GB2519691A

GB2519691A - A lighting system

Info

Publication number: GB2519691A
Application number: GB1501026.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Bramfitt
Original assignee: Urban Electric Co Ltd
Current assignee: Urban Electric Co Ltd
Priority date: 2010-10-12
Filing date: 2010-10-12
Publication date: 2015-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 2030-10-12
Also published as: GB201501026D0; GB201017186D0; GB2484491A; GB2484491B; GB2519691B

Abstract

A lighting system 14 (Figure 1) comprising: a laser generator 21, adapted to emit a laser beam 22, a first reflector 4 having an opening and a substantially concave reflecting surface defining a cavity which is accessible through the opening; where the internal surface 6 of the first reflector is textured, varied, etched, deformed and/or mottled so that the light comprising the laser beam will be scattered and/or diffused on striking the internal surface; The laser generator is arranged so that the beam produced is directed to an opening of the first reflector, and the light of the laser beam is scattered and reflected multiple times within the cavity so that the light of the laser beam is emitted from the opening as a diffuse beam or glow of light. In one embodiment a second reflector is included and the laser generator provides a laser beam to both reflectors.

Description

Title: A Lighting System Descriijtion of Invention This invention relates to a lighting system, and in particular to a system for providing lighting in inaccessible and/or hostile locations.

Many different types of a lighting system have been proposed. However, most of these systems are inappropriate or inadequate for providing lighting, particularly diffuse lighting, in hostile or inaccessible regions.

The present invention seeks to alleviate this difficulty.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a lighting system comprising: a laser generator, adapted to emit a laser beam; and a reflector having an opening and a substantially concave reflecting surface defining a cavity which is accessible through the opening, the internal surface of the reflector being textured, varied, etched, deformed and/or mottled so that the light comprising the laser beam will be scattered and/or diffused on striking the internal surface, wherein the laser generator is arranged so that the beam produced thereby is directed into the opening of the reflector, and the light of the laser beam is scattered and reflected multiple times within the cavity so that the light of the laser beam is emitted from the opening as a diffuse beam or glow of light.

Advantageously, the laser beam and reflector are separate from one another.

Preferably, the distance between the reflector and the laser generator is at least 1 metre.

Conveniently, the distance between the reflector and the laser generator is at least 10 metres.

Advantageously, the distance between the reflector and the laser generator is at least 100 metres.

Preferably, the distance between the reflector and the laser generator is at least 1,000 metres.

Conveniently, the internal surface of the reflector comprises at least one diffusing projection which protrudes from the internal surface and is adapted to diffuse and/or scatter laser light incident thereon.

Advantageously, the internal surface of the reflector comprises one or more diffusing indentations, which is adapted to diffuse and/or scatter laser light incident thereon.

Preferably, the lighting system comprises a forward-facing secondary reflector located substantially within the cavity of the reflector, the forward-facing secondary reflector having an opening and a substantially concave reflecting surface defining a cavity which is accessible through the opening.

Conveniently, the opening of the forward-facing secondary reflector faces in substantially the same direction as the opening of the reflector.

Advantageously, the laser generator is arranged so that the beam produced thereby is directed into the opening of the forward-facing secondary reflector, and the light of the laser beam is scattered and reflected multiple times within the cavity of the forward-facing secondary reflector so that the light of the laser beam is emitted from the opening of the forward-facing secondary reflector as a diffuse beam or glow of light.

Preferably, the area of the opening of the forward-facing secondary reflector is smaller than the area of the reflector.

Conveniently, the laser generator is adapted to change the direction in which the beam produced thereby is emitted, so that the beam can be directed into the opening of the reflector or the opening of the forward-facing secondary reflector.

Advantageously, a plurality of forward-facing secondary reflectors is provided.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a lighting system comprising: a laser generator, adapted to emit a laser beam; a reflector having an opening and a substantially concave reflecting surface defining a cavity which is accessible through the opening, the internal surface of the reflector being textured, varied, etched, deformed and/or mottled so that the light comprising the laser beam will be scattered and/or diffused on striking the internal surface; and a rear-facing secondary reflector located substantially within the cavity of the reflector, the rear-facing secondary reflector having an opening and a substantially concave reflecting surface defining a cavity which is accessible through the opening, wherein the laser generator is arranged so that the beam produced thereby is directed into the opening of the rear-facing secondary reflector, and the light of the laser beam is reflected from the rear-facing secondary reflector and is subsequently emitted from the opening of the reflector as a diffuse beam or glow of light.

Preferably, the opening of the rear-facing secondary reflector faces in substantially the opposite direction to the opening of the reflector.

Conveniently, the beam produced by the laser is reflected from the internal surface of the reflector after being reflected from the internal surface of the rear-facing secondary reflector.

Advantageously, the rear-facing secondary reflector is supported on a support which allows light to travel along an interior thereof.

Preferably, a deflecting component is provided to deflect light travelling along the interior of the support out of the support through a surface thereof, so that it enters the opening of the rear-facing secondary reflector.

Conveniently, the deflecting component is a prism.

Advantageously, the forward-or rear-facing secondary reflector may be moved with respect to the reflector.

Preferably, the forward-or rear-facing secondary reflector may be in a direction that is substantially parallel with a central axis of the reflector.

Conveniently, the forward-or rear-facing secondary reflector may be driven to vibrate.

Advantageously, the forward-or rear-facing secondary reflector may be driven around one or more axes by a galvanometer.

Preferably, the laser generator may vary the direction of the laser beam produced thereby.

Conveniently, the laser generator is adapted to vary the direction of the laser beam to describe one or more shapes or figures, with the laser beam entering the opening of the reflector at all, or substantially all times during the production of the shapes or figures.

Conveniently, the laser generator is operable to produce a plurality of laser beams of different colours.

Advantageously, the laser generator is operable to produce a plurality of laser beams of different colours which, when seen in combination, produce an impression of substantially white light.

Preferably, the laser beam impinges upon both the opening of the forward-facing secondary reflector and the opening of the reflector as the shapes or figures are described.

Conveniently, the plurality of laser beams each described separate shapes or figures, with each of the shapes or figures impinging upon both the opening of the forward-facing secondary reflector and the opening of the reflector as the shapes or figures are described.

Advantageously, the lighting system comprises a plurality of reflectors, with the laser generator being adapted to produce a laser beam in a first direction that enters the opening of the first reflector, and to produce the same laser beam, or a further laser beam, in a second direction that enters the opening of the second reflector.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a method of producing illumination, comprising the steps of: providing a laser generator, adapted to emit a laser beam; providing a reflector as recited in any of the preceding claims; and directing the beam produced by the laser generator into the opening of the reflector, and the light of the laser beam is scattered and reflected multiple times within the cavity so that the light of the laser beam is emitted from the opening as a diffuse beam or glow of light.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of varying the direction in which the laser beam is generated so as to describe one or more shapes or figures, with the laser beam entering the opening of the reflector at all, or substantially all times during the production of the shapes or figures.

Conveniently, the method further comprises the steps of: providing at least one further reflector; directing the laser beam into the opening of the reflector; and subsequently directing the laser beam into the opening of the at least one further reflector.

Advantageously, the step of providing a laser generator comprises the step of providing a laser generator which is operable to produce a plurality of laser beams of different colours.

Preferably, the step of providing a laser generator comprises the step of providing a laser generator which is operable to produce a plurality of laser beams of different colours which, when seen in combination, produce an impression of substantially white light.

So that the present invention may be more readily understood, embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a lighting system embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a close up view of a part of the reflector shown in figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic view of the lighting system of figure 1 in use; and Figures 4 and 5 show further lighting systems embodying the present invention.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, a schematic view of a lighting system 1 embodying the present invention is shown.

The lighting system 1 includes a laser generator 2, which is adapted to produce a laser beam 3. As will be understood, the laser beam 3 is a narrow, focussed, collimated beam of coherent light. In preferred embodiments the colour and/or intensity of the laser beam 3 may be varied. The laser generator 2 may also be capable of varying the direction of the laser beam 3, and may be provided with one or more motors (not shown) for this purpose. A controller (not shown), comprising a processor, may be provided to control the laser generator 2.

The lighting system 1 also includes a reflector 4. The reflector 4 is preferably generally concave and defines an internal cavity S having an opening 8. In preferred embodiments, the internal form of the reflector 4 is generally parabolic, although other configurations are envisaged.

The internal surface 6 of the reflector 4 is generally reflective to light of the frequency of the laser beam 3. In an embodiment, the internal surface 6 of the reflector 4 is textured, roughened, etched, deformed and/or mottled so that incident light falling on the internal surface 6 is diffused, rather than being reflected cleanly as from a planar surface.

In embodiments, a diffusing projection 7 projects from the inner surface 6 of the reflector 4. In embodiments of the diffusion projection 7 may be provided at, or generally at, the centre of the internal surface 6 of the reflector 4. A close-up view of the diffusion projector is shown in figure 2.

The diffusing projection 7 is adapted to diffuse and reflect a beam of light that is incident on the projection 7, so that the incident light is diffused and/or scattered towards other regions of the internal surface 6 of the reflector 4, rather than being reflected directly out of the opening 8 of the reflector 4. The projection 7 may, for instance, take the form of a relatively sharp peak 9 surrounded by a curved side-wall 10, and may thus generally take the form of a cone. A skilled person will realise that many other different possible configurations of a diffusing projection are possible.

Several diffusing projections may be arranged around the internal surface 6 of the reflector 4.

Instead of a diffusing projection 7, the skilled person will appreciate that a diffusing indentation may be provided, recessed into the internal surface 6 of the reflector 6. The shape and internal profile of the diffusing indentation may be angled, textured etc. so that incident light falling on the diffusing indentation will be diffused and/or scattered, rather than being reflected cleanly, and so the diffusing indentation would produce a similar result to the diffusing projection described above.

A plurality of diffusing indentations may be provided around the internal surface 6 of the reflector 4. Indeed, a mixture of diffusing projections and diffusing indentations may be used.

In use of the lighting system, the laser generator 2 and reflector 4 are positioned so that the laser beam 3 generated by the laser generator 2 shines into the opening of the reflector 4. The laser beam 3 strikes the internal surface 6 of the reflector 4 (and preferably strikes a diffusing projection or diffusing indentation, where it first impinges on the internal surface 6), and is diffused, reflected and scattered around the internal surface 6 of the reflector 4, preferably multiple times. The light will then emerge from the opening 8 of the reflector 4 as a diffuse beam or "glow" of light.

The skilled person will appreciate that the laser generator 2 and reflector 4 may be placed at a considerable distance from one another. For instance, in good atmospheric conditions it is estimated that the system will work well if the laser generator 2 is positioned at a distance of 3 miles from the reflector 4. In space, the distance is likely to be practically unlimited.

The lighting system 1 may find utility in many varied applications. In particular, the reflector 4 may be provided as a robust, inanimate object that requires no power input, and is thus ideal for positioning in locations where providing power would be difficult and/or awkward.

For instance, referring to figure 3, it may be desired to provide lighting for a staged event, in which a lighting gantry comprises two upright supports 11 and a horizontal member 12 which is held in position by the upright supports 11 high above a stage 13. A first reflector 4a may be positioned on the horizontal member 12. A laser generator 2 may then be placed at or around ground level, and the laser beam 3 directed along a first path 13a into the opening 8 of the reflector 4. The reflector 4 will then produce, as discussed above, a diffuse beam or glow of light, and this can be achieved without the need to supply an electrical power line or an optical fibre to the reflector 4.

Lighting systems of this type may also be used in other hostile or difficult-to-reach environments, such as in space exploration, in providing illumination for work in environments contaminated with chemicals/biological hazards, or in caving.

It is also anticipated that a single laser generator 2 may be used with two or more reflectors 4. To return to the example of lighting for a staged event, two further reflectors 4b, 4c may be mounted in different locations on the horizontal member 12. The laser generator 2 may be able to vary significantly the direction in which the laser beam 3 is generated. For instance, a motorised mirror may be provided in the path of the laser beam 3, which may tilt and rotate in order to direct the laser beam 3 along any desired path within a possible range. The laser generator 2 may be then be programmed to direct the laser along respective paths 13a, 13b, 13c to the various reflectors 4a, 4b, 4c in a random or predetermined sequence. When the laser beam 3 is directed towards a particular reflector 4a, 4b, 4c, the reflector 4a, 4b, 4c will produce a diffuse beam or glow of light, as discussed above. It will therefore be understood that the use of one laser generator 2 can produce lighting effects at several different spatially distinct locations, and it will be understood that this is likely to be far easier and more cost-effective than extending power lines or optical fibres to each of the locations at which lighting is needed.

One way to set up the lighting system 1 in an embodiment such as this may be to provide a controller (not shown) through which a user may direct the laser beam 3 produced by the laser generator 2. The user may manipulate the controller to point the laser beam 3 towards the particular reflector 4a once it has been installed, and the user may then store this laser beam direction 13a in a memory of the controller. The user may then direct the laser beam 3 towards the next reflector4b, and once again store this orientation 13b of the laser beam 3 in the memory, and so on.

As discussed above, the laser generator 2 may be able to vary the colour of the laser beam 3 that is produced. In these embodiments, the laser generator 2 may be programmed to direct a laser beam 3 of a particular colour whenever it is pointed towards a certain reflector 4a, 4b, 4c. Alternatively, the laser generator 2 may direct laser beams 3 of varying colours towards the same reflector 4a, 4b, 4c as part of the lighting sequence, or indeed when used with only a single reflector 4.

In other embodiments of the invention, the lighting system 1 may be used to produce a pleasingly aesthetic lighting effect. In these embodiments, the laser generator 2 may be programmed to vary the direction of the laser beam 3 so that the laser beam 3 describes a pattern over time, falling within the opening 8 of the reflector 4. For instance, the laser beam 3 may be moved in circular, spiral or star-shapes, with the laser beam 3 impinging on the internal surface 6 of the reflector 4 at all, or substantially all times, as these figures are described.

The colour of the laser beam may be varied as this occurs.

It has been found that this produces a pleasingly aesthetic effect as the diffuse beam or glow of light that is emitted from the reflector 4 shifts and varies.

In these embodiments the laser generator 2 may be conducted so that the colour and/or intensity of the laser beam 3 varies as the figures are produced.

This aspect of the invention is compatible with the other aspects of the invention as described above, in particular the use of a single laser generator 2 to provide illumination through two or more different reflectors 4a, 4b, 4c.

In the embodiments described above, the entire internal surface 6 of the reflector 4 is described as being textured etc. to diffuse and scatter incident light. In other embodiments, only part of the internal surface 6 is textured, while at least one other part is substantially smooth and planar. Preferably the proportion of textured surface is at least 50% of the total internal area of the reflector 4, and more preferably is at least 75% of the total internal area of the reflector 4. The textured areas may be arranged in regions or bands, and this may enhance the aesthetic effect produced by the reflector 4. The internal surface 6 may also include regions of different texturing, for instance at least one region of light or low-profile texturing and at least one region of heavier or higher-profile texturing, and once again this may enhance the aesthetic effect produced by the reflector 4.

For some embodiments of the invention, reflectors of the type produced by Briese Schiffahrt of Leer, Germany may be suitable. As supplied, these reflectors may have an aperture in the middle of the reflective surface through which a light bulb may protrude. To adapt the reflectors for use with the present invention, it may be necessary or desirable to cover over this aperture with suitable reflective material so that a substantially unbroken reflective surface is presented.

Other embodiments of the invention relate to the production of lighting which is of a particular frequency. In certain applications, for instance in filming, it is desirable to have lighting in the form of a soft glow which is of a specific, single frequency. This may be a frequency that can be picked up particularly well by a certain kind of camera, or can be filtered easily from images, or may simply produce a pleasing aesthetic effect.

It will be appreciated that embodiments as described above may be suitable for these purposes, since a laser is composed of a single frequency of light, and hence scattering a laser beam to form a diffuse beam or glow of light will result in a beam or glow that is composed of light of a single frequency, i.e. the frequency of the laser beam.

In addition, further embodiments that may be suitable for this purpose will now be described.

With reference to figure 4, a further lighting system 14 embodying the present invention is shown. The further lighting system 14 comprises a reflector 4 of a similar type to those described above. A support tube 15 protrudes inwardly from the centre of the internal surface 6 of the reflector 4, and is preferably substantially aligned with the central axis of the reflector 4. A rear-facing secondary reflector 16 is supported on the support tube. The rear-facing secondary reflector 16 may take any suitable form, but in preferred embodiments is generally parabolic, and resembles a smaller version of the reflector 4. The internal surface of the rear-facing secondary reflector 16 is preferably roughened, etched, deformed and/or mottled so that incident light falling on the internal surface is diffused, rather than being reflected cleanly as from a planar surface, in the same way as the reflector 4. The internal surface of the rear-facing secondary reflector 16 may also comprise one or more diffusing projections and/or diffusing indentations.

The rear-facing secondary reflector 16 has an opening 17, and the rear-facing secondary reflector 16 is arranged so that the opening 17 faces towards the internal surface 6 of the reflector. In preferred embodiments, the opening 17 faces generally towards the centre of the internal surface 6 of the reflector 4.

The support tube 14 preferably has a first portion 18, along which light can pass. The first portion 18 of the support tube 14 may, for example, have a silvered or mirrored internal surface, or comprise one or more optical fibres. A first end 19 of the support tube 14 is open to light, to allow incident light to enter the first portion 18 of the support tube. A prism 20 is located within the support tube 14, and serves to deflect light passing along the first portion of the support tube 14 out of the side of the support tube 14. In preferred embodiments, the prism 20 is arranged so that the light is directed onto the internal surface of the rear-facing secondary reflector 16.

In an embodiment a laser source 21 is provided, with the beam 22 produced by the laser source 21 being directed into the first end 19 of the support tube 14 (it will therefore be understood that the laser source may be substantially behind the reflector 4). It will be understood that this laser light will travel along the first portion 18 of the support tube 14, and be deflected by the prism 20 into the opening 17 of the rear-facing secondary reflector 16. The light will then be scattered and/or diffused, and then further scattered/diffused by the internal surface 6 of the reflector 4 before leaving the opening 8 of the reflector 4 as a soft beam or glow, and described above.

It will be understood that this embodiment provides a lighting system, which may be provided as an integral unit, that can produce soft light of a single, specific wavelength. In addition, a relatively high-powered laser source 21 can be used, as the laser beam 22 will not pass through open space where it could impinge upon an unintended object or person.

In other embodiments, the support tube 14 is absent, and the laser beam 22 is aimed directly at the rear-facing secondary reflector 16, which may be suspended in place, for example, by a series of spokes or struts.

In other embodiments, the prism 20 may be replaced by one or more mirrors, or any other suitable arrangement that can deflect light so that it passes out of the support tube through a side surface thereof.

In further embodiments, the prism 20, or another component that replaces it, may be driven to move, for instance by one or more motors, to alter the angle and/or position at which the light leaves the support tube 14, so the pattern of the light produced by the lighting system shifts and changes. For instance, the prism 20 or other component may vibrate, or be driven around one or more axes by a galvanometer.

In yet further embodiments, the rear-facing secondary reflector 16 may be driven to move, to vary the pattern of the light produced by the lighting system.

Once again this may be through vibration, or though being driven by a galvanometer or a similar device.

The rear-facing secondary reflector 16 may also be mounted on the support tube 14 so that the position of the rear-facing secondary reflector 16 on the guide tube 14 may vary -i.e. the rear-facing secondary reflector 16 may move towards or away from the surface 6 of the reflector 4.

In some embodiments a cap or block 23 may be placed on the second end 24 of the support tube 14, to ensure that the laser light cannot simply pass through the support tube 14 and shine directly out of the second end 24, which could present a safety hazard. In some embodiments the laser source 21 will not activate unless the cap or block 23 is sensed to be in place. In further embodiments the second end 24 of the support tube 14 may simply be formed from an opaque material.

Turning to figure 5, a third lighting system 25 is shown. In this lighting system a forward-facing secondary reflector 26 is provided. In this embodiment the forward-facing secondary reflector 26 is mounted on a support tube 14, as in the previous example, although there is no need for this support tube 14 to allow the transmission of light along its length.

The forward-facing secondary reflector 26 may take any suitable form, but in preferred embodiments is generally parabolic, and resembles a smaller version of the reflector 4. The internal surface of the forward-facing secondary reflector 26 is preferably roughened, etched, deformed and/or mottled so that incident light falling on the internal surface is diffused, rather than being reflected cleanly as from a planar surface, in the same way as the reflector 4. The internal surface of the forward-facing secondary reflector 26 may also comprise one or more diffusing projections and/or diffusing indentations.

The forward-facing secondary reflector 26 has an opening 27, and the forward-facing secondary reflector 26 is arranged so that the opening 27 faces outwards, in generally the same direction as the opening 8 of the reflector 4. In preferred embodiments, the opening 27 faces exactly or substantially in the same direction as the opening 8 of the reflector 4.

A laser source 21 is provided, and is arranged so that the beam 22 from the laser source 21 may be directed generally towards the opening 8 of the reflector 4.

If the beam 22 of the laser 21 enters the opening 27 of the forward-facing secondary reflector 26 (shown by 22a in figure 5), the beam 22 will be diffused and/or scattered by the internal surface of the forward-facing secondary reflector 26, and will be emitted from the opening 27 of the forward-facing secondary reflector 26 as a relatively soft beam or glow.

Alternatively, if the beam 22 of the laser 21 enters the opening 8 of the reflector 4 (shown by 22b in figure 5), and misses the opening 27 of the forward-facing secondary reflector 26, the beam 22 will be diffused and/or scattered, as described above, from the internal surface 6 of the reflector 4, and emitted from the opening 8 of the reflector 4 as a beam or glow.

However, the intensity of the beam or glow will be greater if the beam 22 enters the opening 27 of the forward-facing secondary reflector 26 than if the beam 22 enters the opening 8 of the reflector 4. This is because the same quantity of light energy will be concentrated over a smaller "exit area", i.e. the area of the opening 27 of the forward-facing secondary reflector 26, as opposed to the area of the opening 8 of the reflector 4. The qualities of the light produced will also be different, and so different aesthetic effects may be achieved as well as varying intensities.

It will therefore be understood that by aiming the beam 22 from the laser source 21 into the opening 27 of the forward-facing secondary reflector 26, or into the opening 8 of the reflector 4, light effects of two different intensities can be produced. This can be achieved without the need to provide or control two different lighting elements, and it will be appreciated that this has significant advantages over existing lighting systems that allow switching between two or more lighting effects by switching different bulbs or filaments on and off.

Also, if the laser source 21 can be driven to describe patterns, then the effect produced will switch between the two different lighting effects. As the laser beam 22 travels from one edge of the opening 8 of the reflector 4 to the opposite edge, the lighting effect will begin with the less intense glow, switch to the more intense glow, and finally switch back to the less intense glow.

It will be understood that more than one forward-facing secondary reflector 26 may be provided. In embodiments, these reflectors may be of different sizes, reflectivities, colours or vary in other properties to change the lighting effect produced when a laser beam impinges on them. In these embodiments, sophisticated lighting effects and sequences can be achieved simply by directing the laser beam onto the different reflectors.

An end 28 of the support tube 14 may be substantially unreflective in these embodiments, or a reflector may be mounted thereon.

As in the previous example, the forward-facing secondary reflector 26 may be movable along the length of the support tube 14, and may also be movable, as discussed above, to vary the effects produced when light impinges thereon.

The guide tube 14 may be dispensed with in some embodiments, with the forward-facing secondary reflector 26 being held in place with a series of spokes, or in any other suitable way.

In the embodiment shown in figure 5, a combined unit is shown comprising a rear-facing secondary reflector 16 and a forward-facing secondary reflector 26 attached to one another, so that the lighting system 25 can be used by directing a laser onto either the rear-facing secondary reflector 16 (as described with reference to figure 4) or onto the forward-facing secondary reflector 26, or indeed both. In other embodiments, however, the forward-facing secondary reflector 26 may be provided without a rear-facing secondary reflector 16 also being present.

Embodiments comprising a forward-facing secondary reflector 26 may also produce pleasing aesthetic effects when used with a white-light laser. As will be understood by those of skill in the art, a white-light laser generally comprises a combination of laser beams of different colours that combine to produce an impression of substantially white light. For instance, red, blue and blue laser beams may be combined to produce a white-light laser.

In one such embodiment, the individual coloured laser beams making up the white-light laser are oscillated rapidly, in different planes, across the opening 8 of the reflector 4, crossing the opening 27 of the forward-facing secondary reflector 26 as they do so. The effect will be that the light emitted from the forward-facing secondary reflector 26 will appear to be generally white, as all of the individual beams will be crossing the opening 27 of the forward-facing secondary reflector 26 frequently. However, where the individual beams strike the reflector 4 in different places, the effect will be of areas of colour. This has been found to be an unusual and pleasing effect.

It should also be understood that other combinations of colours/frequencies may be used that do not create a white light effect.

The present invention may be used with any frequency or frequencies of laser, including (but not limited to) visible light, infra-red and ultra-violet.

For instance, an embodiment using infra-red light could be used to produce a broad beam of infra-red radiation that could be used for circumstances where security cameras can pick up radiation of this frequency. If an intruder is detected, then a white-light laser could be activated so that an area is illuminated with white light.

It will be understood that the present invention provides an efficient and flexible means of providing illumination that will find utility in many diverse fields.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

PREFERRED FEATURES OF THE INVENTION: 1. A lighting system comprising: a laser generator, adapted to emit a laser beam; and a reflector having an opening and a substantially concave reflecting surface defining a cavity which is accessible through the opening, the internal surface of the reflector being textured, varied, etched, deformed and/or mottled so that the light comprising the laser beam will be scattered and/or diffused on striking the internal surface, wherein the laser generator is arranged so that the beam produced thereby is directed into the opening of the reflector, and the light of the laser beam is scattered and reflected multiple times within the cavity so that the light of the laser beam is emitted from the opening as a diffuse beam or glow of light.

2. A lighting system according to clause 1 wherein the laser beam and reflector are separate from one another.

3. A lighting system according to clause 1 or 2, wherein the distance between the reflector and the laser generator is at least 1 metre.

4. A lighting system according to clause 3 wherein the distance between the reflector and the laser generator is at least 10 metres.

5. A lighting system according to clause 4, wherein the distance between the reflector and the laser generator is at least 100 metres.

6. A lighting system according to clause 5 wherein the distance between the reflector and the laser generator is at least 1,000 metres.

7. A lighting system according to any preceding clause wherein the internal surface of the reflector comprises at least one diffusing projection which protrudes from the internal surface and is adapted to diffuse and/or scatter laser light incident thereon.

8. A lighting system according to any preceding clause, wherein the internal surface of the reflector comprises one or more diffusing indentations, which is adapted to diffuse and/or scatter laser light incident thereon.

9. A lighting system according to any preceding clause, comprising a forward-facing secondary reflector located substantially within the cavity of the reflector, the forward-facing secondary reflector having an opening and a substantially concave reflecting surface defining a cavity which is accessible through the opening.

10. A lighting system according to clause 9, wherein the opening of the forward-facing secondary reflector faces in substantially the same direction as the opening of the reflector.

11. A lighting system according to clause 9 or 10, wherein the laser generator is arranged so that the beam produced thereby is directed into the opening of the forward-facing secondary reflector, and the light of the laser beam is scattered and reflected multiple times within the cavity of the forward-facing secondary reflector so that the light of the laser beam is emitted from the opening of the forward-facing secondary reflector as a diffuse beam or glow of light.

12. A lighting system according to any one of clauses 9 to 11, wherein the area of the opening of the forward-facing secondary reflector is smaller than the area of the reflector.

13. A lighting system according to any one of clauses 9 to 12, wherein the laser generator is adapted to change the direction in which the beam produced thereby is emitted, so that the beam can be directed into the opening of the reflector or the opening of the forward-facing secondary reflector.

14. A lighting system according to any one of clauses 9 to 13, wherein a plurality of forward-facing secondary reflectors is provided.

15. A lighting system comprising: a laser generator, adapted to emit a laser beam; a reflector having an opening and a substantially concave reflecting surface defining a cavity which is accessible through the opening, the internal surface of the reflector being textured, varied, etched, deformed and/or mottled so that the light comprising the laser beam will be scattered and/or diffused on striking the internal surface; and a rear-facing secondary reflector located substantially within the cavity of the reflector, the rear-facing secondary reflector having an opening and a substantially concave reflecting surface defining a cavity which is accessible through the opening, wherein the laser generator is arranged so that the beam produced thereby is directed into the opening of the rear-facing secondary reflector, and the light of the laser beam is reflected from the rear-facing secondary reflector and is subsequently emitted from the opening of the reflector as a diffuse beam or glow of light.

16. A lighting system according to clause 15, wherein the opening of the rear-facing secondary reflector faces in substantially the opposite direction to the opening of the reflector.

17. A lighting system according to clause 15 or 16, wherein the beam produced by the laser is reflected from the internal surface of the reflector after being reflected from the internal surface of the rear-facing secondary reflector.

18. A lighting system according to any one of clauses 15 to 17, wherein the rear-facing secondary reflector is supported on a support which allows light to travel along an interior thereof.

19. A lighting system according to clause 18, wherein a deflecting component is provided to deflect light travelling along the interior of the support out of the support through a surface thereof, so that it enters the opening of the rear-facing secondary reflector.

20. A lighting system according to clause 19, wherein the deflecting component is a prism.

21. A lighting system according to any one of clauses 9 to 20, wherein the forward-or rear-facing secondary reflector may be moved with respect to the reflector.

22. A lighting system according to clause 21, wherein the forward-or rear-facing secondary reflector may be in a direction that is substantially parallel with a central axis of the reflector.

23. A lighting system according to clause 21 or 22, wherein the forward-or rear-facing secondary reflector may be driven to vibrate.

24. A lighting system according to any one of clauses 21 to 23, wherein the forward-or rear-facing secondary reflector may be driven around one or more axes by a galvanometer.

25. A lighting system according to any preceding clause wherein the laser generator may vary the direction of the laser beam produced thereby.

26. A lighting system according to clause 25, wherein the laser generator is adapted to vary the direction of the laser beam to describe one or more shapes or figures, with the laser beam entering the opening of the reflector at all, or substantially all times during the production of the shapes or figures.

27. A lighting system according to any preceding clause, wherein the laser generator is operable to produce a plurality of laser beams of different colours.

28. A lighting system according to clause 27, wherein the laser generator is operable to produce a plurality of laser beams of different colours which, when seen in combination, produce an impression of substantially white light.

29. A lighting system according to clause 26, when dependent upon any one of clauses 9 to 14, or according to clause 27 or 28, when dependent upon clause 26 and any one of clauses 9 to 14, wherein the laser beam impinges upon both the opening of the forward-facing secondary reflector and the opening of the reflector as the shapes or figures are described.

30. A lighting system according to clause 27 or 28, when dependent upon clause 26 and any one of clauses 9 to 14, wherein the plurality of laser beams each described separate shapes or figures, with each of the shapes or figures impinging upon both the opening of the forward-facing secondary reflector and the opening of the reflector as the shapes or figures are described.

31. A lighting system according to any preceding clause, comprising a plurality of reflectors, with the laser generator being adapted to produce a laser beam in a first direction that enters the opening of the first reflector, and to produce the same laser beam, or a further laser beam, in a second direction that enters the opening of the second reflector.

32. A method of producing illumination, comprising the steps of: providing a laser generator, adapted to emit a laser beam; providing a reflector as recited in any of the preceding clauses; and directing the beam produced by the laser generator into the opening of the reflector, and the light of the laser beam is scattered and reflected multiple times within the cavity so that the light of the laser beam is emitted from the opening as a diffuse beam or glow of light.

33. A method according to clause 32, further comprising the step of varying the direction in which the laser beam is generated so as to describe one or more shapes or figures, with the laser beam entering the opening of the reflector at all, or substantially all times during the production of the shapes or figures.

34. A method according to clause 32 or 33, further comprising the steps of: providing at least one further reflector; directing the laser beam into the opening of the reflector; and subsequently directing the laser beam into the opening of the at least one further reflector.

35. A method according to any one of clauses 32 to 34, wherein the step of providing a laser generator comprises the step of providing a laser generator which is operable to produce a plurality of laser beams of different colours.

36. A method according to clause 35, wherein the step of providing a laser generator comprises the step of providing a laser generator which is operable to produce a plurality of laser beams of different colours which, when seen in combination, produce an impression of substantially white light.

37. A lighting system or method substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Claims

Claims: 1. A lighting system comprising: a laser generator, adapted to emit a laser beam; and a first reflector having an opening and a substantially concave reflecting surface defining a cavity which is accessible through the opening, the internal surface of the first reflector being textured, varied, etched, deformed and/or mottled so that the light comprising the laser beam will be scattered and/or diffused on striking the internal surface, wherein: the laser generator is arranged so that the beam produced thereby is directed into the opening of the first reflector, and the light of the laser beam is scattered and reflected multiple times within the cavity so that the light of the laser beam is emitted from the opening as a diffuse beam or glow of light; and the lighting system comprises a second reflector, with the laser generator being adapted to produce a laser beam in a first direction that enters the opening of the first reflector, and to produce the same laser beam, or a further laser beam, in a second direction that enters the opening of the second reflector.
2. A lighting system according to claim 1 wherein the laser beam and first reflector are separate from one another.
3. A lighting system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the distance between the first reflector and the laser generator is at least 1 metre.
4. A lighting system according to claim 3 wherein the distance between the first reflector and the laser generator is at least 10 metres.
5. A lighting system according to claim 4, wherein the distance between the first reflector and the laser generator is at least 100 metres.
6. A lighting system according to claim 5 wherein the distance between the first reflector and the laser generator is at least 1,000 metres.
7. A lighting system according to any preceding claim wherein the internal surface of the first reflector comprises at least one diffusing projection which protrudes from the internal surface and is adapted to diffuse and/or scatter laser light incident thereon.
8. A lighting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the internal surface of the first reflector comprises one or more diffusing indentations, which is adapted to diffuse and/or scatter laser light incident thereon.
9. A lighting system according to any preceding claim wherein the laser generator may vary the direction of the laser beam produced thereby.
10. A lighting system according to claim 9, wherein the laser generator is adapted to vary the direction of the laser beam to describe one or more shapes or figures, with the laser beam entering the opening of the first reflector at all, or substantially all times during the production of the shapes or figures.
11. A lighting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the laser generator is operable to produce a plurality of laser beams of different colours.
12. A lighting system according to claim 11, wherein the laser generator is operable to produce a plurality of laser beams of different colours which, when seen in combination, produce an impression of substantially white light.
13. A method of producing illumination, comprising the steps of: providing a laser generator, adapted to emit a laser beam; providing a first reflector as recited in any of the preceding claims; directing the beam produced by the laser generator into the opening of the reflector, and the light of the laser beam is scattered and reflected multiple times within the cavity so that the light of the laser beam is emitted from the opening as a diffuse beam or glow of light; providing at least one further reflector; directing the laser beam into the opening of the first reflector; and subsequently directing the laser beam into the opening of the at least one further reflector.
14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of varying the direction in which the laser beam is generated so as to describe one or more shapes or figures, with the laser beam entering the opening of the first reflector at all, or substantially all times during the production of the shapes or figures.
15. A method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the step of providing a laser generator comprises the step of providing a laser generator which is operable to produce a plurality of laser beams of different colours.
16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the step of providing a laser generator comprises the step of providing a laser generator which is operable to produce a plurality of laser beams of different colours which, when seen in combination, produce an impression of substantially white light.