Lighting fixture having two-speed color-changing mechanism

• US 7,497,595 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2006
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pentair Water Pool And Spa Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Pentair Water Pool And Spa Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Potucek, Kevin, Bachman, Robert, Mateescu, Michael V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Negron; Ismael
• Application Number:
  US11/463,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20060291213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 362/276, 362/282, 362/293, 362/284, 362/322, 362/324
• US Class Current: 362/284
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/007 using rotating transparent or colored disks, e.g. gobo wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 11/08 using diaphragms containing one or more apertures
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/89 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/00 Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0016 on lighting devices that also provide for direct lighting, e.g. by means of independent light sources, by splitting of the light beam, by switching between both lighting modes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0025 Combination of two or more reflectors for a single light source array of reflectors for a cluster of light sources F21V7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/40 with provision for controlling spectral properties, e.g. colour, or intensity
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Abstract

A lighting fixture having a color-changing mechanism, such as a color wheel, for cycling through a plurality of colors, such as by rotating, at a first speed and a second speed. The second speed is faster than the first speed. A position pulse device, such as a position sensor, generates a reference position pulse when the color-changing mechanism is at a predetermined color or position. A circuit periodically generates a master pulse. A control device causes the color-changing mechanism to cycle through the colors at the second speed when the reference position pulse is generated after the master pulse.

Claims

1. A lighting fixture comprising:

a color wheel;

a driver mechanism selectively rotating the color wheel at a first speed and a second speed, the second speed being faster than the first speed;

a position sensor generating a reference position pulse when the color wheel is at a predetermined position;

a circuit periodically generating a master pulse; and

a control device comparing relative timings of the reference position pulse and the master pulse and causing the driver mechanism to rotate the color wheel at the second speed when the reference position pulse is generated after the master pulse.

2. A lighting fixture comprising:

a color-changing mechanism cycling through a plurality of colors at a first speed and a second speed, the second speed being faster than the first speed;

a position pulse device generating a reference position pulse when the color-changing mechanism is at a predetermined color;

a circuit periodically generating a master pulse; and

a control device comparing relative timings of the reference position pulse and the master pulse and causing the color-changing mechanism to cycle through the colors at the second speed when the reference position pulse is generated after the master pulse.