Lighting instrument with movable filters and associated actuation mechanism

• US 5,186,536 A
• Filed: 12/16/1991
• Issued: 02/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vari-Lite, Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Vari-Lite, Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Bornhorst, James M., Stacy, Timothy D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dority, Carroll B.
• Application Number:
  US07/809,698
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 362/293, 362/281, 362/283, 362/277
• US Class Current: 362/293
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/40 with provision for controlling spectral properties, e.g. colour, or intensity
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios

Abstract

A lighting instrument having pivotable color filters arranged in a substantially radial arrangement with respect to a projected light beam. Multiple sets of such filters are spaced along the axis of the light beam to vary the color of the light beam emitted from the instrument. A motorized mechanism rotates each filter of each set in synchronization with each other and independently with respect to filters of the other sets. The filters may be rotated by the motorized mechanism through flexible coupling mechanisms. The filters also may be positioned to pass unfiltered light to vary the saturation of the light beam.

Claims

1. In a lighting instrument comprising a frame having a longitudinal axis;

first and second longitudinally spaced sets of color filters supported by the frame, each color filter being characterized in that light passing through the filter varies in color depending upon the angular orientation of the filter with respect to the light beam, the filters of each set being pivotable about axes intersecting the longitudinal axis;

first and second annular actuating members supported by the frame and rotatable about the longitudinal axis;

first set of pivoting actuators coupling filters of the first set to the first annular actuating member;

second set of pivoting actuators coupling filters of the second set to the second annular actuating member;

first drive means for driving the first annular actuating member for pivoting the first set of filters; and

second drive means for driving the second annular actuating member for pivoting the second set of filters independently from the pivoting action of the first set of filters;

the improvements comprising;

a semi-flexible ring utilized as either said first or said second annular actuating member, said ring encircling the frame and being supported on said frame by a plurality of rollers, said ring and said rollers comprising an actuating member adaptable to deviations in the circularity of said frame; and

a plurality of flexible coupling means coupling said filters to said ring.

2. The lighting instrument of claim 1, said coupling means including a plurality of coupling blocks pivotally mounted on said ring, and a plurality of pivoting filter carriers each having a shaft passing through said frame, said carriers including a flexible rod coupled to said shaft, said rod extending through a hole formed in said coupling blocks.

3. The lighting instrument of claim 1, further including:

a hub mounted within said frame, said hub including a plurality of receptacles supporting a plurality of filter carriers supporting said filters, said hub further including compressing devices mounted within the hub, said compressing devices engaging the filter carriers supported on said hub, said compressing devices urging said filter carriers against an inner surface of said frame.

4. The lighting instrument of claim 1, further including:

a plurality of slots formed in said ring, and a plurality of guide pins secured to said frame, said guide pins passing through said slots, said slots and said guide pins comprising axial positioning means maintaining the position of said annular actuating members along the longitudinal axis of said frame;

5. A lighting instrument comprising:

a frame having a longitudinal axis, said frame includes at least one set of openings disposed at spaced-apart intervals along the perimeter of said frame;

at least one set of color filters for varying the color of light passing through the filters, said filters being disposed generally radially about said longitudinal axis, each of said filters being rotatably mounted for rotation about an axis generally transverse to the longitudinal axis;

a motor having a motor shaft;

a ring disposed substantially concentrically with respect to said frame and rotatably supported on said frame, said ring includes a connecting member for engaging said motor shaft for rotating said ring correspondingly to the rotation of said motor;

a plurality of coupling blocks pivotally mounted on said ring; and

means for flexibly linking said filters to said coupling blocks through said openings in said frame for rotating each of said filters about its respective axis when said ring rotates about said longitudinal axis.

6. The lighting instrument of claim 5 further including a plurality of pivoting filter carriers for supporting said filters.

7. The lighting instrument of claim 6, wherein said filter carriers include means for limiting the range of rotation of said filters in a first position in which the color filters are parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second position in which the edge portions of the color filters overlap without contact.

8. The lighting instrument of claim 5, further including a hub mounted within said frame, said hub including means for flexibly engaging said color filters.

9. The lighting instrument of claim 5, further including a plurality of guide pins secured to said frame and a plurality of slots formed in said ring for passing through said guide pins for maintaining the position of said ring along the longitudinal axis of said frame.

10. A lighting instrument comprising:

a frame having a longitudinal axis;

a light source disposed at one end of the frame for projecting a beam of light through the frame in the direction of the longitudinal axis;

at least one set of color filters for varying the color of light passing through the color filters, said color filters being disposed generally radially about said longitudinal axis;

a semi-flexible ring disposed about the circumference of said frame and flexibly coupled to said color filters; and

a drive mechanism coupled to said ring for rotating each filter about an axis of rotation generally transverse to said longitudinal axis.

11. The lighting instrument of claim 10 wherein said ring is supported on said frame by a plurality of rollers.

12. The lighting instrument of claim 10 wherein said ring includes slots for passing guide pins, said guide pins are secured to said frame for maintaining the position of said ring along the longitudinal axis of said frame.

13. The lighting instrument of claim 10, further including a plurality of filter carries and a hub mounted within said frame having means for flexibility engaging the filter carriers and urging said filter carries against an inner surface of said frame.

14. The lighting instrument of claim 10 wherein said drive mechanism is controllable by a microprocessor.

15. The lighting instrument of claim 10 wherein said drive mechanism includes drive data stored in memory.

16. The lighting instrument of claim 10 wherein said drive mechanism is remotely controlled.