Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems – Combined load device or load device temperature modifying... – Discharge device load
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-04
2003-12-23
Wong, Don (Department: 2821)
Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
Combined load device or load device temperature modifying...
Discharge device load
C040S541000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06667576
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an effect lamp comprising a baseplate and a perforated plate which is located in front of the baseplate and facing the observer and which comprises light passageway openings, and also comprising at least one light source which at least partially illuminates the space between the baseplate and the perforated plate.
An effect lamp of this kind is known from DE-OS 38 25 991 A1. In the effect lamp which is described there, the illuminated space is limited by at least one mirror and at least one perforated plate. Due to the combination of one or more perforated plate(s) with one or more mirror(s), this effect lamp produces reflection effects. Thus the observer, when he looks into the illuminated space through the transparent regions of the external perforated plate
1
shown in
FIG. 3
, for example, sees the side of a perforated plate facing the interior space or sees the image thereof in the mirrors
4
, either due to a single reflection of the side of a perforated plate
1
, which faces the interior space, or due to multiple reflections at a plurality of mirrors
3
,
4
, the reflecting faces of which always face the interior space.
The observer receives the visual impression that the space is solely delimited by perforated plates (FIG.
4
). The vertical mirrors
4
which are disposed on a baseplate or on a support
6
(
FIGS. 3 and 5
) reflect the front semicircular perforated plate
1
so that the impression is given of a solid cylinder. The inner perforated plate
2
, which is bent longitudinally at a right angle, appears as a cuboid due to reflection. The horizontal mirrors
3
give rise to a multiplication of the depth of the cylinder and of the cuboid. Thus a cuboid of perforated plates of infinite length appears to float in a cylinder of perforated plates, the length of which also appears to be infinite.
Thus the effect lamp according to DE 38 25 991 A1 produces quite special optical effects due to the use of mirrors. In contrast, the underlying object of the present invention is to create an effect lamp with which other optical effects can be created without the use of mirrors.
This object is achieved according to the invention for an effect lamp of the type in question in that the baseplate, at least in partial regions on its face which faces the observer, and the perforated plate, at least in partial regions on its face which faces the observer, on its face at which faces away from the observer, and/or on the inner faces of its light passageway openings, bear text, image and/or color information.
With the effect lamp according to the invention, text, image and/or color information can be communicated in an optically appealing manner to the observer, which information changes dynamically depending on the illumination conditions inside and outside the effect lamp and on the position of the observer with respect thereto. Depending on the illumination of the baseplate and of the perforated plate, the information provided thereon is made the visible to the observer at different intensities. Thus the information which is present on the baseplate can be seen particularly clearly if the illumination outside the effect lamp, namely the illumination of the room in which the latter is situated, is very low. Conversely, the visibility of the information on the perforated plate predominates when the external illumination is very intensive. External illumination can be obtained by daylight and/or by artificial light.
This means that—as determined by the light passageway openings in the perforated plate or perforated plates—the observer is able to view the baseplate or perforated plate(s) situated behind the front perforated plate, and information which is produced thereon is made visible in its entirety. The items of information on the baseplate and on the perforated plate(s) can each be made visible, or activated, or even superimposed.
Moreover, the visual perception of the individual items of information of the effect lamp changes for the observer if he changes his position with respect to the effect lamp. If the observer leaves the position in which he has a front view of the effect lamp, namely a view in the longitudinal direction of the light passageway openings in the perforated plate, the presentation of the individual items of information shifts for him. As the observer's view becomes increasingly oblique, the individual items of information are displaced in relation to each other and appear with a different emphasis. This also applies to items of information on the inner faces of the light passageway openings in the perforated plate. Due to his oblique view, a 3-D effect can even occur, depending on how the items of information are matched to each other. Moreover, if the observer moves in front of the effect lamp, he may be given the impression of a moving object or image, depending on how the individual items of information are matched to each other.
The effect lamp according to the invention primarily provides the following options:
a) being able to place moveable items of information, namely images or objects (moving images, sequences of text, colour permutations, etc) with a 3-D effect (three-dimensional moving images or “movements in space”) on the baseplate or on the perforated plate(s), due to the items of information for the observer which are provided thereon, and
b) being able to present the items of information on the baseplate or on the perforated plate(s), as well as the optical effects which can thereby be achieved and which are described in detail here, in a changing manner, which is optionally a rapid change.
There are no limitations regarding the materials used for the baseplate and the perforated plate. Opaque, semi-transparent and transparent materials can be used. Thus, for example, the perforated plate can be made of a metallic material or of a transparent plastics material (e.g. Plexiglas).
Depending on the type and content of the information concerned, the effect lamp can be used purely for aesthetic purposes or can also be used for the purposes of specific information. In the latter case, the effect lamp can be used as a signal device or as a display, by providing text information on the baseplate and/or on the perforated plate, for example. This information can comprise letters or figures which impart specific information to the observer, such as information with regard to his instantaneous position in a building or car park, for instance.
Moreover, amongst its other uses, the effect lamp can be used as a light-emitting lamp (wall or ceiling lamp), for advertising purposes—e.g. as a type of display—as illuminated advertising in order to attract a high a level of attention from passers-by, and as facade illumination comprising optical effects which change depending on the time of day.
It is also possible to use a transparent plate, for example a glass plate, which bears text, image and/or color information at least in partial regions of its face which faces the observer and/or on its face which faces away from the observer, as a perforated plate comprising light passageway openings. These items of information are created so that they comprise a grid pattern which forms light passageway openings. Thus, for example, an effect lamp can be created as a type of advertising lighting in which a glass plate is adhesively bonded, on its face which faces the observer, to an advertising placard in the form of a grid.
In a first embodiment of the effect lamp according to the invention, at least one further perforated plate which comprises light passageway openings is provided between the baseplate and the perforated plate which faces the observer, which further perforated plate, at least in partial regions on its face which faces the observer, on its face which faces away from the observer, and/or on the inner face of its light passageway openings, bears text, image and/or color information. Due to the use of more than one perforated plate, even more complex optical effects can be achieved compared with
A Minh D
Mallinckrodt Robert R.
Mallinckrodt & Mallinckrodt
Wong Don
LandOfFree
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