Lighting apparatus with adjustable lenses or filters

• US 7,331,681 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2005
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• 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 C.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, LAURA K
• Application Number:
  US11/108,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20050231948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 362/16, 362/17, 362/18, 362/216, 362/244, 362/277, 362/282, 362/283, 362/284, 362/308, 362/326
• US Class Current: 362/18
• 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 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/33 annular
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0539 Ringflash
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

A lighting apparatus comprises a light panel having a panel frame, and a plurality of LEDs or other light elements secured to the panel frame. Lenses and/or filters are adjusted in distance from the light elements, by for example moving the lenses/filters into different slot positions of the frame, to alter characteristics of the emitted light. Focal lenses, diffusion lenses, and color filters may be used individually or in combination. A compound lens includes lens elements having different characteristics arranged in a pattern. Through groupwise control of the intensity of the light elements, the different characteristics are emphasized or de-emphasized. The light panel may have an integrated battery, and may be be mounted on a stand. The panel may be modular, allowing larger panels to be constructed from smaller panels.

Claims

1. An illumination system, comprising:

a light panel comprising a panel frame;

a plurality of semiconductor light elements disposed on the panel frame; and

an adjustable lens system for altering a characteristic of the light emitted by the semiconductor light elements, said adjustable lens system comprising a first focusing element for altering the light emitted by a first group of one or more of said semiconductor light elements and a second focusing element for altering the light emitted by a second group of one or more of said semiconductor light elements;

wherein said first focusing element and said second focusing element provide different beam spreading characteristics for the emitted light.

2. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of semiconductor light elements comprise light emitting dioides (LEDs) outputting light over a color temperature range suitable for image capture.

5. The illumination system of claim 1, further comprising a user-activated illumination control whereby said first group of semiconductor light elements and said second group of semiconductor light elements may be set to different illumination levels.

6. The illumination system of claim 5, wherein a single adjustment to said user-activated illumination control causes the illumination level of the first group of semiconductor light elements to increase simultaneously with a decrease in the illumination level of the second group of semiconductor light elements, and vice versa.

7. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said first focusing element comprises a first plurality of discrete lenses for said first group of semiconductor light elements, and wherein said second focusing element comprises a second plurality of discrete lenses for said second group of semiconductor elements, said first plurality of discrete lenses provided a different beam spread than said second plurality of discrete lenses.

8. The illumination system of claim 7, wherein said first plurality of discrete lenses and said second plurality of discrete lenses are on an integrated lens sheet.

9. The illumination system of claim 8, wherein said first plurality of discrete lenses and said second plurality of discrete lenses are disposed in an alternating pattern on said integrated lens sheet.

10. The illumination system of claim 9, wherein said first plurality of discrete lenses and said second plurality of discrete lenses are disposed in a checkerboard pattern on said integrated lens sheet.

11. The illumination system of claim 8, wherein said light panel comprises one or more sidewalls extending forward from the panel frame, said sidewalls having a plurality of slots for receiving said integrated lens sheet, said slots located different forward distances from the semiconductor light elements disposed on said panel frame, wherein placement of said integrated lens sheet in different slots varies the distance of the discrete lenses of the integrated lens sheet from the semiconductor light elements and thereby adjusts a selected characteristic of the emitted light in discrete steps.

12. The illumination system of claim 7, wherein a beam spread angle for said first plurality of discrete lenses is about 20 degrees, and wherein a beam spread angle for said second plurality of discrete lenses is about 50 degrees.

13. The illumination system of claim 7, further comprising a user-activated cross-fade control configured to provide cross-fading of a beam spread of the semiconductor light elements between a first beam spread angle and a second beam spread angle.

14. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said first group of semiconductor light elements and said second group of semiconductor light elements are distinct and non-overlapping.

15. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said first group of semiconductor light elements and said second group of semiconductor light elements comprise high-output, surface mount light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

16. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said portable frame comprises a plurality of heat-dissipating fins for releasing heat generated by said high-output, surface mount LEDs.

3. An illumination system comprising:

a light panel comprising a panel frame;

a plurality of semiconductor light elements disposed on the panel frame; and

an adjustable lens system for altering a characteristic of the light emitted by the semiconductor light elements, said adjustable lens system providing different beam spread angles for said semiconductor light elements through a user-activated electronic control;

wherein said light panel is adapted for being mounted to a movable camera apparatus, a stand, or a yoke.

4. The illumination system of claim 3, wherein said light panel comprises at least two sidewalls extending forward from the panel frame, said sidewalls having a plurality of slots for receiving a removable lens, said slots located different forward distances from the LEDs disposed on said panel frame, wherein placement of the removable lens in different slots varies the distance of the removable lens from the LEDs and thereby adjusts a selected characteristic of the emitted light in discrete steps.

47. The illumination system of claim 4, wherein a beam spread angle for said first plurality of discrete lenses is about 20 degrees, and wherein a beam spread angle for said second plurality of discrete lenses is about 50 degrees.

17. An illumination system, comprising:

a light panel comprising a panel frame;

a plurality of semiconductor light elements disposed on the panel frame; and

an adjustable lens system for altering a characteristic of the light emitted by the semiconductor light elements, said adjustable lens system comprising a first plurality of focusing elements for altering the light emitted by a first group of said semiconductor light elements and a second plurality of focusing elements for altering the light emitted by a second group of said semiconductor light elements;

wherein said first plurality of focusing elements and said second plurality of focusing elements provide different color temperature characteristics for the emitted light; and

wherein said first plurality of focusing elements and said second plurality of focusing elements are disposed in a checkerboard pattern.

18. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein said plurality of semiconductor light elements comprise light emitting dioides (LEDs).

19. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein said first plurality of focusing elements and said second plurality of focusing elements are disposed on a common lens sheet.

20. The illumination system of claim 19, wherein said portable frame comprises a plurality of slots for receiving said common lens sheet, whereby the effect of said first plurality of focusing elements and second plurality of focusing elements may be adjusted by placement in different slots.

21. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein said first plurality of focusing elements are individually integrated with the first group of semiconductor light elements, and wherein and said second plurality of focusing elements are individually integrated with the second group of semiconductor light elements.

22. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein focused light from said first plurality of semiconductor light elements is a daylight color temperature, and wherein focusing light from said second plurality of semiconductor light elements is a tungsten color temperature.

23. The illumination system of claim 17, further comprising a user-activated illumination control configured such that a adjustment in a first direction causes the illumination level of the first group of semiconductor light elements to increase simultaneously with a decrease in the illumination level of the second group of semiconductor light elements, and adjustment in a second direction causes the illumination level of the first group of semiconductor light elements to decrease simultaneously with an increase in the illumination level of the second group of semiconductor light elements.

24. A portable lighting unit suitable to provide proper illumination for lighting of a subject in film, television or video, comprising:

a portable frame having a mounting surface;

a plurality of high output semiconductor light elements disposed on said mounting surface, emitting light in one or both a daylight color temperature range and a tungsten color temperature range;

a heat sink for dissipating heat generated by said high output semiconductor light elements;

a first focusing element for altering the light emitted by a first group one or more of said high output semiconductor light elements; and

a second focusing element for altering the light emitted by a second group of one or more of said high output semiconductor light elements;

wherein said first focusing element and said second focusing element provide different beam spreading characteristics for the emitted light.

25. The portable lighting unit of claim 24, further comprising a user-activated control configured to allow cross-fading of beam spread between a first beam spread angle and a second beam spread angle.

26. The portable lighting unit of claim 25, wherein a single adjustment to said user-activated control causes an illumination level of the first group of one or more high output semiconductor light elements to increase simultaneously with a decrease in an illumination level of the second group of one or more high output semiconductor light elements, and vice versa, thereby effectuating cross-fading of beam spread by adjusting the relative intensities of illumination affected by said first focusing element and said second focusing element.

27. The portable lighting unit of claim 24, further comprising a user-activated illumination control for adjusting illumination levels of the first group of high output semiconductor light elements and the second group of high output semiconductor light elements.

28. The illumination system of claim 24, wherein said plurality of high output semiconductor light elements comprise high-output, surface mount light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

29. The illumination system of claim 28, wherein said portable frame comprises a plurality of heat-dissipating fins for releasing heat generated by said high-output, surface mount LEDs.

30. The illumination system of claim 24, wherein said first focusing element comprises a first plurality of discrete lenses for said first group of semiconductor light elements, and wherein said second focusing element comprises a second plurality of discrete lenses for said second group of semiconductor light elements, said first plurality of discrete lenses provided a different beam spread angle than said second plurality of discrete lenses.

31. The illumination system of claim 30, wherein said first plurality of discrete lenses and said second plurality of discrete lenses are on an integrated lens sheet.

32. The illumination system of claim 31, wherein said first plurality of discrete lenses and said second plurality of discrete lenses are disposed in an alternating pattern on said integrated lens sheet.

33. The illumination system of claim 32, wherein said first plurality of discrete lenses and said second plurality of discrete lenses are disposed in a checkerboard pattern on said integrated lens sheet.

34. The illumination system of claim 31, wherein said light panel comprises a plurality of slots for receiving said integrated lens sheet, said slots located different forward distances from the semiconductor light elements disposed on said panel frame, wherein placement of said integrated lens sheet in different slots varies the distance of the discrete lenses of the integrated lens sheet from the semiconductor light elements and thereby adjusts a selected characteristic of the emitted light in discrete steps.

35. The illumination system of claim 31, wherein a beam spread angle for said first plurality of discrete lenses is about 20 degrees, and wherein a beam spread angle for said second plurality of discrete lenses is about 50 degrees.

36. The illumination system of claim 24, wherein said portable frame is adapted for being mounted to a movable camera apparatus, a stand, or a yoke.

37. The illumination system of claim 24, wherein said portable frame is adapted for being pivotably mounted to a stand.

38. A portable lighting unit suitable to provide proper illumination for lighting of a subject in film, television or video, comprising:

a portable frame;

a circuit board providing a mounting surface and attached, directly or indirectly, to said portable frame;

a plurality of semiconductor light elements disposed on said mounting surface, emitting light in one or both a daylight color temperature range and a tungsten color temperature range;

a first focusing element for altering the light emitted by a first group one or more of said semiconductor light elements; and

a second focusing element for altering the light emitted by a second group of one or more of said semiconductor light elements;

wherein said first focusing element and said second focusing element provide different beam spreading characteristics for the emitted light.

39. The portable lighting unit of claim 38, further comprising a user-activated control configured to allow cross-fading of beam spread between a first beam spread angle and a second beam spread angle.

40. The portable lighting unit of claim 39, wherein a single adjustment to said user-activated control causes an illumination level of the first group of one or more semiconductor light elements to increase simultaneously with a decrease in an illumination level of the second group of one or more semiconductor light elements, and vice versa, thereby effectuating cross-fading of beam spread by adjusting the relative intensities of illumination affected by said first focusing element and said second focusing element.

41. The portable lighting unit of claim 38, further comprising a user-activated illumination control for adjusting illumination levels of the first group of semiconductor light elements and the second group of semiconductor light elements.

42. The illumination system of claim 38, wherein said plurality of semiconductor light elements comprise light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

43. The illumination system of claim 38, wherein said first focusing element comprises a first plurality of discrete lenses for said first group of semiconductor light elements, and wherein said second focusing element comprises a second plurality of discrete lenses for said second group of semiconductor light elements, said first plurality of discrete lenses provided a different beam spread angle than said second plurality of discrete lenses.

44. The illumination system of claim 43, wherein said first plurality of discrete lenses and said second plurality of discrete lenses are part of an integrated lens sheet.

45. The illumination system of claim 44, wherein said first plurality of discrete lenses and said second plurality of discrete lenses are arranged in an alternating pattern.

46. The illumination system of claim 45, wherein said first plurality of discrete lenses and said second plurality of discrete lenses are arranged in a checkerboard pattern.

48. The illumination system of claim 38, wherein said portable frame is adapted for being mounted to a movable camera apparatus, a stand, or a yoke.

49. The illumination system of claim 38, wherein said portable frame is adapted for being pivotably mounted to a stand.