Vari-lite, Inc.

James M Bornhorst

Timothy D Stacy

Richard W Hutton

Timothy W Terleski

James Maddux, Iii

Edwin B Dangerfield

Thomas A Hough

Douglas A Hanson

Richard K Steele

John Henry Covington

Timothy Gregg Huggins

Randall D Garrett

Bradley D Ellis

A deconcentrating optic has an input aperture positioned near a point of minimum focus of a reflector, and has an output aperture which is larger than the input aperture. An inner surface connects the two apertures of the optic. The surface is reflective to visible light, and is shaped to decrease the angles of incident light rays from the reflector so that an emerging light beam is bounded by a cone the angle of which is less than or equal to the acceptance cone of a projection lens. The size and shape of the output beam is such that the object lying in the projection plane of the lens is fully illuminated but not overfilled. The inner surface of the reflecting optic may be selectively perturbed so that the object plane of the projection lens is uniformly illuminated. The general shape of the reflecting optic's inner surface may be parabolic, elliptical, hyperbolic, circular, conical, or combinations of these shapes. The perturbations of the inner surface may be protrusions on or indentations in the inner surface, and may have shapes that are circular, planar, triangular, parabolic, random, or any other shape. A solid deconcentrating optic is transparent throughout, having a reflective coating on its exterior surface except for an input and an output aperture surface, which may be curved to cooperate with reflections from the reflective coating on the exterior surface to produce the desired output irradiance distribution.

Optical device for modifying the angular and spatial distribution of

A color filter plate includes a continuously-variable dichroic filter coating constituting a variable band-pass or variable band-reject filter having a spatially-modulated variable-density pattern formed in the coating, and provides continuously-variable hue and saturation characteristics along separate gradient axes. A color filter mechanism includes a sequential arrangement of rectangular or circular color filters, having continuously-variable band-pass or band-reject filter coatings, mounted in motorized carriages. One mechanism provides two-axis translation of the rectangular color filters while another mechanism provides translation and rotation of the circular color filters. A light projection system comprising a lamp with a reflector and a lens includes a color filter mechanism having sequential, continuously-variable band-pass and band-reject filters supported by motorized carriages mounted in a region where the beam diameter is small.

Sequential cross-fading color filters and system

A highly compact, light weight automated luminaire is disclosed having a head unit mounted on a support structure which provides pan and tilt of the head unit. The latter includes beam controlling optics providing precise control over beam parameters including color. Groups of the instruments are remotely controlled from a digital controller such as a PC connected by cable or a wireless link to the instruments. The lights each include processors for processing comands from the digital controller. By reason of its light weight and compactness, the luminaire is suitable for many applications barred to conventional automated lighting fixtures.

Compact luminaire system

A color filter plate includes a continuously-variable dichroic filter coating constituting a variable band-pass or variable band-reject filter having a spatially-modulated variable-density pattern formed in the coating, and provides continuously-variable hue and saturation characteristics along separate gradient axes. A color filter assembly includes a variable band-pass and a variable band-reject filter mounted in a co-planar arrangement, providing a continuous range of color filtration for spectral and non-spectral colors. A color filter mechanism includes a color filter assembly having either a rectangular arrangement or a circular arrangement of co-planar, continuously-variable band-pass and band-reject filters mounted in a motorized carriage. One mechanism provides two-axis translation of the rectangular color filter assembly while another mechanism provides translation and rotation of the circular color filter assembly. A light projection system comprising a lamp with a reflector and a lens includes a color filter mechanism having co-planar, continuously-variable band-pass and band-reject filters supported by a motorized carriage mounted in a region where the beam diameter is small.

Cross-fading color filter and system

A variable-geometry lens controlling the distribution of light in a beam, having a deformable, transparent membrane supported by a liquid-filled, transparent multi-cellular structure forming an array of variable-power lenslets for controlling the divergence or convergence of a light beam. An optically clear liquid is pumped into or out of the structure to deform the membrane into an array of convex or concave lenslets having adjustable optical power to control energy distribution. The index of refraction of the structure matches the index of refraction of the liquid to render the structure invisible so that it has no effect on the beam. The shape of the cells and the curvature of the membrane covering the cell affects the distribution of light refracted by the array of lenslets. The thickness of the membrane may vary across each cell to further affect the curvature and distribution of light refracted by the array of lenslets. The variable-geometry lens may be formed of a single piece of flexible, transparent material incorporating both the deformable membrane and the multi-cellular supporting structure bonded to a flat or curved glass plate. The variable-geometry lens may also be formed of two pieces of flexible, transparent material each incorporating both the deformable membrane and the multi-cellular supporting structure, and bonded together such that lenslets are formed on both sides.

Variable-geometry liquid-filled lens apparatus and method for

A high intensity light projector for stage, architectural and similar applications includes a controllable image quality projection gate providing advanced visual effects. The projection gate, capable of selectively scattering or transmitting incident light, may be constructed of any array of scattering liquid crystal material in combination with infrared and ultraviolet reduction means which provide in the high intensity beam, a stable thermal environment by minimizing the absorption of light by the projection gate. Additional thermal efficiency is provided by supplemental cooling means. Color control is also provided in the form of dichroic filter wheels forming cooperating adjustable low, high and band width filters including saturation control. A color measuring feedback sensor is also provided. An intensity measuring feedback sensor controls a spatially-modulated, variable-density, reflectively-coated dimming wheel. A programmable gobo system has provisions for gobo selection, orientation, and rotation.

High intensity lighting projectors

A modular lamp power supply is adapted to provide lamp power supply signals to a plurality of different lamps, each lamp having different power requirements. The power supply can be reconfigured to supply power to a new group of lamps simply by replacing the power circuit modules within the supply chassis.

Modular lamp power supply system

A variable light modifier provides rapid beam deflection and flipping with a minimum of noise, power consumption and heat generation. In one embodiment of the invention, a dual-sided reflector is pivotable along orthogonal axes by pan and tilt mechanisms. The pan and tilt mechanisms are driven by pan and tilt motors, one or both of which remain stationary with respect to the yoke. The variable light modifier can be used to deflect light beams generated by one or more light sources and can reflect the light from one or both reflective surfaces of the reflector.

Variable light modifier

A storage trunk for storing and transporting lighting equipment is constructed using a rotationally molded cross linked polyethylene plastic. The storage trunk is comprised of an enclosure body and a separately removable lid. The lid may be secured to the enclosure body by means of a plurality of latches. The interior of the enclosure body may be molded as a generally open rectangular region or may include molded features for receiving and supporting specific lighting instruments within its interior. The hollow walls of the molded enclosure body are filled with polyurethane foam for reinforcing the walls and damping their movement. A perforated metal stiffening frame is molded into the base of the enclosure body during the molding process for added strength. The underside of the enclosure body provides a plurality of casters for easy movement. The storage trunk features a unitized, seamless construction having no fasteners or external reinforcements to leak, snag other objects, or fall off. Various molded recesses, protrusions and surfaces in the storage trunk serve to enhance the functionality, strength and durability of the plastic storage trunk. Lateral bearing surfaces that protrude from the storage trunk minimize the wear on the exterior surfaces of the trunk by ensuring that the entire surface of the trunk does not contact adjacent surfaces. The storage trunk is constructed with convoluted end surfaces having protrusions and recesses that allow adjacent surfaces to interlock when positioned end to end.

Storage and transporatation trunk for lighting equipment

Adjustable lamp

An automated lighting instrument according to the present invention includes multiple motorized parameters and operates at a low noise level with improved thermal management devices such as a reflector coated with a cold mirror film, a metallic heat sink, a housing with ventilating holes, and thermally isolating motor mounts. The improved thermal management devices provide the basis for an improved method for managing the thermal characteristics of the automated lighting instrument of the present invention.

Thermal management techniques for lighting instruments

Storage and transportation trunk

A high intensity light projector for stage, architectural and similar applications includes a controllable image quality projection gate providing advanced visual effects. The projection gate, capable of selectively scattering or transmitting incident light, may be constructed of an array of scattering liquid crystal material in combination with infrared and ultraviolet reduction means which provide in the high intensity beam, a stable thermal environment by minimizing the absorption of light by the projection gate. Additional thermal efficiency is provided by supplemental cooling means. Color control is also provided in the form of dichroic filter wheels forming cooperating adjustable low, high and band width filters including saturation control. A color measuring feedback sensor is also provided. An intensity measuring feedback sensor controls a spatially-modulated, variable-density, reflectively-coated dimming wheel. A programmable gobo system has provisions for gobo selection, orientation, and rotation.

A lighting instrument having pivotable color filters arranged in a substantially radial arrangement with respect to a projected light beam. Multiple sets of such filters are spaced along the axis of the light beam to vary the color of the light beam emitted from the instrument. A motorized mechanism rotates each filter of each set in synchronization with each other and independently with respect to filters of the other sets. The filters may be rotated by the motorized mechanism through flexible coupling mechanisms. The filters also may be positioned to pass unfiltered light to vary the saturation of the light beam.

Lighting instrument with movable filters and associated actuation

A lighting instrument having pivotable dichroic filters arranged in a substantially radial arrangement with respect to a projected light beam. Multiple sets of such filters are spaced along the axis of the light beam to vary the color of the light beam emitted from the instrument. A gearing mechanism rotates all filters of each set in synchronization with each other and independently with respect to filters of the other sets. The filters may be positioned to pass unfiltered light to vary the saturation of the light beam.

Growing community of inventors

Desoto, TX, United States of America

James M Bornhorst