EP1439884A2

EP1439884A2 - Device and method for generating light effects

Info

Publication number: EP1439884A2
Application number: EP02782704A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matthias Becker; Jürgen BIERT
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-10-12
Filing date: 2002-10-14
Publication date: 2004-07-28
Also published as: WO2003033071A2; DE20215786U1; NO20032680D0; DE10294661D2; NO20032680L; WO2003033071A3; DE10150204A1; AU2002347074A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for generating light effects, which comprise an illumination source (4), which emits a beam consisting of coherent illumination in the visible spectrum, an exposure chamber with a projection area located therein, in which a person is exposed to the illumination and a beam guidance device (5), which comprises a beam outlet and can guide the emergent beam so that it is deflected within the projection area by means of mobile, motor-driven elements. Known devices can only emit diffuse light or apply illumination locally. To solve this, according to the invention the projection area is located at a distance of approximately 100 cm from the beam outlet, the beam guidance device (5) comprises at least one element for expanding the beam and can guide the resultant expanded beam continuously over the projection area.

Description

Device and method for producing light effects

The invention relates to a device and a method for generating light effects, with at least one radiation source which at least temporarily emits at least one beam formed by coherent radiation at least in the visible region, an exposure room, a projection area arranged in the exposure room, in which the radiation is exposed to at least one person, at least one beam guiding device which has at least one beam exit and is able to guide the beam emerging therefrom within the projection area via movable and motor-driven means for beam deflection. The invention further relates to a method for producing light effects, in which a person is irradiated with light in different colors in order to increase well-being.

Devices for irradiating people with coherent radiation are known from the medical field. Here these devices are mostly used for wound healing or to stimulate cell metabolism. German utility model 295 19 481 describes a device for the therapy and prophylaxis of pressure ulcers. This device stimulates the so-called ATP synthesis in order to stimulate sore areas of a body in such a way that the body's wound healing is improved. For this purpose, a so-called low-level laser is used, which irradiates the affected parts of the body, the cell's metabolism being stimulated as a result of the irradiation. A wavelength between 180 and 1000 nm is used, the power of the laser is between 1 and 120 mW.

Although this known device is obviously well suited to stimulate cell metabolism in the context of wound healing, it cannot be used to increase general well-being without a specific use of therapy. In particular, when irradiating the body surfaces in this device, there is always the risk that damage will occur if the radiation is used improperly or strikes sensitive areas, such as the face. Another therapeutic radiation device is known from German published patent application 36 03 156. Here too, laser radiation in the visible range (633 nm) is used for the therapeutic irradiation of an organic tissue. The device has a means for beam deflection in order to direct the beam from the laser onto the skin via a mirror system, the mirror system having an adjustability of the beam outlet opening. This device is also not suitable for carrying out a color therapeutic sedative effect by irradiating a person with different colors and sufficiently large areas of the body covered by the radiation.

Finally, color therapies, for example from the sauna sector, are generally known, in which different colors, usually the primary colors red, yellow, green and blue, are directed onto a body using headlights. This diffuse light then illuminates the sauna room in the respective color in order to achieve the color therapy effect.

Experience has shown that a color therapy effect with diffuse light does not lead to a sufficiently satisfactory effect. On the one hand, this is due to the fact that the colored light can only be perceived as light due to the low area intensity. On the other hand, it is not possible to irradiate different parts of the body with different colors, so that only a continuous change of individual colors is possible. Otherwise, the diffuse light sources would mix and a new color would be created.

The object of the invention is therefore to create a device and a method for producing light effects which, with increased perception, can direct different colors onto the body of a person.

This object is achieved according to the invention with regard to the device in that the projection area is arranged at a distance of at least 100 cm from the beam exit, that the beam guiding device has at least one means for beam expansion and is able to continuously guide the beam widened thereby over the projection area. With regard to the method, this object is achieved in that, in a closed exposure space, several partial beams of a laser beam source are directed onto or next to at least the person positioned at a distance from the beam exit of the partial beams, the partial beams being expanded in such a way that a harmless radiation intensity is directed onto the body of the person is exposed and the

Partial beams in the visible range with different wavelengths with a moving beam path irradiate the person or the room adjacent to the person.

Due to the configuration of the device according to the invention, coherent light, in particular the radiation from a laser, can now be used to achieve the desired effects. The person on whom the effects are supposed to act is seated in the projection area of the laser radiation, which is preferably even further than 1 m from the beam exit point. The laser radiation can be generated, for example, by a white light laser that encompasses all wavelengths in the visible range. The beam is directed onto the person or the area next to the person via the beam guiding device, it being essential to the invention that the person is

Beam travels a line of motion to create a moving image for the person. So that the person is not injured by the laser radiation, in particular looking into the radiation is harmless, the laser beam is expanded to such an extent that the surface intensity becomes so low that the eye or the skin cannot be damaged.

The exposure room is preferably soundproof or soundproofed and darkened from the outside to protect against incident light. In this way, the best effects can be achieved. The beam guiding device now guides the beam over the body of the person, who is able to perceive the intensity distribution over the body not only visually but also emotionally. Experiments have shown that even the radiation components that do not directly affect the person but affect the area of the aura close to the body are perceived by the person.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the white light laser is broken down into different partial beams using beam splitters, which may have the same or different wavelengths. In this way, there are various possibilities for generating different intensity distributions and different color distributions over several trajectory curves which are described by different partial beams. The beam splitters can be conventional optical elements, such as prisms or irradiated holograms. In contrast to the prior art, the invention does not use a low-level laser, but rather a powerful device that can achieve corresponding brightnesses and color distributions over a larger area. One or more people can be irradiated with the device at the same time, and besides the optical effect, stimulation of the brain, the glands and the vegetative nervous system can also be achieved.

Tests have even shown that, similar to a foot reflex zone massage, radiation to certain parts of the body can also stimulate internal organs. However, in contrast to the foot reflex zone massage according to the invention, a direct effect of the radiation on the inner parts of the body, even if these do not come into direct contact with the light itself, is the reason for the excitation. Here the light with the typical electromagnetic properties of the corresponding wavelength acts on the irradiated parts of the body. A positive effect can then be achieved via resonances during the vibration behavior of the respective body areas.

The use of polarized light can be particularly effective in the case of the interaction via the vibration behavior, since the vibration behavior, that is to say the excitation of the individual molecules, can be influenced directly here.

The beam is preferably not only widened, but also modulated in its shape. In this way, a surface effect can be achieved using appropriate lenses or diaphragms, and it is also possible to achieve optical effects in space by moving holograms that reflect the beam. For such optical effects in particular, it can make sense to add a further reflection medium to the room, so that reflections of the light are visible in the field of view in front of the person for the visual stimulation of the person. All non-toxic vapors, in particular water vapor, of course, can be used as the reflecting medium. In addition to the optical reflection effect, these vapors also have the advantage that the person is also influenced psychologically by the special optical effect of the rising vapor, which often contributes to increasing the effect without being scientifically explainable. Furthermore, the effect achieved can be manipulated in various ways by adding odorous substances. Soothing substances or stimulating smells can be used, and a certain memory image can be specifically awakened by the choice of the odorant.

In a specific embodiment of the invention, the laser is not in direct contact with the beam guiding device, but is optically connected to it via optical waveguides or a beam path formed by mirrors. The laser with its additional devices can be arranged in a neighboring room, which on the one hand makes it possible to use a laser for different sessions in different rooms by selectively dividing or deflecting the beam, and on the other hand the quite complex cooling and the to keep the associated operating noise away from the actual exposure room. Of course, several lasers can also be used, both for loading one exposure room and for loading several exposure rooms.

In addition to the white light laser, all other types of laser can of course also be used as beam sources; in particular, a single laser can also be used for each color. However, in practice it will turn out that this will probably not be very economical. However, depending on the device development, this may change in the future, so that a device can also consist of several lasers. Depending on the desired intensity, beam guiding devices and thus beam exits can be arranged at all positions in the room. So the person can be illuminated from both the front and the back, so that not only all parts of the body can be irradiated, but also different optical effects can be achieved due to the more or less visible beam path, especially in the presence of vaporous reflection media.

Instead of vaporous reflection media, it is of course also possible to use solid bodies onto which the radiation can be projected. The effect can be supported by arranging partially transparent or fully reflecting bodies in the room, which allow any effects. Finally, the psyche of the person can be further influenced by playing music or other sequences of tones, here too a calming effect can be achieved to enable the person to deal more intensively with what they have experienced.

The wavelengths of the partial beams used are preferably between 300 and 900 nm, often they will be between 400 and 800 nm. Waves with these wavelengths have been found to be particularly effective, although other wavelengths could be used depending on the application. Finally, different wavelengths can also be used depending on the irradiated part of the body. It has been found that a different wavelength is perceived as particularly beneficial in the area of the head than in the area of the legs.

In order to be able to achieve sufficient effects, it is preferable to use at least two partial beams which are at least temporarily at a distance from one another which is not substantially greater than 50 cm. The aim of this special beam guidance is to irradiate essentially a large part of the body of the person, so that a maximum effect can be achieved. In contrast to conventional medical radiation, a large part of the body will preferably be irradiated in the method according to the invention, so that the total radiation leads to a special effect.

The beam guiding devices have a motor drive which can effect the beam or the partial beams along the desired line of motion by driving the deflecting mirror or other optical elements. This motor drive will generally be computer-controlled, so that different lines of motion and patterns can be stored in the computer. In this way, complete show programs can be saved and then called up. A further preferred embodiment of the invention has a possibility of recognizing the position of the person in the projection area, so that the regulation for the beam guiding devices can be aligned at this position. Not only can a different positioning of the person within the projection area be compensated, but also a movement of the person during the course of the pre-stored program can be compensated.

Another preferred additional equipment of the devices is that a so-called bio-feedback is carried out. Here certain body characteristics can be recorded using suitable sensors, the measured quantity of which can then have a direct influence on the control of the beam guiding devices. For example, in addition to blood pressure, the local body temperature can also be measured or just the intensity of movement of the body can be recorded using cameras.

The control of the device can then be programmed in such a way that when a certain tolerance range for regulating undesired effects is exceeded, either the beam path changes, the framework conditions are adjusted, or the duration of the light immission is extended. If, for example, the light effect is to cause the person to calm down, the session can be extended if it is determined via the blood pressure that the desired state of calm has not yet occurred. Furthermore, a certain effect can be intensified by adding more soothing music or by using scents.

The laser radiation used can be emitted by a continuous laser or by a pulsed laser. In a preferred embodiment of the invention it can be provided that the wavelength increases with increasing distance between the area assigned to it and the head of the living being. For example, for the head and neck of a person, a wavelength of approximately 400 nm, corresponding to violet light, for the chest, a wavelength of 450 nm, corresponding to blue light, and for the

Belly a wavelength of approximately 550 nm, corresponding to green light, are provided. The abdomen can then be irradiated with a wavelength of 470 nm (yellow light) and the lower legs and knees with a wavelength of approximately 600 nm (orange light). It is also possible to continuously change the wavelength so that the light falls on the person in the form of a rainbow. This can be achieved, for example, using prisms in the beam guiding device.

If the coherent light made available to the beam guiding device contains several wavelengths, the desired wavelength can be filtered out of a partial beam divided out of the total beam by means of a color filter, which may be formed by an acousto-optical modulator, for example. Such a filter device can have an adjustable pass curve, so that this filter function can also be controlled by an electric motor. By adjusting the color film Different waves can then be filtered out successively in accordance with a predetermined time sequence, which waves can be directed onto the respectively desired areas of the body with the aid of the beam guiding device, which is controlled synchronously with the color filter.

If a gaseous medium partially refracting the light is arranged in the room, special figures can also be generated by the partial beams, which can achieve special effects by moving towards or away from the person. These additional effects can be superimposed on the normal exposure, so that an intensification of consciousness can be achieved.

Different partial beams can be expanded to different dimensions. For example, a person's head can be covered in blue with an approximately 50 cm thick beam in parallel, while his kidneys are irradiated with an approximately 15 cm thick beam in yellow and the knee with an approximately 10 cm thick red beam. In contrast to conventional color therapeutic light applications, the method according to the invention can only be carried out with prismatic light refraction. Color filters can be used but are not a prerequisite for carrying out the process.

Tests have shown that the irradiated person can also be clothed. Nevertheless, it can be useful to expose the body to radiation without clothing. This can have an intensifying effect; in addition, the at least partial nudity can positively influence the patient's feeling so that he can also mentally open up to the special effects of color therapy.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the subclaims and from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the device with reference to the drawing.

In Figure 1 of the drawing shows

In FIG. 1 shows the structure of a device according to the invention for representing light effects by means of coherent laser radiation. The pre direction has a beam source 4, here a white light laser. The radiation source 4 feeds beam guiding devices 5 with laser light via optical waveguides 3, the laser light being divided into different partial beams with different wavelengths in the beam guiding devices.

In particular, the beam guiding device 5 shown here in the center is designed as a controllable beam guiding device 5, which can be controlled via a sequence control 1, here formed by a conventional PC. A power supply 2 supplies the laser beam source 4 with current.

In addition to the optical effects, the exposure room (not shown here) is supplied with music via a music system 3.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS:

flow control

power supply

music supply

radiation source

Beam control device

Claims

claims:

1. Device for generating light effects, with

At least one radiation source (4) which at least temporarily emits at least one beam formed by coherent radiation, at least in the visible region,

• an exposure room,

A projection area arranged in the exposure space, in which the radiation is exposed to at least one person,

• at least one beam guiding device (5) which has at least one beam exit and is able to guide the beam emerging from it within the projection area via movable and motor-driven means for beam deflection, characterized in that the projection area is arranged at a distance of at least 100 cm from the beam exit is that the beam guiding device (5) has at least one means for beam expansion and is able to continuously guide the beam that is thereby widened over the projection area.

2. Device for generating light effects according to claim 1, characterized in that the radiation source emits a beam comprising a plurality of wavelengths and at least one beam splitter is provided which is the

Beam of the radiation source can be divided into a plurality of partial beams of different or the same wavelength, several beam guidance devices (5) which can be moved independently of one another being provided and the different beams being assigned different beam guidance devices (5).

3. Device for generating light effects according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the partial beams have a different beam path, the beam guiding devices (5) being designed such that the distance between the partial beams is not greater than 50 cm, at least during individual time intervals.

4. Device for generating light effects according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the beam splitter is a prism arranged in the beam path.

5. Device for generating light effects according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that optical beam formers formed in the beam path of the beam or the partial beams of lenses, diaphragms or mirrors are arranged.

6. A device for generating lighting effects according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rays of the beam or the partial irradiated area than 9 cm ^2, preferably greater than 25cm ² is greater in the area of the projection plane.

7. Device for generating light effects according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the area irradiated by the beam or the partial beams in the region of the projection plane is at least 30%, preferably 50% and more preferably 100% of the body surface of an adult person.

8. Device for generating light effects according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radiation source is a white light laser with an output power of more than 150 mW, preferably of more than 250 mW.

9. Device for generating light effects according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a sequence control (1) with a program memory, the motorized movement of the beam guiding devices (5) from the sequence control (1) to at least one in the program memory stored movement sequence is controlled.

10. Device for generating light effects according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it has a means, in particular formed by a camera, for target recognition, the sequence controller (1) being able to control the movement sequence relative to a reference point specified by the target recognition.

11. Device for generating light effects according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one of the partial beams contains only polarized light.

12. Device for generating light effects according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it has at least one steam generator which is able to penetrate the exposure space with steam partially refracting the light from the rays.

13. Device for generating light effects according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the exposure space is soundproof and is darkened from the surroundings.

14. Device for generating light effects according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one state detection means for the state of the body of the person and a control system which is able to adapt the beam path and / or the beam intensity to the state of the body on the basis of predefined rules.

15. Device for generating light effects according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it has a plurality of beam guiding devices (5) arranged at a distance from one another within the exposure space, each of the beam guiding devices (5) being able to direct one or more beams onto the exposure area ,

16. A method for producing light effects, in which a person is irradiated with light in different colors to increase well-being, characterized in that in a closed exposure space several partial beams of a laser beam source are directed onto or next to at least the person positioned at a distance from the beam exit of the partial beams , the

Partial beams are expanded in such a way that a harmless radiation intensity is exposed on the body of the person and the partial beams in the visible range with different wavelengths irradiate the person or the space adjacent to the person with a moving beam path.

17. A method for generating light effects according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the partial beams irradiate fixed positions of the body over predetermined time intervals.

18. A method for producing light effects according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the exposure space is darkened and a water vapor is introduced as an additional reflection medium into the exposure space.

19. A method for generating light effects according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movement sequence of the partial beams is stored in a control device.

20. A method for producing light effects according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a tone sequence, in particular in the form of music, is played in the exposure space.

21. A method for producing light effects according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that odors are released in the exposure space.