Patent ID: 12228267

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Preferred embodiments are illustrated in the figures, like numerals being used to refer to like and corresponding parts of the various drawings.

Some zoom optical systems comprise a large number of lenses, which may make such zoom optical systems heavier, larger, and/or more costly to produce. Embodiments of zoom optical systems according to the disclosure comprise only nine lenses, making them potentially lighter, smaller, and less costly than such other zoom optical systems. Additionally, other zoom optical systems may comprise aspheric lenses, which may be more costly to fabricate. Embodiments of zoom optical systems according to the disclosure comprise only spherical lenses (where non-planar lens surfaces are used), making them potentially less costly than such other zoom optical systems.

Some luminaires in a lighting system may be visible to audience members, thereby becoming a part of the staging of the show. When the audience views the front of the head of a luminaire, they may see the fixed objective lens through which the light beam is emitted and may see something of the housing of the luminaire, depending on ambient illumination. The emitted beam may be narrow or wide and the lens may be slightly illuminated by the emitted beam.

In contrast to the control the operator may have over the appearance of other set pieces and truss elements that are equipped with, for example, color controllable strip lighting, such luminaires do not allow the operator independent control of the appearance of the front of the head of the luminaire. A light effect ring according to the disclosure provides the operator such control by enabling, if desired, one or more colors to be seen in the frontmost lens of the luminaire when the luminaire is viewed by the audience. The ring may present a solid color or a pattern of colors, the effect may be static or varying (“dynamic”), and may have a desired intensity, all under the control of the operator.

FIG.1presents a side view of a zoom optical system100according to the disclosure in a first configuration. The zoom optical system100comprises a light source105and an object plane103. The zoom optical system100includes an optical axis150. One or more objects to be imaged by the zoom optical system100are located in or adjacent to the object plane103. Examples of objects to be imaged include a static or rotating gobo mounted on a gobo wheel or other gobo carrier, and a variable iris, an aperture wheel, or other mechanism for producing a light beam of a selected size. Where more than one such object to be imaged is included in the zoom optical system100, it will be understood that the objects may be located in individual planes adjacent to the object plane103. As shown inFIG.1, the left end of the zoom optical system100may be referred to as the object end and the right end as the image end.

The zoom optical system100further comprises nine lenses in three lens groups: lenses102,104, and106(“Objective” group); lenses108and110(“Variator” group); and lenses112,114,116, and118(“Compensator” group). The lens elements of the embodiment shown inFIG.1are described in Table 1. As described below,FIGS.2-5also show the lenses of the zoom optical system100. The column Group of Table 1 indicates the lens group of each lens element.

The columns Diameter, R1, and R2present a prescription for the shape of each lens element, where “mm” indicates that the unit of measurement is millimeters (mm). R1describes a curvature of an image side of the lens element (right-hand side inFIG.1) and R2describes a curvature of an object side of the lens element (left-hand side inFIG.1). As may be seen inFIG.3, a positive value of R1indicates a convex image side surface of the lens element and a negative value of R1indicates a concave image side surface of the lens element. As may also be seen inFIG.3, a positive value of R2indicates a concave object side surface of the lens element and a negative value of R2indicates a convex object side surface of the lens element. For the purposes of this disclosure, radii of curvature within 10% of the disclosed radii are considered substantially equal to the disclosed radii of curvature.

The column Spacing indicates the spacing of elements within that lens group, where the unit of measurement is millimeters. The column Glass Type specifies a type of glass material for each lens. Glass type values that include the letter “F” identify a lens made of flint glass. Glass type values that include the letter “K” identify a glass made of crown glass. The column Power indicates whether the lens element has a positive or negative optical power.

TABLE 1DiameterSpacingR1R2GlassLensGroup(mm)(mm)(mm)(mm)TypePower102Objective30050.1316.6−960.3H-K9LPositive104Objective224Cemented178.0−511.2H-K9LPositive106Objective224—−511.2591.2H-ZFL7ANegative108Variator603.1−331.7146.5H-ZK9ANegative110Variator60—−265.273.8H-ZK9ANegative112Compensator482.2−113.479.4H-ZFL7ANegative114Compensator480.3242.5−41.7H-K9LPositive116Compensator480.3−487.8−161.6H-ZFL7APositive118Compensator48—44.5−144.1H-K9LPositive

In some embodiments, all of the objective, variator, and compensator lens groups are configured for motion along an optical axis150of the zoom optical system100relative to each other and to the object plane103. In other embodiments, the lens102of the objective lens group is fixed in place at an exit aperture of a luminaire1100(described in more detail with reference toFIG.11) comprising the zoom optical system100. In such embodiments, the objective lens group is not configured for motion and remains in a fixed position on the optical axis, while the variator, and compensator lens groups are configured for motion. As will be shown in more detail in subsequent figures, when the lens groups move relative to each other along the optical axis, the lenses within each lens group remain in the same position relative to each other.

The compensator group lenses form a converging (or positive power) group, the variator group lenses form a diverging (or negative power) group, and the objective group lenses form a converging group. The compensator, variator, and objective lens groups of the zoom optical system100have four, two, and three lenses, respectively. It will be recognized by a person of skill in the art that, in other embodiments, positive/negative/positive compensator/variator/objective lens groups may comprise lens groups of more or fewer than four/two/three lenses each, including lens ‘groups’ with only a single lens.

A first light beam emitted by the light source105converges and illuminates an object to be imaged, located in the object plane103, and then diverges as it approaches the compensator lens group. The compensator lens group receives the first light beam, as modified by any object placed in the first beam in the object plane103, and emits a second light beam. The variator lens group receives the second light beam and emits a third light beam. The objective lens group receives the third light beam and emits a fourth light beam, which is the light beam emitted by the zoom optical system100. As such, each of the compensator, variator, and objective lens groups may be said to be optically coupled to its preceding optical element in the zoom optical system100and the light beams received by each lens group may be said to have originated at the light source105.

In various embodiments, the objective lens group moves along the optical axis of the zoom optical system100or remains in a fixed location relative to the object plane103, as discussed above. Both the variator and compensator lens groups move independently along the optical axis. Movement of the variator lens group primarily controls the overall focal length (light output angle or beam angle) of the emitted light beam. For example, while the compensator lens group remains in a fixed position relative to the object plane, movement of the variator lens group changes the beam angle of the emitted light beam. Movement of the compensator lens group relative to the object plane primarily controls whether an object in the object plane103or in a plane adjacent to the object plane103is in focus. In combination, the positions of the compensator and variator lens groups determine a beam angle (or zoom) of the emitted beam and a distance from the objective lens group at which a projected image of the object plane is focused. As such, the compensator and variator lens groups may also be referred to respectively as a focus lens group and a zoom lens group. The objective lens group may be referred to as a fixed lens group in embodiments where it remains in a fixed location relative to the object plane103.

Moving both focus and zoom lens groups affects both zoom and focus, as does moving the objective lens group, although moving the objective lens group affects beam angle more than the distance from the objective lens group at which the projected image of the object plane is focused. Using a three lens group zoom optical system, a luminaire may be designed having any one of the lens groups in a fixed position and the other two lens groups configured to move relative to the fixed lens group.

Moving lens groups may be mechanically coupled to hand-operated manual controls or to motors, linear actuators, or other electromechanical mechanisms for motion. Such electromechanical mechanisms may be electrically coupled to a control system (or controller)1110of the luminaire1100, the control system1110configured to control a motion of the electromechanical mechanisms and thus the lens groups. In various embodiments, the control system1110comprises a microcontroller or other programmable processing system. In some embodiments, the control system1110may be coupled for local control to a user interface1112included in the luminaire1100and configured to receive therefrom signals relating to desired positions of the electromechanical mechanisms.

In other embodiments, the control system1110may be coupled for remote control by a data link (wired or wireless) to a remotely located control console and to receive signals therefrom indicating desired positions along the optical axis for the lens groups of the zoom optical system100. The data link may use DMX512 (Digital Multiplex) protocol or other suitable communication protocol, e.g., Art-Net, ACN (Architecture for Control Networks), and Streaming ACN. In such embodiments, the control system1110is configured to move the focus and/or zoom lens groups in response to signals received via the data link. In some such embodiments, the control system1110moves the compensator lens group in response to a control signal received on a first control channel of the data link and moves the variator lens group in response to a control signal received on a second control channel of the data link.

FIG.2presents an exploded isometric view of the zoom optical system100ofFIG.1, with the elements of the lens groups separated from each other. As described above, the zoom optical system100is positioned coaxially with a light source that is located at the end of the zoom optical system100where the lens118is located. The zoom optical system100produces a light beam, emitted from lens102. The compensator lens group is optically coupled to one or more objects in the object plane103without intervening lenses. As may be seen inFIG.2, the variator lens group is coupled to the compensator lens group without intervening lenses and the objective lens group is coupled to the variator lens group without intervening lenses. The objective lens group projects an image of the one or more objects in the object plane without further intervening lenses.

FIG.3presents a cross-section side view of the zoom optical system100ofFIG.1. InFIG.3, the lens groups are positioned in a first configuration that produces a wide angle beam.FIG.4presents a side view of a second zoom optical system400. The zoom optical system400comprises the lens groups of the zoom optical system100and a first light effect ring120.FIG.4presents a cross-section side view of the lens groups positioned in a second configuration that produces a narrow angle beam. The light effect ring120is discussed in more detail with reference toFIGS.5-8. In various embodiments, the light effect ring120may be configured for motion along the optical axis, the motion controllable to configure the zoom optical system100with the light effect ring120at any position between the lenses104and102.

FIG.5presents an exploded isometric view of the zoom optical system400ofFIG.4. As discussed above, the zoom optical system400comprises the lens groups of the zoom optical system100and the light effect ring120. In the embodiment shown inFIG.5, the light effect ring120is positioned between lenses102and104. In other embodiments light effect ring120may be positioned at any point in the zoom optical system400.

FIG.6Apresents an isometric view of the light effect ring120according to the disclosure. The light effect ring120comprises a cylinder having an axis, the cylinder having an inner face126and an outer face128. In the embodiment shown inFIG.6A, the axis of the light effect ring120is colinear with the optical axis150. In various embodiments, the axis of the light effect ring120may be parallel to and offset from the optical axis or may form an angle with the optical axis. A rim130extends toward the axis of the light effect ring120from an edge of the inner face126(the left edge as shown inFIG.6A).

A first plurality of light emitters122are mounted to the inner face126and emit light toward the center of the light effect ring120. A second plurality of light emitters124are mounted to a face of the rim130facing toward the lens102and configured to emit light toward the lens102, i.e., toward a front edge of the light effect ring120(the right edge as shown inFIG.6A). Other embodiments may comprise more or fewer than two pluralities of light emitters and/or light emitters that emit light in more or fewer directions than toward the center and forward.

In various embodiments, the light emitters122and124may comprise one or more individual light emitting diodes (LEDs) or other light emitting devices. Where the light emitters122and124includes a plurality of LEDs, the LEDs may emit light in the same or in multiple colors. In some embodiments the LEDs are red, green, blue, and white. In other embodiments any combination of red, green, blue, amber, lime, dark blue, and cyan LEDs may be used. In yet other embodiments, any combination and number of colors or white LEDs may be used. Examples of such other embodiments include any combination of two or more red, green, blue, amber, warm white, cold white, or tunable white mix. The light emitters122and124may be electrically coupled to the control system1110for local or remote control of their brightness and/or color, as described with reference to motion control of the zoom optical system100ofFIG.1. The brightness and/or color of the light emitters122and124may be controlled by the control system1110independently, in groups, or collectively.

FIG.6Bpresents a cross-section side view of a portion of the zoom optical system400according to the disclosure. The light effect ring120ofFIG.6Bis in a different position relative to lenses102and104than in the embodiment inFIG.4. In various embodiments, the light effect ring120may be positioned at any location between the lenses102and104—e.g., a position adjacent to the lens104(as shown inFIG.6B), a position intermediate between the lenses104and102(as shown inFIG.4), or a position adjacent to the lens102. As discussed above, the light effect ring120may be configured for motion along the optical axis to any location between the lenses104and102. InFIG.4, a portion of a light beam700is shown between lenses104and102, indicating the location of the light effect ring120relative to the light beam700. The light effect ring120may occlude an outer portion of the light beam700. Similarly, in the position shown inFIG.6B, the light effect ring120may occlude an outer portion of the light beam of the zoom optical system400.

Depending upon a position of the light effect ring120relative to the lenses102and104, the light emitters122and124illuminate one or both of the lenses102and104to produce an effect that is visible to a viewer outside of the luminaire1100. The light emitters122emit a light beam123that obliquely illuminates a surface of one or both of the lenses102and104(e.g., a portion of the front surface of the lens104and a portion of the back surface of the lens102). For the purposes of this application, the term “oblique” is defined as a light beam impinging a point on a surface at an angle greater than 30 degrees (30°) from a normal to the surface (i.e., from a vector perpendicular to the surface at the point). The light beam123represents only the light emitted by the light emitters122in the top portion (as depicted inFIG.6B) of the light effect ring120, but the light emitters122in other portions of the light effect ring120emit similar light beams123across the lenses102and104from other directions.

In the embodiment shown inFIG.6B, the light emitters122illuminate both of the lenses102and104with the oblique light beam123. In embodiments where the light effect ring120is positioned closer to the lens102, the light beam123may obliquely illuminate only the back side of the lens102.

The light emitters124emit a light beam125through the lens102. The light beams123and125illuminate the back surface of the lens102, as well as passing through the lens102to be emitted from the luminaire1100. The light beam125represents only the light emitted by the light emitters124in the bottom portion (as depicted inFIG.6B) of the light effect ring120, but the light emitters124in other portions of the light effect ring120emit similar light beams125through the lens102from other locations around the light effect ring120. In other embodiments, the light effect ring120may be used with other types of optical system (e.g., a fixed focus optical system) to produce a visible effect in an exit lens of such an optical system.

FIGS.7and8show front views of a second light effect ring200according to the disclosure, positioned in first and second configurations, respectively. The light effect ring200is configured to be moved within the luminaire1100into or out of position within the light beam700. The light effect ring200includes light emitters222and224, similar to the light emitters122and124of the light effect ring120. Movement of the light effect ring200into or out of position within the light beam700enables an operator to choose whether the light emitters222and224are visible in the light beam700.

To facilitate movement into and out of the light beam700, the light effect ring200comprises a plurality of physical segments configured for independent or collective motion toward and away from the optical axis of the zoom optical system900that is described with reference toFIGS.9and10. In some embodiments, the segments are configured for independent or collective motion parallel to the optical axis150. The light effect ring200is split into 4 physical segments:202,204,206, and208, each segment comprising a subset of the light emitters222and a subset of the light emitters224. Each segment202,204,206,208is configured to be moved into or out of the light beam700.

When all segments202,204,206,208are moved into the light beam700, the light effect ring200comprises a segmented cylinder having an axis, the cylinder segments having inner faces and outer faces. The axis of the light effect ring200is colinear with the optical axis150. A rim comprises rim segments extending toward the axis of the light effect ring200from an edge of each segment of the light effect ring. The light emitters222are mounted to the inner faces of the cylinder segments and the light emitters224are mounted to faces of the rim segments that face toward the lens102.

FIG.7shows the segments202,204,206, and208of the light effect ring200in a first configuration, in which they are outside the light beam700.FIG.8shows the segments202,204,206, and208of the light effect ring200in a second configuration in which they have been assembled to form an unbroken light effect ring200, positioned within the light beam700. In some embodiments, the light effect ring200may be split into segments of different sizes. In other embodiments, the light effect ring200may be split into other numbers of segments than four. In various embodiments, each light effect ring segment may be controlled to move into or out of the optical path independently or in various groupings. For example, in a third configuration, the segments202and206may be moved into the beam700and the segments204and208moved outside the beam700.

The moving segments202,204,206,208may be mechanically coupled to hand-operated manual controls or to motors, linear actuators, or other electromechanical mechanisms for motion. As discussed above with reference to moving lens groups, the electromechanical mechanisms physically coupled to the moving segments202,204,206,208may be electrically coupled to a control system (or controller)1110of the luminaire1100, where the control system1110is configured to control motion of the electromechanical mechanisms and thus motion of the moving segments202,204,206,208into and out of the beam700. In various embodiments, the control system1110may be coupled for local control via a user interface1112or for remote control via a data link. In various such embodiments, the control system1110is configured to move the moving segments202,204,206,208independently, in groups, or collectively in response to signals received via the data link on one or more control channels.

FIG.9presents a side view of a third zoom optical system900according to the disclosure. The third zoom optical system900comprises the lens groups of the zoom optical system100and the light effect ring200. The lens groups of the zoom optical system100are shown in the second configuration (described with reference toFIG.4) and the light effect ring200is shown in the first configuration (described with reference toFIG.7), where the light ring segments are moved out of the light beam700. It may be seen that the segment202has been moved above the light beam700and the segment206has been moved below the light beam700. The segments204and208have also been moved out of the light beam700, in directions out of and into the page, respectively.FIG.10presents a side view of the zoom optical system900ofFIG.9. InFIG.10the lens groups of the zoom optical system100are shown in the second configuration and the second light effect ring200in the second configuration (described with reference toFIG.8), moved into the light beam700.

As described for the lens groups of the zoom optical system100, the light effect ring segments202,204,206, and208may be coupled to motors, linear actuators, or other electromechanical mechanisms for motion. Such electromechanical mechanisms may be electrically coupled (for local or remote control) to the control system of the luminaire1100, as described with reference to the zoom optical system100ofFIG.1.

While the light effect rings120and200are circular or circular segments, in other embodiments a light effect according to the disclosure may have other shapes or other segment shapes. In various embodiments, the light effect ring or assembled segments may be square, triangular, hexagonal, oval, lobed, or any combination of such rectilinear and/or rounded shapes.

FIG.11presents an isometric view of the luminaire1100according to the disclosure. The luminaire1100is an automated luminaire comprising a head1128which comprises any of the zoom optical system100or either of the zoom optical systems400or900with light effect ring120, or200. The head1128is coupled by a tilt mechanism to a yoke1120and configured to rotate within the yoke1120about a tilt axis1124. The yoke1120is coupled by a pan mechanism to a fixed enclosure1126and configured to rotate relative to the fixed enclosure1126about a pan axis1122. The pan axis1122and the tilt axis1124are orthogonal to each other. The luminaire1100further comprises the control system1110and the user interface1112as described with reference to the zoom optical system100ofFIG.1. The control system1110is located internal to the luminaire1100and is not visible inFIG.11.

One or both of the pan and tilt mechanisms are mechanically coupled to hand-operated manual controls or to motors, linear actuators, or other electromechanically controlled mechanisms. Such electromechanical mechanisms may be electrically coupled (for local or remote control) to the control system1110, as described with reference to the zoom optical system100ofFIG.1.

While only some embodiments of the disclosure have been described herein, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments may be devised which do not depart from the scope of the disclosure herein. While the disclosure has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.