On-camera LED fresnel lighting system including active cooling

• US 8,702,255 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2011
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Litepanels Limited (Vitec Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Litepanels Limited (Vitec Group PLC)
• Inventors: Baxter, Kevin C., Holmes, Fred H., Fisher, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Joseph L
• Application Number:
  US13/084,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20120087102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 362/6, 362/3, 362/11, 362/268, 362/294, 396/106, 396/109, 396/155, 396/182, 396/199, 359/389, 359/390
• US Class Current: 362/6
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/06 by movement of refractors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/635
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/51 using condensation or evaporation of a fluid, e.g. heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/54 using thermoelectric means, e.g. Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/56 using liquid coolants F21V29/51 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/673 the fans being used for intake
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/677 the fans being used for discharging
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/71 using a combination of separate elements interconnected by heat-conducting means, e.g. with heat pipes or thermally conductive bars between separate heat-sink elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/76 with essentially identical parallel planar fins or blades, e.g. with comb-like cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/045 the lens having discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/16 Cooling; Preventing overheating

Abstract

A lighting apparatus for film, television, video capture, motion picture and photography which includes a Fresnel lens fixed in a housing which contains a tight array of high power LEDs. The LED panel or board is mated to a heat dissipating apparatus to provide active cooling and together forming an LED engine. The LED engine is mounted to a slider allowing the LED engine to be adjusted within the housing with respect to the lens. Light shaping diffusion may be included on the housing. A power supply unit may also be included in the housing. When in electrical communication, the LED engine and power supply unit function as an integrated self-contained lighting apparatus. Optionally, the power supply may have an integrated dimmer switch, and may be capable of receiving PFC power or have an integrated battery unit.

Claims

1. A lighting system suitable for image capture, comprising:

a housing;

an LED engine supported in said housing capable of emitting light from said housing;

said LED engine including a fan for forcing air past said LED engine;

a Fresnel lens supported by said housing wherein at least a portion of said light emitted from said housing passes through said lens to create a beam and wherein said Fresnel lens is movable with respect to said LED engine to effect adjustment of said beam;

a control input for selectively controlling an illumination level of said emitted light;

an adapter for readily mounting said housing to, and disengaging said housing from, a camera.

2. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said LED engine includes at least one high power LED.

3. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said LED engine includes an array of high power LEDs.

4. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said at least one fan produces a laminar flow of air past said LED engine.

5. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein the speed of said at least one fan is monitored.

6. The lighting system of claim 5 wherein the speed of said at least one fan is regulated.

7. The lighting system of claim 6 wherein the temperature of said LED engine is monitored.

8. The lighting system of claim 7 wherein the speed of said at least one fan is regulated based upon the temperature of said LED engine.

9. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said LED engine includes a heat sink such that said fan passes air across said heat sink.

10. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said LED engine includes a Peltier module for active cooling.

11. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said LED engine includes at least one heat pipe for active cooling.

12. The lighting system of claim 11 wherein said at least one heat pipe contains a liquid therein.

13. The lighting system of claim 12 wherein said LED engine includes at least one pump for pumping said liquid through said at least one heat pipe.

14. The lighting system of claim 12 wherein said at least one heat pipe is sealed.

15. The lighting system of claim 14 wherein said at least one heat pipe includes at least one upward extending arm.

16. The lighting system of claim 15 wherein said at least one upward extending arm includes a plurality of fins thereon.

17. The lighting system of claim 16 wherein said LED engine includes a plurality of heat pipes.

18. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said LED engine includes a first array of LEDs emitting light at a first color temperature and a second array of LEDs emitting light at a second color temperature.

19. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said LED engine includes at least one phosphor based LED.

20. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said LED engine includes an array of phosphor based LEDs.

21. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said LED engine is capable of remote control operation.

22. The lighting system of claim 21 wherein said remote control operation is performed via the Internet.

23. The lighting system of claim 21 wherein said remote control operation is performed via WiFi.

24. The lighting system of claim 21 wherein said remote control operation is performed via TCP/IP.

25. The lighting system of claim 21 wherein said remote control operation is performed via a DMX.

26. A lighting system suitable for image capture, comprising:

a housing including adapter for readies mounting said housing to, and disengaging said housing from, a camera;

a platform supported in said housing;

at last one LED element supported by said platform capable of emitting light therefrom;

a fan supported by said platform capable of circulating air around said platform;

a Fresnel lens supported by said housing wherein at least a portion of light emitted by said LED element passes through said Fresnel lens.

27. The lighting system of claim 26 wherein said Fresnel lens is capable of movement with respect to said LED element so as to focus said light passing through said Fresnel lens.

28. The lighting system of claim 26 wherein said LED element is capable of movement with respect to said Fresnel lens so as to focus said light passing through said Fresnel lens.

29. The lighting system of claim 26 wherein said Fresnel lens is plastic.

30. The lighting system of claim 26 wherein said LED element includes an array of high power LEDs.

31. The lighting system of claim 30 wherein said LED element includes a first array of LEDs emitting light at a first color temperature and a second array of LEDs emitting light at a second color temperature.

32. The lighting system of claim 30 wherein said LED element includes an array of phosphor based LEDs.

33. The lighting system of claim 26 wherein said platform includes a plurality of fins such that air circulated by said fan is directed past said fins.

34. The lighting system of claim 33 wherein said fan produces a laminar flow of air past said fins.

35. The lighting system of claim 26 wherein said platform includes at least one heat pipe for active cooling.

36. The lighting system of claim 35 wherein said at least one heat pipe contains a liquid therein.

37. The lighting system of claim 36 wherein said housing includes at least one pump for pumping said liquid through said at least one heat pipe.

38. The lighting system of claim 36 wherein said at least one heat pipe is sealed.

39. The lighting system of claim 38 wherein said at least one heat pipe includes at least one upward extending arm.

40. The lighting system of claim 39 wherein said at least one upward extending arm includes a plurality of fins thereon.

41. The lighting system of claim 26 wherein said platform includes a plurality of heat pipes.

42. The lighting system of claim 26 capable of remote operation.

43. The lighting system of claim 42 wherein said LED element includes a control input for selectively controlling an illumination level of said emitted light.

44. The lighting system of claim 42 further including a control input for selectively controlling the movement of either said Fresnel lens with respect to said platform or said platform with respect to said Fresnel lens.

45. The lighting system of claim 42 further including a control input for selectively controlling the speed of said fan.

46. The lighting system of claim 42 wherein said remote operation may be controlled via bi-directional communication.

47. The lighting system of claim 46 wherein said remote control operation is performed via the Internet.

48. The lighting system of claim 46 wherein said remote control operation is performed via WiFi.

49. The lighting system of claim 46 wherein said remote control operation is performed via TCP/IP.

50. The lighting system of claim 46 wherein said remote control operation is performed via a DMX.

51. The lighting system of claim 26 further including a lens for providing light shaping diffusion to said light emitted from said LED engine.