Laser particle projection system

• US 9,366,861 B1
• Filed: 10/25/2013
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BlissLights, LLC
• Original Assignee: BlissLights, LLC
• Inventors: Johnson, Randy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Rodney
• Application Number:
  US14/062,997
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 362/259, 348/344
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/0005 having F-Theta characteristic scanning systems employing movable or deformable optical elements G02B26/10
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/101 with both horizontal and vertical deflecting means, e.g. raster or XY scanners colour television using laser beams scanning a display screen H04N9/3129
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/105 with one or more pivoting mirrors or galvano-mirrors G02B26/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/125 Details of the optical system between the polygonal mirror and the image plane G02B26/123, G02B26/127 take precedence; F-Theta lenses G02B13/0005
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/18 for optical projection, e.g. combination of mirror and condenser and objective photographic, cine and overhead projectors G03B21/00; photographic projection printing G03B27/32; photolithographic projectors G03F7/20; projection television H04N5/74; colour projection television H04N9/31
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/12 Test circuits or failure detection circuits included in a display system, as permanent part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/02 by tracing or scanning a light beam on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3129 scanning a light beam on the display screen scanning a light beam on a screen in displays other than projection devices G09G3/02; scanning systems in general G02B26/10; projectors using laser light sources in general H04N9/3161

Abstract

An improved particle effect projector is disclosed that reduces the energy density of a laser beam projected through a movie theater or other entertainment venue, comprising an F-theta lens, a beam expander and a beam focuser with a long focal length that approximates the distance between the particle effect projector and the movie screen or other surface onto which the particle effect beam is being projected.

Claims

1. A method of using a particle effect projection apparatus to safely project a laser light beam onto a surface a distance away from the apparatus, over the heads of an audience, comprising:

(a) providing a housing located alongside a movie projector;

(b) providing a laser light source within the housing that emits a beam of coherent light;

(c) providing a first lens assembly positioned in the path of the beam of coherent light, the first lens assembly comprising a flat field lens having a focal plane that is a flat surface;

(d) providing for the direction of the beam of coherent light to be controlled by a dual-mirror galvanometric scanner, before the beam enters the first lens assembly;

(e) providing a second lens assembly positioned in the path of the light beam that exits the first lens assembly, the second lens assembly comprising a beam expander that is adapted to expand the light beam, thereby reducing the energy density of the light beam;

(f) providing a third lens assembly positioned in the path of the light beam that exits the second lens assembly, the third lens assembly being adapted to refocus the beam and having a focal length such that the light beam will be substantially focused on the surface against which the light beam is to be projected; and

(g) providing a microprocessor for controlling the motion of the duel-mirror galvanometric scanner, to coordinate and synchronize the movement of the beam with a series of images projected onto the surface by the movie projector;

wherein the re-focused beam that exits the housing is within safe MPE levels at all locations where viewers could be seated in the audience and beyond safe MPE levels on the surface against which the light beam is to be projected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first lens assembly is an F-theta lens.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the third lens assembly has a focal length of more than about 5 meters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the laser light source comprises a red laser, a green laser and a blue laser.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the third lens assembly has a focal length of more than about 5 meters.