WO2001077580A1

WO2001077580A1 - Optical assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2001077580A1
Application number: PCT/EP2001/003974
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexander Wunsch; Wolfgang Krecker
Original assignee: Globalmind Consumer Electronics Gmbh
Priority date: 2000-04-06
Filing date: 2001-04-06
Publication date: 2001-10-18
Also published as: EP1272796A1; AU6586401A; DE20006292U1

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical assembly for creating mobile light images, comprising at least one light-source (2) and at least one refractive, reflective and/or absorptive body (4) which is designed to be in constant motion in relation to the optical path. Said assembly is characterized in that the body (4) has areas (5) which are located in the optical path and comprise optical characteristics that vary in an irregular manner and is positioned in such a way, that during its operation constantly changing areas (5) with optical characteristics that vary in an irregular manner are captured by the optical path.

Description

Optical arrangement

The invention relates to an optical arrangement for generating moving light figures with at least one light source and at least one refraction, reflection and / or absorption body arranged in the beam path, which is set up for continuous movement relative to the beam path.

The use of so-called "disco balls" is known from prior public use. It is a spherical body, the surface of which is covered with mirror pieces and which is rotatably suspended from the ceiling of a dance room and set up for a continuous, continuous rotational movement. The sphere is illuminated by one or more light sources; a bundle of light reflected from a mirror piece is reflected back into the darkened room and creates a bright spot of light on the walls, floor or ceiling. These light spots move on regular orbits, namely projections of circular orbits onto the wall surfaces.

The light patterns created by disco balls have an irritating effect according to their purpose. The following factors contribute to this effect. The generated light figures are bundled, ie small bright areas are embedded in large, essentially dark areas. The separation of the light from the dark areas is relatively sharp, so that there are hard contrast differences. The light spots move on regular, defined paths. The movement is unsteady because a light spot disappears abruptly when the corresponding mirror piece migrates out of the light field of a radiation source. The light pattern created by a disco ball is therefore unsuitable for relaxing the viewer. An optical arrangement with a cylindrical optical converter is known (DE-A 196 02 616). The optical converter consists of a bundle of optical fibers, the ends of which are arranged irregularly and twisted relative to one another. The optical converter is set up for rotation about the cylinder axis and is arranged coaxially to the optical axis. The light image generated is constant in itself and is spatially rotated.

The object of the present invention is to create an optical arrangement of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the light figures produced have an emotional, in particular relaxing effect on the viewer.

The invention solves the problem by the characterizing features of claim 1. Accordingly, the refractive, reflection and / or absorption body has areas in the beam path with irregularly varying optical properties and is arranged in such a way that constantly changing areas with irregularly varying optical properties Properties of the beam path are captured.

First, some of the terms used are explained,

The term "light figures" should be understood as generally as possible. It describes the imaging of a luminous flux generated by the optical arrangement on an arbitrarily shaped imaging surface. Arbitrary angular distributions of the light intensity are included.

Light source is any device for generating electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectral range regardless of the color spectrum, angle characteristics, coherence, polarization on or other light properties. All common commercial light sources are included, for example lasers, light emitting diodes, incandescent lamps, gas discharge lamps, etc.

An optical refractive body is an at least partially translucent body, the refractive index of which differs from that of the surrounding medium, generally air, and is therefore suitable for refraction of light rays entering and / or exiting through the surface of the body. A reflection body is any body that is at least suitable for partial reflection of light rays incident on the surface. An absorption body is suitable for weakening at least some of the light rays passing through it. In the optical body of the invention, there can be any ratio of refractive power, reflective power and / or absorption power, which may also vary spatially.

The beam path is the sum of the light beams emitted by the light source and passing through the optical arrangement from the light source to the imaging surface.

The areas provided according to the invention with spatially irregularly varying optical properties lead to an irregular change in direction and / or attenuation of individual partial beams in the beam path. Overall, the angular distribution of the outgoing light intensity is changed in an irregular manner, which leads to irregular light structures in any imaging area. In the event of an irregular refraction / reflection of the light, the effect is essentially based on an irregular deflection of the outgoing versus the incoming light beams. In addition, there is usually a widening or fanning out of the outgoing light beams in contrast to the incoming light beam in a plane essentially perpendicular to the Beam path. The light figures have areas of different brightness levels that are irregularly shaped. The transitions between areas of different light intensity are often blurred and / or blurred, but there are also contoured transitions. Since, according to the invention, constantly changing areas with irregularly varying optical properties are detected by the beam path during operation, the light figures are constantly changing in an irregular manner. The light figures are changed fluently and expediently, avoiding discontinuities. The webs traversed by individual sub-structures with a constant change in shape are not regular. The overall impression is that of moving light curtains and / or streaks. Due to the fluently changing shapes, the light figures are aesthetically pleasing

Impression and have a relaxing effect. A stimulating effect is also possible, so that one can generally speak of the generation of an “emotional effect”.

The term "irregular" has special meaning in the context of the invention. On the one hand, it means that there is no regularity in the mathematical sense. The invention differs from known arrangements for generating strictly geometric light figures, for example so-called Lissajous figures. In addition, the irregularities should be of a random nature, so that the light structures preferably do not have a clearly recognizable shape. Such recognizable patterns would counteract the relaxation of the viewer, since they would encourage strenuous pattern recognition. In this, the invention differs significantly, for example, from film projection. In this case, images with a recognizable information content are stored in the optical medium (the film), while this does not apply to the optical body according to the invention. The goal of film projection is to reproduce the stored information content as pristine as possible on a projection surface, for which purpose further focusing optical instruments (objective) are generally required. Here too the optical arrangement according to the invention differs, the purpose of which is not to provide an image of the. to produce optical body or parts thereof on a projection surface. The invention can therefore dispense with the use of a lens.

A continuous movement takes essentially no interruption over a longer period of time. The length of the period is determined by the length of time it takes a viewer to reach a state of relaxation and is usually at least a few minutes, preferably at least 5 minutes, more preferably at least 10 minutes. The arrangement is therefore expediently set up for a continuous automatic movement over such a period.

In the case of a refractive or absorption body, the area with varying optical properties is that with a spatially irregularly varying refractive index or absorption coefficient, in the case of a reflection body it is areas with irregularly varying reflection coefficient. In general, there can be a mixture of all three effects. On the one hand, they can be areas essentially inside the body. For this purpose, for example, refractive, reflecting and / or absorbing particles of different sizes and / or irregular shapes can be embedded in a transparent base body. In terms of manufacturability, the use of an optical body with an irregularly structured surface is preferred. Such structuring can, for example can be achieved by filing. In general, the surface is corrugated or roughened, for example provided with irregular notches, grooves and / or other unevenness. The production can also be carried out with the aid of casting, injection molding and other molding processes. A crushing body can consist of plexiglass, rock crystal, glass or gel, for example. A reflection body can consist of aluminum or another metal, for example. The use of any other materials is included.

With regard to the total luminous efficiency, a refractive and / or reflecting body is preferred over an absorbing body, which is necessarily accompanied by a weakening of the luminous efficiency. In contrast to a reflection body, the use of a crushing body has the following

Benefits on. The light rays are refracted independently of one another both when entering and exiting the crushing body. The double refraction with the help of a body increases the desired randomness of the optical effect of the body. Furthermore, when a crushing body is used, there is often a total of one beam path which essentially runs in one direction, which enables a compact arrangement of the optical elements. A compact, ie close to each other arrangement also leads to an increase in the detected solid angle, which can also contribute to increasing the light output. The invention is explained in the following essentially on the basis of a crushing body with an irregularly structured surface. When using a reflection or absorption body or in the case of optically irregular areas inside the body, the explanations are to be applied analogously to the conditions then present. The spatial variation of the optical properties can encompass an extensive scale range. A variation on a scale that is greater than the wavelength is required in order to achieve the effect according to the invention. Accordingly, the optical properties vary on a scale of more than 1 μm, preferably more than 10 μm. If the light source produces a directed light beam, the optical properties of the body preferably vary on a scale that is smaller than the diameter of the light beam. For example, when using lasers, the diameter of the light beam is usually in the range of 1 mm. In general, the optical properties preferably vary on a scale of less than 100 mm, preferably 10 mm, more preferably less than 5 mm and more preferably less than 2 mm.

It is advantageous if the optical properties do not vary only on a fixed scale, for example of 1 mm, but over an extended scale range which comprises at least one order of magnitude, preferably several orders of magnitude. For comparison, a body is described, the surface of which is structured by driving wedge-shaped teeth with the tip first about 1 mm deep into the body surface. This structuring is given on a scale of 1 mm, but the surface is smooth on a scale of 0.1 mm and below. In contrast to this, the structuring according to the invention preferably extends to a scale range from 1 μm to 1 mm, ie over three orders of magnitude. It speaks for the existence of a surface structuring according to the invention if such is present on a scale of 0.1 mm. This does not mean that structuring on a scale of, for example, 1 mm could not be present at the same time. The feature just mentioned means that, for example, when measuring Structuring depth along the surface in steps of 0.1 mm locally an irregular course of the measurement curve is observed. Local means an area that extends over several measuring points.

It is harmless if the surface undergoes finishing after the structuring, so that the roughness depth is less than 1 μm or 10 μm, for example. This does not affect the structures on a larger scale. A final fine machining is even advantageous, since in this way imperfections on the surface are eliminated, which can lead to discontinuities in the movement of the light structures.

Claim 1 only requires that the optical body has areas with irregularly varying optical properties. In general, the success of the invention is greater, the greater the proportion of the light passing through the arrangement, which also passes through the areas with irregularly varying optical properties. This advantageously applies to at least 50%, preferably at least 75%, preferably essentially all of the light passing through the arrangement.

In a particularly simple arrangement, the body is set up for continuous rotation about a body's own axis, the incident light sweeping over the irregularly structured surface. It is a self-contained endless movement. A rotationally symmetrical design will often be preferred so that uncontrolled beam deflections do not occur as a result of a deviation from the rotational symmetry and thus loss of light efficiency. A cylindrical roller is particularly simple, but the invention is not restricted to such a shape. limits. Regardless of the specific shape of the body, an axis of rotation will in many cases be fixed relative to the beam path, without this necessarily being the case. The axis of rotation is preferably oriented approximately perpendicular to the beam path; this is also not a necessary condition.

The continuous movement of the body can include moments of standstill, for example when a reversal point is reached during a back and forth movement. These reversal points can also be run continuously, for example with a harmonic movement. Discontinuities in movement, for example abrupt changes of direction, should preferably be avoided in order to obtain the impression of smooth transitions. For this reason, a drive provided for maintaining body movement is suitable for essentially smooth operation. As a rule, such a drive, for example an electric motor, can cause the body to move automatically. A drive using an electric motor can have electronic speed control, but this is not absolutely necessary. For example, the speed can thus be kept approximately constant. It can be advantageous to smoothly change the speed in an irregular manner in order to further increase the randomness of the movement. The rotating speed of the rotating body is preferably slow so that the repetition rate of the patterns does not become too large. The rotational speed of the body is accordingly preferably in the range from 1 to 10 revolutions per minute, preferably even less.

The body moves relative to the beam path. It is therefore not absolutely necessary for the body to move itself; it may also be possible that the sition of the body is fixed and instead the course of the beam path changes continuously, so that the radiation sweeps over the areas of the body with irregularly varying optical properties. This can be done, for example, by changing the beam path with the aid of a mirror. The change in the orientation of the mirror means that constantly changing areas of the body are covered with irregularly varying optical properties. The mirror movement can, for example, generate the pivoting of the mirror surface about an approximately parallel pivot axis. It can also involve a rotation of the mirror about an axis which has a directional component pointing perpendicular to the mirror surface; the mirror then wobbles. Other types of continuous mirror movement are conceivable. The described use of a mirror and an irregularly structured body is basically only the spatial separation of the two essential functions, namely the movement and the irregular optical refraction / reflection / absorption. Movement of the irregularly structured optical body may be dispensed with. However, it is advantageous to provide an independent or coupled movement of the same in this case too. This in turn increases the randomness of the light figures generated and on the other hand reduces the repetition rate in the sequence of the light figures.

In a preferred embodiment, in addition to the optical body described, a second refraction, reflection and / or absorption body arranged in the beam path is provided, which also has areas with irregularly varying optical properties. This can be arranged upstream or downstream of the first optical body in the beam path. Due to the repeated refraction / reflection / absorption of the loan In the second optical body, the randomness in the shape and movement of the light figures is further increased and, in turn, the repetition rate in the sequence of the light figures is reduced. For this purpose, the second optical body is also preferably set up to move relative to the beam path.

The variation of the optical properties of one of the two bodies is advantageously coarser than that of the other body in order to bring about a mixture of different effects. It can be advantageous to arrange the coarser structured body in the beam path than the finer structured body. If, for example, the upstream body is structured with the aid of comparatively deep grooves, this predominantly ensures that the light beam is deflected, large angular ranges being covered, that is to say the creation of one or more changing preferred directions. The subordinate irregularly structured body can then mainly have the function of widening the luminous flux with the formation of irregular light figures. However, the reverse arrangement of fine and coarser structured body is also included.

Both bodies are preferably set up for a continuous rotation about a body's own axis.

Expediently, the two axes of rotation are then arranged approximately parallel to one another, so that they can be operated, for example, with the aid of a coupling belt by a common drive. In this case, the gear ratio is preferably not in a ratio smaller than whole

Numbers, which prevents a high repetition rate of the light figures. ^{~ ~~ ~~} In order to produce color effects, several light sources with different color spectra can be provided. Some or all of these can be assigned to an optical body according to the invention or a plurality of optical bodies arranged in series in the beam path. If different

Different light sources of different colors, which move in different ways, are superimposed on light sources assigned to different optical bodies according to the invention which are arranged in parallel in the beam path. In general, any arrangement of optical bodies according to the invention is included in series and / or parallel in the beam path. Furthermore, several optical bodies can be operated with the aid of one drive, but several independent drives can also be provided.

Color effects can optionally also be achieved by using a white light source using diffraction effects. It is also possible to color a crushing body, for example, it being possible in particular to provide regions of different colors. The blackening of areas of the crushing body or its surface is also included, so that extensive light absorption is achieved. By combining absorption effects with optical refraction, color effects can be achieved in a simple manner.

The invention is explained below on the basis of advantageous exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1. Top view of an optical arrangement according to the invention with a crushing body; Fig. 2. Side view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3. Top view of an optical arrangement according to the invention with two crushing bodies; and

Fig. 4. Top view of an optical arrangement according to the invention with a crushing body and an upstream mirror body.

A laser 2 (alternatively a light-emitting diode) for generating a light beam 3 is accommodated in a housing 1. The power supply can take place via an external supply line or, for example, a battery housed in the housing. The light bundle 3 completely strikes the surface of a roller body 4 made of plexiglass with a diameter of approximately 10 mm and a length of approximately 40 mm. The outer surface of the cylindrical roller body 4 is irregularly structured in a region 5, for example with the aid of a file, and then finely polished. The irregularity of the structures relate to a scale range from 1 μm to 1 mm. In particular, the average depth of the notches is in the range of 1 mm. The structuring is irregular, i.e. without a recognizable pattern and essentially randomly distributed over the outer surface of the roller body 4.

The light rays forming the light bundle 3 are broken in an irregular manner when they enter the roller body 4, which results in a deflection or change in the angle of the light beam in question, depending on the orientation of the corresponding surface piece. On the one hand, this causes a randomness in the angular distribution of the luminous flux passing through the roller body, and on the other hand also an overall expansion of the total intensity, as indicated by the dashed lines. The widening takes place in a plane parallel to the irradiated surface area 6 of the roller body 4. The light rays pass through the transparent roller body 4 and occur approximately opposite one another under The refraction on the irregularly structured surface results from this. In turn, there is an irregular deflection and thus a change in the angular characteristic and a further processing of the luminous flux as a whole. An essential part of the luminous flux exits through a diaphragm 7 in the housing 1 and strikes a screen 8 arranged at a distance. The projection of the luminous flux emerging from the housing 1 onto the screen 8 leads to the generation of irregularly shaped, predominantly flowing light figures on it , The shape of the screen 8 can be arbitrary and in particular can deviate from a flat surface shown in the figures.

The dashed lines in FIGS. 1 to 4 are envelopes of the beam path. It is not sharp

Limits, but around those limits within which a certain proportion of the total luminous flux, for example 80%, lies. Part of the luminous flux is reflected, for example, by the roller 4 and absorbed within the housing 1. Furthermore, a certain part of the luminous flux strikes the screen 8 outside the dashed area, namely comparatively obliquely emerging light rays. The distribution of light intensity in the dashed area is irregular, with areas of increased light intensity and darker areas. 1 to 4, individual light beams in the beam path 9 have been omitted in order to avoid the impression that the light figures are formed by clearly delimited points of light. Rather, the light figures are essentially flat, veil-like in nature, although contoured structures can also occur. ι

The roller body 4 is approximately rotationally symmetrical and is around the dot-dash line with the aid of a drive, not shown Rotation axis A rotates at a speed in the order of one revolution per minute. The axis of rotation A is oriented approximately perpendicular to the direction of the incoming light beam 3. As a result of the continuous, continuous rotation of the roller body 4, the incoming roller sweeps over it

Bundle of light 3, the irregularly structured surface 5 of the roller body 4. As a result, the light structures generated on the screen 8 change with a constant change in shape. The movements are fluid. The structured surface of the roller body 4 is finely polished in order to prevent light rays from jumping due to defects. The drive which generates the rotation of the roller body 4 is designed without jerking.

In the simple embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with an irregularly structured optical body, the light figures are repeated after one rotation of the roller body 4. This high repetition rate is in one of the advantageous embodiments from FIGS. 4 reduced. For this purpose, a second plexiglass roller body 4 ′ is arranged in the beam path behind the first roller body 4 in FIG. 3. Its part of the surface 5 'located in the beam path is also irregularly structured, which causes a repeated irregular refraction of the light beams both when entering the roller body 4' and when exiting therefrom. In this way, the randomness of the light figures shown on the screen 8 increases again. The structuring of the first roller body 4 is coarser (average depth of the structures 1 mm) compared to that of the second roller body 4 '

(average depth 0.5 mm). The first roller body 4 tends to have a positioning function, that is to say the incoming light bundle 3 has on average one or more changing preferred directions within the beam path 9. ben, while the second roller 4 'tends to have the function of causing a flat, randomly distributed expansion of the luminous flux. However, these functions cannot be separated clearly. 3, the rollers 4 and 4 'could also be interchanged.

The axes of rotation A and A 'of the two roller bodies 4 and 4' are arranged approximately parallel to one another. They are connected to one another via a coupling belt (not shown) and are set in rotation by a common drive. The speed of rotation is in a ratio that does not correspond to a ratio of small integers. This means that the light figures do not repeat themselves after just a few revolutions of a roller body. The repetition rate can be many times lower than in the simple arrangement according to FIGS. 1 and 2. The second roller body 4 'is located close to the first roller body 4 in order to detect the major part of the luminous flux emerging from it and thus the improve total light output.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a rotatable mirror 10 is arranged in the beam path between the light source 2 and the roller body 4. The mirror surface of the mirror

10 includes with the axis of rotation A ¹ 'an angle deviating from 90 °, so that the mirror 10 when rotated about A "

Wobbles. The two extreme positions of this wobble movement are shown in FIG. 4 with the aid of a solid and a dashed line. After reflection by the mirror 10, the emerging light beam strikes the roller body 4 and is refracted there in the manner described. Due to the wobbling movement of the mirror 10, the light beam striking the roller body 4 sweeps over its surface in the manner of a back and forth movement along the axis A of the roller body 4. Already this causes a movement of the light figures generated due to the refraction on the roller surface, in order to increase the randomness of the movement, the roller body 4 is preferably also rotatable about the axis A.

Claims

claims

1. Optical arrangement for generating moving light figures with at least one light source (2) and at least one arranged in the beam path refraction, reflection and / or absorption body (4), which is set up for continuous movement relative to the beam path, characterized in that the Has body (4) in the beam path areas (5) with irregularly varying optical properties and is arranged so that constantly changing areas (5) with irregularly varying optical properties are detected by the beam path.

2. Optical arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the irradiated surface (5) of the body is irregularly structured.

3. Optical arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the optical properties on a

Scale of more than 1 μm and preferably of more than

Irregularly vary 10 μm and / or less than 100 mm, preferably less than 10 mm, more preferably 5 mm, more preferably 2 mm.

Optical arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the optical properties vary irregularly in a scale range which comprises at least one order of magnitude.

Optical arrangement according to one of Claims 1 'to 4, characterized in that the body (4) is set up for continuous rotation about a body's own axis (A).

6. Optical arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the body (4) in the irradiated area (5) is approximately rotationally symmetrical.

7. Optical arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the body (4) at least in the irradiated area (5) is approximately cylindrical.

8. Optical arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a provided for the ^' maintenance of body movement drive is suitable for substantially smooth operation.

9. Optical arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a mirror element (10) is provided in the beam path between the light source (2) and the body (4), which is arranged to continuously change the orientation of the mirror surface.

10. Optical arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a second arranged in the beam path refraction, reflection and / or absorption body (4 ') with regions (5 ¹ ) irregularly varying optical properties is provided, which preferably after one of claims 1 to 9 is executed.

11. Optical arrangement according to claim 10, characterized in that the variation of the optical properties of one of the two bodies (4, 4 ') is at least partially overall coarser than the variation of the optical properties of the other body (4, 4').

12. Optical arrangement according to claim 10 or 11, wherein both bodies (4, 4 ') are arranged for continuous rotation about a respective body's own axis (A, A'), characterized in that both axes of rotation (A, A ') approximately are arranged parallel to each other.

13. Optical arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a plurality of light sources (2) are provided with different color spectra.