GB2435090A

GB2435090A - Snow effect lighting

Info

Publication number: GB2435090A
Application number: GB0602611A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Levesley; Lynne Levesley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-02-09
Filing date: 2006-02-09
Publication date: 2007-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 2026-02-09
Also published as: GB0602611D0; GB2435090B

Abstract

A method of reflecting light provides the illusion of falling snow by reflecting the light (15, fig 1) with a multi-faceted mirror 10, so that when projected onto a surface it causes spots (19, fig 3) with continuous downward motion (17, fig 1), some of the spots deviating from the vertical path. The light may be provided by an LED 1. The multi-faceted mirror may be mounted on a rotating cylinder. A further multi-faceted mirror 5 may be provided. The mirrors are preferably concave.

Description

1 2435090 Lighting effect The present invention relates to decorative

lighting and in particular to providing the illusion of falling snow.

Background

Decorative lighting is required on many occasions as it is able to transform the appearance of surrounding objects to express a particular mood or suggest an alternative scenario. Examples of this can be seen in stage or theatre productions where different scenes require the illusion of changing location, time of day or even weather conditions and elements.

Festive periods and especially Christmas attract the use of lighting to decorate property or objects to imitate icicles or falling snow, the latter being particularly difficult to simulate due to the random motion of snow flakes.

Lighting products currently or previously available to imitate falling snow are either too expensive for domestic use, create a static display or they switch or fade lights on and off resulting in a predictable effect, they also usually require mounting on, or fixing to the surface where the effect is required, this can be particularly difficult if it is a large surface such as a property wall.

Other devices are available to create the effect of falling snow, but due to cost and complexity, are mainly limited to professional use, these could be based on the "Gobo" method where light is projected from a very high-powered light source (100W or more) through a moving band of opaque foil with pre-determined punched holes, this creates light particles on the desired surface travelling in a single direction.

Cinema type projectors can create the effect from a pre-determined animation or computer-generated scene, again requiring a high-powered light source.

Statement of invention

To overcome this, the present invention provides the illusion of falling snow by reflecting rays of light which are multiplied and directed by mirrors so that when projected at the required surface, causes perpetual and analogue movement of multiple illuminated particles, predominately but not exclusively, with vertical downward motion combined with simultaneous multiple illuminated particles having analogue movement in a downward direction deviating from a vertical path.

Advantages By using the present invention it is possible to achieve an improved illusion of falling snow than that provided by existing and current products, it is also cost effective to manufacture, economical to operate, safe for outdoor use in all seasons, easy to install and remove from operation.

Preferably, the lighting effect utilises a single high intensity low power light source.

Preferably, the lighting effect utilises a low voltage semiconductor device such as a Light Emitting Diode for a high intensity light source.

Preferably, the lighting effect operates at less than low and from a safe low voltage supply.

Introduction to drawings

An example of the present invention will now be described in detail by referring to the accompanying drawings. The description refers to a version where all components are contained in a single enclosure, however, it must be noted the apparatus could be separated into individual components or varying combinations of components without deviating from the essence of the invention.

Figure 1 shows the typical layout of principle internal components of the present invention viewed from one side. In both Figure 1 and Figure 2, the concaved mirror is suggested in cross section with the individual mirrors 4 on the inner surface of in view. The light rays 6 are suggesting typical paths relative only to the mirrors in view.

Figure 2 shows the typical layout of principle internal components of the present invention viewed from the front. Items in Figure 2 are numbered to correspond with their alternative view in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows the typical path of light particles projected from the present invention. Items in Figure 3 are numbered to correspond with their alternative view in Figure 1.

Description of operation

In Figure 1 it can be seen that all principle components could be contained within an enclosure 16, these consist of a high intensity light source 1, a concaved mirror 5, a focusing lens 7, a motor 14 and a rotating mirror 10.

The high intensity light source I could be a white LED mounted on a surface 2 to dissipate heat and reduce light escaping backwards, the mounting surface 2 can be fixed to the enclosure 16.

When power is applied to the light source 1, light is radiated towards the concaved mirror 5 which can also be fixed to the enclosure; this has a multi faceted inner surface by way of coating with individual mirrors 4.

Due to its concaved shape, the mirror 5 will reflect a group of individual rays of light 6 towards the rotating mirror 10. The number or resulting rays 6 is directly proportional to the amount of individual mirrored facets 4 on different planes of the inner surface of 5, for the present invention thirty facets 4 have provided a suitable result however more or less could be used. The exact profile of mirror 5 could be varied to suit varying scales of the overall lighting effect but it will essentially be concaved. The mirror 5 is shaped and situated in a position so that the reflected rays 6 are distributed evenly across the surface of the rotating mirror 10 as in figure 2, the exact location will vary with the scale of the lighting effect.

The rays of light reflected by mirror 5 pass through a lens 7, which is mounted in a hole on a solid baffle 8, this is to prevent stray light entering the top portion of the enclosure. The lens is positioned at the correct focal distance from the mirror 5 and the light source I and is such a shape so as to help keep the edges of the light rays parallel so retaining their intensity as much as possible.

In the top portion of the enclosure a concaved mirror 10 is rotated about an axis 11 in the direction 13 at approximately one rpm by a motor 14, this could be fixed to the enclosure 16 by a bracket 12.

The rotating mirror 10 is coated with individual mirrored facets 9, which reflect the rays of light 6 out of the enclosure as a cluster 15. The number of resulting rays of light in 15 has multiplied again from the output of mirror 5 as several adjacent mirrored facets 9, can simultaneously reflect a ray of light 6 from 5.

It can be seen In Figure 2 that the average mirrored surface on 10 has a concaved predominately circular curve with a radius similar to that used by the concaved mirror 5.

In Figure 1 the mirror 10 is rotating in the direction 13, and therefore the light rays are constantly moving in the downward direction 17, so when they fall on the required surface light particles are created which are falling.

Because the rotating mirror has a concaved average surface, the light rays cross over from both sides in the horizontal plane resulting in additional light particles being displayed on the required surface moving with simultaneous diagonal and downward motion. The typical path of all the projected light particles can be seen in Figure 3.

The radius of the mirror 10 from the axis 11 is not critical although a larger radius allows relatively more mirrored facets around the outer surface, thus giving a denser pattern of light rays 15. This is because more mirrors are likely to reflect a ray of light from 5 simultaneously in a similar direction 15. A suitable result is achieved with a rotating mirror having a radius of approximately 35 mm and approximately one hundred mirrored facets 9. The overall size of the rotating mirror 10 is not critical and can be varied depending on the overall scale of the lighting effect.

The position of the rotating mirror is not critical but is best situated to receive all the light rays 6 from mirror 5 evenly across the horizontal plane.

Figure 3 shows the present lighting effect in a typical enclosure 16. The light rays exit the enclosure 16 in a cluster 15. As the rays of light meet the required surface 18, an even distribution of light particles 19 are displayed within the extremes illustrated from 15, (Please note only a selection are shown for illustrative purposes). The light particles follow typical paths again with an all over even distribution in the directions 20, 21 and 22. For example approximately 33% will be evenly distributed over the entire surface 18 and following paths similar to 20, simultaneously another 33% or so, of the light particles will be evenly distributed over the entire surface 18 and following paths similar to 21 and simultaneously the remaining 33% or so, of the light particles will be evenly distributed over the entire surface and following paths similar to 22.

As the mirror 10 in Figure 1 and 2 is continuously rotating in the direction 13, the light particles will appear at the top of the scene as other light particles fall out of view at the bottom resulting in a perpetual display.

Claims

L

Claims 1) A lighting effect that provides the illusion of falling snow by reflecting rays of light which are multiplied and directed by mirrors so that when projected at the required surface, causes perpetual and analogue movement of multiple illuminated particles, predominately but not exclusively, with vertical downward motion combined with simultaneous multiple illuminated particles having analogue movement in a downward direction deviating from a vertical path.

2) A lighting effect according to claim I where the resulting projected rays of light are reflected from a multi-faceted mirror or combination of multi-faceted mirrors being rotated about a central axis.

3) A lighting effect according to claim 2 where the resulting projected rays of light are reflected from a multi-faceted rotating mirror or multi-faceted rotating mirrors being predominately cylindrical and curved along the average of the mirrored surface perpendicular to the diameter and rotated about a axis central and perpendicular to the diameter.

4) A lighting effect according to claim 3 where rays of light received by the rotating mirror or mirrors could be multiplied and reflected from a high intensity light source by a multi-faceted concaved mirror.

5) A lighting effect according to claim 3 that is able, but not restricted, to operate from a single high intensity light source.

6) A lighting effect according to claim 5 that utilises a low voltage semiconductor device such as a Light Emitting Diode as a high intensity light source.

7) A lighting system according to claim 1, utilising separate components or a combination of components referred to in claims 2 to 6.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1) An effect light that provides the illusion of falling snow, comprising of at least a single light source means, and means of evenly distributing multiple light rays from the said light source means at different angles across the surface of a multi-faceted rotating mirror means, and the multi-faceted rotating mirror means being operable to multiply and reflect the multiple rays of light received at different angles, out of the effect light, so that when projected at the required surface, causes perpetual and analogue movement of multiple illuminated particles, predominately but not exclusively, with vertical downward motion combined with simultaneous multiple illuminated particles having analogue movement in a downward direction deviating from a vertical path, so that collectively particles cross over or collide, and means of focusing the light rays received by the rotating mirror, so retaining their intenêity as much as possible.

2) An effect light according to claim 1, where multiple rays of light received from different angles by the rotating mirror means, have been multiplied and reflected from at least a single light source means, by a predominantly concaved reflector containing multiple mirrored facets providing different reflective angles.

3) An effect light according to claim 1, where the rotating mirror means, is predominately cylindrical with a curved but multi- faceted outer surface, and the average circumference of the cylinder reduces along the length from each end to a minimum at a point between each end, and is rotated about an axis passing through the centre of each end.

4) An effect light according to claim 1, where the focusing means is a Piano convex lens, located so that light rays enter the flat surface of the lens, and are projected outwards from the convex surface towards the rotating mirror, and is positioned so the distance from the high intensity light source is approximately the focal point of the lens.

5) An effect light according to claim 1, where the light source means, is a high intensity, low voltage semiconductor device such as a Light Emitting Diode.

6) A lighting system comprising at least component means utilised by the effect light according to any preceding claim, and the said component means are utilised as described in the effect light according to any preceding claim, so that collectively, the said component means are operable as the effect light according to any preceding claim.