Surface-mount semiconductor lighting apparatus

• US 7,140,742 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2005
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Litepanels Limited (Vitec Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Litepanels LLC (Litepanels)
• Inventors: Fisher, Ken S., Pohlert, Rudy G., Grosswendt, Pat, Baxter, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F
• Application Number:
  US10/906,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20050122705A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 362/3, 362/6, 362 11- 13, 362/16, 362/18, 362/293, 362/294, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/18
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/65 specially adapted for changing the characteristics or the distribution of the light, e.g. by adjustment of parts
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/06 by movement of refractors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/635
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/001 the light sources being semiconductors devices, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0885 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/116 Fixing lighting devices to arms or standards F21V21/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/02 Illuminating scene
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/03 Combinations of cameras with lighting apparatus; Flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0517 Housing
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0539 Ringflash
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/056 Connection with camera, e.g. adapter
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A lighting effects system comprises an arrangement of lamp elements, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or other light elements, on a panel or frame. The panel or frame may be relatively lightweight, and may include one or more circuit boards for direct mounting of the lamp elements. The panel or frame may have an opening through which a camera can view. A mounting bracket and assembly may be used for attaching the panel or frame to a camera. The lamp elements may be electronically controllable so as to provide differing intensity levels, collectively, individually, or in designated groups, and may be strobed, dimmed or otherwise controlled according to manually selected or programmable patterns. Different color lamp elements may be mounted on the same panel/frame, and, in particular, daylight and tungsten colored lamp elements may be mounted on the same panel/frame and their relative intensities selectively controlled by control circuitry.

Claims

1. A lighting system suitable to provide proper illumination for lighting of a subject in film or video, comprising:

a portable frame having a mounting surface;

a plurality of surface-mount semiconductor light elements disposed on said mounting surface, said semiconductor light elements emitting light within a color temperature range suitable for image capture, at least one of said semiconductor light elements individually emitting light in a daylight color temperature range or a tungsten color temperature range; and

a focusing element for affecting the focus and/or direction of the light emitted by said semiconductor light elements;

wherein said portable frame is adapted for being mounted to and readily disengaged from a stand.

2. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said focusing element comprises a lens or filter.

3. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said focusing element comprises a plurality of discrete lenses which mate individually with said surface-mount semiconductor light elements.

4. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said focusing element is manually attachable to and detachable from the portable frame.

5. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said focusing element is adjustable.

6. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said portable frame further comprises a stand adapter bracket configured to be mounted to and readily disengaged from said stand.

7. The lighting system of claim 6, wherein said stand adapter bracket comprises a yoke for mounting said portable frame, and wherein said portable frame is configured to swivel and/or tilt when mounted to said yoke.

8. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said semiconductor light elements comprise light emitting diodes (LEDs).

9. The lighting system of claim 8, wherein said LEDs are high output.

10. The lighting system of claim 9, wherein the rated power dissipation of said high output LEDs equals or exceeds one watt.

12. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said at least one semiconductor light element emits light at a color temperature within a range including approximately 5500–

7500 degrees Kelvin.

13. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said at least one semiconductor light element emits light at a color temperature of approximately 3200 degrees Kelvin.

14. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said semiconductor light elements each emit light at a substantially non-variable color temperature.

15. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein substantially all of said semiconductor light elements emit light at substantially the same color temperature.

16. The lighting system of claim 1, further including a color lens or color filter to adjust the light emitted from said semiconductor light elements.

17. The lighting system of claim 1, further including a diffusion lens or diffusion liter to adjust the light emitted from said semiconductor light elements.

18. The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising an intensity control circuit for adjusting the intensity of light output by the semiconductor light elements.

19. The lighting system of claim 18, wherein the illumination level of said semiconductor light elements is controlled using pulse width modulation.

20. The lighting system of claim 18, further comprising a controller configured to adjust separately the intensify levels of at least two distinct groups of semiconductor light elements.

21. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said frame comprises a printed circuit board, and wherein said semiconductor light elements are mounted to said printed circuit board.

22. The lighting system of claim 21, wherein said printed circuit board is thermally connected to heat dissipating extensions.

23. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said portable frame acts a heat sink to dissipate heat generated by said surface-mount semiconductor light elements.

24. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said semiconductor light elements provide a continuous source of illumination.

25. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the portable frame comprises an assembly physically encasing or mechanically attached to an integrated power source.

26. The lighting system of claim 25, wherein said integrated power source comprises a battery.

27. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said frame is substantially flat.

11. The fighting system of aim 9, wherein the rated power dissipation of said high output LEDs is approximately five watts.

28. A panel light for illuminating a subject in film or video, comprising:

a portable frame having a housing;

a printed circuit board within or attached to said housing;

a plurality of surface-mount light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed on said printed circuit board, said LEDs emitting light within a color temperature range suitable for film or video image capture; and

a focusing element for adjusting the focus and/or direction of the light emitted by said LEDs;

wherein said portable frame comprises heat-dissipating material and is in thermal communication with said printed circuit board so as to dissipate heat generated by said surface-mount LEDs; and

wherein said portable frame is adapted for being mounted to and readily disengaged from a stand.

29. The panel light of claim 28, wherein at least one of said LEDs individually emitting light in a daylight color temperature range or a tungsten color temperature range.