Method and apparatus for bidirectional control of the color and diffusion of a light beam

• US 7,703,947 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2006
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Syncrolite, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Omnicolor, L.P.
• Inventors: Stone, Kevin, Calmes, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Y My Quach
• Application Number:
  US11/593,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20080106901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 362/278, 362/280, 362/281, 362/282, 362/283, 362/284, 362/293, 362/294, 362/320, 362/322, 362/323, 362/324, 359/889, 359/891, 359/892
• US Class Current: 362/278
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/006 by means of optical elements, e.g. films, filters or screens, being rolled up around a roller
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/08 by movement of the screens or filters
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/02 with provision for adjustment F21V17/04 - F21V17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/40 with provision for controlling spectral properties, e.g. colour, or intensity

Abstract

A light fixture includes a flexible color filter material coupled to a scrolling mechanism that moves the material in a first direction to position a selected portion of the color filter material in a part of a light beam from the fixture. A device coupled to the mechanism may move the mechanism in a second direction so that another part of the light beam passes unfiltered. Different areas of the color filter material produce different colors. The device may move the mechanism in a direction parallel to a plane of the color filter material. The device may rotate the scrolling mechanism about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the plane of the color filter material. The color filter material may include a dichroic filter. The light fixture may also include a second scrolling mechanism coupled to flexible diffusion material, such that at least a part of the light beam of the light fixture may be diffused by a predetermined amount.

Claims

1. A light fixture, comprising:

a light source;

a flexible material coupled to a scrolling mechanism, the scrolling mechanism operable to move the flexible material in a first direction and to position a selected portion of the flexible material such that a first part of a beam of light from the light source passes through the selected portion of the flexible material, wherein the flexible material comprises first and second areas causing corresponding first and second predetermined amounts of color filtration of the beam of light;

a device coupled to the scrolling mechanism operable to move the scrolling mechanism in a second direction that is different from the first direction and to position the flexible material such that a second part of the beam of light does not pass through the selected portion of the flexible material; and

a second flexible material coupled to a second scrolling mechanism, the second scrolling mechanism operable to position a selected portion of the second flexible material such that the beam of light passes through the selected portion of the second flexible material, wherein the second flexible material comprises first and second areas producing corresponding first and second predetermined amounts of diffusion of the beam of light, and wherein the first and second areas of the second flexible material integrate the first part and the second part of the beam of light to produce a blended color.

2. The light fixture of claim 1, further comprising:

a third flexible material coupled to a third scrolling mechanism, the third scrolling mechanism operable to move the flexible material in a third direction and to position a selected portion of the third flexible material such that a third part of the beam of light passes through the selected portion of the third flexible material,

wherein the third flexible material comprises first and second areas causing corresponding first and second predetermined amounts of color filtration of the beam of light.

3. The light fixture of claim 2, further comprising:

a second device coupled to the third scrolling mechanism operable to move the third scrolling mechanism in a fourth direction that is different from the third direction and to position the third flexible material such that a fourth part of the beam of light does not pass through the selected portion of the third flexible material.

4. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein a surface of the flexible material is substantially planar and the device moves the scrolling mechanism in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the surface of the flexible material.

5. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein a surface of the flexible material is substantially planar and the device rotates the scrolling mechanism about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the plane of the surface of the flexible material.

6. The light fixture of claim 5, wherein one of the first and second areas of the flexible material comprises a dichroic filter.

7. For use in a light fixture, a method of controlling characteristics of a beam of light, comprising:

moving a flexible material with a scrolling mechanism in a first direction to position a selected portion of the flexible material in a first part of the beam of light such that the selected portion of the flexible material produces a first predetermined amount of color filtration of the beam of light;

moving the scrolling mechanism in a second direction that is different from the first direction to position the flexible material such that a second part of the beam of light does not pass through the selected portion of the flexible material;

moving a second flexible material with a second scrolling mechanism to position a first portion of the second flexible material in the beam of light such that the first portion of the second flexible material produces a first predetermined amount of diffusion of the beam of light; and

moving the second flexible material with the second scrolling mechanism to position a second portion of the second flexible material in the beam of light such that the second portion of the second flexible material produces a second predetermined amount of diffusion of the beam of light,

wherein the first and second portions of the second flexible material integrate the first part and the second part of the beam of light to produce a blended color.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising moving a third flexible material with a third scrolling mechanism in a third direction to position a selected portion of the third flexible material in a third part of the beam of light such that the selected portion of the third flexible material produces a second predetermined amount of color filtration of the beam of light.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising moving the third scrolling mechanism in a fourth direction that is different from the third direction to position the third flexible material such that a fourth part of the beam of light does not pass through the selected portion of the third flexible material.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein a surface of the flexible material is substantially planar and moving the scrolling mechanism comprises moving the scrolling mechanism in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the surface of the flexible material.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein a surface of the flexible material is substantially planar and moving the scrolling mechanism comprises rotating the scrolling mechanism about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the plane of the surface of the flexible material.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the selected portion of the flexible material comprises a dichroic filter.

13. An apparatus for controlling characteristics of a beam of light, comprising:

a flexible material coupled to a scrolling mechanism, the scrolling mechanism operable to move the flexible material in a first direction and to position a selected area of the flexible material such that a first part of the beam of light passes through the selected area of the flexible material, wherein the flexible material comprises first and second areas causing corresponding first and second predetermined amounts of color filtration of the beam of light;

a device coupled to the scrolling mechanism operable to move the scrolling mechanism in a second direction that is different from the first direction and to position the flexible material such that a second part of the beam of light does not pass through the selected area of the flexible material; and

a second flexible material coupled to a second scrolling mechanism, the second scrolling mechanism operable to position a selected area of the second flexible material such that the beam of light passes through the selected area of the second flexible material, wherein the second flexible material comprises first and second areas producing corresponding first and second predetermined amounts of diffusion of the beam of light, and wherein the first and second areas of the second flexible material integrate the first part and the second part of the beam of light to produce a blended color.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a third flexible material coupled to a third scrolling mechanism, the third scrolling mechanism operable to move the flexible material in a third direction and to position a selected area of the third flexible material such that a third part of the beam of light passes through the selected area of the third flexible material,

wherein the third flexible material comprises first and second areas causing corresponding first and second predetermined amounts of color filtration of the beam of light.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising

a second device coupled to the third scrolling mechanism operable to move the third scrolling mechanism in a fourth direction that is different from the third direction and to position the third flexible material such that a fourth part of the beam of light does not pass through the selected area of the third flexible material.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a surface of the flexible material is substantially planar and the device moves the scrolling mechanism in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the surface of the flexible material.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a surface of the flexible material is substantially planar and the device rotates the scrolling mechanism about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the plane of the surface of the flexible material.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein one of the first and second areas of the flexible material comprises a dichroic filter.