Claims
- 1. An illumination system, comprising:
a portable frame attachable to an imaging device; at least one fluorescent lamp element secured to the portable frame; and means for providing electrical power to said at least one fluorescent lamp element such that the fluorescent lamp element operates as a continuous light source.
- 2. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said at least one fluorescent lamp element comprise at least two fluorescent lamp elements.
- 3. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said portable frame comprises a circularly shaped panel.
- 4. The illumination system of claim 3, wherein each said fluorescent lamp element comprises a circular tube.
- 5. The illumination system of claim 3, wherein said at least one fluorescent lamp element comprises two or more circular tubes concentrically arranged.
- 6. The illumination system of claim 5, wherein said panel defines a hole substantially in the center of said panel, through which the imaging device has a field of view when attached to the portable frame.
- 7. The illumination system of claim 3, wherein each said fluorescent lamp element comprises a substantially straight tube.
- 8. The illumination system of claim 7, wherein said panel defines a hole substantially in the center of said panel, through which the imaging device has a field of view when attached to the portable frame, and wherein said at least one fluorescent lamp comprises a plurality of straight-tube fluorescent lamp elements oriented in a radiating pattern with respect to the hole in the center of said panel.
- 9. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said means for providing electrical power to said at least one fluorescent lamp element comprises one or more ballasts.
- 10. The illumination system of claim 9, wherein each said fluorescent light element is connected to one of said ballasts.
- 11. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said means for providing electrical power to said at least one fluorescent lamp element comprises a controller for varying an intensity level of said at least one fluorescent lamp element.
- 12. The illumination system of claim 11, wherein said at least one fluorescent lamp element comprises a plurality of fluorescent lamp elements, and wherein said plurality of fluorescent lamp elements are groupwise controllable.
- 13. The illumination system of claim 11, wherein said controller comprises means for manually selecting the intensity level of said at least one fluorescent lamp element.
- 14. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said imaging device comprises a camera.
- 15. The illumination system of claim 14, wherein said portable frame attaches to an exterior housing or bracket of said camera whereby said portable frame follows movements of said camera.
- 16. The illumination system of claim 14, wherein said portable frame attaches to a lens of said camera whereby said portable frame follows movements of said camera.
- 17. An illumination system, comprising:
a panel having a front surface; at least one fluorescent lamp element secured to the front surface of the panel; a continuous electrical power source for said at least one fluorescent lamp element; and an attachment member for attaching said panel to an imaging device.
- 18. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein said panel is relatively flat.
- 19. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein said at least one fluorescent lamp element comprise at least two fluorescent lamp elements.
- 20. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein said panel is substantially ring-shaped.
- 21. The illumination system of claim 20, wherein each said fluorescent lamp element comprises a circular tube.
- 22. The illumination system of claim 20, wherein said at least one fluorescent lamp element comprises two or more circular tubes concentrically arranged.
- 23. The illumination system of claim 20, wherein the imaging device views through a hole in said panel when attached thereto.
- 24. The illumination system of claim 20, wherein each said fluorescent lamp element comprises a substantially straight tube.
- 25. The illumination system of claim 20, said at least one fluorescent lamp comprises a plurality of straight-tube fluorescent lamp elements oriented in a radiating pattern with respect to a hole substantially in the center of said panel.
- 26. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein said continuous electrical power source comprises one or more ballasts.
- 27. The illumination system of claim 26, wherein each said fluorescent light element is connected to one of said ballasts.
- 28. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein said continuous electrical power source comprises a controller for varying an intensity level of said at least one fluorescent lamp element.
- 29. The illumination system of claim 28, wherein said controller comprises means for manually selecting the intensity level of said at least one fluorescent lamp element.
- 30. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein said imaging device comprises a camera, and wherein said panel follows movements of the camera when attached thereto.
- 31. The illumination system of claim 30, wherein said panel attaches to a lens of the camera.
- 32. A portable, camera-mounted, continuous illumination source, comprising:
a panel attachable to a camera such that it follows movements of the camera, said panel having a front surface and a hole located substantially in the center of the front surface of said panel through which the camera views when attached to said panel; a plurality of fluorescent lamp elements secured to the front surface of the panel; and a controller by which a continuous intensity level of said fluorescent lamp elements is adjusted.
- 33. The illumination source of claim 32, wherein said panel is relatively flat and ring-shaped.
- 34. The illumination source of claim 33, wherein each of said fluorescent lamp elements comprises a circular tube having different diameters, and wherein said fluorescent lamp elements are concentrically arranged.
- 35. The illumination source of claim 32, wherein said fluorescent lamp elements each comprise a substantially straight tube and are oriented in a radiating pattern with respect to said hole.
- 36. The illumination source of claim 32, further comprising a plurality of ballasts for providing electrical power to said fluorescent light elements.
- 37. The illumination source of claim 32, wherein said panel attaches to a lens of said camera.
RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/949,206 filed Sep. 7, 2001, hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09949206 |
Sep 2001 |
US |
Child |
10238974 |
Sep 2002 |
US |