Variable beam light emitting diode light source system

• US 6,585,395 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2001
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Altman Stage Lighting Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Altman Stage Lighting Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Luk, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Negron, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US09/815,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20020136010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 362/250, 362/372
• US Class Current: 362/249.02
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/02 by movement of light sources in vehicle head lamps F21S41/657
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/02 with provision for adjustment, e.g. for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/10 on concave supports or substrates, e.g. on the inner side of bowl-shaped supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]

Abstract

A light source for stage, theatrical and architectural lighting that includes a plurality of separate flat and rigid panels for mounting a plurality of light emitting diodes that emit light beams to a common focus area, each separate panel having grouped diodes of the plurality of diodes, and having inner and outer panel portions. A housing for the panels has a center base portion and an aperture/plane rim transverse to an axis aligned with the center base portion. A first connection flexibly secures each outer panel portion to the rim. A screw positions the panels at selected positions wherein each is oriented at a selected angle relative to the axis and the diodes emit light beams transverse to each separate panel. A second connection flexibly secures each inner panel portion to the screw. The panels hold the diodes and include circuit boards for powering the diodes. The screw is elongated and rotatably aligned with the axis of and threaded to a nut at its outer end portion, and its inner end portion being rotatably mounted to the center base portion.

Claims

1. A diode light source system for stage, theatrical and architectural lighting, comprising

a plurality of separate, rigid flat Panels for mounting a plurality of light emitting diodes that emit a plurality of diode light beams to a common focus area, each said separate panel being mounted with a plurality of grouped diodes of said plurality of diodes, each said separate panel having an outer panel portion and an inner panel portion, wherein said plurality of diodes are oriented perpendicular to said flat panels and emit said diode light beams perpendicular to said flat panels;

a housing for containing said panels, said housing having a center base portion and a circular rim defining a housing aperture aligned with a circular rim plane having a rim plane center arranged transverse to an axis aligned with said center base portion,

first connecting means for flexibly securing each said outer diode panel portion to said rim,

a screw arrangement for positioning said panels at a plurality of selected positions wherein each of said panels is oriented at a selected angle relative to said axis and said grouped diodes emit diode light beams transverse to each said separate panel, wherein said screw arrangement comprises an elongated externally threaded cylinder and a correspondingly internally threaded cylindrical nut, said externally threaded cylinder being threadably mounted within said cylindrical nut, said externally threaded cylinder being aligned with said axis, said externally threaded cylinder having opposed inner and outer end portions, said inner end portion being rotatably mounted to said housing at said center base portion and said outer end being spaced outwardly from said circular rim plane, said externally threaded cylinder being aligned with and rotatable about said axis; and

second connecting means for flexibly securing each said inner panel portion to said screw arrangement, and

electrical circuit means associated with said panels for transmitting and controlling direct current electrical voltage to said plurality of diodes.

2. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said light emitting diodes are white light emitting diodes.

3. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said light emitting diodes are colored light emitting diodes.

4. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said light emitting diodes are light emitting diodes selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue and white light emitting diodes.

5. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said colored light emitting diodes are colored light emitting diodes selected from the group consisting of cyan, yellow and magenta light emitting diodes.

50. The diode light source system in accordance with any one of claims 1, 11, 33, 23, or 43, wherein said second connecting means flexibly secures each of said inner panel portions to said cylindrical nut.

51. The diode light source system in accordance with any one of claims 1, 11, 33, 23 or 43, wherein said inner end portion of said externally threaded cylinder is positioned external to said housing at said center base portion, and further including a handwheel connected to said inner portion.

52. The diode light source system in accordance with any one of claims 1, 11, 33, 23 or 43, further including an outer stop member connected to said outer end portion of said externally threaded cylinder.

53. The diode light source system in accordance with any one of claims 1, 11, 33, 23 or 43, further including an inner stop member connected to said external threaded cylinder spaced from said inner end portion.

54. The diode light source system in accordance with any one of claims 1, 11, 28, 16, 18, 23 or 41, wherein in one of said plurality of selected positions, said panels are oriented in a normal panel mode at a 90 degree angle relative to said axis and said diode light beams are oriented parallel relative to said axis wherein said diode light beams are in a normal beam mode.

55. The diode light source system in accordance with any one of claims 1, 11, 28, 16, 18, 23 or 41, wherein in one of said plurality of said selected positions, said panels are oriented at a selected common obtuse angle mode relative to said axis wherein said diode light beams are in a converging mode.

56. The diode light source system in accordance with any one of claims 1, 11, 28, 16, 18, 23 or 41, wherein in one of said plurality of said selected positions, said panels are oriented at a selected common acute angle mode relative to said axis wherein said diode light beams are in a diverging mode.

6. A diode light source system for stage, theatrical and architectural lighting, comprising

a plurality of separate flat panels for mounting a plurality of light emitting diodes that emit a plurality of diode light beams to a common focus area, each said separate panel being mounted with a plurality of grouped diodes of said plurality of diodes, each said separate panel having an outer panel portion and an inner panel portion,

a housing for containing said panels, said housing having a center base portion and a circular rim defining a housing aperture aligned with a circular rim plane having a rim plane center arranged transverse to an axis aligned with said center base portion,

first connecting means for flexibly securing each said outer diode panel portion to said rim, wherein said first connecting means is a flexible, biasable outer connecting member having a cylindrical configuration, and said flexible outer connecting member is creased to fold between a normal position in accordance with said normal mode of said panels and to an expanded position in accordance with said acute angle mode of said panels and with said obtuse angle mode of said panels;

a screw arrangement for positioning said panels at a plurality of selected positions wherein each of said panels is oriented at a selected angle relative to said axis and said grouped diodes emit diode light beams transverse to each said separate panel,

second connecting means for flexibly securing each said inner panel portion to said screw arrangement, and

electrical circuit means associated with said panels for transmitting and controlling direct current electrical voltage to said plurality of diodes.

7. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said flat panels are rigid.

8. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 7, wherein in one of said plurality of selected positions, said panels are oriented in a normal panel mode at a 90 degree angle relative to said axis and said diode light beams are oriented parallel relative to said axis wherein said diode light beams are in a normal beam mode.

9. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 7, wherein in one of said plurality of said selected positions, said panels are oriented at a selected common obtuse angle mode relative to said axis wherein said diode light beams are in a converging mode.

10. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 7, wherein in one of said plurality of said selected positions, said panels are oriented at a selected common acute angle mode relative to said axis wherein said diode light beams are in a diverging mode.

11. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said screw arrangement comprises an elongated externally threaded cylinder and a correspondingly internally threaded cylindrical nut, said externally threaded cylinder being threadably mounted.

12. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said panels are of equal size and configuration.

13. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 12, wherein each of said panels is generally configured as a wedge.

14. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 13, wherein each said outer portion of said panels is shaped as a panel outer arc and said housing has an arced inner surface, said panel outer arc being conformed with said housing arced inner surface.

15. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 13, wherein each said inner portion of said panels is shaped as a panel inner arc and said cylindrical nut has an arced outer surface, said panel inner arc being conformed with said arced outer surface of said cylindrical nut.

16. A diode light source system for stage, theatrical and architectural lighting, comprising

a plurality of separate flat panels for mounting a plurality of light emitting diodes that emit a plurality of diode light beams to a common focus area, each said separate panel being mounted with a plurality of grouped diodes of said plurality of diodes, each said separate panel having an outer panel portion and an inner panel portion,

a housing for containing said panels, said housing having a center base portion and a circular rim defining a housing aperture aligned with a circular rim plane having a rim plane center arranged transverse to an axis aligned with said center base portion, and said housing defines a concave hollow volume having an inner surface symmetrical with said axis and with said separate diode panels and with each of said plurality of said grouped diodes at each of said plurality of selected positions;

and wherein said inner surface is a mircroreflective surface;

first connecting means for flexibly securing each said outer diode panel portion to said rim,

a screw arrangement for positioning said panels at a plurality of selected positions wherein each of said panels is oriented at a selected angle relative to said axis and said grouped diodes emit diode light beams transverse to each said separate panel,

second connecting means for flexibly securing each said inner panel portion to said screw arrangement, and

electrical circuit means associated with said panels for transmitting and controlling direct current electrical voltage to said plurality of diodes.

17. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said screw arrangement comprises an elongated externally threaded cylinder and a correspondingly internally threaded cylindrical nut, said externally threaded cylinder being threadably mounted within said cylindrical nut, said externally threaded cylinder being aligned with said axis, said externally threaded cylinder having opposed inner and outer end portions, said inner end portion being rotatably mounted to said housing at said center base portion and said outer end being spaced outwardly from said circular rim plane, said externally threaded cylinder being aligned with and rotatable about said axis.

18. A diode light source system for stage, theatrical and architectural lighting, comprising

a plurality of separate flat panels for mounting a plurality of light emitting diodes that emit a plurality of diode light beams to a common focus area, each said separate panel being mounted with a plurality of grouped diodes of said plurality of diodes, each said separate panel having an outer panel portion and an inner panel portion, wherein each of said plurality of separate flat diode panels is unitary with a rigid electrical circuit board;

a housing for containing said panels, said housing having a center base portion and a circular rim defining a housing aperture aligned with a circular rim plane having a rim plane center arranged transverse to an axis aligned with said center base portion,

first connecting means for flexibly securing each said outer diode panel portion to said rim,

a screw arrangement for positioning said panels at a plurality of selected positions wherein each of said panels is oriented at a selected angle relative to said axis and said grouped diodes emit diode light beams transverse to each said separate panel,

second connecting means for flexibly securing each said inner panel portion to said screw arrangement, and

electrical circuit means associated with said panels for transmitting and controlling direct current electrical voltage to said plurality of diodes.

19. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said first connecting means is a plurality of outer springs.

20. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said second connecting means is a plurality of inner springs.

21. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 18, further including connecting means for holding said plurality of light emitting diodes to said plurality of separate flat diode panels.

22. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said housing defines a concave hollow volume having an inner surface symmetrical with said axis and with said separate diode panels and with each of said plurality of said grouped diodes at each of said plurality of selected positions.

23. A diode light source system for stage, theatrical and architectural lighting, comprising

a plurality of separate flat panels for mounting a plurality of light emitting diodes that emit a plurality of diode light beams to a common focus area, each said separate panel being mounted with a plurality of grouped diodes of said plurality of diodes, each said separate panel having an outer panel portion and an inner panel portion,

a housing for containing said panels, said housing having a center base portion and a circular rim defining a housing aperture aligned with a circular rim plane having a rim plane center arranged transverse to an axis aligned with said center base portion, and said housing defines a concave hollow volume having an inner surface symmetrical with said axis;

and said inner surface is a microreflector surface;

first connecting means for flexibly securing each said outer diode panel portion to said rim,

a screw arrangement for positioning said panels at a plurality of selected positions wherein each of said panels is oriented at a selected angle relative to said axis and said grouped diodes emit diode light beams transverse to each said separate panel,

second connecting means for flexibly securing each said inner panel portion to said screw arrangement, and

electrical circuit means associated with said panels for transmitting and controlling direct current electrical voltage to said plurality of diodes.

24. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 23, wherein said screw arrangement comprises an elongated externally threaded cylinder and a correspondingly internally threaded cylindrical nut, said externally threaded cylinder being threadably mounted within said cylindrical nut, said externally threaded cylinder being aligned with said axis, said externally threaded cylinder having opposed inner and outer end portions, said inner end portion being rotatably mounted to said housing at said center base portion and said outer end being spaced outwardly from said circular rim plane, said externally threaded cylinder being aligned with and rotatable about said axis.

25. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 23, further including a cylindrical housing extension member connected to said housing rim portion and extending in alignment with said axis and having an extension member circular rim spaced from said housing rim, said extension member circular rim defining an extension member aperture having an extension member aperture plane transverse to said axis and further including a lens having a lens rim connected to said extension member circular rim and positioned in said extension member aperture plane.

26. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 25, wherein said externally threaded cylinder includes a cylindrical extension member aligned with said axis and extending outwardly from said outer end portion, said lens defining a central circular aperture aligned with said axis, said cylindrical extension member being positioned in said circular aperture and having a cylindrical extension member end spaced outwardly from said lens.

27. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 26, further including an extension member handwheel connected to said cylindrical extension member end.

28. A diode light source system for stage, theatrical and architectural lighting, comprising

a plurality of separate flat panels for mounting a plurality of light emitting diodes that emit a plurality of diode light beams to a common focus area, each said separate panel being mounted with a plurality of grouped diodes of said plurality of diodes, each said separate panel having an outer panel portion and an inner panel portion,

a housing for containing said panels, said housing having a center base portion and a circular rim defining a housing aperture aligned with a circular rim plane having a rim plane center arranged transverse to an axis aligned with said center base portion, said housing defines a concave hollow volume having an inner surface symmetrical with said axis;

and said inner surface is a microreflector surface;

first connecting means for flexibly securing each said outer diode panel portion to said rim,

a screw arrangement for positioning said panels at a plurality of selected positions wherein each of said panels is oriented at a selected angle relative to said axis and said grouped diodes emit diode light beams transverse to each said separate panel,

second connecting means for flexibly securing each said inner panel portion to said screw arrangement, said second connecting means is a flexible, biasable inner connecting member having a cylindrical configuration, and said flexible inner connecting member is creased to fold between a normal position in accordance with said normal mode of said panels and to an expanded position in accordance with said acute angle mode of said panels with said obtuse angle mode of said panels; and

electrical circuit means associated with said panels for transmitting and controlling direct current electrical voltage to said plurality of diodes.

29. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 28, wherein said first connecting means is at least one outer spring.

30. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 29, wherein said first connecting means is a plurality of outer springs.

31. The diode light source system m accordance with claim 28, wherein said screw arrangement comprises an elongated externally threaded cylinder and a correspondingly internally threaded cylindrical nut, said externally threaded cylinder being threadably mounted within said cylindrical nut, and eternally threaded cylinder being aligned with said axis, said externally threaded cylinder having opposed inner and outer end portions, said inner end portion being rotably mounted to said housing at said center base portion and said outer end being spaced outwardly from said circular rim plane, said externally threaded cylinder being aligned with and rotatable about said axis.

32. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 31, wherein said plurality of diodes are oriented perpendicular to said flat panels and emit said diode light beams perpendicular to said flat panels.

33. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 31, wherein said second connecting means flexibly secures each of said inner panel portions to said cylindrical nut.

34. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 31, wherein said inner end portion of said externally threaded cylinder is positioned external to said housing at said center base portion, and further including a handwheel connected to said inner end portion.

35. The diode light source system m accordance with claim 31, further including an outer stop member connected to said outer end portion of said externally threaded cylinder.

36. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 31, further including an inner stop member connected to said externally threaded cylinder spaced from said inner end portion.

37. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 28, wherein said second connecting means is at least one inner spring.

38. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 37, wherein said at least one inner spring is a plurality of inner springs.

39. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 37, wherein said at least one inner spring is a plurality of inner springs.

40. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 39, wherein said plurality of inner springs is a plurality of inner coil springs.

41. A diode light source system for stage, theatrical and architectural lighting, comprising

a plurality of separate flat panels for mounting a plurality of light emitting diodes that emit a plurality of diode light beams to a common focus area, each said separate panel being mounted with a plurality of grouped diodes of said plurality of diodes, each said separate panel having an outer panel portion and an inner panel portion, and wherein each said panel is a combined mounting board for holding said group of diodes and an electrical circuit board;

wherein each said panel has opposed flat sides, one side functioning as said mounting board and the opposed side functioning as said circuit board having electrical circuitry for operating said group of diodes and wherein said combination mounting board and circuit board is rigid;

a housing for containing said panels, said housing having a center base portion and a circular rim defining a housing aperture aligned with a circular rim plane having a rim plane center arranged transverse to an axis aligned with said center base portion,

first connecting means for flexibly securing each said outer diode panel portion to said rim,

a screw arrangement for positioning said panels at a plurality of selected positions wherein each of said panels is oriented at a selected angle relative to said axis and said grouped diodes emit diode light beams transverse to each said separate panel,

second connecting means for flexibly securing each said inner panel portion to said screw arrangement, and

electrical circuit means associated with said panels for transmitting and controlling direct current electrical voltage to said plurality of diodes.

42. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 41, wherein said first connecting means is a flexible outer connecting member having a cylindrical configuration.

43. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 42, wherein said flexible outer connecting member is biasable.

44. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 41, wherein said screw arrangement comprises an elongated externally threaded cylinder and a correspondingly internally threaded cylindrical nut, said externally threaded cylinder being threadably mounted within said cylindrical nut, said externally threaded cylinder being aligned with said axis, said externally threaded cylinder having opposed inner and outer end portions, said inner end portion being rotatably mounted to said housing at said center base portion and said outer end being spaced outwardly from said circular rim plane, said externally threaded cylinder being aligned with and rotatable about said axis.

45. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 44, wherein said plurality of diodes are oriented perpendicular to said flat panels and emit said diode light beams perpendicular to said flat panels.

46. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 45, wherein said flat panels are rigid.

47. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 41, wherein said first connecting means is a plurality of outer springs.

48. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 41, wherein said second connecting means is a plurality of inner springs.

49. The diode light source system in accordance with claim 41, wherein said light emitting diodes are selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, cyan, yellow, magenta and combinations thereof.