Patent Abstract:
A laser lighting device configured to provide two levels of image adjustment. An end piece provides first range of motion along the longitudinal axis of the laser, and controls image size projected from the laser. The end piece also allows for a number of masks to be utilized with the laser so that the projected light may be projected in various images shapes. A cap piece is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the laser and may create various patterns in the light being projected, such as spots sparkles, and other patterns, or fill textures to the projected image of variable size.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/724,227 filed Nov. 8, 2012, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This description relates generally to lighting and illumination and more specifically to decorative lighting devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Decorative lighting is often produced by incandescent bulbs, mounted in fixtures at predetermined locations. To achieve a desired lighting effect the lights must often be prearranged or installed to provide a given effect. The shape of the light is typically rounded, as produced by the inherent construction of an incandescent bulb. The light produced may be colored, but is typically uniform in illumination. As the desire to provide flexible decorative lighting increases, and to generally improve the appearance of decorative lighting, it may be desirable to produce adjustable decorative lights that produce patterns of light that may be adjusted, and also to provide adjustable shapes of light. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding to the reader. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and it does not identify key/critical elements of the invention or delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts disclosed herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     The present example provides a laser lighting device that is configured to provide two levels of image adjustment. An end piece provides first range of motion along the longitudinal axis of the laser, and controls image size projected from the laser. The end piece also allows for a number of masks to be utilized with the laser so that the projected light may be projected in various image shapes. A cap piece is rotable about the longitudinal axis of the laser and may create various patterns in the light being projected, such as spots sparkles, and other patterns, or fill textures to the projected image of variable size. 
     Many of the attendant features will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present description will be better understood from the following detailed description read in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows an example of an Image Control Laser Light. 
         FIG. 2  shows an example of the internal components of an Image Control Laser Light. 
         FIG. 3  shows an example of a GOBO cap. 
         FIG. 4  shows an Image Control Laser Light with a GOBO cap. 
         FIG. 5  shows two examples of GOBO slides. 
         FIG. 6  shows an alternative example of an Image Control Laser Light with a GOBO cap having a ridge to maintain orientation of a projected image. 
         FIG. 7  shows speckled light patterns produced by the Image Control Laser Light, prior to installing the GOBO to provide an exterior outline. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts in the accompanying drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The detailed description provided below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the present examples and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present example may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions of the example and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the example. However, the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different examples. 
     The examples below describe a decorative laser lighting device. Although the present examples are described and illustrated herein as producing given shapes, and patterns of light those examples are merely illustrative and not limiting to the shapes and patterns of light that may be produced by the examples described herein. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the present examples are suitable for application in a variety of different types of lighting systems such as indoor and outdoor decorative lighting, holiday lighting, advertising effects, and the like. 
     The laser with two levels of image adjustment typically includes an image control laser light producing device (produces scattered light spots that are adjustable), with a GOBO cap (that includes slides transparencies, cut outs or gratings, to produce image shapes that are adjustable in size) disposed over an end of the image control laser light that produces light. 
       FIG. 1  shows an example of an image control laser lighting device  100 , shown in a perspective view. Also shown are an end view  102 , showing an aperture  103  in the housing  105  such that a power cord (not shown) may be coupled. The body  105  shown from a top view is roughly cylindrical in this example, and at its center forms an axis  107  along which coherent laser light may be emitted. Opposite end  106  shows the ratable cap  109  that turns about the axis  107  to achieve various visual effects. 
     The image control laser light  100  includes a formed housing  105  shaped as a square, round, or other shaped tubular structure typically closed at the ends. The structure may be metal plastic, or other equivalent material. The image control laser light can include two end pieces  102 ,  106  or parts, the rear or “the base”  102  and the front or “image control”  106 . The base  102 , or base casing, may be a tubular assembly with an end cap or closed end that provides protection and support to electrical and mechanical components disposed inside. In particular the base may include a laser light apparatus (not shown) and other circuitry (not shown) for producing the laser light emitting from aperture  111  along the long axis of the laser  107 , while the image control  109  controls a displayed pattern of how the modified laser light will be viewed when projected on a typically solid surface. 
       FIG. 2  shows an example of the internal components of the image control laser lighting device  100 . The image control laser light  100  typically utilizes 110 to 120 volt power, provided via cord  206 . The power cord  206  may have a plug in type inverter disposed on or near the driver assembly  204  which converts the power from A/C to D/C power typically between 3 to 18 volts. The cord  206  typically couples to the driver assembly  204  at the rear, or base  102  of the device  100 . The power cord  206  attaches to the base via a socket, or equivalently may be supplied as a “pig tail” that is not removable from the image control laser light by a user. Alternatively a power supply may be provided in a “power brick” incorporated into a wall plug, or in line along the length of the power cord so that DC is provided through the rear  102  of the laser  100 . 
     The base has disposed therein: 1) A conventionally constructed driver circuit  204  for the regulation of power along with the control wiring. 2) A laser diode  202  to produce the beam of light, and which may be surrounded by shaped aluminum to dissipate the heat from the laser, or otherwise heat sunk. The heat sink (not shown) may be thermally coupled to the base. The laser light may exit the laser device  100  through a front aperture hole  111 . 
     The front  210  of the laser through which laser light emanates, may have a filter, grating, image, or the like  214  fixedly attached to it, so that the laser light passes through it. In particular a conventional 2D diffraction grating may be placed in the path of the laser light to create visual effects as the mechanism is rotated. 
     An end cap  109  made from plastic, metal or equivalent materials may be coupled to the base housing by threads (or other equivalent fastening methods that allow the assembled cap  109  to be rotated), and may be rotated  201  about the longitudinal axis  107  of the base. The cap  109  also serves to couple it to the base case  105 , and to adjust the lighting effect produced. 
     Filters, lenses diffraction gratings and the like  208  may be disposed in the end cap  109  and when assembled are protected within the housing to control and enhance the light from the laser  100 . The adjustable dial and cap  109  provides image control and includes either fixed or interchangeable transparencies, gratings, or the like to convert a single laser beam into multiple, scattered individual specs of light, also known as diffraction. 
     With one or more diffraction gratings  208  disposed therein, the rotable end cap forms an adjustable dial to create multiple patterns of light speck sizes and positions when two conventional 2D diffraction gratings are rotated relative to each other. The locations and sizes of spots of light produced can vary based on which position the adjustable dial is in. For the example of rotating two 2D diffraction gratings relative to each other, as the dial is turned  212 , the spots, dots or specs of light emanating from the aligned diffraction grating further divide, first into circular areas of multiple spots then further dividing and merging into adjacent areas of spots to produce various decorative light patterns. As the gratings are turned relative to each other to again align a grid of spots is again produced  216 . In such an structure one 2D diffraction grating  212  may be fixedly disposed on the front  201 , with the laser beam shining through it via aperture  111 . A second 2D diffraction grating  208  is rotated relative to the first  212 , so that a varying pattern of spots seeming to expand and then collapse into each other is produced. 
     The adjustable dial  109  is attached to the externally to the housing. This dial is typically manually controlled, without the use of any motors. The dial may be controlled by adjusting its threaded, or equivalent connection to the base, or alternatively may be provided with a dial mechanism that is adjusted independent of the cap&#39;s attachment to the case. 
     The assembly so produced may be used indoors or outdoors. However outdoor use typically calls for additional protection if the internal electronics against intrusion of moisture, dirt, dust and other contaminants. Also in outdoor use allowances in the design are typically made so that operation over a wider temperature range may be allowed. 
     In an alternative example the rotable cap  109 , does not extend to the edge of the housing ( 105  of  FIG. 1 ), but forms a small nub or dial protruding from the laser ( 100  of  FIG. 1 ). Such a construction allows an additional protective cap (not shown) to thread onto the case. In this example the rotable cap  109  includes a 2D diffraction grating which may be adjusted as desired. The protective cap has an aperture for allowing the laser light to pass through un hindered but may also be fitted with additional filters, gratings or shaped apertures to additionally create decorative effects. Such an additional protective cap may also be called a GOBO. 
       FIG. 3  shows an example of a GOBO cap  300  into which filters, slides gratings and the like may be placed. The GOBO cap is the device which controls the shape of the scattered lighting spots by inserting a GOBO, (“GO BlackOut”). With the GOBO installed in the cap, the size of the image can be increased or reduced by sliding the GOBO holder forward or backward along the longitudinal axis of the laser ( 100  of  FIG. 1 ). The position may be fixed by a thumb screw, setscrew or the like  302 . Optionally a ridge in the mating Image control Laser device, may match a grove in the GOBO cap (or vice versa) to preserver the orientation of the image as its size is adjusted. 
     The GOBO cap includes a GOBO holder which is formed by a slot  304  at the front where the GOBO drops in manually. The exemplary GOBO&#39;s are a piece of black plastic which have an image cut out of the center of the rectangular or equivalently shaped slide. Examples of GOBO images are circle, triangle, star, cross and the like. By controlling the shape of the scattered light, one can position a laser light pattern on a solid surface and the image may be adjusted to show without having to move the light source. 
       FIG. 4  shows an image control laser light with a GOBO cap  300  showing two levels of adjustment. The Gobo via it&#39;s holder may be positioned via rotation  212 , or by sliding it in and out  402  to shape the light. A gobo may be disposed in aperture  304 . However in an alternative example a gobo holder may be threadably coupled to the laser  100  so that the two levels of adjustment may be achieved through the threaded coupling. In such an example an additional grating may be disposed internal to the GOBO cap so that paired gratings may be disposed to produce various patterns of light independent of the rotation of the GOBO in it&#39;s cap. 
       FIG. 5  shows two examples of GOBO slides  500 . Typically the GOBO looks like a stencil, or transparency the selectively blocks light to project various outline shapes onto walls, screens, or other objects. Here a triangle, or Christmas tree shape  502  is shown with a star shaped stencil  504 . 
       FIG. 6  shows an alternative example of an image control laser light  100  with a GOBO cap  300  having a ridge to maintain orientation of a projected image. GOBO  500  is inserted in slot  304  in the cap  300  to shape the light outline. The device may be equipped with a stand  602  so that the device may be conveniently positioned toe project the lighting effects. 
       FIG. 7  shows speckled light patterns produced by the image control laser light system, prior to installing the GOBO to provide an exterior outline. The pattern may be varied as diffraction gratings in the device are rotated relative to each other. 
     Those skilled in the art will realize that the process sequences described above may be equivalently performed in any order to achieve a desired result. Also, sub-processes may typically be omitted as desired without taking away from the overall functionality of the processes described above.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5