Illumination – Light fiber – rod – or pipe – Light emitting diode
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-29
2004-01-13
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Light fiber, rod, or pipe
Light emitting diode
C362S240000, C362S231000, C362S259000, C362S246000, C362S800000, C362S552000, C362S545000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06676284
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to apparatus and method for providing a linear effect. The invention relates in particular, but not exclusively, to apparatus and method for providing a linear, white or coloured, lighting effect or a linear sound effect. Very particularly, the invention relates to apparatus and method for providing a rigid or deformable, linear arrangement of light sources capable of producing a wide range of lighting effects.
There are several different types of architectural and display lighting apparatus known, for use in providing lighting displays such as at theatres and outside shops and other retail outlets. Known apparatus include neon and fluorescent lights, rope lights and even more recently the use of optical fibres. All however suffer from a number of disadvantages.
Neon and fluorescent lights are in widespread and almost universal use, and are available in a large range of colours. However, neon and fluorescent lights are rigid and can not have their shape changed according to the changing needs of the user. Further, each individual neon or fluorescent light is typically only available in a single colour. To get a two or more coloured effect requires two or more separate lights.
Rope lights can be made in long, flexible lengths, but as these consist of point light sources at spaced intervals, the light output is not uniform. Rope lights are thus not suitable for many signs. It is possible to chase a limited number of channels in some rope lights, but this is the limit of the effects obtainable. Lastly, while it is known to provide a rope light made up of a number of point light sources of different colours, because of the spacing of individual lights at any one location in the rope the colour of the light is restricted to the colour of the light source in that immediate vicinity.
All of the above mentioned lights, neon, fluorescent and rope lights, require high voltages, with the result that in certain circumstances, particular health and safety factors have to be taken into account when using such lights.
A number of illuminated display systems are known that use LEDS in two dimensional pixelated displays, individual LEDS or groups of LEDS being under independent control. Examples of such displays include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,845,481, 4,887,074, 5,134,387, 5,184,114, 5,410,328 and 5,420.482. Entertainment and other uses of these displays is rather limited.
Optical fibre offers the prospect of a lighting effect in which the fibres themselves are voltage free. Nevertheless, the light source itself when operating is hot and at high voltage. In addition, light intensity fades along the length of the fibres and the fibres themselves have a poor light output which is of limited application. A colour may be selected at the source but that colour will be the same along the length of the fibre.
Another LED-based lighting apparatus is the subject of WO-A-99/10867, published after the priority date of the present application, in which LEDs are used as light sources to replace, e.g. incandescent sources in spotlights and torch lightbulbs.
It is conventional in aircraft and on ships to provide emergency routing systems to direct passengers to exits in the event of fire or another emergency. On aircraft, this emergency routing is typically provided by a linear array of lights, but their output which is of fixed colour may be dim and rapidly be obscured by smoke in the event of fire. Emergency routing systems are known on cruise ships, but these tend to be static displays, giving no indication of the direction in which passengers should proceed to find the exit. These types of emergency lights also suffer from dim output and are likely to be invisible in thick fog or smoke.
It is thus an object of the invention to provide method and apparatus for providing a linear effect that, at least in preferred embodiments, avoids or ameliorates problems such as those identified in prior art lighting and routing systems, and to provide a new tool for lighting designers, architects, sound engineers and all others involved in display, architectural, safety or entertainment lighting, or sound effects.
Accordingly, the invention provides apparatus for providing an output of electromagnetic and/or sound waves, comprising:
a power supply, or means for connection to a power supply;
support structure;
control means; and
a plurality of transmitters arranged in a linear array on said support structure and in electrical contact with said control means;
wherein each transmitter is controllable individually and independently from other transmitters.
The array of transmitters is a linear array in that the transmitters are arranged in a long line one after the other, though each is typically in close proximity to the next transmitter in the line. The linear array may be rigid or flexible and is optionally deformable so that it can be deformed into a shape desired by the user. The array is preferably substantially one dimensioned in that flow of output from adjacent transmitters can indicate direction only in one dimension, such as left-to-right or right-to-left.
The transmitters are optionally selected from transmitters of electromagnetic radiation and transmitters of sound, including sound both in the audible and ultrasonic ranges. In embodiments of the invention in which the transmitters are for transmitting electromagnetic radiation, this radiation may be of substantially any wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum, including gamma rays, X-rays, UV light, visible light, IR light, microwaves, and short-, medium- and long-wave radiowaves. It is preferred that both the wavelength and the intensity of the output from each transmitter can be individually varied, providing the apparatus with a wide range of outputs.
In a specific embodiment of the invention described below in more detail, the transmitters are light sources. The transmitters may further optionally be transmitters of sound waves, and may thus be transducers for converting electrical signals from the control means into sound. Again, it is preferred that the sound output from each transducer has both variable pitch and variable volume. By way of example, they may be d.c. buzzers (operating on direct current).
Reference to a plurality of transmitters indicates preferably that the apparatus comprises at least 10 transmitters in a linear array, and further preferred embodiments of the invention comprise at least 30, 50 and, more preferably, at least 70 or 100 transmitters in a linear array. These transmitters are typically arranged in close proximity to each other so that at distance from the apparatus the output of two or more adjacent transmitters is perceived to be a substantially continuous output from a single elongate transmitter rather than output from discrete individual pixel-like transmitters.
In typical use, and especially when output is being flowed along the apparatus, the distance of an observer or listener or of detecting means from the transmitters is such that the output from an individual transmitter diffuses into the output of the next or of an adjacent transmitter so that the respective individual outputs can not be, or can hardly be, distinguished and the output is instead perceived as an narrow, elongate, linear output. The amount of diffusion to achieve this effect varies with inverse proportion to the distance from the output, typically tending to completely diffused and mixed outputs at long distance. It is optional for the apparatus further to include a diffusing surface or medium to enhance the diffusion. In the case of light, the human eye can distinguish point sources at relatively large distance and a diffuser may include a translucent diffusing substrate placed around or in front of the sources and at sufficient distance from the individual light sources so that the output from the diffuser is perceived as substantially homogeneous and non-pixelated. In the case of sound, the human ear can not so accurately distinguish between point sound sources and with the sources located sufficien
Kirschstein et al.
O'Shea Sandra
Wynne Willson Gottelier Limited
Zeade Bertrand
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