VERSATILE LIGHTING APPARATUS AND ASSOCIATED KIT

• US 20060181862A1
• Filed: 01/23/2006
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Litepanels Limited (Vitec Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Contrast Lighting Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Baxter, Kevin C., Fisher, Ken S., Pohlert, Rudy G., Grosswendt, Pat
• Granted Patent: US 7,429,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/3
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/06 by movement of refractors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/635
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/001 the light sources being semiconductors devices, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0885 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/116 Fixing lighting devices to arms or standards F21V21/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/02 Illuminating scene
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0539 Ringflash
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A lighting apparatus comprises a light panel having a panel frame, and a plurality of LEDs or other light elements secured to the panel frame. A self-contained battery unit securably attaches to the outside of the panel frame. The light panel may have a dimmer switch, and may also be capable of receiving power from a source other than the self-contained battery unit. The lighting apparatus can be mounted to a camera or a stand through adapters. Diffusion lenses or color gels can be integrated with or detachable from the light panel. The lighting apparatus may conveniently be provided in the form of a kit, with one or more of a light panel, self-contained battery unit, compact stand, connecting cable(s), adapter(s), lenses or color gels, and so on, provided in a single package.

Claims

1. An illumination system for lighting a subject for film, photography or video, the illumination system comprising:

portable frame, said portable frame adapted for mounting to a camera;

a plurality of semiconductor light elements disposed on the portable frame so as to provide continuous illumination for the subject; and

an integrated dimmer, said dimmer allowing manual adjustment of an illumination intensity of said semiconductor light elements.

2. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of semiconductor light elements comprise light emitting dioides (LEDs).

3. The illumination system of claim 2, wherein said LEDs output light over a color temperature range suitable for image capture.

4. The illumination system of claim 2, wherein said LEDs are arranged in a plurality of linear rows across a front face of said frame.

5. The illumination system of claim 2, wherein said LEDs are high output.

6. The illumination system of claim 5, wherein said LEDs are rated at or above 3 Watts.

7. The illumination system of claim 2, further comprising power electronics integrated with said frame, said power electronics configured to convert electrical power from an input power source to a level suitable for said LEDs.

8. The illumination system of claim 7, wherein said power electronics provide power to said LEDs in a manner preventing flickering of the light output from the LEDs.

9. The illumination system of claim 7, wherein said power electronics provide a constant voltage level to said LEDs.

10. The illumination system of claim 9, wherein said power electronics provide a constant current to said LEDs.

11. The illumination system of claim 7, wherein said power electronics are configured to receive electrical power from a self-contained battery unit, said self-contained battery unit being releasably attachable to said frame.

12. The illumination system of claim 11, wherein said power electronics are further configured to receive power from an external source.

13. The illumination system of claim 12, wherein said self-contained battery unit is rechargeable when the power electronics are coupled to said external power source.

14. The illumination system of claim 7, wherein said portable frame comprises heat dissipating fins to release heat generated by said LEDs or said power electronics.

15. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the illumination intensity of said semiconductor light elements is controlled by a digital command.

16. The illumination system of claim 15, further comprising an onboard digital processor for controlling the adjustment of the illumination intensity of said semiconductor light elements in response to said integrated dimmer.

17. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said portable frame comprises a rectangular panel on which said semiconductor light elements are disposed.

18. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said integrated dimmer is adjustable via a manually actuatable control knob, dial, switch, keypad, or set of digital buttons.

19. A wide area, camera-mounted illumination system for lighting a subject for film, photography or video, the illumination system comprising:

a portable frame adapted for mounting to a camera apparatus;

a plurality of semiconductor light elements disposed on the portable frame so as to provide continuous, wide area, forward-projected illumination for the subject;

a power receptor for receiving electrical power from a DC power source; and

an adjustable dimmer, said adjustable dimmer configured to allow selection of an illumination intensity of said semiconductor light elements.

20. The illumination system of claim 19, wherein said plurality of semiconductor light elements comprise light emitting dioides (LEDs).

21. The illumination system of claim 20, wherein said LEDs output light over a color temperature range suitable for image capture, said color temperature range including either daylight or Tungsten color temperatures.

22. The illumination system of claim 20, wherein said LEDs are arranged in a plurality of linear rows.

23. The illumination system of claim 20, wherein said LEDs are high output.

24. The illumination system of claim 23, wherein said LEDs are rated at or above 3 Watts, and wherein said frame comprises heat dissipating fins to dissipate heat generated by said LEDs.

25. The illumination system of claim 20, further comprising power electronics integrated with said frame, said power electronics configured to convert electrical power from an input power source to a level suitable for said LEDs.

26. The illumination system of claim 25, wherein said power electronics provide power to said LEDs in a manner preventing flickering of the light output from the LEDs.

27. The illumination system of claim 25, wherein said power electronics provide a constant voltage level to said LEDs.

28. The illumination system of claim 27, wherein said power electronics provide a constant current to said LEDs.

29. The illumination system of claim 25, wherein said power electronics are configured to receive electrical power from a self-contained battery unit, said self-contained battery unit being releasably attachable to said frame.

30. The illumination system of claim 29, wherein said power electronics are further configured to receive power from an external source.

31. The illumination system of claim 30, wherein said self-contained battery unit is rechargeable when the power electronics are coupled to said external power source.

32. The illumination system of claim 19, wherein the illumination intensity of said semiconductor light elements is controlled by a digital command.

33. The illumination system of claim 32, further comprising an onboard digital processor for controlling the adjustment of the illumination intensity of said semiconductor light elements in response to said adjustable dimmer.

34. The illumination system of claim 19, wherein said adjustable dimmer is configured to allow manual selection of the illumination intensity of said semiconductor light elements, from among a plurality of illumination intensity levels, via a manually actuatable control knob, dial, switch, keypad, or set of digital buttons.

35. A wide area, camera-mounted digitally controlled illumination system for lighting a subject for film or video, the illumination system comprising:

portable frame adapted for mounting to a camera apparatus;

a plurality of semiconductor light elements disposed on the portable frame so as to provide continuous wide-area illumination for the subject;

an adjustable dimmer, said adjustable dimmer configured to allow selection of a desired illumination level for said semiconductor light elements; and

an integrated digital processor responsive to said adjustable dimmer for controlling an intensity of said semiconductor light elements in response to the selected illumination level.