GB2093208A

GB2093208A - Kaleidoscope

Info

Publication number: GB2093208A
Application number: GB8101352A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: EDELEX ELECTRONIC CORP Ltd
Current assignee: EDELEX ELECTRONIC CORP Ltd
Priority date: 1981-01-16
Filing date: 1981-01-16
Publication date: 1982-08-25

Abstract

An electronic kaleidoscope comprises an array 2 of light sources, such as light emitting diodes, and a plurality of mirrors 1 extending forwardly of the array so as to provide an image similar to that of a kaleidoscope. A control circuit 4 controls illumination of the light sources and may include a tone generator for generating musical tones simultaneously with the pattern of illumination of the light sources. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to electronic kaleidoscopes The present invention relates to electronic Kaleidoscopes.

According to the invention, there is provided an electronic kaleidoscope comprising an array of light sources, a plurality of mirrors extending generally forwardly of the array of light sources, and a control circuit arranged control illumination of the light sources.

Preferably, the light sources comprise groups of sources of different coloured light, such as groups of light emitting diodes (LES's) of different colours.

Preferably, the array of light sources comprises a triangular array of regularly spaced light sources and the plurality of mirrors comprises three mirrors extending generally forward of the three sides, respectively, of the array. The triangular array is preferably an equilaterally triangular array.

The mirrors may comprise rectangular mirrors extending perpendicularly to the triangular array.

Alternatively, the mirrors may comprise trapezoidal mirrors tapering outwardly and forwardly of the array so that the mirrors and the array form a section of a tetrahedron.

Preferably, the control circuit includes means for generating musical tones and means for changing the pattern of illuminated light sources synchronously with the changing musical tones.

The tone generating means may be preprogrammed to produce one or more tuners.

The tone generating means may include random tone selection means for generating a random or pseudo-random sequence of tones. The control circuit may include a keyboard for manual selection of tones, and may include a memory for storing and subsequently playing back a sequence of tones which have been manually selected by means of the keyboard. The control circuit may include a switch for selecting between tones having a rectangular envelope of duration equal to key actuation time to simulate an organ sound, and tones having a decaying envelope to simulate a piano sound.

Preferably, the control circuit includes a microphone and is arranged to change the pattern of illuminated light sources in response to received sounds.

Preferably, the control circuit includes an integrated circuit microprocessor.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of an electronic kaleidoscope constituting a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the electronic kaleidoscope of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of another electronic kaleidoscope constituting a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a part-sectional side view of the electronic kaleidoscope of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line V-V of Figure 4.

The electronic kaleidoscope shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a housing containing three trapezoidal mirrors 1 and a triangular array 2 of light emitting diodes. The array 2 is in the form of an equilateral triangle and, together with the mirrors 1 , forms part of a tetrahedron. The mirrors 1 extend form the array 2 towards the front of the kaleidoscope, at which is provided a transparent glass cover 7.

The light emitting diodes of the array 2 are arranged in a regular pattern as shown in Figure 1.

The light emitting diodes comprise three groups which contain red, green and yellow light emitting diodes, respectively. The diodes of the same colour in each group are also arranged regularly so as to be symmetrical about each of the three median axes of the traingular array 2.

The housing also contains a control circuit 4 based on an integrated circuit microprocessor. The control circuit has output connected to the light emitting diodes such that each light emitting diode can be controlled independently of all the other light emitting diodes. The control circuit 4 is further connected to a loudspeaker 3 for reproducing musical tones generated by the control circuit. A microphone 5 is connected to an input of the control circuit 4. The control circuit and light emitting diodes are supplied with power by a plurality of dry cells 8 contained in the housing.

A keyboard 6 is provided on the lower front surface of the housing below the mirrors 1. The keyboard includes 12 keys which are arranged to produce 12 scales of musical notes. At the right of the keyboard, there are four further keys 9 which control the function of the kaleidoscope as described hereinafter. On the side of the kaleidoscope, there are provided an ON/OFF switch (not shown) for connecting and disconnecting the dry cells 8 to the electronic circuit on the kaleidoscope, and a music ON/OFF switch (also not shown) which allows the kaleidoscope to be watched without having to listen to the tones reproduced via the loudspeaker 3.

In use, whenever the electronic kaleidoscope shown in Figures 1 and 2 is switched ON, one or more tunes or melodies which are preprogrammed into the control circuit 4 during manufacture are reproduced by the control circuit via the loudspeaker 3. Simultaneously, the light emitting diodes of the array 2 are illuminated in different patterns, the pattern of illuminated light emitting diodes changing each time a new note is reproduced via the loudspeaker 3 so that the kaleidoscope pattern changes synchronously with the tune. Alternatively, if the music ON/OFF switch is in its OFF position, the changing pattern of illuminated light emitting diodes is provided in the absence of an audible output from the loudspeaker 3.When the preprogrammed tunes have been played, the control circuit 4 continues to produce a random or pseudo-random sequence of notes while the array 2 continues to produce a pattern of illuminated light emitting diodes which changes synchronously with the production of notes. If desired, the mode of the electronic kaleidoscope may then be changed by operating the further keys 9.

The further keys 9 include an "organ" key and a "piano" key. By pressing either of these two keys, the kaleidoscope is put into a manual mode in which notes are generated by the control circuit 4 and reproduced by the loudspeaker 3 in accordance with keys of the keyboard 6 which have been pressed. In the organ mode, a tone is sounded at constant amplitude for as long as one of the mode keys is pressed, so that the envelope of the mode is essentially rectangular or trapezoidal and has a duration equal to the length of time during which the corresponding key is pressed so as to simulate an organ sound. In the piano mode, pressing each key generates the corresponding note having an envelope which automatically decays, so as to simulate the sound of a piano.

The first thirteen notes played in the organ or piano mode are stored in a random axes memory contained in the control circuit 4. By pressing another of the further keys 9 labelled "playback" the sequence of notes may be reproduced via the loudspeaker 3. When the stored sequence has terminated, the kaleidoscope returns to a random mode in which random or pseduo-random notes are played.

The fourth of the further keys 9 is labelled "random" and allows a random or pseudo-random sequence of notes to be played with either the organ or the piano tone as selected. In order to achieve this, the organ or the piano key is first selected and the random key is then pressed, the control circuit then reproducing via the loudspeaker 3 a random sequence of notes having the tone of the type selected.

The electronic kaleidoscope has a further mode of operation in which the pattern of illuminated light emitting diodes changes according to sounds received by the microphone 5. in order to select this mode, the organ or piano tone key is pressed.

The music ON/OFF switch is switched to the OFF position. The microphone then picks up sounds from the environment and supplies to the control circuit 4 which is triggered by seven increases in sound level above a predetermined level. Each time the control circuit is triggered, it changes the pattern of illuminated light emitting diodes. Thus, the electronic kaleidoscope may be used to provide a display which changes synchronously with, for instance, the beat of music reproduced by a radio or television set.

In all modes, the pattern of illuminated light emitting diodes changes in a random or apparently random manner. The array of light emitting diodes is visible directly from the front of the kaleidoscope and also via one or more reflection in the mirrors 1. A pleasing effect of changing is thus produced.

Figures 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings show another electronic kaleidoscope constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention. In these figures, the same reference numerals refer to like parts in Figures 1 and 2. The kaleidoscope of Figures 3 to 5 is shaped so as to provide a conventional kaleidoscope-type display while allowing the keys of the keyboard 6 to be operated manually.

The mirrors 1 of this kaleidoscope are rectangular and extend from each side of the triangular array 2 perpendicularly thereto. A window 10 in the end of the kaleidoscope is provided for viewing the patterns produced thereby. The pattern of illuminated light emitting diodes is thus viewed directly from the array 2, by single reflection in each of the mirrors 1, and by multiple reflections from the mirrors 1 so that a pattern similar to that of a conventional kaleidoscope may be observed. Further, the keyboard 6 is arranged such that it may be operated manually by both hands in a convenient manner while the window 10 is held close to the eye of an observer so that a tune may be played whilst observing the changing patterns of illuminated light emitting diodes.

The electronic kateidoscope shown in Figures 3 to 5 is capable of performing all the functions performed by the kaleidoscope of Figures 1 and 2 except that it does not contain a microphone and thus cannot provide a display based on sounds received from the environment. Further, no music ON/OFF switch is provided so that it is not possible to disable the audible output of the kaleidoscope.

Claims

1. An electronic kaleidoscope comprising an array of light sources, a plurality of mirrors extending generally forward of the array of light sources, and a control circuit arranged to control illumination of the light sources.

2. An electronic kaleidoscope as claimed in claim 1, in which the light sources comprise groups of different coloured tight sources.

3. An electronic kaleidoscope as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the light sources are light emitting diodes.

4. An electronic kaleidoscope as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the array of light sources comprises a triangular array of regularly spaced light sources and the plurality of mirrors comprises three mirrors extending generally forwardly of the three sides, respectively, of the array.

5. An electronic kaleidoscope as claimed in claim 4, in which the triangular array is an equilaterally triangular array.

6. An electronic kaleidoscope as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which the mirrors comprise rectangular mirrors extending perpendicularly to the triangular array.

7. An electronic kaleidoscope as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which the mirrors comprise trapezoidal mirrors tapering outwardly and forwardly of the array so that the mirrors and the array form a section of a tetrahedron.

8. An electronic kaleidoscope as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control circuit includes means for generating musical tones and means for changing the pattern of illuminated light sources synchronously with the changing musical tones.

9. An electronic kaleidoscope as claimed in claim 8, in which the tone generating means is programmed to produce one or more tunes.

1 0. An electronic kaleidoscope as claimed in claim 8 or 9, in which the tone generating means includes random tone selection means for generating a random or pseudo-random sequence of tones.

11. An electronic kaleidoscope as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, in which the control circuit includes a keyboard for manual selection of tones.

12. An electronic kaleidoscope as claimed in claim 11, in which the control circuit includes a memory for storing and subsequently playing back a sequence of tones which have been manually selected by means of the keyboard.

1 3. An electronic kaleidoscope as claimed in claims 11 or 12, in which the control circuit includes a switch for selecting between tones having a rectangular envelope of duration equal to key actuation time to simulate an organ sound, and tones having a decaying envelope to simulate a piano sound.

14. An electronic kaleidoscope as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control circuit includes a microphone and is arranged to change the pattern of illuminated light sources in response to received sounds.

1 5. An electronic kaleidoscope as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control circuit includes an integrated circuit microprocessor.

1 6. An electronic kaleidoscope substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.