photo-receiver such that a communicative link is established therebetween at all rotational positions of said shaft.