Image projection lighting device with variable homogeneity

• US 7,527,382 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard S. Belliveau
• Original Assignee: Richard S. Belliveau
• Inventors: Belliveau, Richard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dowling; William C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Owens; Danell L
• Application Number:
  US11/334,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20060119290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 353/20, 353/38, 353/84, 353/101, 353/102, 362/561, 362/317, 362/319, 362/324, 359/623, 359/624, 359/664, 359/619, 359/620, 359/621
• US Class Current: 353/38
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/048 with reverse phase control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Abstract

An image projection lighting device is provided which includes a variable homogenizing system. The variable homogenizing system may homogenize light projected by a lamp across a light valve. The variable homogenizing system may vary the light across the light valve from an existing state to a first state or from an existing state to a second state. The variable homogenizing system may be comprised of one or more lens arrays, which may be comprised of cylindrical or spherical lenses.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of

receiving a first operating address at a communications port of an image projection lighting device;

comparing the first operating address to a second operating address contained in a memory of the image projection lighting device;

receiving a command at the communications port to vary a variable homogenizing system; and

if the first operating address is the same as the second operating address then changing the image projection lighting device from an existing state to a first state in response to the command;

wherein the image projection lighting device which includes a first homogenizing system, a second homogenizing system, and a lamp;

wherein the lamp projects a light having a light path;

wherein in the existing state the first homogenizing system is in the light path and the second homogenizing system is not in the light path; and

wherein the step of changing the image projection lighting device from the existing state to the first state includes moving the first homogenizing system out of the light path and the second homogenizing system into the light path;

wherein when the first homogenizing system is in the light path, the first homogenizing system shapes the light projected by the lamp into a first pattern of light which has substantial homogeneity;

wherein when the second homogenizing system is in the light path, the second homogenizing system shapes the light projected by the lamp into a second pattern of light which has substantial homogeneity; and

wherein the first and the second patterns of light are different.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein

when the first homogenizing system is in the light path, the first homogenizing system shapes the light projected by the lamp into a first pattern of light, which is projected across a light valve;

wherein when the second homogenizing system is in the light path, the second homogenizing system shapes the light projected by the lamp into a second pattern of light, which is projected across a light valve.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein

moving the first homogenizing system out of the light path and the second homogenizing system into the light path is performed by an actuator.

4. The method of claim 3 further wherein

the actuator functions in response to signals sent by a motor control system.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein

the first homogenizing system and the second homogenizing system are bonded together.

6. A method comprising

varying a first uniformity of light intensity across a first light valve of a first image projection lighting device in response to a command received over a first communications port from a central controller;

and

varying a second uniformity of light intensity across a second light valve of a second image projection lighting device in response to a command received over a second communications port from the central controller.