Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S10/00—Lighting devices or systems producing a varying lighting effect
  • F21S10/02—Lighting devices or systems producing a varying lighting effect changing colors
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F21V13/00—Producing particular characteristics or distribution of the light emitted by means of a combination of elements specified in two or more of main groups F21V1/00 - F21V11/00
  • F21V13/02—Combinations of only two kinds of elements
  • F21V13/08—Combinations of only two kinds of elements the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements and reflectors
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F21V13/00—Producing particular characteristics or distribution of the light emitted by means of a combination of elements specified in two or more of main groups F21V1/00 - F21V11/00
  • F21V13/12—Combinations of only three kinds of elements
  • F21V13/14—Combinations of only three kinds of elements the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements, reflectors and refractors
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F21V23/00—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices
  • F21V23/04—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches
  • F21V23/0435—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches activated by remote control means
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F21V7/00—Reflectors for light sources
  • F21V7/0025—Combination of two or more reflectors for a single light source
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F21V7/00—Reflectors for light sources
  • F21V7/005—Reflectors for light sources with an elongated shape to cooperate with linear light sources
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F21V9/00—Elements for modifying spectral properties, polarisation or intensity of the light emitted, e.g. filters
  • F21V9/40—Elements for modifying spectral properties, polarisation or intensity of the light emitted, e.g. filters with provision for controlling spectral properties, e.g. colour, or intensity

Definitions

• This invention relates to projectors of the type used to illuminate large buildings, monuments or open-air areas, and in particular to so-called colour changer projectors.
• Projectors of this type are already known. They comprise a reflector consisting of part of the surface of a solid of revolution obtained by rotating a suitable plane line having a focus.
• the solids of revolution used are normally ellipsoids or paraboloids.
• the ellipsoid obtained by rotating an ellipse about its major axis, is cut with a plane perpendicular to its major axis and is positioned such that the lamp lies at the focus.
• the luminous flux is concentrated at a point (in reality a small circular area) at the second focus of the ellipsoid, in the vicinity of which smal -dimension coloration or dimming systems can be inserted.
• the solid of revolution used can also be a spherical mirror (a spherical cap) utilized in an elliptical configuration (ie the lamp is not positioned at the centre of the sphere but at a point coinciding with the ellipsoid to which the spherical cap approximates.
• a spherical mirror a spherical cap
• the lamp With the parabolic configuration the lamp is positioned at the focus of the paraboloid and hence the light rays emerge virtually parallel to its axis. Very often (again as a first approximation) a spherical mirror is used but in a parabolic configuration, ie the lamp being positioned at half the radius, so that the 2 behaviour of the spherical cap is equivalent substantially to that of the paraboloid to which it approximates.
• the light sources usable in this type of projector have usually to be of small dimensions, they necessary have a relatively low power.
• the object of this invention is to obviate the aforesaid drawbacks of known colour changer projectors.
• the projector device of the invention characterised in that the reflector has a surface obtained by causing a suitable plane line to translate such that the surface thus obtained is able to generate a light beam having a substantially rectangular cross-section, a dimension of this cross-section decreasing in receding from the reflector until it becomes reduced to a strip having a width considerably less than the relative length, this dimension then increasing on continuing to recede from the reflector.
• linear reflector and the relative light source by “linear” source (which can consist of a discharge halogen, linear halogen or stroboscopic lamp).
• linear light source also means 3 a light source formed from a series of aligned, (theoretically) point-shaped light sources (consisting for example of a series of lamp bulbs arranged as close as possible to each other along a rectilinear path).
• the plane line which on translation generates the aforedefined linear reflector surface is a portion of an ellipse or an arc of a circle approximating to an ellipse, although other lines which deviate slightly from the aforesaid lines enable the luminous flux to be concentrated into a strip of sufficiently small width for the aforesaid objects.
• a broken line consisting for example of rectilinear portions and/or circumferential arcs approximating to the pattern of said ellipse can enable an acceptable result to be obtained (ie of concentrating the luminous flux into a strip of sufficiently small width) .
• the projector of the invention can be completed by a flat or internally concave reflector which closes each of the two ends of the linear reflector, this enabling the end luminous flux (ie that luminous flux which would emerge through the two ends of the linear reflector if it were open) to be recovered.
• the linear projector can be provided with an additional linear reflector of circular section positioned on each of the two sides of the main linear reflector, these additional reflectors enabling part of the luminous flux not intercepted by the main linear reflector to be recovered, in particular that part of the luminous flux which is not intercepted by the main linear reflector and which passes close but external to the sides of this latter.
• the projector of this invention can be of monochromatic type or of the so-called colour changer type, ie provided with a device of known type which can be of greater or lesser complexity and comprise one or more colour filters, but with the significant advantage that the dimensions of the relative filters are 4 extremely small compared with those of the filters of known colour changer projectors, to the extent of being able to be reduced in the limit to the dimensions of said strip into which the light beam can be concentrated.
• the projector can also be provided with a known colour-subtractive synthesis device, a known filter for converting the colour temperature of the luminous flux, a conventional mechanical dimmer, ie a device consisting of pairs of panels which can be moved towards each other to reduce the luminous flux emerging from the projector, or a conventional optical device comprising filters, diffusers and/or lenses and/or optical prisms.
• the projector device of the invention can comprise a control unit for the projector operation.
• the control unit can also be of the type which enables the projector operation to be programmed and can also comprise electronic dimmers, actuator means for executing the various functions and, if the projector is of the moving head type, for driving this latter, and auxiliary remote controls.
• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a projector according to the invention
• Figure 2 is a generic cross-section therethrough
• Figure 3 is a block scheme of the projector device comprising the projector of Figures 1 and 2 and a control unit therefor;
• Figure 4 shows the pattern of the cross-section of the projector linear reflector when the theoretical elliptical pattern of the reflector is to be approximated by circular arcs;
• Figure 5 is similar to Figure 4 but with the difference that the theoretical elliptical pattern is approximated by a central circular arc with rectilinear portions towards its ends;
• Figure 6 is similar to the two preceding figures but with the difference that the theoretical elliptical pattern is approximated 5 by a broken line;
• Figure 7 is similar to the three preceding figures but shows a further variant of the reflector profile.
• the projector device of the invention can either consist of the projector 10 alone if of the colour changer type, or otherwise comprise this projector.
• the projector 10 comprises a linear reflector indicated by 12.
• the plane line used to generate the reflector 12 by translation consists of a part of an ellipse which is symmetrical about the major axis of the ellipse.
• a lamp 14 providing a light source of suitable length, is positioned at that of the two foci of the infinite ellipses forming the linear reflector 12 which is closer to this latter.
• a circular arc can be used as a first approximation as the plane line for generating the linear reflector, with the linear light source positioned at a suitable point along the axis of symmetry of the circular arc, intermediate between the centre of the circle and a point distant from the centre of the circle by one half the circle radius, ie coinciding with the focus of the ellipse which is to be approximated.
• the projector reflector can have a cross-section formed from portions of different ellipses all however having the same two foci.
• the reflector profile 12D continues along ever more internal ellipse portions 12D.2, 12D.3, ...12D.6 having the same foci L and F in common. This enables a reflector (and hence a projector) to be obtained which is of smaller width than the aforedescribed.
• the projector 10 is provided with a conventional mechanical dimmer, substantially consisting of two non-transparent panels 18A 7 and 18B which can be moved towards each other to intercept the luminous flux emerging from the reflector 12, to hence reduce the luminous flux until it has been completely obscured.
• a conventional mechanical dimmer substantially consisting of two non-transparent panels 18A 7 and 18B which can be moved towards each other to intercept the luminous flux emerging from the reflector 12, to hence reduce the luminous flux until it has been completely obscured.
• the projector 10 is also provided with a colour changer device comprising three conventional colour filters each consisting essentially of a pair of flat elements, respectively 20A and 20B of light blue colour (C), 22A and 22B of magenta colour (M), and 24A and 24B of yellow colour (Y), the flat elements of each pair being movable towards each other to increase colour saturation.
• These three filters enable so-called subtractive synthesis, well known to the expert of the art, to be achieved. It should however be noted that some or all the aforesaid filters can be dispensed with, this depending on the specific requirements and the results to be achieved.
• the projector can also be provided with a conventional filter for converting the colour temperature of the luminous flux.
• the projector 10 also comprises a conventional optical device (indicated schematically in the figures by a rectangle 26) which can comprise diffusers and/or lenses and/or optical prisms, these elements not being shown as they are well known to the expert of the art.
• a conventional optical device indicated schematically in the figures by a rectangle 26
• diffusers and/or lenses and/or optical prisms these elements not being shown as they are well known to the expert of the art.
• the dimmer 18A, 18B, and the filters 20A and 20B, 22A and 22B, 24A and 24B, including the colour temperature conversion filter (not shown in the figures), are positioned as close as possible to the strip 16 into which the luminous flux is concentrated, this enabling the dimensions of the afore! isted devices to be reduced to a minimum.
• the projector 10 is also provided, along each of the two sides of the reflector 12, with a respective linear reflector 32, 34 of circular cross-section (which could however also be formed from several flat or curved surfaces).
• the two additional reflectors 32 and 34 enable the luminous flux relative to the angles a1 and a2 to be recovered ( Figure 2), and which would otherwise be lost.
• This invention makes it possible to obtain a high-power projector by virtue of usually using linear light sources (long arc discharge lamps, linear halogen lamps and stroboscopic lamps), which can have very high power, generally greater than point- shaped light sources.
• linear light sources long arc discharge lamps, linear halogen lamps and stroboscopic lamps
• long arc discharge lamps are of relatively low cost and have a very long average life, considerably greater than that of short arc discharge lamps.
• the emerging light beam is rectangular, a shape which is normally more suitable for the external illumination of monuments, buildings and the like.
• the projector of the invention is provided with very efficient coloration and colour changer devices, mechanical dimmers and obscurers of truly small dimensions.
• the projector device 50 can comprise not only the projector 10 but also a control unit 52 for the projector operation.
• the unit 52 comprises a control interface 54 connected to a microprocessor 56 for controlling the control members, indicated overall by 58, for operating the stepping motors 60 for executing the various functions and for any required horizontal and/or vertical movement.
• the unit 52 also comprises a power unit 62 connected 9 (as indicated by the arrow 64) to a source of electricity (such as the electric mains).
• the unit 52 also comprises a remote control means 66 connected via cables, infrared rays or radio to a reception interface 68 for the signals emitted by the remote control means 66.
• control unit 52 can be remotely operated to program and/or control the switching on and/or off of the projector, its dimming, its colour changes, the changing of the light beam dimensions and its horizontal and/or vertical movement.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
• Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
• Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Publications (2)

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ID=26332659

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

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• 1998
  • 1998-11-24 AU AU19637/99A patent/AU1963799A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-11-24 WO PCT/EP1998/007573 patent/WO1999040361A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1998-11-24 DK DK98964436T patent/DK1021677T3/da active
  • 1998-11-24 EP EP98964436A patent/EP1021677B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-11-24 AT AT98964436T patent/ATE200146T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-11-24 CN CN98805400A patent/CN1099541C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-11-24 CA CA002320478A patent/CA2320478A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-11-24 DE DE69800646T patent/DE69800646T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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