Control system for optical media in a luminaire

• US 6,979,106 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2003
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls Incorporated
• Inventors: de Peralta, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US10/655,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20050052872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 362/268, 362/321, 362/320, 362/352, 362/282, 362/283, 362/284
• US Class Current: 362/321
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 11/02 using parallel laminae or strips, e.g. of Venetian-blind type F21V11/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/02 with provision for adjustment F21V17/04 - F21V17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/107 using hinge joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios

Abstract

A zoom lens system includes a motor driven lens assembly that is movable on a track in a normal movement range for adjusting the light beam range angle of a luminaire. A pair or doors are pivoted to opposite sides of the frame of the lens assembly and are normally biased to an inactive position where the doors are parallel to and outside of the light path in the luminaire. The doors hold optical media such as diffuser gels. The lens assembly can be moved beyond the normal movement range to an actuation position where projections on the doors engage actuation abutments adjacent the track to move the doors to an active position overlying the lens with the optical media in the light path. A latch holds the door in the active position. The lens assembly can be moved beyond the actuation position to a deactivation position where a deactivation abutment releases the latch freeing the doors to return to the inactive positions.

Claims

1. A control system for optics in a luminaire having a light path, said control system comprising:

a luminaire housing;

a track extending along the light path in said housing;

a lens assembly including a lens frame mounted for movement along said track and including a lens in the light path;

a drive system including a drive motor for moving said lens frame;

a pair of doors pivotally mounted at opposite sides of said lens frame for movement between an inactive position generally parallel to said light path and an active position wherein said doors overlie said lens in the light path; and

a pair of actuation abutments adjacent said track;

each of said doors including a projection engageable with one of said actuation abutments in response to movement of said lens frame toward said actuation abutments;

said actuation abutments and said projections being constructed and arranged to move said doors from the inactive positions to the active positions in response to engagement of said projections with said actuation abutments.

2. A control system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a door latch on said lens frame retaining said doors in the active position.

3. A control system as claimed in claim 2, said latch comprising a magnet.

4. A control system as claimed in claim 2, said track including a normal movement range for said lens assembly and said actuation abutments being located in an actuation position beyond said normal movement range.

5. A control system as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a deactivation abutment located adjacent said track in a deactivation position, said actuation position being located between said deactivation position and said normal movement range, said deactivation abutment being in the path of said doors for releasing said latch in response to movement of said doors into said deactivation position.

6. A control system as claimed in claim 5, said actuation abutments being retractable to permit movement of said doors from said deactivation position to said normal movement range.

7. A control system as claimed in claim 6, said actuation abutments comprising pivotally mounted pawls.

8. A control system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a deactivation abutment adjacent said track in the path of movement of said doors for releasing said latch in response to contact of said doors with said deactivation abutment.

9. A control system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising optical media held by said doors.

10. A control system as claimed in claim 9, said optical media comprising gels.

11. A control system as claimed in claim 10, said gels comprising diffusers.

12. An apparatus for controlling an optical medium in a luminaire having a light path for a beam of light, said apparatus comprising:

a track in the luminaire extending along the light path;

a support mounted for movement along the track;

a motor for moving the support along the track;

a door pivotally mounted on said support for movement between an inactive position and an active position intersecting the light path;

said door including a carrier for the optical medium;

said door including an abutment surface; and

an actuator mounted adjacent said track in the path of said abutment surface for pivoting said door in response to contact between said abutment sand said actuator.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, said support comprising a lens frame for a lens.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, said door being pivotally mounted at one side of support, a second door pivotally mounted at an opposed side of said support.

15. A diffuser control system for a luminaire having a light path with a longitudinal axis, said diffuser control system comprising:

a lens frame positioned generally perpendicular to the light path axis;

a lens held by said frame in the light path;

a door including a diffuser medium;

said door being mounted to said lens frame for pivotal movement between an inactive position out of said light path and an active position wherein said diffuser medium intersects said light path;

an abutment;

an elongated support extending in the axial direction along the light path;

said lens frame being mounted on said support for movement of said lens frame and door in the axial direction along said support;

an abutment in the path of movement of said door;

said door including an actuating lever portion contacting said abutment for moving said door between said inactive and active positions.