1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to theatre lighting, and more particularly to controlling the temperature of lighting devices such as multiparameter lights that include electrical, optical and electromechanical components, using orientation and/or parameter information.
2. Description of Related Art
Theatre lighting devices are useful for many dramatic and entertainment purposes such as, for example, Broadway shows, television programs, rock concerts, restaurants, nightclubs, theme parks, the architectural lighting of restaurants and buildings, and other events. A multiparameter light is a theatre lighting device that includes a light source and one or more effects known as “parameters” that are controllable typically from a remotely located console. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,187 issued Jul. 5, 1983 to Bohnhorst and entitled “Computer controlled lighting system having automatically variable position, color, intensity and beam divergence” describes multiparameter lights and a central control system, or central controller. Modem multiparameter lights typically offer many different parameters, including orientation parameters such as pan and tilt, and light makeup parameters that affect the makeup of the light exiting the multiparameter light such as, for example, color, pattern, dimming, iris, focus and zoom.
A multiparameter light typically employs a light source such as a high intensity lamp as well as motors and other motion components which provide the automation to the parameters. These components are typically mounted inside of a lamp housing and generate large amounts of heat inside of the lamp housing, so that cooling by convection or forced air is required. The high intensity lamp generates the greatest amount of heat, and lamps provided by different manufactures may have differences in lumens per watt, or may have a spectral distributions that create more energy in the infrared spectrum thus further raising the internal temperature of the multiparameter light. However, motors used to automate the parameters also generate significant amounts of heat. Heat generation by the motors is a function of the number of motors within a lamp housing as well as the usage of the motors. Heat generation increases with increasing numbers of motors and with repetitive use in a high duty cycle. For example, motors within the lamp housing when used repetitively for shows or events that often repeat the change of a parameter may raise the temperature inside of the lamp housing and its components by 5 to 15 degrees Celsius. Various optical components such as lenses, filters, projection patterns, shutters, and an iris diaphragm are used along the light path, which is the path that a light beam from the lamp normally travels within the lamp housing before it is projected from the multiparameter light, to collimate the light and create and focus patterns to be projected. These optical components are selectively moved in and out of the light beam or are controllably varied when in the light beam to vary the attributes of the projected light, and generate varying amounts of heat as they interact with the light beam by reflection or absorption. For example, light collimated, condensed or filtered by the optical components may be reflected back into the lamp housing, the components of the lamp housing, or the lamp itself, causing a rise in temperature of the multiparameter light generally or in particular components thereof. Light may also be absorbed by the optical components when placed in the path of the light beam. As these components absorb the condensed or collimated light, they become heated themselves and can raise the temperature within the lamp housing.
The ambient air temperature to which the instrument is exposed may also raise the internal temperature of the lamp housing from 25 to 40 Celsius. The position of the multiparameter lamp housing also is a factor in the operating temperature, since the position may allow heat to rise in certain areas of the lamp housing. Specific examples of how the position of a multiparameter light and of how optical components in the lamp housing which lie in the path of the light beam to vary the parameters can generate different amounts of heat are shown in
Because of the presence of such substantial amounts of heat, some multiparameter lights are constructed of various high temperature materials. For example, the insulation of the wiring to the lamp may be silicon or Teflon. The lamp housing of the multiparameter light may be constructed of a high temperature polymer, which additionally helps to reduce the weight of the light and is often molded into a pleasing design shape. However, as the heat capacity of even these materials is not infinite, various cooling techniques are used. The most common cooling techniques are convection and forced air cooling. An example of a convection cooled multiparameter light is the model Studio Color® 575 wash fixture, available from High End Systems, Inc. of Austin, Tex., URL www.highend.com. In this type of multiparameter light, the convection cooled lamp housing contains the lamp, motors, optics and mechanical components, and is rotatably attached to a yoke that facilitates pan and tilt. The yoke is rotatably attached to a base, which contains the power supplies and control and communications electronics. The Studio Color 575 wash fixture and some other such products also have the capability of reducing power to the lamp when the shutter is closed for the purpose of extending lamp life. See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,254, issued May 7, 1996 to Smith et al. and entitled “Automated color mixing wash luminaire,” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,444, issued Nov. 22, 1994 to Bohnhorst et al. and entitled “Thermal management techniques for lighting instruments.” An example of a forced air cooled multiparameter light is the model Cyberlight® automated luminaire, available from High End Systems, Inc. of Austin, Tex., URL www.highend.com. In this type of multiparameter light, the forced-air cooled lamp housing is stationary and contains all of the necessary operating components, including a positionable reflector to achieve the pan and tilt parameters.
Neither convection cooling nor forced air cooling is entirely satisfactory. Convection cooling is quiet but does not dissipate as much heat as forced air cooling. Forced air cooling typically is achieved with fans which increase the operating noise of the multiparameter light.
A technique found both in forced air cooled multiparameter lights and convection cooled multiparameter lights for dealing with excessive heat in the lamp housing involves the use of a thermal switch to turn off the lamp when the temperature inside of the lamp housing exceeds specification, and then to turn on the lamp when the inside of the lamp housing falls back to a cooler temperature.
Another technique found in forced air cooled multiparameter lights for reducing the heat generated by the lamp involves the use of a variable speed fan which runs at high speed to provide a great deal of heat dissipation when required but otherwise runs at lower speeds to achieve adequate cooling with reduced fan noise.
If desired, a thermal switch such as the switch 59 (
In the multiparameter lights of
For either convection cooled or forced air cooled multiparameter lights, a thermal sensor or thermal cutoff switch may be employed to remove the supply voltage to the lamp if the temperature monitored by the sensor reaches a maximum allowable safe temperature. Unfortunately, this means that if the multiparameter light is operated in high enough ambient temperatures, the lamp may shut down. It is possible that during a performance event with high ambient temperatures, one or more of the multiparameter lights in the event may inadvertently shut down, causing great inconvenience and distraction.
Permitting a multiparameter light to run too hot is not a good option. As the temperature of the lamp housing increases, the temperature of all the components in the lamp housing also increases. Typically, lamp life is shortened. The motors used for the automation can easily reach critical operating temperatures and sustain damage. Electronic circuitry if contained within the lamp housing, may reach operating temperatures that greatly shorten the life of components therein such as semiconductors, capacitors and transformers. Additional components and materials used for the construction and proper operation of the instrument and lamp housing may also be affected, such as polymers, elastomers and lubricants.
The temperature of a multiparameter light and/or individual components thereof is advantageously controlled in accordance with the present invention, which in one embodiment is a multiparameter light comprising a housing, a variable power supply, a lamp, at least one light makeup parameter component, an orientation sensor, and a control system. The variable power supply has an output and a control input. The lamp is contained at least in part within the housing and coupled to the output of the variable power supply. The light makeup parameter component is contained at least in part within the housing. The orientation sensor has a determinable relationship with the multiparameter light. The control system has an input for receiving commands, an input coupled to the orientation sensor, an output coupled to the light makeup parameter component, and an output coupled to the input of the variable power supply.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a multiparameter light comprising a housing, a variable power supply, a lamp, at least one light makeup parameter component, and a control system. The variable power supply has an output and a control input. The lamp is contained at least in part within the housing and coupled to the output of the variable power supply. The light makeup parameter component is contained at least in part within the housing. The control system has an output coupled to the light makeup parameter component, an output coupled to the input of the variable power supply, and means for setting the variable power supply in accordance with a light makeup parameter to avoid excessive heating of the multiparameter light or at least one component thereof.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a multiparameter light comprising a housing, a variable power supply, a lamp, at least one orientation parameter component, and a control system. The variable power supply has an output and a control input. The lamp is contained at least in part within the housing and coupled to the output of the variable power supply. The orientation parameter component is coupled to the housing. The control system has an output coupled to the orientation parameter component, an output coupled to the input of the variable power supply, and means for setting the variable power supply in accordance with an orientation parameter to avoid excessive heating of the multiparameter light or at least one component thereof.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a multiparameter light comprising housing means, light source means contained at least in part within the housing means, means for applying power to the light source means, means responsive to a light makeup parameter command for activating a light makeup parameter of the multiparameter light, and means for adjusting power to the light source means in accordance with the light makeup parameter to avoid excessive heating of the multiparameter light or at least one component thereof.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a multiparameter light comprising housing means, light source means contained at least in part within the housing means, means for applying power to the light source means, means responsive to an orientation parameter command for activating an orientation parameter of the multiparameter light to place the multiparameter light in a new orientation, and means for adjusting power to the light source means in accordance with the orientation parameter to avoid excessive heating of the multiparameter light or at least one component thereof.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of operating a multiparameter light comprising a lamp, a housing for the lamp, and a light makeup parameter. The method comprises applying power to the lamp, activating the light makeup parameter in response to a light makeup parameter command, and adjusting the power to the lamp in accordance with the light makeup parameter to avoid excessive heating of the multiparameter light or at least one component thereof.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of operating a multiparameter light comprising a lamp, a housing for the lamp, and an orientation parameter. The method comprises applying power to the lamp, activating the orientation parameter in response to an orientation parameter command to place the multiparameter light in a new orientation, and adjusting the power to the lamp in accordance with the orientation parameter to avoid excessive heating of the multiparameter light or at least one component thereof.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of controlling operating temperature of a multiparameter light responsive to parameter commands, or a component thereof, and comprising a housing and a lamp contained at least in part within the housing.
The method comprises applying power to the lamp, establishing an orientation of the multiparameter light, wherein projected light from the multiparameter light is directed to a desired location external of the multiparameter light, and adjusting the power to the lamp in accordance with the orientation to avoid excessive heating of the multiparameter light or at least one component thereof.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a multiparameter light comprising a housing, a lamp, a shutter, an orientation sensor, and a control system. The lamp is contained at least in part within the housing. The shutter is contained at least in part within the housing and disposed in a light path, the shutter being capable of different amounts of A light transmission. The orientation sensor has a determinable relationship with the multiparameter light. The control system has an input for receiving commands, an input coupled to the orientation sensor, and an output coupled to the shutter.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a multiparameter light comprising a housing, a lamp, a shutter, light makeup parameter component, and a control system. The lamp is contained at least in part within the housing. The shutter is contained at least in part within the housing and disposed in a light path, the shutter being capable of different amounts of light transmission. The light makeup parameter component is contained at least in part within the housing. The control system has an output coupled to the light makeup parameter component, an output coupled to the shutter, and means for setting the shutter to an amount of light transmission in accordance with a light makeup parameter to avoid excessive heating of the multiparameter light or at least one component thereof.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a multiparameter light comprising a housing, a lamp, a shutter, an orientation parameter component, and a control system. The lamp is contained at least in part within the housing. The shutter is contained at least in part within the housing and disposed in a light path, the shutter being capable of different amounts of light transmission. The orientation parameter component is coupled to the housing. The control system has an output coupled to the orientation parameter component, an output coupled to the shutter, and means for setting the shutter to an amount of light transmission in accordance with an orientation parameter to avoid excessive heating of the multiparameter light or at least one component thereof.
Another embodiment of the present invention is method of operating a multiparameter light comprising a lamp, a housing for the lamp, a shutter in the light beam, and a light makeup parameter. The method comprises applying power to the lamp, activating the light makeup parameter in response to a light makeup parameter command, and setting the shutter to an amount of light transmission in accordance with the light makeup parameter to avoid excessive heating of the multiparameter light or at least one component thereof.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of operating a multiparameter light comprising a lamp, a housing for the lamp, a shutter in the light beam, and an orientation parameter. The method comprises applying power to the lamp, activating the orientation parameter in response to an orientation parameter command to place the multiparameter light in a new orientation, and setting the shutter to an amount of light transmission in accordance with the orientation parameter to avoid excessive heating of the multiparameter light or at least one component thereof.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of controlling operating temperature of a multiparameter light responsive to parameter commands, or a component thereof, and comprising a housing, a lamp contained at least in part within the housing, and a shutter in a light beam from the lamp. The method comprises applying power to the lamp, establishing an orientation of the multiparameter light, wherein projected light from the multiparameter light is directed to a desired location external of the multiparameter light, and setting the shutter to an amount of light transmission in accordance with the orientation to avoid excessive heating of the multiparameter light or at least one component thereof.
A multiparameter light is a type of theater light that includes a light source such as a lamp in combination with one or more optical components such as reflectors (the lamp and reflector may be integrated if desired), lenses, filters, iris diaphragms, shutters, and so forth for creating special lighting effects by affecting the makeup of the light exiting the multiparameter light lamp housing, various electrical and mechanical components such as motors and other types of actuators, wheels, gears, belts, lever arms, and so forth for operating the optical components, a suitable control system for controlling the parameters of the multiparameter light, and suitable power supplies for the lamp, motors, and electronics.
The lamp is contained at least in part within a lamp housing to suppress spurious light emissions. Typically, the lamp is completely enclosed by the lamp housing, which also contains the other optical components and many of the electrical and mechanical components which operate them. The power supplies and the electronics are also contained within the lamp housing in some types of multiparameter lights, but are contained within a separate housing apart from the lamp housing in other types of multiparameter lights.
As the lamp and the various components within the lamp housing generate a great deal of heat, the temperature within the lamp housing is managed by controlling the amount of power furnished to the lamp in accordance with the orientation of the lamp housing and/or the light makeup parameter being carried out by the multiparameter light. The orientation of the lamp housing is sensed or determined in any desired manner, such as, for example, by monitoring parameter commands involving orientation such as tilt, by monitoring control signals sent to stepper motors, and/or by monitoring one or more orientation sensor(s) that has a determinable and preferably fixed relationship to some part of the multiparameter light. The light makeup parameter being carried out by the multiparameter light is sensed or determined in any desired manner, such as, for example, by monitoring commands to the multiparameter light or by suitable sensors mounted on or near the components that implement the parameter.
Two examples of how temperature within the lamp housing is managed by monitoring parameter commands are as follows. As a first example, when a light makeup parameter command is given for a color wheel (see, e.g.,
Orientation may also be determined from an orientation sensor, either directly or in conjunction with the monitoring of parameter commands or the monitoring of control signals within the multiparameter light. An orientation sensor is any type of sensor that senses relationships useful for determining a body's orientation over many points in space, including, for example, such relationships as angle of inclination relative to the earth, angle of rotation of a body relative to an axis, and acceleration of a body relative to a previous position. Many different types of orientation sensors are well known and are commercially available. A fixed relationship is established in any suitable way, including, for example, fastening the orientation sensor to any housing member, frame member, or mounting base or bracket member of the multiparameter light; or by integrating the orientation sensor into a printed circuit board or a card that is insertable into the multiparameter light.
While any control system of software/firmware controlled or “hardwired” (including application specific and programmable array) logic and memory may be used in the multiparameter light to receive and process sensor signals and process commands, including parameter change commands, from a remote console, preferably a microprocessor-based control system is used. The control system processes commands received from the remote console and signals received from the orientation sensor to obtain suitable control signals, which are applied to the control input of the lamp power supply to adjust the power to the lamp. In a microprocessor implementation, for example, the microprocessor preferably uses operational codes to generate control signals for setting the output power of the power supply in response to an orientation parameter or a light makeup parameter. The control system may also take other factors into consideration. Examples of such other factors include the rate of temperature change, the mean or average temperature over a period of time, the degree of similarity of the present temperature variations with stored profiles of commonly encountered temperature events, degree of control sensitivity, degree of control hysteresis, the type of lamp in use, the age of the lamp in use, and so forth.
Lamp power is reduced when certain parameters or lamp housing positions are selected, to allow safe operation of the multiparameter light. The lamp power is lowered enough to protect the components contained in the lamp housing, and particularly those components that would otherwise tend to overheat due to the new position or parameter change. Preferably, the speed with which and amount by which power is reduced is limited so that the audience generally does not notice the change. For example, the change in light intensity caused by lowering the lamp power by about 15% to 20% over at least several seconds gradually as to avoid a flicker, would not be visually observable to most people.
An additional advantage of operating at reduced power is to extend the life of many of the components in the multiparameter light. One component that generally benefits is the lamp itself because of the avoidance of high pinch temperatures that can otherwise arise under certain circumstances; see, e.g.,
Generally, lower operating power can benefit many of the components of a multiparameter light such as the motors, semiconductors, capacitors, transformers, polymers, elastomers, and lubricants.
Various techniques may be used to adjust power to the lamp in accordance with the orientation of the lamp housing and/or the light makeup parameter being carried out by the multiparameter light. A simple technique for adjusting power to the lamp is to set the power level directly, based solely on the orientation of the lamp housing and/or on the activation of a particular light makeup parameter. The appropriate settings may be determined empirically or by calculation. This technique is effective when the lamp is not normally operated other than at continuous full power. However, a lamp of a multiparameter light having a variable power supply may be operated using various power schemes at different times, including continuous full power, reduced power, and various power levels and cycles to create flash, strobe, and lightning special effects. Under these circumstances, one may wish to adjust the power to the lamp by modifying the power scheme rather than by setting the power level directly. An illustrative way of doing this is to determine a lamp power adjustment factor which embodies how the power scheme should be changed to avoid overheating any one or combination of components in the multiparameter light due to a change in orientation of the lamp housing or the activation of a new light makeup parameter. The formulation of a lamp power adjustment factor may be determined empirically or by calculation. The two techniques described herein are exemplary, and other techniques may be used if desired.
An example of how power to the lamp may be adjusted in accordance with the light makeup parameter being carried out by the multiparameter light is the following. If a particular filter material were inserted into a specific color wheel aperture but were to have a lower operating temperature than the other materials on the color wheel, a reduction in lamp power should be made to occur when that specific aperture of the color wheel is brought into the light beam. If the lamp of the multiparameter light in this example operates normally at 700 watts for other filter material in the apertures of the color wheel, the lamp power should be reduced when the aperture containing the particular filter material with the lower operating temperature is brought into the light beam. If the particular filter material has an upper continuous operating temperature of, say, 200° C. but is measured at 300° C. when brought into the light beam produced by the 700 watt lamp, a reduction in the temperature of the filter material from 300° C. to 200° C. would require a corresponding reduction of lamp power, taking appropriate consideration of the ambient temperature and other heat sources corresponding to the parameter such as, in this example, the filter wheel motor.
The technique of varying the power to the lamp of a multiparameter light to furnish an appropriate amount of power to the lamp in accordance with the orientation of the lamp housing and/or the light makeup parameter being carried out by the multiparameter light is of great advantage in both convection cooled systems and forced air cooled systems. The lamp housing and the components contained therein do not operate at excessive temperatures even though conditions exist that would otherwise create unacceptably high internal temperatures, or in the case of forced air cooled multiparameter lights, unacceptably high fan noise levels. In other words, the fan of a multiparameter light need not be operated faster to deal with high temperatures in the lamp housing. Advantageously, reducing power to the lamp when a parameter or orientation exists that would otherwise cause an excessive temperature increase avoids having to shut down the lamp.
A convection cooled version of the forced air cooled mutliparameter light of
The orientation of the lamp housing 152 is determined from the orientation of the base housing 150 as sensed by the orientation sensor 116, and the orientation of the lamp housing 152 relative to the base housing 150. The orientation of the lamp housing 152 relative to the base housing 150 is determined in any suitable manner, such as, for example, by monitoring orientation parameter commands, by monitoring control signals that are sent to stepper motors 153 and 155 and involve movement, and/or by monitoring one or more angle of rotation sensors (not shown) mounted near the rotation sites of the yoke. Alternatively, the orientation sensor 116 may be installed (not shown) so that it senses the orientation of the lamp housing 152 directly, although such an installation would expose the orientation sensor 116 to higher ambient temperatures and require additional wiring through the wireway 154.
A convection cooled version of the forced air cooled mutliparameter light of
Orientation sensors may be placed in any suitable location depending on the type of sensor and the type of multiparameter light. For example, a type of sensor that directly senses angle of inclination in three axes relative to earth, such as the model 3DM sensor available from MicroStrain Inc. of Burlington, Vt, is the most flexible type and can be mounted on the interior or exterior surface of a housing or on any component contained within the housing or protruding from the housing, provided that the sensor is mounted so as to respond to orientation of the housing. If the multiparameter light is of the type that uses a mounting bracket, which does not allow the lamp housing to rotate relative to its base, and the bracket is constrained to a horizontal planar mount, only a single axis angle of inclination sensor in the lamp housing is required. The type of sensor that measures acceleration is mounted like an angle of inclination sensor. The type of sensor that measures angle of rotation may be mounted, for example, in the vicinity of the bearings used to attach the lamp housing to the base housing on pan and tilt lights, or on the motor used for the tilt parameter.
Multiple sensors of similar or different types may be used to provide respective parts of the total orientation information, or may be used if desired to provide redundant information to ensure accuracy and backup protection in the event of failure of any of the sensors.
The process of varying lamp power in accordance with the light makeup parameter being carried out by a multiparameter light is useful with a variety of different parameters. The filter wheel shown in
The lamp 124 may be any suitable type, including arc lamps of the metal halide or xenon type, incandescent lamps, and solid state devices. The variable lamp power supply 120 may be implemented in various ways, depending on the type of lamp. For example, multiparameter lights are typically designed with metal halide or xenon arc lamps. These lamps may be operated from a transformer or a solid state power supply. Some solid state power supplies utilize a type of semiconductor output device known as an Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor, or IGBT, which can be used to provide an adjustable current to the lamp as is well known in the art.
Incandescent lamps may also be used as the light source for a multiparameter light. These filament type lamps may be operated from a variety of variable power supply types. One type of suitable power supply uses silicon controlled rectifiers, or SCRs, to vary the power to the incandescent lamp in a manner well known in the art.
Solid state lamps such as light emitting diodes, or LEDs, may also have power supplies constructed as to vary the power furnished to the lamp. One or more solid state light source(s) are used inside the lamp housing to achieve the desired specified maximum light output level. Various current and voltage control circuits may be used to adjust the power to the LEDs and hence the amount of heat generated by the LEDs in a manner well known in the art.
A variable power supply may also be obtained by passing the output of a fixed power supply through a variable inductance, through a voltage converter, or any other type of circuit capable of controllably varying a voltage, current or power to a lamp.
An illustrative simple operating sequence 200 for, illustratively, the multiparameter light of
In normal operation, the microprocessor 102 executes commands received from the remote console, including commands relating to such orientation parameters as pan and tilt, and to a variety of parameters involving light makeup. If the command involves an orientation parameter (block 220 YES), the command is executed (block 222), the adjustment factor is determined from the new orientation data (block 224), and a new lamp power scheme based on the adjustment factor is implemented (block 226). It will be appreciated that block 222 may occur in any order relative to blocks 224 and 226. If the command involves a light makeup parameter (block 230 YES), the adjustment factor is determined from the parameter (block 232), a new lamp power scheme based on the adjustment factor is implemented (block 234), and the command is executed (block 236). It will be appreciated that block 236 may occur in any order relative to blocks 232 and 234. It will also be appreciated that a single command may involve both an orientation parameter and a light makeup parameter (block 220 YES and block 230 YES) or neither an orientation parameter nor a light makeup parameter (block 220 NO and block 230 NO). The process flow continues with other processes that are part of normal operation (block 216).
Preferably, the operational code and any tables required for determination of the adjustment factor and for implementing the lamp power scheme is prepared by the vendor of the multiparameter light and either installed at the factory or installed by the operator during a setup or maintenance procedure. Modifications and updates may be installed by the operator during a setup or maintenance procedure. Setup and maintenance may be performed from either the remote console or from a maintenance control panel on the multiparameter light itself.
The multiparameter lights of
While controlling the amount of power furnished to the lamp of a multiparameter light in accordance with orientation and parameter information is particularly effective for controlling the energy in the light beam, techniques other than control of lamp power may be used to control the energy in the light beam. For example, a shutter 127 (
Suitable shutters include mechanical shutters such as the shutter 43 (FIGS. 7-10), which function by physically blocking the light beam entirely or partially as is well known in the art. The mechanical shutter can be constructed of metal or ceramics, as is well known in the art. The materials of the mechanical shutter may be graduated to aid in the gradual attenuation of the light beam as the materials are placed into the light path by an actuator. Suitable shutters also include electronic light valves or electronically variable apertures of various types, including the well known liquid crystal (“LCD”) type and the digital micromirror (“DMD”) type. Generally speaking, shutters can be controlled so as to transmit specific amounts of light. For a mechanical shutter, the shutter material is gradually positioned in the light beam. For an electronic shutter, the light transmission characteristics of the device are varied electronically to control the amount of light transmitted.
The use of a shutter in the path of the light beam to control the amount of energy in the light beam has some drawbacks relative to varying power to the lamp, such as, for example, distortion of the light beam (unevenness at the cross-section of the beam) and some additional heating of the lamp housing of the multiparameter light. Nonetheless, the shutter is a common parameter in multiparameter lights, and the programming of a multiparameter light that does not have a variable power supply but that does have a shutter can be updated to carry out some of the techniques described herein at relatively little cost. Moreover, an orientation sensor can be retrofitted to a multiparameter light that does not have a variable power supply but that does have a shutter, and the programming thereof can be updated to carry out any of the techniques described herein.
In normal operation, the microprocessor 102 executes commands received from the remote console, including commands relating to such orientation parameters as pan and tilt, and to a variety of parameters involving light makeup. If the command involves an orientation parameter (block 280 YES), the command is executed (block 282), the shutter adjustment factor is determined from the new orientation data (block 284), and the shutter is set based on the adjustment factor is implemented (block 286). It will be appreciated that block 282 may occur in any order relative to blocks 284 and 286. If the command involves a light makeup parameter (block 290 YES), the shutter adjustment factor is determined from the parameter (block 292), the shutter is set based on the adjustment factor (block 294), and the command is executed (block 296). It will be appreciated that block 296 may occur in any order relative to blocks 292 and 294. It will also be appreciated that a single command may involve both an orientation parameter and a light makeup parameter (block 280 YES and block 290 YES) or neither an orientation parameter nor a light makeup parameter (block 280 NO and block 290 NO). The process flow continues with other processes that are part of normal operation (block 278).
Generally, the techniques described herein may be combined with other temperature control techniques to achieve a dynamic compromise that maximizes performance of the multiparameter light without experiencing overheating. It will be appreciated that the techniques described herein may be used individually in whole or in part, in combination with one another, or in combination with other temperature control techniques such as, for example, those described in co pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/524,290, Filed Mar. 14, 2000 (Belliveau, Method and Apparatus for Controlling the Temperature of a Multi-Parameter Light), which hereby is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.
The description of the invention and its applications as set forth herein is illustrative and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. Variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein are possible, and practical alternatives to and equivalents of the various elements of the embodiments are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the thermal sensor may be placed in many different locations, multiple thermal sensors may be used, and various different types of control system circuitry, interfaces, variable voltage/current/power power supplies, and lamps may be used. Where a fan is used for forced air cooling, the fan may be located at the intake vent or the exhaust vent or other location as desired, and multiple fans may be used if desired. While the various parameter actuators may be motors, other types of actuators such as solenoid, rotary solenoid, and pneumatic may be used if desired. These and other variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4392187 | Bornhorst | Jul 1983 | A |
4697227 | Callahan | Sep 1987 | A |
5351106 | Lesko et al. | Sep 1994 | A |
5367444 | Bornhorst et al. | Nov 1994 | A |
5515254 | Smith et al. | May 1996 | A |
5788365 | Hunt et al. | Aug 1998 | A |
6249092 | Kanatani | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6331756 | Belliveau | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6621239 | Belliveau | Sep 2003 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 09877699 | Jun 2001 | US |
Child | 11256623 | US |