Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems – Combined load device or load device temperature modifying... – Discharge device load
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-25
2001-08-07
Philogene, Haissa (Department: 2821)
Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
Combined load device or load device temperature modifying...
Discharge device load
C315S289000, C315S312000, C362S243000, C362S300000, C362S307000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06271629
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to electric lighting fixtures and is more particularly directed to a modular lighting system having a compact lamp head module usable with different reflectors to make up various lighting fixtures such as parabolic and cycle lights. Movie set lighting requirements can be met with a relatively small number of lamp head modules which are assembled to any of several different reflectors to make up different lighting fixtures as the need arises. The lamp head module has integral ultraviolet protection provided by a close fitting transparent bulb enclosure so that HMI lamps may be safely used without other UV protection on the interchangeable reflectors. An HMI lamp igniter is provided in the housing for powering different lamp wattages. The lamp head module is wired to power either incandescent or HMI lamps depending on the power cord connector used. The lamp head module is sealed for use in wet environments including underwater use.
2. State of the Prior Art
Production of motion pictures involves the use of high power electric lights to illuminate sets and stages on which actors perform their roles. Two principal lamp technologies are used for this purpose: tungsten incandescent lamps and HMI lamps. Incandescent lamps emit light over the entire visible spectrum with little output in the ultraviolet range. HMI lamps on the other hand produce strong ultraviolet emissions which must be filtered to prevent hazardous irradiation of persons exposed to such illumination. Conventional HMI lights have metal housings with window materials such as plate glass which are opaque to ultraviolet and thus stop the harmful emissions UV.
Creative lighting of movie sets is facilitated by use of different types of light fixtures each having a characteristic light projection pattern. For wide, even illumination of backdrops or fill lighting, so called cyclorama or cyclights are commonly used. On the other hand, spot illumination is typically achieved with parabolic light fixtures. Wide, even lighting may be provided by so called soft reflectors. Still other, more specialized fixtures are also used, such as shadow boxes to provide front lighting designed to cast shadows.
Film production companies find it advantageous to rent rather than purchase equipment, and rental houses exist to provide this service. The rental of lights is a significant part of a movie production's budget, often running in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Past industry practice among lighting rental houses has been to maintain in inventory a sufficient number of each type of light fixture to service anticipated customer needs. That is, the practice is to stock the needed number of cyclights, parabolic lights and so on.
Modern film production increasingly takes place in challenging environments, calling for lighting equipment capable of providing thousands of watts of light output safely and reliably in wet environments including occasional full immersion for filming of underwater scenes. Submersible high power lights are available, but are considered special purpose lights.
What is needed is a more versatile and economical approach to meeting the diverse lighting requirements of the movie industry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention addresses the aforementioned need by providing, in one aspect of the invention, a modular lighting system comprising a lamp head module which can be interchangeably assembled to any of two or more reflectors of different geometry, to make up light fixtures having different illumination patterns, as the need may arise.
In a full featured implementation of the invention, the lamp head module supports both incandescent and HMI lamp bulbs, can be operated in dry or wet environments, and can be assembled to any of several different reflectors including but not limited to parabolic, cyclorama and soft reflectors to meet a wide range of illumination requirements with a minimum of equipment inventory.
The lamp head module has a housing, a lamp socket supported to the housing for holding a lamp, and preferably includes a lamp bulb enclosure of transparent material substantially opaque to ultraviolet radiation. The lamp enclosure has an open end fixed to the housing for enclosing a lamp socket and the lamp bulb, and an opposite closed end.
The lamp head module may be watertight including a watertight seal between the housing and the lamp bulb enclosure to make the module useful in both dry and wet environments including underwater use.
Reflector geometries may include parabolic reflectors, cyclorama reflectors, and soft reflectors. The lamp head module may include an adapter support for removably supporting the lamp head module with the lamp axis in alignment with a reflector axis. The adapter support may permit continuous positional adjustment of the lamp module along the reflector axis thereby to position the lamp bulb in relation to a focal point of the parabolic reflector or along a reflector axis of a cycle reflector. The adapter support may include a threaded ring fixed to the lamp head module housing in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the lamp bulb enclosure.
Support for both HMI and incandescent lamp operation may be provided by including an igniter in the module housing. A power input connector on the module housing may have two sets of input pins, one set of pins connected to the lamp socket bypassing the igniter, and the second set of pins connected for supplying power to the lamp through the igniter, such that either an HMI lamp or an incandescent lamp may be powered in the lamp socket of the module by applying electrical power to either the first or the second set of pins on the power connector.
Thermal characteristics of the lamp head module may be improved by evacuating of air the bulb enclosure and, optionally the entire module housing, or alternatively by providing an inert gas atmosphere in the bulb enclosure and the housing.
Another aspect of the invention concerns a cyclorama or cyclight fixture including a trough shaped reflector between opposite end reflectors. One or two lamp head modules may be assembled to the cyclorama reflector on a bracket assembly which supports the reflector and also releasably supports each lamp head module independently of one another with the bulb enclosure axis in generally parallel or coaxial relationship with the reflector axis.
Another aspect of this invention is a lower cost method of providing illumination on a film production set. The novel method includes the steps of providing a first number of lamp head modules, each module having a housing and a lamp socket supported to the module housing for holding and powering a lamp, providing a second number of parabolic reflectors each having a reflector axis, providing a third number of cyclic reflectors each having a reflector axis, assembling a desired number of parabolic light fixtures and cycle light fixtures by combining some or all of the lamp head modules with corresponding reflectors selected from the second number of parabolic reflectors and the third number of cyclic reflectors, and electrically powering the assembled lamp head modules for illuminating the movie set, so that the lamp head modules may be placed in service interchangeably as either parabolic light fixtures or cycle light fixtures thereby to reduce the total cost of set lighting. One or more of the lamp modules may be powered without a corresponding reflector also for illuminating the movie set. Still other types of reflectors may be assembled to the lamp head modules to thereby extend the range of light fixtures obtainable with the modular system of this invention. The method may also include the further steps of supporting and powering either an incandescent or an ultraviolet emitting lamp such as an HMI lamp in the lamp socket and providing each of the lamp head modules with an ultraviolet protective cover over the lamp such that the lamp modules may be safely used without other ultraviolet protection associated with the
Campbell Patrick Hugh
Pace Vincent Mario
Beehler & Pavitt
Epstein Natan
Philogene Haissa
LandOfFree
Modular system for movie set lighting does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Modular system for movie set lighting, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Modular system for movie set lighting will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2499218