Pattern generator for a light fixture

• US 8,721,123 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2009
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Syncrolite, LLC
• Original Assignee: Syncrolite, LLC
• Inventors: Calmes, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Sawhney, Hargobind S
• Application Number:
  US12/355,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20090196042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 Days
• Field of Search: 362/18, 362/97.4, 362/276, 362/277, 362/278, 362281-284, 362/293, 362319-321, 362/323, 362/324, 362/351, 359/233, 359888-890, 40/47, 403/61, 404/66, 404/70, 404/71, 405/18, 463/20, 463/143
• 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 9/40 with provision for controlling spectral properties, e.g. colour, or intensity
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios

Abstract

An apparatus includes a first flexible material that has a first area with a first texture that produces a first predetermined amount of diffusion of a beam of light, where the first texture produces at least some diffusion in the beam of light. The apparatus also includes a second flexible material attached to a first portion of the first area, where the second flexible material reduces the amount of diffusion of the beam of light produced by the first texture of the first portion of the first area. A light fixture includes a light fixture and the first flexible material coupled to a scrolling mechanism. The scrolling mechanism is operable to position a selected area of the first flexible material such that a beam of light from the light source passes through a first area of the first flexible material.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first flexible material comprising a first area having a first texture that produces a first predetermined amount of diffusion of a beam of light, wherein the first texture produces at least some diffusion in the beam of light; and

a second flexible material in contact with a first portion of the first area and a viscous material applied to the side of the second flexible material in contact with the first portion of the first area, wherein a second amount of diffusion is produced in a portion of the beam of light passing through the first portion of the first area, through the viscous material, and through the second flexible material, and wherein the second amount of diffusion is less than the first predetermined amount of diffusion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first flexible material further comprises a second area having a second texture that produces a third predetermined amount of diffusion of a beam of light, wherein the second texture produces at least some diffusion in the beam of light, the apparatus further comprising:

a third flexible material in contact with a second portion of the second area, wherein a fourth amount of diffusion is produced in a portion of the beam of light passing through the second portion of the second area and through the third flexible material, and wherein the fourth amount of diffusion is less than the third predetermined amount of diffusion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the viscous material fills at least part of the first texture on the first flexible material and produces the second amount of diffusion of the beam of light produced in the portion of the beam of light passing through the first portion of the first area and through the second flexible material.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second amount of diffusion is substantially no diffusion.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second flexible material is one of a clear material and a color-filtering material.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second flexible material is one of an absorptive color-filtering material and a dichroic film.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first flexible material has a rectangular shape with a first side longer than a second side and the first area has a first axis longer than a second axis, the first axis of the first area parallel to the first side of the flexible material.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a motor configured to move the second flexible material to cause the pattern to appear to move.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the viscous material is translucent.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the viscous material is optically transparent.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fourth flexible material in contact with a third portion of the first area, wherein the fourth flexible material is opaque.

8. A light fixture, comprising:

a light source;

a first flexible material coupled to a first scrolling mechanism, the first scrolling mechanism operable to position a selected area of the first flexible material such that a bean of light from the light source passes through a first area of the first flexible material, the first area having a first texture that produces a first predetermined amount of diffusion of the beam of light, wherein the first texture produces at least some diffusion in the beam of light; and

a second flexible material in contact with a first portion of the first area and a viscous material applied to the side of the second flexible material in contact with the first portion of the first area, wherein a second amount of diffusion is produced in a portion of the beam of light passing through the first portion of the first area, through the viscous material, and through the second flexible material, and wherein the second amount of diffusion is less than the first predetermined amount of diffusion.

9. The light fixture of claim 8, wherein the first flexible material further comprises a second area having a second texture that produces a third predetermined mount of diffusion of a beam of light, wherein the second texture produces at least some diffusion in the beam of light, the light fixture further comprising:

a third flexible material in contact with a second portion of the second area, wherein a fourth amount of diffusion is produced in a portion of the beam of light passing through the second portion of the second area and through the third flexible material, and wherein the fourth amount of diffusion is less than the third predetermined amount of diffusion.

10. The light fixture of claim 8, wherein the viscous material fills at least part of the first texture on the first flexible material and produces the second amount of diffusion of the beam of light produced in the portion of the beam of light passing through the first portion of the first area and through the second flexible material.

11. The light fixture of claim 8, wherein the second amount of diffusion is substantially no diffusion.

12. The light fixture of claim 8, wherein the second flexible material is one of a clear material, an absorptive color-filtering material and a dichroic film.

13. The light fixture of claim 8, wherein the first flexible material has a rectangular shape with a first side longer than a second side and the first area has a first axis longer than a second axis, the first axis parallel to the first side of the flexible material and the first axis longer than a width of a output aperture of the light fixture in a direction parallel to the first side of the flexible material.

14. The light fixture of claim 8 further comprising:

a motor configured to move the second flexible material across the light source to cause to the pattern to appear to move.

19. The light fixture of claim 8, wherein the viscous material is translucent.

20. The light fixture of claim 8, further comprising a fourth flexible material in contact with a third portion of the first area, wherein the fourth flexible material is opaque.