Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems – Surge generator or inductance in the supply circuit
Patent
1994-03-22
1999-11-09
Shingleton, Michael B
Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
Surge generator or inductance in the supply circuit
315290, 315200A, 315DIG4, 315194, H05B 3702
Patent
active
059821124
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention provides a lamp and associated driver circuitry which is programmable for the purpose of producing precisely controlled, short bursts of light for use in theatrical productions, on stage, in video productions and the like. The light produced can be intense and bright like a flash of nearby lightning or the flash can be of lower intensity like a flash of lightening off in the distance. The bursts of light are of a relatively short duration, and multiple bursts can be generated. Therefore, the lamp and associated driver circuits can be effectively used to simulate a bolt of lightning or a number of bolts of lightning, of varying intensity.
BACKGROUND
In theatrical, stage, and video productions, relatively short bursts of white light are sometimes used to mimic bolts of lightning, artillery fire and the like. In the prior art, bright flashes of light was produced by a manually operated scissors switch wherein a DC current was drawn between carbon electrodes and the switch was manually operated so as to draw and extinguish the arc in a manner more or less mimicking bolts of lightning.
This prior art technique suffers from a number of drawbacks. First, there is the obvious safety question of using a person to manually draw an arc using a scissors switch between two electrodes. Second, even when the scissors switch can be used safely, its use takes a toll on the DC generators used to produce the power to draw the arc, since the DC generator is essentially short circuited when the arc is drawn. Third, since the scissors switch is manually operated, the mimicked lightning bolts were not repeatable. Thus, for stage or theatrical productions, the lighting bolts would not be repeatable from performance to performance, and therefore they could not be easily timed to music or other events occurring during the performance. For movie or video work, when the same scene goes through a number of takes, each of the takes would have a different lightning display, thereby making it more difficult to edit the movie or video with scenes from different takes. There is no practicable way of varying the intensity of the flashes of light in the prior art to mimic, for example, intense nearby flashes of lightning and more distant flashes.
The present invention overcomes these difficulties by providing a lamp and driver circuitry for use therewith which can produce short, intense bursts of light or lower intensity bursts (if desired), such as what might be used to mimic bolts of lightning, in a manner which is safe, easily programmable and repeatable, and, moreover, does not require a DC generator and therefore does not adversely impact a DC generator. The lamp has an internal impedance so circuit is limited by the impedance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect the present invention provides a high tensity, intermittently operated lamp for use in theatrical, stage, movie and video productions. The lamp comprise an elongated tube having electrodes disposed at the ends thereof, which tube is filled with xenon gas at a pressure less than atmospheric pressure. The lamp produces on the order of 40 to 70 lumens per watt when its electrodes are energized.
In another aspect the present invention provides a high intensity lighting system for use in producing relatively short bursts of intense light. The system includes a lamp containing xenon gas at a pressure less than atmospheric when cold, an ignitor, and a switching circuit connected in series with the lamp and the ignitor. The circuit couples the lamp and the ignitor to a source of electrical power in response to a control signal. A control circuit generates the control signal the control circuit including manually operated switches for controlling when the control signal is turned on and turned off. The control circuit also includes a safety circuit for limiting the on time period of the control signal to a predetermined maximum time period.
In another aspect the present invention provides a high intensity lighting system for use
REFERENCES:
patent: 3488558 (1970-01-01), Grafton
patent: 3497768 (1970-02-01), Mathisen
patent: 3870924 (1975-03-01), Helmuth
patent: 4095139 (1978-06-01), Symonds et al.
patent: 4095140 (1978-06-01), Kirkhuff et al.
patent: 4301392 (1981-11-01), Hirata
patent: 4477796 (1984-10-01), Kearsley
patent: 4687985 (1987-08-01), Pitel
patent: 4697122 (1987-09-01), Hoffer
patent: 4751433 (1988-06-01), Baccanelli
Johnson George
McDonald David
Pringle David A.
Yan Zhong Fang
David A. Pringle
Shingleton Michael B
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