GB2260603A - Dynamic light sculpture - Google Patents

Abstract

A light sculpture is provided comprising at least one elongate and partially flexible fibre optic display element (10) and a light source (14) directing light into the or each display element. Means (12) are provided for oscillating a portion of the display element (10) adjacent the light source (14) with the imparted motion being transmitted along the display element. The oscillating means (12) may comprise a rotating plate having an offset aperture through which the display element passes: other oscillating means are disclosed. The light source (14) includes one or more lamps and may be monochromatic or provide light of varying colours. <IMAGE>

Description

DYNAMIC LIGHT SCULPTURE The present invention relates to light sculptures, light sculptures being structures or articles using light or the properties thereof to generate aesthetically pleasing visual effects. In particular, the present invention relates to dynamic light sculptures which are structures having one or more moving parts which1 in combination with means for illuminating the same, generate a visual effect.

Light sculptures may be relatively small in size and hand held or table mounted or may be made relatively large to provide a visual display in indoor or outdoor public places, which display can be seen from relatively large distances.

An example of a light sculpture, in the form of an artificial Christmas tree, is shown in U.S. Patent No. 3766376 to Sadacca et al. Sprays of illuminated optical fibres provide illumination amongst the tree foliage. The fibres are bundled together around the trunk of the tree, extending down to a base within which is provided a varying-colour light source for the fibres. A geared motor is provided in the base to rotate the tree about a vertical axis.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a dynamic light sculpture comprising: at least one elongate and at least partially flexible display element, the display element comprising a plurality of fibres, at least one of which is a fibre optic cable, bound together over at least a part of their length; a light source located adjacent one end of the display element and configured to direct light into the at least one fibre optic cable; and means for repeatedly and controllably moving a portion of the display element relative to the light source in a direction substantially transverse to the axis of the display element, the said portion being close to that end of the display element towards which the light source is directed.

The applicant has appreciated that, by imparting transverse motion to the or each display element, which transverse motion will be transmitted along the display element to an extent determined by the number, type and length of fibres in the display element, a more mobile light sulpture than, for example, the Christmas tree of US-A-3766376, may be provided.

The display element may comprise one or a number of lengths of fibre optic cable. Where the display element comprises a number of fibre optic cables, these are preferably of differing lengths. Whilst only a single display element may be provided, enhanced visual effects may be obtained by using a number of display elements. The applicant has found that satisfactory results may be obtained using seven display elements, each comprising seven lengths of fibre optic cable of differing lengths.

At least one fibre in the or each display element may comprise an elongate support means supporting at least a part of the length of the or each fibre optic cable in a display element. The support means are preferably selected in dependence on the size of the dynamic light sculpture as a whole and the length and number of optical fibres in the or each display element. Where the display element is relatively small and the fibres relatively short, the support may be provided by a resilient self-supporting body such as a length of spring wire.Where the dynamic light sculpture is a large structure and the length and number of fibre optic cables in each display element is such as to make the use of a selfsupporting body for the elongate support means impractical, the elongate support means may instead be provided by a thin flexible body (such as a length of nylon monofilament) attached at one end to the dynamic light sculpture and at the other end to a fixed support, such as a wall or ceiling.

As will be readily understood, when the optical fibres in a display element are sufficiently short to be self supporting, the elongate support means may be dispensed with and all fibres in a display element may be fibre optic cables.

The light source, held fixed relative to one end of the display element, may comprise any of a number of suitable light sources, such as dichroic reflector lamps or capacitor-discharge strobe lighting units. The light source may be configured to provide either monochromatic or coloured light to the display element. The light source may be configured to provide two or more different colours of light, either by selectively switching between two or more differently coloured light sources or by selectively moving one of two or more coloured filters or plates into position between the light source and the end of the display element.In order to provide a stroboscopic effect where a dichroic lamp or the like provides the light source, blanking plates or shutters may also be provided with means for selectively and controllably moving them into position between the light source and the end of the display element. Where several display elements are used, a separate light source may be provided for each, or a single light source may be provided to supply light to all display elements.

The means for imparting tranverse motion to a portion of the display element adjacent the light source may comprise a rotating plate with an aperture offset from the axis of rotation of the plate through which aperture the display element passes: rotation of the plate thereby causes a portion of the display element to exhibit circular motion in a plane perpendicular to the direction in which the display element extends. Alternatively, the plate may be resiliently mounted and means provided for vibrating the plate in a plane substantially transverse to the axis of the display element.

In a further alternative, the means for moving the said portion of the display element may comprise electromechanical means such as solenoids coupled to the said portion of the display element and operable to move the said portion in one or more directions transverse to its elongate axis.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of a first embodiment of dynamic light sculpture according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a display element used in the light sculpture of figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the light sculpture of figure 1 with the display elements truncated; Figure 4 is a sectional side elevation through the light sculpture of figure 3; Figure 5 schematically illustrates the relative positions of a colour disk, lamp and blanking plates used in the light source of the light sculpture of figure 1; Figure 6 shows in elevation an enlarged detail of the portion indicated at VI in figure 3; ; Figure 7 schematically illustrates an alternative embodiment of light source for a dynamic light sculpture according to the present invention; Figures 8 and 9 schematically illustrate, in plan and elevation, a first alternative means for imparting motion to a portion of the display element in a dynamic light sculpture according to the present invention; Figure 10 schematically illustrates a second alternative means for imparting motion to a portion of the display element in a dynamic light sculpture according to the present invention; and Figure 11 is an elevational view of an alternative embodiment of light sculpture according to the present invention.

Referring initially to figure 1, a first embodiment of dynamic light sculpture according to the present invention is shown. The light sculpture comprises a number of elongate display elements 10a, b, c, d, (only four of which are shown although more or fewer could be used) together with movement means 12 and a light source 14. The movement means 12 and light source 14 may be pivotably mounted on a bracket and strut support 16 in like manner to the mounting of theatrical lights.

As shown in figure 2, each of the display elements 10 is constructed as a bundle of fibres, comprising seven optical fibres 101 - 107 and a length of nylon monofilament 18. Each of the optical fibres is a decorative grade polymer fibre Imin in a diameter and the fibres are of differing lengths with the shortest fibre 101 being 0.9 metres (3 feet) in length increasing in 30 centimetre (1 foot) lengths to the longest optical fibre 107 which is 2.7 metres (9 feet) long. The length of nylon monofilament 18 is suitably 4.5 metres (15 feet) long and is provided at its distal end with means such as a hook or eye 20 to enable it to be attached to a fixed support such as a wall or ceiling 22, 24, as shown in figure 1.The optical fibres 101 107 and nylon monofilament 18 of the display element 10 are held together by bindings 26 at intervals along the length of the display element 10 with the end portion of each optical fibre 101 - 107 being unconstrained to allow it to curve away from the remainder of the display element 10.

The light source 14 and means 12 for moving a portion of the display element or elements are shown in plan and sectional side elevational views in figures 3 and 4 respectively. Turning firstly to the light source 14, this is contained in a housing 28 which encloses a power supply 30, lamp 32, colour disk 34, and one or more blanking plates 36. The power supply 30 is suitably configured to provide a twelve volt supply from an external source of mains voltage. A cylindrical collar 38 extends through an aperture in the upper surface of the housing 28 and clamps together one end of each of the optical fibres from each of the display elements such that all of the optical fibres have a common end surface 40. The lamp 32 is a twelve volt 100w dichroic lamp fed by the power supply 30.The lamp 32 has an elliptical reflector and is of a type used in film projection apparatus having a focussed beam: in the present light sculpture, the beam is focussed onto the common end surface 40 of the optical fibres.

Between the lamp 32 and end surface 40 are positioned a colour disk 34 and blanking plates 36, the relative positions of which are shown in plan view in figure 5. The colour disk 34 is a circular plate of light transmitting material the surface of which is divided up into a number of regions 341 - 347 of differing colours. The colour disk 34 may be constructed as a transparent plate to which is attached sections of coloured gel although it is preferred to construct the disk from sections of coloured dichroic filter material. Although the colour disk 34 shown in figure 5 has its surface divided into 6 approximately equal sectors, it will be appreciated that any arrangement of coloured portions may be selected for the surface of the disk 34. As shown in figure 4, the disk 34 is supported at its centre by the shaft of a motor 42 which motor is connected to the supply 30.Operation of the motor 42 causes the disk 34 to rotate, bringing different ones of the coloured portions 341 - 347 into position between the lamp 32 and the fibre end surface 40 thereby varying the colour of light entering the optical fibres. The rotational speed of the colour disk is relatively low (eg. 0.1 to 10 r.p.m.) and control circuitry may be provided in a known manner to vary the shaft rotation speed of the motor 42, thereby controlling the rate of change of colour of the light entering the optical fibres.

Between the colour disk 34 and the optical fibre ends 40 are provided a pair of blanking plates 36A, B each of which is mounted on, and rotated by, the shaft of a motor 44A, B, each of the motors 44A, B being powered from the power supply 30 and each of which may be provided with speed controls in a similar manner to that for the colour disk motor 42. The blanking plates 36 are rotated at a much higher speed than the colour disk 34 (i.e. several thousand r.p.m.) in order to produce a stroboscopic effect. As shown in figure 5, the blanking plates 36 each have a pair of arms which, as the plate is rotated, pass over the lamp 32 thereby preventing some or all of the light entering some or all of the optical fibres.By providing suitable control means (eg a microprocessor) and by providing steppermotors for each of the colour disk and blanking plate motors 42, 44 it is possible to provide a coordinated light source with a selected colour of light being supplied to the display elements for a selected period of time. It is envisaged that, where the present light sculpture is used in an enviroment where music is being played, such a light source control may be configured as a sound-to-light control with the changing colour of light being selected in dependence on the tempo and/or pitch of the music.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the dichroic lamp and blanking plates may be replaced by one or more strobe lights using known capacitive - discharge techniques through a xenon tube or similar to provide short flashes of very bright light. Where a number of discharge tubes are provided, each may have a separate differently coloured filter (allowing the colour disk to be omitted) such that by controllably triggering selected ones of the discharge tubes in a selected order, different colours of light may be supplied to the display elements at differing intervals.

As shown in figure 4, the housing 28 also contains a cooling fan 46 for cooling the lamp 32 and power supply 30, air being drawn in through apertures 48 in one end of the housing 28.

Referring now to the movement means 12, in a first embodiment these consist of a top plate 50 which is rotated by a motor 52 and has an offset aperture 54 through which the display elements 10 pass. The top plate 50 forms an end cover to a cylindrical housing 56 which is attached at its lower end to the light source housing 28. The motor 52 is attached to the upper portion of the cylindrical housing 56 by means of a mounting plate 58. The shaft 60 of the motor 52 is provided with a friction wheel 62. The top plate 50 is provided with flanges 64, 66 extending radially from the upper and lower surfaces thereof with the friction wheel 62 contacting the peripheral edge 68 of the top plate 50 between the flanges 64, 66.

Two additional friction wheels 70, 72 are provided around the periphery of the top plate 50, being spaced by 1200 from the friction wheel 62 driven by the motor 52. As shown in figure 6, the additional friction wheel 70 (and also 72) is unpowered, and is rotatably mounted on a bracket 74 attached to the outer surface of the cylindrical housing 56. By virtue of the provision of the flanges 64, 66 and the relative spacing of the friction wheels 62, 70, 72 the top plate 50 is held supported by the friction wheels and, when the friction wheel 62 attached to the shaft 60 of the motor 52 is rotated, the top plate 50 is also caused to rotate thereby causing that portion of each of the display elements 10 passing through the offset aperture 54 to be moved in a circular path in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of the optical fibres.A top plate rotational speed of the order of 300 r.p.m. is preferred although motor speed control may be provided to allow user variation of the top plate rotational speed.

Where the bundle of display elements 10 passes through the aperture 5 in the top plate 50, a ball race 76 or other suitable bearing may be provided to reduce friction. As shown in figure 4, the ball race 76 may be held constrained between annular plates 78, 80 on the upper and lower surfaces of the top plate 50 or the ball race 76 may be made an interference fit in the offset aperture 54 through the top plate 50.

In order to offset the effect of the weight of the ball race 76 and the annular plates 78, 80 a counterweight 82 is provided extending through the top plate 50, the counterweight 82 being displaced from the offset aperture 54 by 1800 about the axis of rotation of the top plate 50.

As will be appreciated, rotation of the top plate 50 will impart oscillitary motion to the emerging display elements which motion will be transmitted along the length of each to an extent determined by the length of display element, its rigidity, and the rigidity of the fixing at the remote end thereof. The varying coloured light supplied to the display elements 10 by the light source 14 will be transmitted along the optical fibres of each element, with a certain amount of leakage (side exiting light) from the outer surfaces thereof, to emerge at the free end of each of the optical fibres 101 - 107 of each display element 10, thereby providing a number of moving spots of bright coloured light and providing an aesthetically pleasing visual effect.

Alternative embodiments of the present invention are shown in Figures 7 to 11. Where appropriate, the same reference numerals have been used to denote those features common to more than one embodiment.

Referring initially to figure 7, there is shown an alternative light source 140, again contained in housing 28, wherein each of the display elements 10a, b, c, d, e, f, g is provided with a separate light source 90a, b, c, d, e, f, g. Each of these separate light sources 90a - g may comprise a single monochrome or coloured lamp or capacitive - discharge strobe light or, in a more complex embodiment, may comprise a light source, colour disk and one or more blanking plates as in the light source described with reference to figure 4. Control means 92 (e.g. a microprocessor) may be provided connected to each of the separate light sources 90a - g in order to provide coordination of the frequency and colour of light supply to the display elements 10a - g.

The system of figure 7 may be further extended such that each optical fibre from each display element is provided with a separate light source although it has been found that a greater visual impact is obtained when all of the optical fibres in a given display element are operated from a common source.

In Figures 8 and 9 a first alternative embodiment of movement means 120 is shown. In the embodiment, the lower ends of the display elements 10 are bound together by, and held in, a collar 122 attached to the underside of a plate 124 having an aperture 126 through which the display elements emerge. Above the plate 124, the display elements and fibres therein are not bound, allowing the fibres to move independently of one another above the level of the plate. The plate 124 is resiliently mounted on a support frame 128 by four springs 130 which hold the plate in a central 'rest' position (as shown) whilst allowing it to be moved in a plane substantially transverse to the axis of the display elements 10.

The support frame 128 is mounted over a light source which is suitably a light source 14 as hereinbefore described. Excitation of the plate 124 in the transverse plane is provided by a vibrator 132 mounted on the underside of the plate. In the embodiment shown, the vibrator 132 comprises an electric motor 134 connected to a power supply and rotating an eccentric body 136 about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the plate 124. Control of the degree of oscillation may be effected by speed control of the motor 134.

As will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, different types of vibrator and different resilient mounting arrangements may be provided for the plate 124 whilst still achieving the desired controllable transverse motion of the portion of the display elements 10.

In the embodiment of Figures 8 and 9, all of the fibres in each display element 10 are optical fibres: the length of these optical fibres (suitably 45-60cm bound together over 5cm by the collar 122) is such that they are self-supporting and, unlike the much longer fibres used in the embodiment of Figure 1, elongate support means are not required. As will be appreciated however, longer display elements including support means may be used.

In Figure 10 there is shown a second alternative embodiment of movement means 220 which imparts oscillatory motion to a portion of each of the display elements 10 by electromechanical means, rather than the purely mechanical means of the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the bundle of display elements 10 passes through a collar 94 located close to but spaced apart from the common end of the display elements. The collar 94 is pivotably attached by means of swinging linkages 96 between each of two pairs of opposed solenoids or linear actuators 98a, b, 100a, b.

Activation of the first pair of opposed solenoids 98 moves the collar 94 and bundle of display elements 10 backwards and forwards in a first (x) direction. Operation of the second pair of opposed solenoids 100 moves the collar 94 and bundle of display elements 10 backwards and forwards in a second (y) direction perpendicular to the first (x) direction. Each of the solenoids 98a, b, 100a, b is connected to and controlled by suitable control means 110. As will be appreciated, by providing means for controlling the position of the collar 94 and bundle of display elements 10 passing therethrough in mutually perpendicular x and y directions, the range of available movement for the bundle of display elements 10 is much greater than the simple circular path possible with the purely mechanical movement means described with reference to figure 4.As an example, that portion of the bundle of display elements 10 passing through the collar 94 may be controlled to exhibit elliptical or figure of eight paths in addition to a circular path.

A further embodiment of light sculpture is shown in Figure 11. In the embodiment shown, only three display elements are illustrated although it will be appreciated that a greater or lesser number may be used. The embodiment of Figure 11 is intended to be constructed on a smaller scale than the embodiment of Figure 1 and may be hand held or desk mounted. In the embodiment shown, the movement means 12 comprises a rotating plate 50 as described above with reference to Figures 3 and 4, although others of the described embodiments of movement means may be used. The display elements are suitably 1 metre or less in length and, to provide support for the optical fibres 101-107, one of the fibres in each display element is an elongate support means 180, the support means 180 being provided by a length of resilient material such as spring wire. The light source housing 28 and cylindrical housing 56 of the embodiments of Figures 1 to 7 may be combined into a single housing 182 which, in addition to housing the light source and supporting the movement means may also contain dry cell batteries for powering of the unit.

Claims (24)

1. A dynamic light sculpture comprising: at least one elongate and at least partially flexible display element, the display element comprising a plurality of fibres, at least one of which is a fibre optic cable, bound together over at least a part of their length; a light source located adjacent one end of the display element and configured to direct light into the at least one fibre optic cable; and means for repeatedly and controllably moving a portion of the display element relative to the light source in a direction substantially transverse to the axis of the display element, the said portion being close to that end of the display element towards which the light source is directed.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which at least one fibre is an elongate support means supporting at least a part of the length of the or each fibre optic cable.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the or each fibre optic cable is a length of decorative grade polymer optical fibre.

Apparatus according to claim 1, in which two or more of the fibres in the or each display element are fibre optic cables and in which each fibre optic cable in a display element is of a different length to each other fibre optic cable in that display element.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising two or more display elements, and including a separate light source for each display element.

6. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 5, in which the elongate support means is a resilient self-supporting body.

7. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 5, in which the elongate support means is a thin flexible body attached at one end thereof to the light sculpture and at the other end to a fixed support remote from the light sculpture.

8. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which the light source comprises a monochromatic lamp.

9. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which the light source is controllable to selectively provide light of one of two or more different colours.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, including control means operable to vary the rate at which the colour of light provided is changed.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, in which the light source includes two or more coloured filters and means for selectively moving at least one of the said filters into a position between the source of light and the said one end of the display element.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, in which the light source includes two or more differently coloured sources of light and means for switching between the said sources.

13. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including at least one blanking plate of opaque material and means for selectively moving the plate into and out of a position between the light source and the said one end of the display element.

14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the means for moving a portion of the display element comprises a plate having an aperture through which the said portion passes, and means for rotating the plate about an axis offset from the aperture.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, including control means operable to vary the rotational speed of the plate.

16. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 13, in which the means for moving a portion of the display element comprises a resiliently mounted plate having an aperture through which the said portion passes, and means operable to vibrate the plate in a plane substantially transverse to the axis of the display element.

17. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 13, in which the means for moving a portion of the display element comprise at least one electromagnetic actuator coupled to the said portion.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, comprising two electromagnetic actuators coupled to the said portion and respectively operable to move the said portion in first and second mutually perpendicular directions.

19. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a housing within which the light source is contained and to which the means for moving a portion of the display element is attached, at least one of the light source and the means for moving a portion of the display element being powered by one or more dry cell batteries and the or each dry cell battery being contained within the housing.

20. A dynamic light sculpture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A dynamic light sculpture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A dynamic light sculpture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.

23. A dynamic light sculpture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 10 of the accompanying drawings.

24. A dynamic light sculpture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 11 of the accompanying drawings.