Dynamic lighting effect system

• US 8,194,195 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Hofmann, Bernd, Hikmet, Rifat Ata Mustafa, Van Wijngaarde, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): INADOMI, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US12/093,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20080284924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,031 Days
• Field of Search: 349/200, 349 74- 83, 349/15
• US Class Current: 349/5
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/003 by interposition of elements with electrically controlled variable light transmissivity, e.g. liquid crystal elements or electrochromic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1333 Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methodsG02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134309 characterised by their geometrical arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/29 for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/31 Digital deflection, i.e. optical switchingG02F1/33 takes precedence

Abstract

Lighting systems, in particular used for SSTV, disco lights, lighting consoles and claviluxes. In order to reduce noise and to increase robustness, the system comprises a light beam source (6) arranged for generating a beam of light, a projection gate (8) arranged for controlling the beam of light, wherein the light beam source (6) is comprised of at least one light emitting diode, and the projection gate (8) comprises at least one liquid crystal (LC) optical element.

Claims

1. An optical system for creating dynamic light effects comprising

a light beam source arranged for generating a beam of light,

a projection gate arranged for controlling the beam of light,

wherein said light beam source has at least one light emitting diode, and said projection gate has an imaging optical element and a liquid crystalline refractive index gradient element as a beam forming optical element;

said imaging optical element having a liquid crystal optical element, said liquid crystal optical element positioned between a first and a second transparent plate;

a first and a second transparent electrode positioned on either side of said liquid crystal optical element to selectively energize and orient said liquid crystal optical element;

a first and a second orientation layer directly adjacent said liquid crystal optical element which can orient liquid crystal molecules in said liquid crystal optical element;

wherein said liquid crystalline refractive index gradient element includes a first and a second transparent plate;

a first and a second rubbed polymer layer positioned adjacent respective said first and second transparent plate, each of said first and said second rubbed polymer layer enclosing respective first and second patterned electrodes which form parallel;

wherein said first and second patterned electrodes are aligned with respect to one another and are line electrodes at a periodic distance thereby inducing cylindrical lenses;

wherein said first and second patterned electrodes are operable when a voltage is applied to create a refractive index gradient of a liquid crystal layer positioned between said first and said second rubbed polymer layer being formed in an area containing no electrodes in said first and second patterned electrode layer.