Patent Publication Number: US-2009231829-A1

Title: Lightwall instrument

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
     This is a non-provisional application of a provisional application having an application No. 61/069,788 and a filing date of Mar. 17, 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a lightwall instrument, and particularly to a lightwall instrument for improving the effect of photographs and film. 
     2. Description of Related Arts 
     Photography is the art of lights and shadows. When a light shines on an object which doesn&#39;t generate light, the surface of the object will reflect some ways of the light, presenting as particular colors; and absorb the other ways of the light. Where there is no light reflect, it is shadow. How to manage the light, how to arrange the lights and shadows critically dominates the effect of a photograph. A successful photographer needs to have the unique sense to catch the fleeting moment and position in a real environment. While, in a studio, suitable instruments and proficient skills are more important. 
     Generally, a lightwall instrument is used as a light source simulating the nature light such as sun light. Currently, light bulb is still the only controllable light source used in studio. Using flash light, enough brightness can be provided. But for acceptable effect, good performance, there are many other requirements. Particularly for digital technique which is overwhelming in this industry, a lot of special and new aspects should be taken care. 
     First, the coverage of the light source needs to be large. If the light source is only a point, such as a regular light bulb, only a small part of the surface of the object of the photograph, which is directly facing this point, can be lighted directly. Other part of the surface of the object, such as the sides and the back of the object, will stay in the shadow. In this manner, many details of the object can not be recorded. Also, because most objects have irregular surface, the extruded parts will leave a shadow behind. For example, people&#39;s faces are quite easy to have shadows and destroy the effect. The distance between the object and the light source also affect the coverage. The longer the distance is, the smaller the coverage is. Besides the area of the light source, the direction also affects the coverage. A curved light source will provide light from different directions than a flat surface. In such a manner, a 3D object can be exposed more sufficiently to the camera. 
     Second, the quality of the light is required. It includes softness, saturation, smoothness, uniformity, etc. The quality of the light is more important for digital photography than for the traditional film photography. The tolerance of the film is 16:1, while the tolerance of the digital camera is only 5:1. The light level of a digital camera is from 0 to 255, but only level 10 to 245 can be sensed by human eyes during to the displaying instruments and printing technique. This requests the light should be distributed from level 10 to level 245 to provide high saturation. Softness is another fact. Only reflected light can be recorded by camera, but smooth surfaces of many objects, such as glasses, human face with oil, will reflect the image of the light source. That&#39;s the reason many pictures have hot spot (white spot) which is the reflection of the light bulb. The hot spot is called noise and should be eliminated. To control the color temperature (Kevin temperature) is also important using artificial light source. Color temperature is related to the distance the light travels from the source to the object. If the light has different paths to reach the object, the color temperature will be different. As a result, the color of the object will shift. The color will shift to blue with higher color temperature, and shift to red with lower temperature. Reflect on picture, the object will have fault colors. 
     Third, the operation of the light instruments should be convenient and flexible. The instruments should provide multiple functions for some special effects. 
     Currently, the most popular photographic lighting device is soft box. A soft box is an enclosure around a bulb. The bulb locates at the bottom of the box. The back and side walls of the box are lined with a bright surface which is aluminized fabric surface or aluminum foil to as a reflector. There is also a transparent screen made of a layer of thin cloth of fabric mounted in the front wall of the box as a diffuser, as shown in reference number 14 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,145. The purpose of a soft box is to create soft diffused light by diffusing the directing light from the bulb, and the reflecting light from the bright surface through the diffuser. Soft box light are soft and even. The diffuser increases the coverage of the lighting, and de-emphasizes lines and blemishes on the face of a human subject. 
     There are several disadvantages limiting the usage of soft box. 
     First, the color temperature of soft box light is not even. The light generated by soft box includes directing light and reflecting light. They have different path to reach the object. This means the distance is different. As mentioned before, the color temperature will be different consequently. 
     Second, the depth of the light bulb can&#39;t be adjusted. The depth means the distance between the bulb and the disputer. The depth will largely affect the softness of the light, but the disputer is fixed on the soft box as well as the bulb. The distance between the disputer and the bulb can not be adjusted according to different photographic objects. 
     Third, the dimension of the soft box is generally limited. Most of currently using soft box is only in foot square, it is difficult to cover object like an adult human. For other objects such as automobile, special made soft boxes are needed but are very expensive. Generally the disputer has only a flat surface, and can not provide curved surface. This will enlarge the reflection image of the light source (hot spot) and damage the effect of the photograph. 
     Also, it is not convenient to use the soft box in studio. If more layers of disputer are need, people have to use separate stand. If narrow light is requested, a special cover has to be mounted over the soft box. The subject of photograph can not have a right front light because camera can not be places in front of the soft box or behind it. In this way, the camera and the soft box will block each other. Generally the soft box is supported by a tripod. But the soft box is heavy, and the dimension is relatively larger than the base of the tripod, therefore it is not easy to move the soft box, and make it stand stably. 
     Besides the limitation of the equipment, there is also some misunderstanding of using the light source. For example, in order to eliminate shadows, one of the methods used by many photographers is adding another assistant light source opposing the main light source over the shadow. This may diminish some shadows, but it doesn&#39;t help the image of the front face, and causes more hot spots. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a method and instrument to provide a lightwall in order to improve photograph effect. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a lightwall instrument which can produce a virtually single wall of light source having a relatively large coverage to reduce hot spots from multiple soft boxes to be used for such large coverage conventionally. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a lightwall instrument having an adjustable depth of the light source. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a lightwall instrument having an adjustable depth of diffuser. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a lightwall instrument to provide light with even color temperature. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a lightwall instrument to provide saturate light. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a lightwall instrument to reduce lighting reflection. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a lightwall instrument to reduce noise (hot spots). 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a lightwall instrument with curved surface. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a lightwall instrument which is flexible to provide various functions. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an innovative diffuser layer which can evenly diffuse light and provide softness light source. 
     Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a lightwall instrument, comprising: 
     a supporting frame; 
     a light source which is adjustably supported by the supporting frame and providing light; and 
     a diffuser wall which is adjustably supported by the supporting frame in front of the light source for diffusing the light provided by the light source so as to illuminate the photographic subject. 
     Moreover, the present invention provides a method of lighting photographic subject, comprising the step of: 
     (a) positioning the supporting frame with the diffuser wall facing the target object; 
     (b) positioning the light source to project light onto the diffuser wall; 
     (c) changing the shape of the diffuser wall for preferred illuminating effect; 
     (d) blocking undesired light from the lightwall instrument; 
     (e) illuminating the target object by diffusing the light from the light source through said diffuser wall. 
     These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         FIG. 1  is the perspective view of the lightwall instrument according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the diffuser wall and the shading wall are detached from the supporting frame. 
         FIG. 2  is the top view of the lightwall instrument according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention when it is demonstrated to be operated in a wider lighting mode. 
         FIG. 3A  is the top view of the lightwall instrument according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention when it is demonstrated to be operated a narrower lighting mode. 
         FIG. 3B  is the top view of the lightwall instrument according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention when it is demonstrated to be operated in a side lighting mode. 
         FIG. 3C  is the top view of the lightwall instrument according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention when it is demonstrated to be operated in a half-size lighting mode. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are the top views illustrating two lightwall instruments cooperated to form a wide lightwall arrangement according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a plurality of lightwall instruments forming a continuous lightwall arrangement according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating an adjustable device of the lightwall instrument for the light source thereof according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the diffuser wall of the lightwall instrument according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a diffusing layer sandwiched between two holding layers. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings of the present invention, a lightwall instrument embodied as photographic light source for better effect of photographs and film is illustrated, in which the lightwall instrument comprises a supporting frame  10 , a light source  20 , a diffuser wall  30 , and a shading arrangement  40 . The supporting frame  10  comprises a square-shaped bottom frame  11 , a square-shaped top frame  12 , and four columns  13  extended between corners of the bottom frame  11  and corners of the top frame  12 . 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bottom frame  11  and the top frame  12  is embodied to have the same size of 600 mm×500 mm. The four columns  13  connect the four corners of the bottom frame  11  and the top frame  12  respectively to form a cubic frame. This cubic frame has a front face  15 , a back face  16 , and two side faces  17 . The height of the cubic frame is preferred to be higher than 2000 mm. In an embodiment of the present invention, the height of the cubic frame is embodied as 2500 mm. The bottom frame  11  also has four floor wheels  18  so the lightwall instrument can be easy moved on wheel. When stopped, the lightwall instrument can stand stably. The front face  15  of the supporting frame  10  is supporting the diffuser wall  30 , and the back face  16  of the supporting frame  10  is supporting the light source  20  and the shading wall. 
     The light source  20  comprises a bulb  21 , a bulb seat  22 , and a pivot connector  23 . The bulb  21  is electrically connected with a power source, and provides constant light or flash light. The bulb  21  is installed in a bulb seat  22 . The bulb seat  22  is adjustably mounted on one of the columns  13  of the back face  16  of the supporting frame  10  through a pivot connector  23 . On one end of the pivot connector  23  is a slideable sleeve  231 . The slideable sleeve  231  is clutching the column  13 . Using the column  13  as a track, the pivot connector  23  can slide along the column  13  vertically. Using the column  13  as a shaft, the pivot connector  23  can move around the column  13  for 360° horizontally. The connector also has a fastener  232  to fix the position of the slideable sleeve  231  on the column  13 . On the other end of the pivot connector  23  is a pivot junction which is mechanically connected with the bulb seat  22  and allows the bulb seat  22  turn the direction 360° horizontally. In this manner, the relative position of the light source  20  is able to be adjusted in  3  dimensions, and the direction of the light is also adjustable. This gives the capability of changing the depth of the light source  20 . If necessary, more than one light source  20  can be mounted on one or two of the columns  13 . For example, the lightwall instrument can use two light sources  20  for the effect of “moonlights”. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, the diffuser wall  30  comprises three pieces of diffusing wall unit  31 . Each diffusing wall unit  31  has a wall frame  311 , and a diffusing wall screen  312 . The wall frame  311  defines the contour of the frame as a rectangle. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the size of the rectangle is embodied as 2500 mm×600 mm. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the diffusing wall screen  312  is supported by the wall frame  311  to form a flat surface. The diffusing wall screen  312  has a sandwich structure which comprises two holding layers  3121  and one diffusing layer  3122 . The diffusing layer  3122  is made of natural fiber or artificial fiber with a predetermined thickness. In a preferred embodiment, the material of the diffusing layer  3122  is polyester having a predetermined thickness. The two holding layers  3121  are web layers made of meshy cloth which are adhered and attached to two sides of the diffusing layer  3122  so as to hold the diffusing layer  3122  to form the diffusing wall screen  312 . In addition, the diffusing layer  3122  and the two holding layers  3121  are sewn together for strengthening. It is appreciated to the diffusing layer  3122  that the light beams emitted from the light source  20  can be evenly diffused through the diffusing wall screen  312  to produce softness lighting. 
     The three diffusing wall units  31  are pivotally connected side by side to form the diffuser wall  30 . The left and right diffusing wall unit  32 ,  33  can be pivoted along the middle diffusing wall unit  34  in 360°. This makes the diffuser wall  30  flexible to provide different forms for various lighting effects. The wall frame  311  of the middle diffusing wall unit  34  also has two connectors  313  at the two top corners. These two connectors  313  can detachably attach the diffuser wall  30  onto the front face  15  of the supporting frame  10 . In this way, the middle diffusing wall unit  34  covers the front face  15  of the supporting frame  10 . The left and right diffusing wall units  32 ,  33  are suspended by the middle diffusing wall unit  34  with the pivotal connection. The left and right diffusing wall units  32 ,  33  can be pivoted backward to cover the left and right side faces  17  of the supporting frame  10 , or stay in any angle with the middle diffusing wall unit  34  for determined effects. 
     When the diffuser wall  30  is attached on the supporting frame  10 , the light source  20  is positioned behind the diffuser wall  30  for illuminating towards the diffuser wall  30 . When the light source  20  is on, the light will shine on the whole diffusing wall unit  31 . The light will then transmit through the diffusing wall screen  312 , and be diffused to all directions. In this way, the whole screen becomes a light source  20  to illuminate the object in front of the diffuser wall  30 . In other words, the diffuser wall  30  diffuses the light for softening the light being projected at the target object so as to create a planar light source towards the target object. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, the shading arrangement  40  comprises two shading walls  41 . Each shading wall  41  has a side panel  411  and a back panel  412  which are pivotally connected together edge-to-edge. The side panel  411  is as large as the side face  17  of the supporting frame  10 . The pivot of the connection of the two panels is detachably attached at one back corner of the supporting frame  10 . In this manner, the side panel  411  of each shading wall  41  can be pivoted forward to cover the side face  17  of the supporting frame  10 , or stay in any angle with the side face  17  of the supporting frame  10  for determined effects. The two back panels  412  of the two shading walls  41  can be pivoted towards each other for closing the back face  16  of the supporting frame  10 . It is worth to mention that the width of each back panel  412  is larger than half of the width of the back face  16  of the supporting frame  10 . In this manner, when the two back panels  412  are closed side by side, it makes an angle instead of a flat panel. This gives more space for the light source  20  to be positioned. So the light source  20  and the diffuser wall  30  can have longer distance if needed. 
     The panels are made of nontransparent and nonreflecting material. The purpose of the shading wall  41  is to prevent light leaking from the back of the lightwall instrument, because only light from the diffuser wall  30  is manageable and expected. The material of the shading wall  41  is not reflecting is also important. This will diminish the reflecting light which has different color temperature from the directing light and can produce fault color. Another purpose of the shading wall  41  is to control the amount of light reaching the subject of the photograph. The side panel  411  of the shading wall  41  can selectively block the light source  20 . By adjusting the blocking angle of the side panel  411  of the shading wall  41 , the amount of light can be controlled to reach the diffuser wall  30 . 
     Using the lightwall instrument of the present invention is flexible and convenient. According to the requirement of making high quality of photograph, this invention can provide the photographer various capability. 
     The lightwall instrument of the present provides a very large coverage. The height of the diffuser wall  30  is larger than 2000 mm, which is higher than most human. This guarantees a sufficient coverage vertically. The width of the three diffusing wall units  31  is more than 1500 mm, which is enough to cover a small group of people. If the subject of the photograph is really large, such as an automobile, two or more such lightwall instruments of the present invention can be line up side by side to form one continuous large diffuser wall  30 . In this manner, the width of the diffuser wall  30  can be unlimited theoretically. To line up several lightwall instrument of the present invention is very convenient. Just move the supporting frame  10  on floor wheel into the position, extend the three diffusing wall units  31  of each diffuser wall  30  into a flat panel, line up the diffuser walls  30  continuously, then a much larger diffuser wall is ready. 
     Since the diffuser wall  30  has a large area, the camera can be even placed in front of the lightwall instrument without blocking the light. So the subject of the photograph can have a right front light illumination. Referring to  FIG. 4  of the drawings, if two lightwall instruments of the present invention are used, a small gap can be left between two diffuser walls  30  for the camera. The photographer can stay behind the diffuser walls  30  to operate the camera. In this way, the photographer will not block the light. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , since the three diffusing wall units  31  are pivotally connected, the angle between each two diffusing wall units  31  can be changed. This can provide a curvature to the diffuser wall  30 . Depending on the dimension of the subject of the photograph, the curvature can also be adjusted flexibly. Referring to  FIG. 3C , if the subject is small, and lighting on the side of the subject is require, the left and right diffusing wall units  32 ,  33  can be pivoted forward to form a concave surface. The more the two diffusing wall units are pivoted forward, the larger the curvature of the concave is, so that the light can cover more area of the subject. 
     In another application, referring to  FIG. 2 , if the subject has a shiny polished surface, or transparent material such glass, the surface of the subject will reflect the image of the light source  20 . This reflection is call hot spot or white spot which is considered as noise and is desired to be eliminated. In this situation, the left and right diffusing wall units  32 ,  33  can be pivoted backward to for a convex of the diffuser wall  30 . Most subjects of photograph also have convex surfaces. It can be imagined, when a convex surface reflects a convex light source  20 , there is only a narrow line can be seen from any direction. This design largely diminishes the area of the hot spot. Also, when the diffuser wall  30  is in a convex, the distance from the light source  20  to each diffusing wall unit  31  can be the same, so the color temperature is the same. The light illuminating on the subject of the photograph will be even, and the transmission from the illuminated area to the area of shadow will be gentle. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3B , the left or right diffusing wall unit  32 ,  33  can also be pivoted to overlap the middle diffusing wall unit  34 . It means the lightwall instrument can be easily added one or two more layers of diffusing wall units to further reduce the light, and increase the softness. Referring to  FIG. 3A , the three diffusing wall units  31  can also form a triangle when the left and right diffusing wall units  32 ,  33  are pivoted toward each other to give special light effect. If there is a gap left between the edges of the left and right diffusing wall units  32 ,  33 , a narrow line light source is available. The width of the line light source can be controlled. 
     Cooperating with the shading wall  41  can provide more effects. Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the side panel  411  of the shading wall  41  can partially block the light shining on the diffusing wall unit  31 . For example, when taking photo for two people, the one closer to the lightwall instrument will be brighter. To make the light even, the side panel  411  can block some light shining on this person. For anther example, by opening a narrow gap for illuminating some particular part of the subject, such as the shoulder of a people, will emphasis the contract of light and give some special effects. 
     The operation of the lightwall instrument of the present invention is very convenient. The first step is to position the supporting frame  10 . The supporting frame  10  is firm and stable, with the floor wheels it is easy to be positioned. So the distance between the diffusing wall unit  31  and the subject of the photograph is easy to adjust. When the position of the supporting frame  10  is fixed, the position of the light source  20  can be adjusted. The height of the light source  20  can be easily changed from bottom to the top of the supporting frame  10  according to the height of the subject. The depth of the light source  20  is also ready to be changed by whirling the pivot connector  23 . It is worth to mention, if the depth is not enough, the whole diffuser wall  30  can be detached from the supporting frame  10  and stand away from the light source  20  to give enough distance. 
     Next step is to adjusting the pivoting angle of the diffusing wall units  31 . The diffusing wall units  31  are pivotally connected with each other, so changing the angle is just like opening and closing windows or doors. There are various possible arrangements for one or plural of diffuser wall  30 s to fulfill the photographer&#39;s requests. Further more, using the shading wall  41  can provide even more possibilities for better effects.  FIG. 5  is flow chart of the method of using the lightwall instrument. 
     In summary, the present invention provides a convenient and flexible lightwall instrument for better effect of photo or film. The light generated by the lightwall instrument is soft, even, and saturated. The effects are highly adjustable. The operation is easy. 
     It is worth to mention, the vertical edge of the wall frame  311  and the vertical edge of the shading wall  41  also have magnetic material embedded. So when two vertical edges are closed to each other, they will be magnetically attached together. This will make it easier to form a continuous panel, or form a closed contour. 
     One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.