Lighting device with beam altering mechanism incorporating a plurality of light souces

• US 6,474,837 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2000
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard S. Belliveau
• Original Assignee: Richard S. Belliveau
• Inventors: Belliveau, Richard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US09/716,713
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 362/35, 362/232, 362/293, 362/287, 362/282, 362/319, 362/242
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/08 by movement of the screens or filters
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/085 in portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/02 with provision for adjustment F21V17/04 - F21V17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• 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 9/083 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed incorporating a plurality of light sources, such as a plurality of lighting emitting diodes, and a beam altering mechanism for altering the light projected by the plurality of light sources. Several mechanisms for altering the beam produced by the plurality of light emitting diodes are disclosed. The present invention can be used in for example hand held flashlights and theatrical lighting. The present invention in one embodiment discloses a hand held flashlight incorporating a plurality of light sources and a beam altering mechanism capable of changing the color of the emitted light beam produced by the flashlight. The beam altering mechanism may be comprised of an aperture device, which may be an aperture plate, provided with a plurality of apertures that are strategically aligned with the individual light beams emitted from each of the plurality of light sources. In one embodiment additional apertures containing color modifying filters may also be strategically placed in the aperture device and these modifying filters can be aligned over each of the light sources by rotation of the aperture device. The aperture device may be round and may be mounted centrally to a substrate on which the plurality of light sources are mounted. The plurality of light sources can be arranged symmetrically to provide uniform illumination. The aperture device can be arranged with a plurality of apertures that contain light refractive optics that are strategically placed in the aperture device and provide a means for changing the focus of the overall beam produced by for example a flashlight. The plurality of light sources and the aperture device may be incorporated into a remote controlled lighting device.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising

a mounting substrate having a first light source and a second light source mounted thereon;

a first aperture device having a first aperture and a second aperture;

wherein the first aperture device can be aligned over the mounting substrate so that light from the first light source is emitted through the first aperture of the first aperture device and light from the second light source is emitted through the second aperture of the first aperture device; and

wherein the first aperture device is adjustably mounted to the mounting substrate so that the first aperture device can move with respect to the mounting substrate; and

the first aperture device is aligned with the mounting substrate to allow the emission of light from the first light source through the first aperture of the first aperture device and light from the second light source through the second aperture of the first aperture device by moving the first aperture device with respect to the mounting substrate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising

a second aperture device having a first aperture and a second aperture;

wherein the second aperture device can be aligned over the first aperture device so that light from the first light source is emitted through the first aperture of the first aperture device and then through the first aperture of the second aperture device;

and light from the second light source is emitted through the second aperture of the first aperture device and then through the second aperture of the second aperture device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first light source is a light emitting diode;

and

the second light source is a light emitting diode.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first aperture device can be aligned over the mounting substrate

so that the first aperture of the first aperture device is coaxially aligned over the first light source;

and the second aperture of the first aperture device is coaxially aligned over the second light source.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first aperture device is comprised of a third aperture and a fourth aperture;

and

wherein the first aperture device can be aligned over the mounting substrate so that light from the first light source is emitted through the third aperture of the first aperture device and light from the second light source is emitted through the fourth aperture of the first aperture device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first aperture device is comprised of an aperture plate which includes the first and second apertures.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein

the aperture plate of the first aperture device is round.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first aperture device is mounted centrally over the mounting substrate.

9. The aperture of claim 8 wherein

the first aperture device is rotatably mounted to the mounting substrate;

and

the first aperture device is aligned with the mounting substrate to allow the emission of light from the first light source through the first aperture of the first aperture device and light from the second light source through the second aperture of the first aperture device by rotating the first aperture device with respect to the mounting substrate.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

each of the light sources each emits broad-spectrum visible white light.

11. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein

each of the light emitting diodes emits broad-spectrum visible white light.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first aperture device is comprised of a transparent material.

13. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein

the aperture plate of the first aperture device is comprised of a transparent material.

14. The apparatus of claim 3 comprising

a multi-parameter lighting device;

and

wherein the substrate and the first aperture device are part of the multi-parameter lighting device.

15. The apparatus of claim 3 comprising

a multi-parameter lighting device;

and

wherein the substrate, the first aperture device, and the second aperture device are part of the multi-parameter lighting device.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 and wherein

the multi-parameter lighting device includes a communications address.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first aperture device includes a first color filter covering the first aperture and a second color filter covering the second aperture;

wherein the first aperture device can be aligned over the mounting substrate so that light from the first light source is emitted through the first color filter and the first aperture of the first aperture device and light from the second light source is emitted through the second color filter and the second aperture of the first aperture device.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein

the first color filter and the second color filter filter substantially the same frequency.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising

a first light refractive optic covering the first aperture of the first aperture device;

a second light refractive optic covering the second aperture of the first aperture device;

wherein the first aperture device can be aligned over the mounting substrate so that light from the first light source is emitted through the first light refractive optic and the first aperture of the first aperture device and light from the second light source is emitted through the second light refractive optic and the second aperture of the first aperture device.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein

the first light refractive optic and the second light refractive optic filter have substantially the same optical power.

25. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein

a first light refractive optic covering the first aperture of the first aperture device;

a second light refractive optic covering the second aperture of the first aperture device;

a third light refractive optic covering the third aperture of the first aperture device; and

a fourth light refractive optic covering the fourth aperture of the first aperture device;

wherein the first aperture device can be aligned over the mounting substrate in a first position so that light from the first light source is emitted through the first light refractive optic and the first aperture of the first aperture device and light from the second light source is emitted through the second light refractive optic and the second aperture of the first aperture device;

and wherein the first aperture device can be aligned over the mounting substrate in a second position so that light from the first light source is emitted through the third light refractive optic and the third aperture of the first aperture device and light from the second light source is emitted through the fourth light refractive optic and the fourth aperture of the first aperture device.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein

the first and second light refractive optics filter have substantially the same optical power;

and the third and fourth light refractive optics filter have substantially the same optical power.

27. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first aperture is a slotted aperture;

and

the second aperture is a slotted aperture.

28. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein

the first aperture and the third aperture are contained with a first slotted aperture;

and the second aperture and the fourth aperture are contained with a second slotted aperture.

29. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first light source is comprised of a first group of light sources;

and the second light source is comprised of a second group of light sources.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein

the first group of light sources is comprised of a first group of light emitting diodes;

the second group of light sources is comprised of a second group of light emitting diodes.

31. The apparatus of claim 19 herein

the first aperture device includes a third aperture and a fourth aperture;

wherein the third aperture permits light to pass through the third aperture and the first aperture device unfiltered;

wherein the fourth aperture permits light to pass through the fourth aperture and the first aperture device unfiltered;

wherein the first and third apertures are adjacent one another and the second and fourth apertures are adjacent one another.

32. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first aperture device includes a first variable density filter covering the first aperture and a second variable density filter covering the second aperture;

wherein the first aperture device can be aligned over the mounting substrate so that light from the first light source is emitted through the first variable density filter and the first aperture of the first aperture device and light from the second light source is emitted through the second variable density filter and the second aperture of the first aperture device.

17. An apparatus comprising

a mounting substrate having a first light source and a second light source mounted thereon;

a first aperture device having a first aperture and a second aperture;

wherein the first aperture device can be aligned over the mounting substrate so that light from the first light source is emitted through the first aperture of the first aperture device and light from the second light source is emitted through the second aperture of the first aperture device further comprising

a flashlight; and

wherein the mounting substrate and the first aperture device are part of the flashlight.

18. An apparatus comprising

a mounting substrate having a first light source and a second light source mounted thereon;

a first aperture device having a first aperture and a second aperture;

wherein the first aperture device can be aligned over the mounting substrate so that light from the first light source is emitted through the first aperture of the first aperture device and light from the second light source is emitted through the second aperture of the first aperture device; and

further comprising a masking device which prevents light from the first light source and the second light source from passing through the masking device if the light is emitted in a first direction.

21. An apparatus comprising

a mounting substrate having a first light source and a second light source mounted thereon;

a first aperture device having a first aperture and a second aperture;

wherein the first aperture device can be aligned over the mounting substrate so that light from the first light source is emitted through the first aperture of the first aperture device and light from the second light source is emitted through the second aperture of the first aperture device;

wherein the first aperture device is mounted over the mounting substrate; and

further comprising a first color filter covering the first aperture of the first aperture device;

a second color filter covering the second aperture of the first aperture device;

a third color filter covering the third aperture of the first aperture device; and

a fourth color filter covering the fourth aperture of the first aperture device;

wherein the first aperture device can be aligned over the mounting substrate in a first position so that light from the first light source is emitted through the first color filter and the first aperture of the first aperture device and light from the second light source is emitted through the second color filter and the second aperture of the first aperture device;

and wherein the first aperture device can be aligned over the mounting substrate in a second position so that light from the first light source is emitted through the third color filter and the third aperture of the first aperture device and light from the second light source is emitted through the fourth color filter and the fourth aperture of the first aperture device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein

the first and second color filters filter substantially the same frequency;

and the third and fourth color filters filter substantially the same frequency.