Multidimensional rotary motion apparatus moving a reflective surface and method of operating same

• US 9,435,997 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2013
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pentair Water Pool And Spa Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Pentair Water Pool And Spa Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Reddy, Rakesh, Johnson, Bruce, Doyle, Kevin, Perez, Gabriel
• Primary Examiner(s): Doak, Jennifer L.
• Application Number:
  US13/957,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20140160548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 359/202.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/148 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 21/02 the movements of two or more independently-moving members being combined into a single movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 21/54 for conveying or interconverting oscillating or reciprocating motions
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0816 by means of one or more reflecting elements
• 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 7/1821 for rotating or oscillating mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 11/00 Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with two or more controlling members co-operating with one single controlled member

Abstract

A rotary motion controller controlling the motion of a mirror in a projection system is described having a mounting element coupled to a support member. A two-axis coupling is provided with at least two input shafts coupled to two drive mechanisms. A channeled portion is provided in a second of the two input shafts through which the support member extends there through and is guided thereby and where the at least one support member is coupled to the first input shafts via an input coupling coupled to and driving the support member and a control input controlling the position of the at least two input shafts. A method of controlling a mirror in an underwater projection system is also provided along with a method of operating a controller for an underwater projection system and a further embodiment for providing movement of a mirror in an underwater projector.

Claims

1. A motion control system controlling a mirror element within an underwater projection system in a water feature, pool, or spa, the system comprising:

a first drive mechanism and a second drive mechanism;

a first cam mechanism driven by the first drive mechanism and a second cam mechanism driven by the second drive mechanism;

a first input shaft coupled to and driven by the first cam mechanism and a second input shaft coupled to and driven by the second cam mechanism; and

a mirror support member having a mirror element thereon coupled to the first input shaft, the mirror support member restrained by a first restraint mechanism so as to move about a moment in a first direction by the first input shaft, the mirror support member also restrained by a second restraint mechanism through the first restraint mechanism, so as to move the mirror support member about a moment in a second direction by the second input shaft acting on the second restraint mechanism through the second cam mechanism and the second drive mechanism, and this movement is imparted in the mirror support member and the mirror element mounted thereon which in turn guides an image from the underwater projection system within the water feature, pool or spa.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first restraint mechanism is a hinge and the first input shaft rotates the mirror support member about a hinge pin.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second restraint mechanism is a pivot and the second input shaft rotates the mirror support member about a pivot point.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first restraint mechanism or the second restraint mechanism results in vertical movement of the mirror element relative to the water feature, pool or spa.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first restraint mechanism or the second restraining restraint mechanism results in horizontal movement of the mirror element relative to the water feature, pool or spa.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the first restraint mechanism or the second restraint mechanism results in vertical movement of the image by the mirror element relative to the water feature, fountain, pool or spa.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the first restraint mechanism or the second restraint mechanism results in horizontal movement of the mirror element relative to the water feature, fountain, pool or spa.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control input controlling a position of the first and second input shafts and a first sensor and a second sensor tracking a position of the mirror element via relative positions of the first and second input shafts.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a low friction spacer and a chassis, wherein the chassis supports the first and second drive mechanisms and the spacer supports the chassis at the second restraining mechanism and eases the movement of the mirror support member about a moment in either the first or second directions.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first and second sensors further comprise optical interruption sensors.

11. A motion control system controlling a mirror element within an underwater projection system in a water feature, pool, or spa, the system comprising:

a base;

a first drive mechanism coupled to the base;

a second drive mechanism coupled to the base;

a first linkage coupled to and driven by the first drive mechanism;

a second linkage coupled to and driven by the second drive mechanism; and

a mirror support member having a mirror element thereon coupled to the first linkage and the base, wherein the mirror support member is coupled to the base by a first restraint mechanism, which limits the motion imparted on the mirror support member by the first linkage to a first plane, and wherein the second linkage acts upon the second drive mechanism to rotate the base and the mirror support member about a second restraint mechanism in a second plane.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first restraint mechanism is a hinge and the mirror support member rotates about a hinge pin.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second restraint mechanism is a pivot pin and the base and the mirror support member rotates about an axis of the pivot pin.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a low friction spacer positioned between the base and the pivot pin configured to allow the base to rotate in relation to the pivot pin upon actuation of the second drive mechanism.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising an at least one control input controlling a position of the first linkage and the second linkage and tracking a position of the mirror element via relative positions of the first linkage with a first sensor and the base with a second sensor.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are optical interruption sensors.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the first restraint mechanism or the second restraint mechanism results in vertical movement of an image by the mirror element relative to the water feature, fountain, pool or spa.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the first restraint mechanism or the second restraint mechanism results in horizontal movement of the mirror element relative to the water feature, fountain, pool or spa.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the first plane and the second plane are orthogonal to each other.