Programmable light beam shape altering device using programmable micromirrors

• US 5,828,485 A
• Filed: 02/07/1996
• Issued: 10/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Production Resource Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Light and Sound Design Limited
• Inventors: Hewlett, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEY, DAWN MARIE
• Application Number:
  US08/598,077
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 359/223, 359/224, 359/290, 359/291, 359/295, 359/846, 359/849, 359/850, 359/855
• US Class Current: 359/291
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/007 using rotating transparent or colored disks, e.g. gobo wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0841 the reflecting element being moved or deformed by electrostatic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7458 the modulator being an array of deformable mirrors, e.g. digital micromirror device [DMD]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 359/90 Methods

Abstract

A digital micromirror device ("DMD") is used to alter the shape of light that is projected onto a stage. The DMD selectively reflects some light, thereby shaping the light that is projected onto the stage. The control for the alteration is controlled by an image. That image can be processed, thereby carrying out image processing effects on the shape of the light that is displayed. One preferred application follows the shape of the performer and illuminates the performer using a shape that adaptively follows the performer'"'"'s image. This results in a shadowless follow spot.

Claims

1. A light shape altering device, having elements which selectively modify light, located in the path of a light beam and comprising:

a first selective light reflection device, having a plurality of elements, each element located at a position which defines a portion of the light beam, and each element being separately controllable between a first state which passes light to a desired object of illumination and a second state which reflects light away from the desired object of illumination; and

a controller which obtains a desired shape for light from said light beam and which converts said shape into control signals for said first selective light reflection device, said controller selecting among a plurality of different light beam shapes therein and outputting said control signals indicative of said desired shape,

said selective light reflective device passing substantially only light of said desired shape to said desired object of illumination and passing light which is not of said predetermined shape away from the desired object of illumination.

15. A device as in claim 1, further comprising an element which operates to cool said first selective light reflection device.

2. A light shape altering device, comprising:

a control system, selecting one of a plurality of shapes, as a shape of a light beam to be projected, and producing a control signal indicative of said shape;

a plurality of selectively direction-reflecting devices arranged as an array, coupled to receive said control signal from said control system, each device selectively passing light in a first direction or in a second direction, depending on said control signal, the light which is passed in the first direction having a shape which is based on the shape that is selected using the control system; and

projection optics, optically in series between the plurality of direction reflecting devices and the stage, and receiving light from those devices which are passing light in the first direction, and passing the light having the shape from those devices.

3. A device as in claim 2, wherein said direction reflecting devices are digital micromirrors.

4. A device as in claim 2, wherein the projection optics are arranged such that light from the devices in the first direction is coupled to the stage, and light from the devices in the second direction is not coupled to the stage.

5. A device as in claim 4, further comprising an image memory, storing said plurality of predefined shapes, a selected one of whose contents control the direction reflecting devices to shape the light according to a perimeter of said image.

6. A mirror gobo, comprising:

a light source;

a plurality of electrically controllable mirrors, which are electrically controlled to change position, said mirrors being optically in series with said light source; and

a control system that stores information indicative of a plurality of template shapes and selectively outputs said information to control the mirrors to change position according to a specified template to thereby alter the shape of the light according to the specified template, said control system including an automated program which selects a first template shape at a first time and which selects a second template shape at a second time.

7. A mirror gobo as in claim 6 wherein said template is a shape of a performer on a stage.

8. A light shape altering apparatus, comprising:

a digital light reflecting device, including a plurality of elements, each of said elements being electrically controllable between a first state which reflects light in a first direction, and a second state which reflects light in a second direction, wherein the elements of the digital light reflecting device are arranged in an array;

projection optics, coupled adjacent to said digital light reflecting device, and in a location to receive said light reflected in said first direction and coupling light towards an object of illumination; and

a memory element, storing a digital image representation therein, said memory element connected to control said digital reflecting device in a way such that reflecting states of the elements of said digital reflecting device are controlled to conform to said digital image representations in the memory element, said digital image representation in the memory element includes a representation indicative of an on/off condition of each bit of a plurality of bits forming the image, said bits being mapped to said array of elements to alter a shape of light reflected by said digital light reflecting device to the object of illumination; and

a control element, allowing selection of one of a plurality of different digital image representations to shape the light beam.

9. A reflecting gobo, comprising:

a control system, which includes a plurality of desired gobo shapes therein, and which selects one of said gobo shapes and produces a control signal indicative of the selected shape; and

a controllable array of mirror devices, arranged in a light beam path, said controllable array of mirror devices comprising a plurality of mirrors arranged in an array, each of said plurality of mirrors selectively controllable between a first position in which light from the light beam is passed away from the stage, and a second position in which light from the light beam is passed towards the stage, at least one of said positions being a position which reflects light, said mirrors controlled according to said control signal, such that selected elements of said array are enabled to pass light to the stage, those selected elements forming a gobo shape.

10. A gobo as in claim 9 wherein said gobo shape includes two unconnected geometrical shapes, one inside the other.

11. A gobo as in claim 9 wherein each said mirror device includes two reflecting positions, a first reflecting position reflecting light to the stage, and a second reflecting position reflecting light away from the stage.

12. A gobo as in claim 9 further comprising a heat sink, located at a position of said second reflecting position such that said light reflected away from the stage is reflected to said heat sink.

13. A gobo apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said controller includes an image processor, operating to vary some characteristic of the signal used to project the gobo shape, and wherein that signal, when modified, also changes the characteristics of the gobo shape.

14. A light shape altering device, having elements which selectively modify light, comprising:

a light beam producing element, producing a light beam which is projected along a path;

a digital micromirror device, having a plurality of elements arranged in an array, each element defining a portion of an image, and each element being separately controllable between a first state which reflects to a desired object of illumination and a second state which reflects light away from the desired object of illumination;

projection optics, optically in series with the plurality of direction reflecting devices and the light beam, receiving light from those devices which are passing light in the first direction, and passing the light from those devices to a the desired object;

a memory element, storing a digital image representations therein of said desired shape, said memory element connected to control said digital micromirror device in a way such that reflecting states of the elements of said digital micromirror device are controlled to conform to said digital image representation in the memory element; and

a controller which allows selection of one of a plurality of desired shapes for said light beam.

16. A digital gobo, comprising:

a digital mirror device, having a plurality of elements, each element defining a portion of an image, and each element being separately controllable between a first state which passes light in a first direction toward a desired object of illumination and a second state which reflects light away from the desired object of illumination; and

a controller which stores a plurality of different gobo shapes, and allows selection of a desired gobo shape for the light to be displayed from said plurality of different gobo shapes, and which converts said desired gobo shape into control signals for said digital mirror device to control a shape of the output light from said digital mirror device according to the desired gobo shape to pass only light of said desired hobo shape in said first direction toward said desired object of illumination.

17. A gobo as in claim 16, further comprising:

means for determining a shape of a performer within said object of illumination, and producing information indicative thereof, said determining means coupled to said controller; and

wherein said controller uses said information indicative of said shape to form said shape of said light to thereby shape said light according to the shape of the performer.

18. A reflecting gobo, comprising:

a controllable array of mirror devices, arranged in a light beam path, said controllable array of mirror devices comprising a plurality of mirrors arranged in an array, each of said plurality of mirrors selectively controllable between a first position in which light from the light beam is passed in a first direction, and a second position in which light from the light beam is passed in a second direction;

a control system, determining a desired gobo shape and producing a control signal indicative of the desired shape, and said array of mirror devices controlled according to said control signal, such that selected elements of said array of mirror devices are enabled to pass light to in the first direction, those selected elements forming a gobo shape; and

a heat sink in a path of the second direction, receiving unwanted light which is passed in said second direction.

19. A gobo as in claim 18, further comprising a cooling element, operating to cool said array of mirror devices.

20. An electronic gobo, comprising:

a controllable light reflecting device, including a plurality of elements, each of said elements being electrically controllable between a first state which reflects light in a first direction, and a second state which reflects light in a second direction;

a controller device, having a memory element, said memory element storing a representation indicating a stencil outline that will control a shape of a light beam to be projected, said controller device producing an output signal to said controllable light reflecting device to control said elements to pass only light having a shape indicated by said stencil outline in said first direction;

a stencil source, remote from said controller, producing information to be used to form said stencil, and passing that information to said controller to be stored in said memory element.

21. A gobo as in claim 20, further comprising a heat absorbing element, located in a path of said second direction, to receive undesired light passing in said second direction.

22. A gobo as in claim 20, wherein said memory stores a plurality of image information pieces as prestored stencil outlines.