Animated light source and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A light source, comprising:
- a light emitting portion for projecting a beam of light to illuminate a surface,the light emitting portion consisting of a pair of first and second emitter means only,the first and second emitter means being of the same color,a control circuit for controlling the selective energization of each one of the first and second emitter means individually to form the beam of light to illuminate the surface,the first and second emitter means being arranged symmetrically about a center point of the light emitting portion,the control circuit for selectively energizing the first emitter means continuously alternatingly transitioning between a first intensity level and a second intensity level while the light source is energized without remaining at a constant intensity level,the control circuit for selectively energizing the second emitter means continuously alternatingly transitioning between the first level and the second level without remaining at a constant intensity level in an inverse manner relative to the transitioning of the first emitter means while the light source is energized so that the first and second emitter means provide substantially constant illumination on the surface for a user, andthe control circuit for selectively energizing the first and second emitter means alternatingly repeatedly continuously in an inversely proportional manner at all times while the light source is energized to provide the appearance of motion of light along the beam to an observer while projecting a substantially constant steady light intensity on the surface to be illuminated.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An animated light source and method are provided. The light source may include a plurality of solid-state emitters and a control circuit for controlling the selective energization of the emitters individually to from a beam of light along an axis. The emitters may be selectively energized to provide the appearance of motion of light within the beam.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A light source, comprising:
-
a light emitting portion for projecting a beam of light to illuminate a surface, the light emitting portion consisting of a pair of first and second emitter means only, the first and second emitter means being of the same color, a control circuit for controlling the selective energization of each one of the first and second emitter means individually to form the beam of light to illuminate the surface, the first and second emitter means being arranged symmetrically about a center point of the light emitting portion, the control circuit for selectively energizing the first emitter means continuously alternatingly transitioning between a first intensity level and a second intensity level while the light source is energized without remaining at a constant intensity level, the control circuit for selectively energizing the second emitter means continuously alternatingly transitioning between the first level and the second level without remaining at a constant intensity level in an inverse manner relative to the transitioning of the first emitter means while the light source is energized so that the first and second emitter means provide substantially constant illumination on the surface for a user, and the control circuit for selectively energizing the first and second emitter means alternatingly repeatedly continuously in an inversely proportional manner at all times while the light source is energized to provide the appearance of motion of light along the beam to an observer while projecting a substantially constant steady light intensity on the surface to be illuminated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method of controlling a plurality of similarly colored solid-state emitters, comprising:
-
arranging the plurality of emitters into a light emitting portion consisting of a pair of first and second emitter means only; arranging symmetrically the first and second emitter means about a center point of the light emitting portion; controlling the energization of the first emitter means to continuously alternatingly transition between a first intensity level and a second intensity level without remaining at a constant intensity level; controlling the energization of the second emitter to continuously alternatingly transition between the first level and the second level without remaining at a constant intensity level in an inverse manner relative to the transitioning of the first emitter means to provide substantially constant illumination on the surface to a user, and continuously repeatedly alternatingly energizing the first and second emitter means in an inversely proportional manner at all times to provide the appearance of motion of light within the beam to an observer while projecting a substantially constant steady light intensity on the surface to be illuminated. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
-
-
23. A light source, comprising:
-
a light emitting portion for projecting a beam of light to illuminate a surface; the light emitting portion consisting of a pair of first and second emitter means only; the first and second emitter means being of the same color; the first and second area emitter means being arranged symmetrically about a center point of the light emitting portion; means for controlling the energization of the first emitter means to continuously alternatingly transition between a first intensity level and a second intensity level without remaining at a constant intensity level; means for controlling the energization of the second emitter to continuously alternatingly transition between the first level and the second level without remaining at a constant intensity level in an inverse manner relative to the energization of the first emitter means to provide substantially constant steady illumination on the surface to a user, and the means of continuously repeatedly alternatingly energizing the first and second emitter means in an inversely proportional manner at all times to provide the appearance of motion of light within the beam to an observer while projecting a substantially constant steady light intensity on the surface to be illuminated.
-
Specification