Method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a multi-parameter light

• US 6,621,239 B1
• Filed: 03/14/2000
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard S. Belliveau
• Original Assignee: Richard S. Belliveau
• Inventors: Belliveau, Richard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Wilson
• Application Number:
  US09/524,290
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 315/112-118, 315/312, 315/362, 315/308, 315/309, 315/307, 315/314, 315/316, 315/318, 315/324, 315/292-294
• US Class Current: 315/312
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/2856 against internal abnormal circuit conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/18 using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/56 involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Abstract

A multi-parameter light is a type of theater light that includes a lamp in combination with one or more optical components such as reflectors, lenses, filters, iris diaphragms, shutters, and so forth for creating special lighting effects, various electrical and mechanical components such as motors and other types of actuators, wheels, gears, belts, lever arms, and so forth for operating the optical components, suitable electronics for controlling the parameters of the multi-parameter light, and suitable power supplies for the lamp, motors, and electronics. Typically, the lamp is enclosed by the lamp housing, which also contains the other optical components and many of the electrical and mechanical components which operate them. As the lamp and the various components within the lamp housing generate a great deal of heat and as various environmental conditions such as ambient air temperature and humidity can affect the amount of heat dissipated by whatever cooling technique is used in the multi-parameter light, the temperature within the lamp housing is managed by controlling the amount of power furnished to the lamp in accordance with the temperature sensed by one or more thermal sensor(s) positioned in appropriate location(s) preferably inside the lamp housing or on one or more of the cooling system components. As the sensed temperature deviates from a desired temperature specification, the output of the power supply for the lamp is adjusted so that the heat generated by the lamp is modified in such a way as to bring the sensed temperature back into specification.

Claims

1. A multi-parameter theatre light comprising:

a housing;

a variable power supply having an output and a control input;

a lamp contained at least in part within the housing and coupled to the output of the variable power supply;

a theatre light parameter actuator contained at least in part within the housing;

a thermal sensor contained within the housing; and

a control circuit having an input coupled to the thermal sensor and an output coupled to the input of the variable power supply for controlling power to the lamp during operation as a function of input from the thermal sensor;

wherein the variable power supply is an IGBT power supply and the lamp is an arc lamp.

2. A multi-parameter theatre light comprising:

a housing;

a variable power supply having an output and a control input;

a lamp contained at least in part within the housing and coupled to the output of the variable power supply;

a theatre light parameter actuator contained at least in part within the housing;

a thermal sensor contained within the housing; and

a control circuit having an input coupled to the thermal sensor and an output coupled to the input of the variable power supply for controlling power to the lamp during operation as a function of input from the thermal sensor,

wherein the variable power supply is an SCR power supply and the lamp is an incandescent lamp.

3. A multi-parameter theatre tight comprising:

a housing;

a variable power supply having an output and a control input;

a lamp contained at least in part within the housing and coupled to the output of the variable power supply;

a theatre light parameter actuator contained at least in part within the housing;

a thermal sensor contained within the housing; and

a control circuit having an input coupled to the thermal sensor and an output coupled to the input of the variable power supply for controlling power to the lamp while the lamp is in operation as a function of input from the thermal sensor;

wherein the lamp comprises at least one LED.

4. A multi-parameter theatre light comprising:

a housing;

a variable power supply having an output and a control input;

a lamp contained at least in part within the housing and coupled to the output of the variable power supply;

a theatre light parameter actuator contained at least in part within the housing;

a thermal sensor contained within the housing;

an additional thermal sensor;

a forced air cooling system having a fan; and

a control circuit comprising a logic circuit having an input coupled to the thermal sensor and an output coupled to the control input of the variable power supply for controlling power to the lamp during operation as a function of input from the thermal sensor, and an additional logic circuit having an input coupled to the additional thermal sensor and an output coupled to the fan;

wherein the control circuit and the variable power supply are integrated into a control variable power supply.

5. A multi-parameter theatre light comprising:

housing means;

light source means contained at least in part within the housing means;

means for actuating a theatre light parameter contained at least in part within the housing means;

means for applying power to the light source means;

means for operating the actuating means;

means for monitoring temperature of the multi-parameter light or at least one component thereof as influenced by operation of the actuating means; and

means for adjusting power to the light source means while the tight source means is in operation and when the temperature monitoring means indicates a temperature that is discrepant with a predetermined temperature specification to bring the temperature of the multi-parameter light or at least one component thereof back to the predetermined temperature specification.

6. A method of controlling the operating temperature of a multi-parameter theatre light or at least one component thereof having a housing, a lamp contained at least in part within the housing, and at least one theatre light parameter actuator contained at least in part within the housing, comprising:

applying power to the lamp;

operating the theatre light parameter actuator;

monitoring the operating temperature to obtain a sensor signal indicative of the operating temperature as influenced by the theatre light parameter actuator operating step; and

adjusting power to the lamp while the lamp is in operation and when the sensor signal is discrepant with a predetermined temperature specification to bring the operating temperature back to the predetermined temperature specification.

7. A method as in claim 6 wherein:

the predetermined temperature specification is a temperature limit; and

the adjusting step comprises reducing power to the lamp when the sensor signal indicates a temperature in excess of the temperature limit to bring the operating temperature back to the predetermined temperature specification.

8. A method as in claim 6 wherein the predetermined temperature specification is a temperature range, and wherein the adjusting step comprises:

reducing power to the lamp when the sensor signal indicates a temperature above the temperature range to bring the operating temperature back to the predetermined temperature specification; and

increasing power to the lamp when the sensor signal indicates a temperature below the temperature range to bring the operating temperature back to the predetermined temperature specification.

9. A method as in claim 6 wherein the multi-parameter light further includes a forced air cooling system having a fan with a variable speed, further comprising:

operating the fan; and

adjusting the speed of the fan at times when the sensor signal is discrepant with the predetermined temperature specification to bring the operating temperature back to the predetermined temperature specification.

10. A method as in claim 6 further comprising modifying the theatre light parameter actuator operating step when the sensor signal is discrepant with the predetermined temperature specification to bring the operating temperature back to the predetermined temperature specification.

11. A multi-parameter theatre light comprising:

a housing;

a variable power supply having an output and a control input;

a lamp contained at least in part within the housing and coupled to the output of the variable power supply;

a theatre light parameter actuator contained at least in part within the housing;

a thermal sensor contained within the housing; and

a control circuit having an input coupled to the thermal sensor and an output coupled to the control input of the variable power supply for controlling power to the lamp while the lamp is in operation as a function of input from the thermal sensor.

12. A multi-parameter theatre light as in claim 11 wherein the control circuit comprises:

a microprocessor coupled to the control input of the variable power supply; and

a sensor interface circuit having an input coupled to the thermal sensor and an output coupled to the microprocessor.

13. A multi-parameter theatre light as in claim 11 further comprising a convection cooling system.

14. A multi-parameter theatre light as in claim 11 further comprising a forced air cooling system having a fan.

15. A multi-parameter theatre light as in claim 14 wherein the control circuit comprises:

a microprocessor coupled to the control input of the variable power supply;

a sensor interface circuit having an input coupled to the thermal sensor and an output coupled to the microprocessor; and

a fan control interface circuit having an input coupled to the microprocessor and an output coupled to the fan.

16. A multi-parameter theatre light as in claim 11 wherein the control circuit comprises a logic circuit having an input coupled to the thermal sensor and an output coupled to the control input of the variable power supply.

17. A multi-parameter theatre light as in claim 16 wherein the control circuit and the variable power supply are integrated into a controllable variable power supply.

18. A multi-parameter theatre light as in claim 17 further comprising a convection cooling system.

19. A multi-parameter theatre light as in claim 11 wherein the variable power supply is contained in the housing.

20. A multi-parameter theatre light as in claim 11 comprising an additional housing, the variable power supply being contained in the additional housing.

21. A method of controlling operating temperature of a theatre lighting device or at least one component thereof comprising a lamp that dissipates heat when in use, and at least one component that is related to a parameter of the theatre lighting device and dissipates heat when in use, the method comprising:

applying power to the lamp, wherein the operating temperature is influenced;

using the parameter during at least part of the power applying step to obtain a theatre effect, wherein the operating temperature is influenced; and

varying the power during the power applying step to maintain the operating temperature in conformity with a predetermined temperature specification.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein

the predetermined temperature specification is a temperature limit; and

the power varying step comprises reducing power to the lamp when the operating temperature increases beyond the temperature limit.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the predetermined temperature specification is a temperature range, and wherein the power varying step comprises:

reducing power to the lamp when the operating temperature rises above the temperature range; and

increasing power to the lamp when the operating temperature falls below the temperature range.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the theatre lighting device further comprises an exhaust vent and a thermal sensor disposed close to the exhaust vent, the operating temperature being represented at least in part by an electronic signal from the thermal sensor.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the theatre lighting device further comprises a heat sink and a thermal sensor disposed on the heat sink, the operating temperature being represented at least in part by an electronic signal from the thermal sensor.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein the theatre lighting device further comprises a thermal sensor disposed on the parameter-related component, the operating temperature being represented at least in part by an electronic signal from the thermal sensor.

27. The method of claim 21 wherein the theatre lighting device further comprises a thermal sensor disposed near the lamp, the operating temperature being represented at least in part by an electronic signal from the thermal sensor.

28. The method of claim 21 wherein the theatre lighting device further comprises a plurality of thermal sensors disposed so as to monitor general temperature conditions, temperature conditions of particular components, temperature conditions of particular places within the lamp housing, or any combination thereof, the operating temperature being represented at least in part by an electronic signal from the thermal sensors.

29. The method of claim 21 wherein the theatre lighting device further comprises a housing at least in part containing the lamp and the parameter, the temperature specification including a predetermined upper limit to prevent damage to the housing.

30. The method of claim 21 wherein the temperature specification includes a predetermined upper limit to avoid shut down of the lamp.

31. The method of claim 21 wherein the temperature specification includes a predetermined upper limit to avoid exceeding a temperature rating of the lamp.

32. The method of claim 21 wherein the theatre lighting device further comprises a power supply coupled to the lamp, the temperature specification including a predetermined upper limit to limit heat generation by the power supply.

33. The method of claim 21 wherein the temperature specification includes a predetermined lower limit to increase light output from the lamp under unusually favorable ambient conditions.

34. The method of claim 21 wherein the temperature specification includes a predetermined upper limit to modify use of the parameter.

35. The method of claim 21 wherein the theatre lighting device further comprises a cooling fan having a variable speed, the method further comprising:

operating the fan during at least part of the power applying step; and

adjusting operation of the fan during at least part of the power applying step to maintain the operating temperature in conformity with the predetermined temperature specification.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the fan operation adjusting stop and the power varying step at least partially overlap.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the fan operation adjusting step is limited to a selected fan speed to avoid excessive fan noise.

38. The method of claim 21 wherein the temperature specification includes a predetermined range to allow a better estimation of lamp life before failure.

39. The method of claim 21 wherein the temperature specification includes a predetermined range to achieve a desired temperature color uniformity.

40. The method of claim 21 wherein the temperature specification includes a predetermined range to maintain light output from the lamp at a relatively constant value.

41. A method of controlling a theatre lighting device comprising a lamp that dissipates heat when in operation, the method comprising:

applying power to the lamp;

monitoring the operating temperature of the lamp with at least one thermal sensor disposed in proximity to the lamp; and

varying the power during the power applying step in response to the monitoring step to maintain the operating temperature of the lamp in conformity with a predetermined temperature specification.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein:

the predetermined temperature specification is a temperature limit; and

the power varying step comprises reducing power to the lamp when the operating temperature of the lamp increases beyond the temperature limit.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein the predetermined temperature specification is a temperature range, and wherein the power varying step comprises:

reducing power to the lamp when the operating temperature of the lamp rises above the temperature range; and

increasing power to the lamp when the operating temperature of the lamp falls below the temperature range.

44. The method of claim 41 wherein the theatre lighting device further comprises a cooling fan, the method further comprising:

operating the fan during at least part of the power applying step; and

adjusting operation of the fan during at least part of the power applying step to maintain the operating temperature of the theatre lighting device in conformity with the predetermined temperature specification.