Lighting system sequencer and method

• US 5,986,792 A
• Filed: 08/26/1998
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Luminit LLC
• Original Assignee: Farlight, LLC
• Inventors: Rizkin, Alexander, Durets, Yevgeniy Y., Oberg, Carl E., Ruiz, David, Tudhope, Robert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, James
• Application Number:
  US09/139,914
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 359/196-226, 359/618, 359/629, 359/636, 385/18, 385/22, 385/31, 385/32, 385/901, 362/32, 362/341, 362/347
• US Class Current: 359/212.1
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/20 Arrangement of optical beacons
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/06 for aircraft runways or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/10 Scanning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/143 using macroscopically faceted or segmented reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/001 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/241 Light guide terminations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3512 the optical element being reflective, e.g. mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3548 1xN switch, i.e. one input and a selectable single output of N possible outputs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3562 Switch of the bypass type, i.e. enabling a change of path in a network, e.g. to bypass a failed element in the network
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4298 coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers

Abstract

A remotely illuminated lighting system (10) incorporates a lighting system sequencer (18) for providing a sequenced distribution of light signals to a plurality of light distribution devices (108, 208, 210 and 212). An illumination source (12) provides focused light signals (44, 46) to the lighting system sequencer (18). The lighting system sequencer (18) includes an optical scanner (22) and an electronic control (24) for selectively directing the light signals (44, 46) to individual optical fibers (20) of a fiber-optic distribution system. The optical fibers (20) couple the light signals to the luminaires (108, 208, 210 and 212), which sequentially illuminate in accordance with a desired pattern.

Claims

1. A lighting system sequencer comprising:

A) a light source providing a source of light energy;

B) a light manipulating assembly which conditions the light energy from the light source into converging light energy;

C) a curved coupling surface which has a plenum having a plurality of outputs formed therein, the plenum being adapted to receive the converging light energy from the light manipulating assembly and to optically direct the light energy towards one of the outputs;

D) a light distribution network, the light distribution network comprising a plurality of fiber-optic cables, each fiber optic cable being coupled at a proximal end to a corresponding one of the outputs of the plenum and at a distal end to a light distribution device; and

wherein the light manipulating assembly directs the converging light energy towards a selected one of the plurality of fiber-optic cables via a corresponding one of the outputs of the plenum.

2. The lighting system sequencer of claim 1, wherein the light manipulating assembly includes collecting and focusing optics coupled between the light source and the curved coupling surface.

3. The lighting system sequencer of claim 1, wherein the light manipulating assembly comprises a reflector adapted to direct the converging light energy onto a selected location of the plenum.

4. The lighting system sequencer of claim 1, wherein the light manipulating assembly comprises a scanning mirror assembly.

5. The lighting system sequencer of claim 4, wherein the scanning mirror assembly includes a positionable mirror that is adapted to direct the converging light energy at a point and to translate the point between different ones of the outputs in association with scanning movement of the positionable mirror.

6. The lighting system sequencer of claim 5, wherein the curved coupling surface is disposed at a uniform radial distance from the positionable mirror.

7. The lighting system sequencer of claim 6, wherein the uniform radial distance comprises a focal length of the positionable mirror.

8. The lighting system sequencer of claim 5, wherein the scanning mirror assembly further comprises (1) an electronic controller that generates a control signal indicative of a position of the positionable mirror corresponding to a selected one of the fiber optic cables, and (2) a drive mechanism having an input coupled to the electronic controller and an output coupled to the positionable mirror, wherein the drive mechanism is responsive to the control signal to position the positionable mirror.

9. The lighting system sequencer of claim 5, wherein the lighting system sequencer is adapted to one of a group including:

an approach landing system, an obstruction identification system, and a vehicle navigation lighting system.

10. An apparatus for sequencing a light signal from a light source to a plurality of light distribution devices, each light distribution device being coupled via a fiber-optic cable to a light signal plenum, the apparatus comprising:

a light manipulating assembly that (1) conditions the light signal from the light source into a converging light signal and (2) couples the converging light signal to selected ones of the fiber-optic cables coupled to the light signal plenum; and

wherein the light manipulating assembly comprises a scanning mirror assembly, and

wherein the light signal plenum comprises an arcuate surface disposed at a uniform radial distance from the scanning mirror assembly.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the scanning mirror assembly includes a scanning mirror and the uniform radial distance comprises a focal length of the scanning mirror.