Lighting system with variable shaped beam

• US 6,048,080 A
• Filed: 04/01/1997
• Issued: 04/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls Incorporated
• Original Assignee: High End Systems Incorporated (Electronic Theatre Controls Incorporated)
• Inventors: Belliveau, Richard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US08/834,668
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 353/81, 353/84, 353/88, 353/97, 353/100-102, 359/234, 359/235, 359/619, 359/621, 359/622, 359/624-626, 359/628, 359/799, 359/800, 359/813, 359/814, 359/888, 359/889, 359/455-458, 359/821, 362/280-284, 362/293, 362/294, 362/268, 362/322-324, 362/332
• US Class Current: 362/282
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/00 Lighting devices or systems producing a varying lighting effect
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/06 by movement of refractors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/635
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/677 the fans being used for discharging
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/75 with fins or blades having different shapes, thicknesses or spacing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/763 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/28 characterised by coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/04 for filtering out infrared radiation dichroic reflectors F21V7/22; using liquid-filled chambers F21V9/12
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2026 Gas discharge type light sources, e.g. arcs

Abstract

A lens for use in a light fixture provided to project a beam of light in a first light pattern having a first cross-sectional geometry. A lenticular lens element is supported in the fixture and movable into a position to interrupt the beam of light for selecting beam shape by altering the first projected light pattern from the first cross-sectional geometry to a second cross-sectional geometry different from the first geometry and for moving the second pattern to a desired orientation. The lens element may be carried by a disc rotatably mounted in the fixture. The disc may carry a plurality of lens elements which can also change the orientation of the projected light patterns.

Claims

1. A lens system for modifying the cross-sectional geometry of a projected light beam comprising:

a lenticular lens with lenticular elements having an angular orientation as viewed by the light beam;

a rotatable mounting for the lenticular lens which positions the lens relative to the light beam so that only a portion of the lens will intercept the light beam and as the lens rotates different portions of the lens intercept the light beam wherein the angular orientation of the elements changes relative to the light beam can vary between zero and over 180 degrees; and

a second moveable lenticular lens with lenticular elements wherein the second lens is moveable relative to the light beam such that the lens passes through different portions of the light beam.

2. A lens system for modifying the cross-sectional geometry of a projected light beam comprising:

a lenticular lens with lenticular elements having an angular orientation as viewed by the light beam;

a rotatable mounting for the lenticular lens which positions the lens relative to the light beam so that only a portion of the lens will intercept the light beam and as the lens rotates different portions of the lens intercept the light beam wherein the angular orientation of the elements changes as the lens moves relative to the light beam; and

a second lenticular lens with lenticular elements, and

a second rotatable mounting for the second lens which positions the second lens relative to the light beam so that only a portion of the second lens will intercept the light beam and as the second lens rotates different portions of the second lens intercept the light beam wherein the lenticular elements of both lenses have angular orientations as viewed by the light beam wherein the respective angular orientation of the elements changes as the respective lens rotates relative to the light beam whereby the two lenses can be used in combination or in series in the light beam.

3. The lens system of claim 2 wherein the lenses can be rotated into the light beam in series so that the angular orientation of the lenticlular elements as viewed by the light beam rotate over 270 degrees.

4. The lens system of claim 2 wherein the lenses can be rotated into the light beam in series so that the angular orientation of the lenticular elements as viewed by the light beam rotate at least 180 degrees.

5. The lens system of claim 2 wherein the lens can move relative to the light beam into a position where the light beam is uninterrupted by the lens.

6. The lens system of claim 4 wherein the second lens can move so that the orientation of the lenticular elements as viewed by the light beam can complete the 360 degree rotation where a portion of the plurality of degrees of rotation is accomplished by the first lenticular lens.