LASER LIGHT CONTROL

Abstract: A laser light system includes a laser light source producing a beam of laser light, an array of mirrors driven by electric actuators aligned to pass or deflect the beam all mounted in a lightweight but very stiff box-like frame to assure alignment. Secured on the frame are a corresponding array of mirror mounts which receive the deflected beam and further redirect it in a desired direction. The mirror mounts each include a base secured to the frame, a bracket pivotally secured to the base, a plate pivotally secured to the bracket and a mirror secured to the plate. To provide a fine adjustment on the mirror, the pivotal attachment of the plate to the bracket includes an attachment screw, a pivot screw and a pair of spaced adjustment screws. A plurality of different laser light sources provide a variety of lighting effects.

Description: LASER LIGHT CONTROL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There is a significant demand for systems using laser beams to create light shows for night clubs and the like. One type of system used for this purpose consists of a laser generating device in combination with a plurality of motor actuated mirrors which are carefully aligned with each other and with the laser beam and timed to deflect the laser beam as separate spots or beams of light which are deflected in many directions. Each mirror is fastened to a shaft which is attached to the motor output shaft. To achieve the desired light effect, the mirror support must be exactly perpendicular to the motor output shaft. The desired deflection of the mirror requires only a limited rotation of the motor and the mirror support operates between two spaced stops. Such light show systems have been in use for a number of years but have represented a fairly significant investment. They also have been somewhat heavy and cumbersome so that, while they can be moved from place to place, moving them requires a substantial effort. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Applicant has discovered that simple permanent magnet direct current motors such as those used for tape recorders can be used to drive the motors. This arrangement is described in Applicant's Patent No. 5,576,901. As described in this patent, the use of these motors, connected and mounted as described made it possible to substantially reduce the size, cost and weight of the light systems such as those described above. Since the application for the above patent was filed, a number of modifications and improvements have been made in the light control system. One such improvement is that the elongated housing is now a very rigid aluminum box having a cover secured to it. Another improvement is in the mirror mounts which are mounted on the housing and which are now simpler, lighter and therefore less expensive than those previously used. These mounts provide for very fine adjustment of the directivity of the light beams through the use of a pivotal adjustment of the mirrors which receive the beams deflected by the actuator driven mirrors. A further improvement is that applicant has incorporated additional laser light generators to provide more variable and colorful laser light displays. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This invention may be more clearly understood with the following detailed description and by reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a partial plan view of a light control according to the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary portion taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an exploded view of mirror support and base according to the invention and as shown in Figs 1-3; Fig. 5 is a view from the side of the mirror support of Figs. 1-4; Fig. 6 is a view of the mirror support of Fig. 5 taken along line 6-6; Fig. 7 is a partial plan view, similar to Fig. 1 showing an alternative embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 8 is a partial plan view, similar to Fig. 7, showing a further embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to Fig. 1, an array of mirror actuators is shown fastened to an elongated frame 10. The mirror actuators include a plurality of sub frame members 11 and secured to each sub frame member is a small d.c. electric motor 12. Each motor 12 includes a motor shaft 13 to which is attached a mirror support 14. A small laser light generator 15 directs a beam of laser light 15A parallel to the paths of a number of small mirrors 16 secured to the outboard ends of the mirror supports 14. Connected to each of the motors 12 is a commercially available 8 channel DMX control card 17 which is in turn driven by a controller known in the industry as a DMX-512 Controller, which is also a commercially available unit and which includes switches and controls controlling the sequence and d.c. voltages supplied to the control card 17. In the absence of a signal to any of motors 12, the laser beam continues through the channel and terminates at the opposite end. When a signal is supplied by the controller to any of motors 12, that motor is energized causing its mirror support or support arm 14 and mirror 16 to deflect the laser beam upwardly through an aperture in the top of frame 10 to another deflecting mirror, not shown in this view, which further deflects the laser beam in any of several predetermined directions. Normally, several mirrors 16 may be moved into the path of the laser beam at a time. Some mirrors may be 50% clear and 50% mirror and others 100% mirror, for example. The controller may operate to provide motor signals at various frequencies, but seven to ten activations per second is typical. A new mirror mount design is shown on the accompanying drawing, Fig. 2. As compared with the earlier design the new mirror mount is lighter, simpler and less expensive. The mirror mount 18 is shown attached to a portion of frame 10, which is in the form of a stiff aluminum box having an aluminum cover 19. Mirror mount 18 which is rotated to show some of its details, is mounted on an L-shaped base 22 which carries an adjusting screw 24 and includes an L-shaped bracket 26 rotatably secured to base 22 by means of the screw 24. Screw 24 may be loosened to tilt bracket 26 relative to base 22, after which it is tightened to secure bracket 26 at the desired angle. A separate flat plate 28 is pinned to bracket 26 by means of a screw 30. A pair of screws 32 and 34 capture springs 36 and 38 respectively and provide an adjustment across a pivot screw 31 to provide a fine adjustment of the angle of plate 28 which carries a mirror (not shown). The mount 18 is carried on a clamp member 46 which secures a window 20, discussed below. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and shows a motor 12, shaft 13, mirror support 14 and a mirror 16 carried on support 14 which is movable to deflect the laser light beam 15A against a stationary mirror 40 which is positioned to deflect the beam 15A in the desired direction. Details of the mirror mount 18 are shown including the base 22, the adjusting screw 24, bracket 26, plate 28, mounting screw 30 and pivot screw 31. In this view it will be understood that the angularity of plate 28 relative to bracket 26 is adjustable by means of screws 32 and 34. Figs. 4 is an exploded view of the structure supporting mirror mount 18 showing frame 10, a square plate 42 which carries a window 20, a second small plate 45 which includes a port 47 and which holds window 20 in plate 42, and a clamp member 46 which is fastened to frame 10 and which includes an adjustment screw 48. The base 22 is seen in this view to include a cylindrical portion 50 which fits into a cylindrical opening 52 in clamp member 46. By loosening screw 48, base 22 may be rotated in member 46 to a desired radial position, after which screw 48 is tightened to hold the position. Also shown are screw 24, bracket 26 and plate 28 which carries the reflecting mirror 40 (not shown in this view), as well as pivot screw 31 and adjusting screws 32 and 34. Fig. 5 is a side view of the mirror support including a part of base 22, screw 24, bracket 26, plate 28, and screws 30, 31, 32 and 34. As is indicated by the dashed lines, plate 28 may be tilted relative to bracket 26 by adjustment of screws 32 and 34, thereby providing a fine adjustment on the mirror angle provided by loosening screw 24, rotating bracket 26 relative to base 22 and then tightening screw 24. Fig. 6 is a view of the mirror support as seen from line 6-6 of Fig. 5 and showing a portion of base 22, bracket 26, screw 24 and screws 30, 31, 32 and 34. Fig. 7 is a partial plan view, similar to Fig. 1 of another embodiment of the invention. Shown are two of an array of, for example, eight mirror actuators as described above including electric motors 12, motor shafts 13, mirror supports 14 and mirrors 16. Instead of the laser light generator 15 directing a beam of laser light 15 A, this embodiment utilizes a high power laser 56 which directs laser light to a fiber input lens assembly 58 which directs the laser light into a fiber optic cable 60. Cable 60 is connected to a fiber optic collimator 62 which directs a high power laser beam 64 to a beam steering mirror 66 which deflects the beam 64 parallel to the paths of the several mirrors 16. Mirrors 16 are moved into and out of the path of beam 64 as described above. This higher powered laser source, which may be multicolored, may be attached side-by- side with other types of light emitting devices. Fig. 8 is a partial plan view, similar to Fig. 7 of a further embodiment of the invention. Shown are two of an array of eight mirror actuators as described above including electric motors 12, moter shafts 13, mirror supports 14 and mirrors 16. In this embodiment the light generator 15, which may produce a beam 68 of green laser light, is accompanied by a second generator 70 producing, for example, a beam 72 of red laser light. A beam steering mirror 66 deflects the beam 68 parallel to the paths of the mirrors 16, as described above. A beam combining mirror 74 deflects the red laser beam along the deflected path of beam 68. Mirror 74 constitutes a beam combining dichroic filter which passes green laser light but deflects red laser light, by controlling input signals to lasers 15 and 70, the system provides a variable color changing beam. As indicated above, laser 70 may provide a laser light beam of another color and it may be a high power fiber optics laser light generator as described in relation to Fig. 7. The above described embodiments of the present invention are merely descriptive of its principles and are not to be considered limiting. The scope of the present invention instead shall be determined from the scope of the following claims including their equivalents.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A light system including an elongated frame, a mirror and an electric mirror actuator driving said mirror connected to said frame, a source of a laser light beam directed toward said mirror, control means connected to said actuator for moving said mirror into and out of the path of said beam, and a port in said frame positioned to pass said beam when deflected by said mirror; a mirror mount secured to said frame including a base having an opening aligned with said port, a bracket pivotally secured to said base, a plate, and means pivotally securing said plate to said bracket, and a second mirror aligned with said port and secured to said plate and positioned for redirecting said beam. 2. A light system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pivotal securing means includes means for adjusting the position of said plate relative to said bracket. 3. A light system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means pivotally securing said plate to said bracket includes a pivot pin and a plurality of spaced adjusting screws bearing on said plate. 4. A light system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said pivotal securing means further includes a screw extending through said bracket and threadedly engaged with said plate and coil springs are positioned around said screw and said adjusting screws. 5. A light system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said source of a laser light beam includes a fiber optic lens assembly receiving said beam, a fiber optic cable, and a fiber optic collimator. 6. A light system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said source of a laser light beam further includes a second laser source producing a beam of a second color and a beam combining color dichroic filter is placed in the path of said beams to produce variable color effects. 7. A light system as claimed in claim 2 wherein means are provided for securing said base to said frame including a window positioned over said port, a second plate having a second port positioned over said window, clamp means securing said base in position over said ports and said window, and fastening means securing said clamp means to said frame. 8. A light system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongated frame comprises a lightweight metal box having closed ends and a rigid cover secured to said box. 9. A light system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said lightweight box and cover are of aluminum. 10. In a light system including an elongated frame, an electric mirror actuator, a subframe attached to said frame and to said actuator, a mirror attached to said actuator, a source of a laser light beam directed toward said mirror, means connected to said actuator for moving said mirror into and out of the path of said beam, and a port in said frame positioned to pass said beam when deflected by said mirror; a mirror mount secured to said frame including a base having an opening aligned with said port, a bracket pivotally secured to said base, a plate and means pivotally securing said plate to said bracket, and a mirror secured to said plate and positioned to redirect said deflected beam. 11. A light system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said pivotal securing means includes means for adjusting the position of said plate relative to said bracket. 12. A light system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said means pivotally securing said plate to said bracket includes a pivot pin and a plurality of spaced adjusting screws bearing on said plate. 13. A light system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said pivotal securing means further includes a screw extending through said bracket and threadedly engaged with said plate and coil springs are positioned around said screw and said adjusting screws. 14. A light system as claimed in claim 12 further including means securing said mirror mount to said frame comprising a window aligned with said port, a clamp having a cylindrical opening overlying said window, said clamp being secured to said frame and including means for loosening or tightening said clamp, said base including a toroidal portion received in said cylindrical opening and secured in position with said clamp in a desired radial position relative to said frame. 15. A light system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said source of a laser light beam includes a fiber optic lens assembly receiving said beam, a fiber optic cable, and a fiber optic collimator. 16. A light system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said source of a laser light beam further includes a laser source producing a beam of a second color and a beam combining color dichroic filter is placed in the path of said beams to produce variable color effects. 17. In a laser light system including a source of a laser light beam, a mirror mount comprising a base providing a path for said beam, a bracket pivotally secured to said base, a plate and a mirror in said beam path secured to said plate, and means pivotally securing said plate to said bracket. 18. A mirror mount as claimed in claim 17 wherein said pivotal securing means comprises an attachment screw passing through said bracket and threadedly engaged with said plate, a pivot screw secured to said bracket and bearing on said plate, and a pair of adjusting screws bearing on said plate and spaced from said pivot screw and from each other. 19. A mirror mount as claimed in claim 18 wherein coil springs are positioned around said pivot screw and said adjusting screws.

Inventors: HANCHETT NEVILLE BLAKE, HANCHETT, NEVILLE, BLAKE
Applicants: HANCHETT NEVILLE BLAKE, HANCHETT, NEVILLE, BLAKE
Application year: 1998
Main classification: H01S
IPC codes: G02B7