Illumination – Light source and modifier – Adjustable or repositionable modifier
Reexamination Certificate
2003-05-09
2004-09-28
Cariaso, Alan (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Light source and modifier
Adjustable or repositionable modifier
C362S268000, C362S293000, C362S323000, C362S362000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06796683
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The embodiments of the present invention generally relate to theatrical lighting systems that are digitally controlled and to the theatrical ellipsoidal spotlights used therein. More specifically, the embodiments of the present invention relate to color changing apparatus for theatrical ellipsoidal spotlights.
Lighting systems are typically formed by interconnecting, via a communications system, a plurality of lighting fixtures and providing for operator control of the plurality of lighting fixtures from a central controller. Such lighting systems may contain theatrical ellipsoidal spotlights. Applications and events in which theatrical ellipsoidal spotlights are used to great advantage include showrooms, television lighting, stage lighting, architectural lighting, live concerts, and theme parks.
Prior to the advent of relatively small commercial digital computers, remote control of light fixtures from a central controller was done with either a high voltage or low voltage current; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,706,914, issued Dec. 19, 1972 to Van Buren, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,898,643, issued Aug. 5, 1975 to Ettlinger, both of which are incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. With the widespread use of computers, digital serial communication was widely adopted as a way to achieve remote control; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,139, issued Jun. 13, 1978 to Symonds et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,227, issued Sept. 29, 1987 to Callahan, both of which are incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. In 1986, the United States Institute of Theatre Technology (“USITT”) developed a digital communications system protocol for theatrical lighting known as DMX.
A theatrical lighting system may include a central controller that uses the DMX protocol to communicate over a communication system to a plurality of dimming units. Each dimming unit may have a plurality of controlled outputs with each output being electrically connected to the lamp of an ellipsoidal spotlight. A single dimming unit may control the intensity of 4 or more of the ellipsoidal spotlights. For some shows, as many as 100 ellipsoidal spotlights connected to 25 dimming units may have their intensity individually controlled by an operator of the central controller. The operator of the central controller inputs address and command information that is sent over the communications system to individually control the intensity of each of the plurality of ellipsoidal spotlights.
For many theatrical shows, colored lighting is required to provide a dynamic effect on the stage. Most ellipsoidal spotlights have a mounting location for a color filter located in front of the final lens. The mounting location is commonly referred to as a gel holder. The term gel comes from the gelatin substrate sometimes used to manufacture color filters. Gels today may be constructed of polycarbonate flexible sheeting to help resist the high temperatures associated with the light energy projected from the ellipsoidal spotlight. A sheet of colored gel may be held in a frame, which may be located or fixed relative to the gel holder of the ellipsoidal spotlight. Even though the gels may be constructed of polycarbonate, the light energy from the colors not transmitted by the gels is absorbed by the gels, thus elevating the temperature of the gel. Therefore, the gels must be changed frequently by show maintenance personnel because the gel color fades or the sheeting distorts due to the high heat absorbed by the gel. The labor costs to change the gels frequently for large shows can be quite high.
Color scrolling devices have been manufactured in order to allow remote controlled selection of a desired gel color for a particular spotlight by an operator of the central controller. The color scroller device often includes one or more scrolling rolls of gel sheeting, where each of the rolls of gel can be remotely controlled to scroll through the length of gel sheeting. One exemplary gel scrolling system using multiple scrolls or variable saturation is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,886 to Richardson, et al and is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
The gel scrolling system disclosed by Richardson is an improvement over the prior art color changing gel scrollers because it uses multiple gel scrolls each of a different color and each with variable saturation. Thus, the operator of the central controller may gradually change a first color to a second color by varying the saturation of the multiple gel scrolls in front of the ellipsoidal spotlight. The gel used in the Richardson gel scroller still has the disadvantage of fading and distorting over time and maintenance is again required to apply new gel material to the scrolls.
One popular theatrical ellipsoidal spotlight model is the Source Four™ as manufactured by Electronic Theatre Controls of Middleton, Wis. The Source Four™ ellipsoidal spotlight has a modular construction so that various lens systems can easily be applied to suit the application of a particular show. The Source Four™ ellipsoidal spotlight is constructed of a reflector housing assembly and front barrel assembly that may include a lens tube assembly. These assemblies are easily disassembled and reassembled in that the reflector assembly can be disconnected from the front barrel assembly and the lens tube assembly can be removed from the front barrel assembly.
Therefore, it is possible to produce a modular, housing-based optical system that can be designed to mate with the reflector assembly and the front barrel assembly of the Source Four™ spotlight. At least one company has built a modular optical apparatus that mates the reflector assembly with the front barrel assembly of an ellipsoidal spotlight. The Great American Market Company of Hollywood, Calif. has produced a product called an SX4© that may be used to automatically change or scroll patterns in the light path and is installed between the reflector assembly and the front barrel assembly of a Source Four™ ellipsoidal spotlight.
There is need for an improved color changing apparatus to be used in conjunction with a conventional theatrical ellipsoidal spotlight and that does not possess the drawback of incorporating gel color filters that fade or distort and yet can produce a broad range of varying color.
SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The embodiments of the present invention include a color changing apparatus adapted to be installed between the reflector assembly and front barrel assembly of a theatrical ellipsoidal spotlight. The color changing apparatus includes a housing for connecting to the spotlight components. Contained within the housing are a plurality of color filters, preferably dichroic color filters, serially arranged perpendicular to the light path. The color filters may include constant or variable density patterns of any desirable color and are transported into the light path to effect a change in lighting conditions. The color changing apparatus is also preferably equipped with a control system enabling remote actuation and control of the system.
One embodiment includes a color changing apparatus for a theatrical ellipsoidal spotlight having a reflector housing and a front barrel housing. The color changing apparatus has a housing with first and second sides, a first fastening system, for releasably joining the first side of the housing to the reflector housing, and a second fastening system, for releasably joining the second side of the housing to the front barrel housing. A plurality of color filters, preferably dichroic color filters, is contained at least in part within the housing. In certain embodiments, the color filters are serially arranged, include filters that are cyan, magenta, and yellow, and may be transported by an actuator to be into or out of a light path that is created by the reflector of the ellipsoidal spotlight.
In another embodiment, the color changing appar
Cavness Thomas Shaw
Fields Glenn Lee
Franklin Douglas K.
Goewey Mary Alice D.
Norrgard Lynwood J.
Cariaso Alan
Conley & Rose, P.C.
High End Systems Inc.
Tsidulko Mark
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