Infra-red coupling mechanism for a light projector
First Claim
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 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
43 Citations
15 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A light projector comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An individual light projector of a lighting system comprising a communications coupling mechanism, said communications coupling mechanism comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification