Abstract
Luminaire with channels K.sub.n, each have a light source and a collimator. Each channel produces a light cone having different opening angles. The channels form a sequence (K.sub.n).sub.n?1, . . . ,N, the light cones having progressively greater or smaller opening angles ?.sub.n. The intensity l.sub.n(x) of the channels, controlled by a manipulated variable x by an actuator, are dependent on the manipulated variable and each follow a curve having a maximum and a rising edge and/or a falling edge. The curves of adjacent channels K.sub.n?1, K.sub.n, K.sub.n+1 are shifted in relation to one another such that a reduction in the intensity of a channel, controlled by the actuator, is associated with an increase in the intensity of an adjacent channel K.sub.n?1 and an increase in intensity of a channel, controlled by the actuator, is associated with a reduction in intensity of an adjacent channel K.sub.n?1.
Claims
1. A luminaire having a plurality of channels K.sub.n, the channels each comprise a light source and a collimator, wherein each channel K.sub.n produces a light cone having different opening angles ?.sub.n and the channels K.sub.n form a sequence (K.sub.n).sub.n=1, . . . ,.sub.N, the light cones of which have progressively greater or progressively smaller opening angles ?.sub.n and an intensity l.sub.n(x) of the channels K.sub.n can be controlled by a setting of a manipulated variable x by means of an actuator, wherein the intensities l.sub.n(x) of the channels K.sub.n are dependent on the manipulated variable and each follow a curve having a maximum as well as a rising edge and/or a falling edge, wherein the curves of adjacent channels K.sub.n?1, K.sub.n, K.sub.n+1 are shifted in relation to one another in such a way that a reduction in the intensity l.sub.n(x) of a channel K.sub.n controlled by the actuator is at least partially associated with an increase in the intensity l.sub.n?1 (x) of an adjacent channel K.sub.n?1, and an increase in the intensity l.sub.n(x) of a channel K controlled by the actuator is at least partially associated with a reduction in the intensity l.sub.n?1(x) of an adjacent channel K.sub.n?1.
2. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the manipulated variable-dependent intensities l.sub.n(x) each follow a bell-shaped curve with a rising edge, a maximum and a falling edge.
3. The luminaire according to claim 2, wherein the maximum intensity l.sub.n,max(x) of a channel K.sub.n coincides with the end of the falling edge of a left-hand adjacent channel K.sub.n?1 and with the beginning of the rising edge of a right-hand adjacent channel K.sub.n+1.
4. The luminaire according to claim 2, wherein the intensities l.sub.n(x) of the channels K.sub.n are linear in an area of the rising edge and/or in an area of the falling edge.
5. The luminaire according to claim 2, wherein the intensities l.sub.n(x) of the channels K.sub.n in an area of the rising edge and/or in an area of the falling edge follow a function in a form l.sub.n(x)=sin.sup.a(x+?.sub.n), with the manipulated variable x, {a ? R|a?2} and the channel-dependent phase shift ?.sub.n.
6. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is an encoder.
7. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the sequence (K.sub.n).sub.n=1, . . . ,.sub.N of the channels K.sub.n is a finite sequence with a number of N channels K.sub.n.
8. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the sequence (K.sub.n).sub.n=1, . . . ,.sub.N of the channels K.sub.n is a periodic sequence with a period length of the number N of the channels K.sub.n such that the last channel K.sub.n is an adjacent channel of a first channel K.sub.1.
9. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein switching on of the luminaire coincides with the last setting made of the actuator.
10. The luminaire according to claim 2, wherein the intensities l.sub.n(x) of the channels K.sub.n disappear completely outside the bell-shaped curve.
11. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is a rotary encoder.
12. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is a slide control.
13. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is a push button.
14. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein switching on of the luminaire coincides with a constant start setting.
15. The luminaire according to claim 2, wherein the intensities of the channels assumes a constant value outside the bell-shaped curve.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) In the drawings:
(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a luminaire with three channels, and
(3) FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b, FIG. 2c, FIG. 2d, FIG. 2e and FIG. 2f are diagrams with different progressions of the channel-dependent intensities as a function of a manipulated variable.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(4) Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the invention. It shows a luminaire 10 with three channels K.sub.1, K.sub.2, K.sub.3, which each have a light source 111, 112, 113 and a collimator 121, 122, 123. Each channel K.sub.1, K.sub.2, K.sub.3, produces a light cone 131, 132, 133 with different opening angles ?.sub.1, ?.sub.2, ?.sub.3, wherein the channels K.sub.1, K.sub.2, K.sub.3 form a sequence, the light cone 131, 132, 133 of which have a progressively greater opening angle ?1, 2, 3. Consequently: ?.sub.1<?.sub.2<?.sub.3. The intensities l.sub.n of the channels K.sub.1, K.sub.2, K.sub.3 can be set by means of an actuator 14, wherein the actuator 14 in the exemplary embodiment shown is designed as a rotary encoder 141 and outputs a manipulated variable x to a control unit 15 as a function of its set rotational position. By rotating the actuator 14 in the arrow direction 19, the manipulated variable x changes and the channels K.sub.1, K.sub.2, K.sub.3 produce a varying and manipulated variable-dependent intensity l.sub.n(x). The manipulated variable-dependent intensities l.sub.n(x) of the channels K.sub.1, K.sub.2, K.sub.3 each follow a curve having a maximum as well as a rising edge and/or a falling edge, wherein the curves of adjacent channels K.sub.n?1, K.sub.n, K.sub.n+1 are shifted in relation to one another in such a way that a reduction in the intensity l.sub.n(x) of a channel K.sub.n controlled by the actuator 14 is at least partially associated with an increase in the intensity l.sub.n?1 (x) of an adjacent channel K.sub.n?1 and vice versa. FIGS. 2a-e show different functional relationships of the channel-dependent intensities 1(x) as a function of a manipulated variable x.
(5) FIG. 2a shows a first specific assignment of a manipulated variable x and the manipulated variable-dependent intensities l.sub.n(x) of the channels K.sub.1, wherein the intensities l.sub.n(x) in FIG. 2a and in the following diagrams are shown in normalised form. According to this, the manipulated variable x=0 coincides with the maximum intensity l.sub.n(x) of the channel K.sub.1, which in turn produces a light cone 131 with a comparatively small opening angle ?.sub.1 and thus a spot beam (position 1). The pictograms below the diagram in FIG. 2a show the cross-sectional views of the light cones 131, 132, 133 as viewed at a constant distance from the luminaire 10, wherein a cross-hatched cross-section symbolises a higher intensity and a diagonally hatched cross-section symbolises a comparatively lower intensity. By changing the manipulated variable x to larger values, the intensity l.sub.n(x) of the channel K.sub.1 initially decreases, while the intensity l.sub.2(x) of the adjacent channel K.sub.2 on the right simultaneously increases. The channel K.sub.1 thus follows a falling edge 18, whereas the channel K.sub.2 follows a rising edge 16. At the point of intersection (position 2), the result is a light distribution with a larger diameter compared to position 1. A further increase of the manipulated variable x up to position 3 leads to the maximum intensity l.sub.2(x) of the channel K.sub.2, while the other channels K.sub.1, K.sub.3 have a fading intensity l.sub.1,3(x). Further increasing the manipulated variable x increases the diameter of the light distribution, as the channel K.sub.3 is controlled with increasing intensity l.sub.3(x). At position 4, a mixed light distribution results from channels K.sub.2 and K.sub.3, wherein the light cone has an opening angle ?.sub.3 that is greater compared to the opening angle ?.sub.2. A further increase of the manipulated variable x up to position 5 leads to a maximum intensity l.sub.3(x) of the channel K.sub.3 and thus to a homogeneous illumination of the area ahead with a maximum opening angle ?.sub.3, such that a flood beam is set in position 5. By further increasing the manipulated variable x, the intensity l.sub.n(x) of the channel K.sub.3 decreases and the intensity l.sub.n(x) of the channel K.sub.1 increases, because the channel K.sub.1 in the exemplary embodiment shown is defined as a right-hand adjacent channel to the channel K.sub.3. At position 6, the illumination of the channels K.sub.3 and K.sub.1 is weaker in intensity, which leads to the singular control of the channel K.sub.1 when the manipulated variable x is increased further. Due to the shift or phase shift ?.sub.n between the manipulated variable-dependent intensities l.sub.n(x) of the channels K.sub.n, a continuous variation of the manipulated variable x allows a stepwise enlargement or reduction of the light cones 131, 132, 133. At the same time, the increase or decrease of the intensities l.sub.n(x) is continuous. This creates an electronically controlled zoom effect for optimal illumination of the area ahead.
(6) The (normalised) intensities l.sub.n(x) according to FIG. 2a are in the form
l.sub.n(x)=sin.sup.2(x+?.sub.n),
wherein the phase shift ?.sub.n is selected such that the maximum intensity of a channel K.sub.n coincides with the end of the falling edge 18 of the left-hand adjacent channel K.sub.n?1 and with the beginning of the rising edge 16 of the right-hand adjacent channel K.sub.n+1. Deviating from this, FIG. 2b shows a triangular course of the intensities l.sub.n(x) with a linear rising edge 16, a maximum 17 and a linear falling edge 18. However, the mode of operation and thus the fading of the channels K.sub.n by varying a predefinable manipulated variable x is analogous to the embodiment according to FIG. 2a.
(7) Essentially, the number of channels K.sub.n is unlimited. FIG. 2c shows the channel-dependent intensities l.sub.n(x) of the channels K.sub.1, . . . ,N, each with a phase shift ?.sub.n, according with which the maximum intensity l.sub.n(x) of a channel K.sub.n coincides with the end of the falling edge 18 of the left-hand adjacent channel K.sub.n?1 and with the beginning of the rising edge 16 of the right-hand adjacent channel K.sub.n+1.
(8) The shift or phase shift ?.sub.n between the channel-dependent intensities l.sub.n(x) can also be selected smaller in deviation from FIG. 2a, b, c such that a reduction in the intensity l.sub.n(x) of a channel K.sub.n controlled by the actuator (14) is only partially associated with an increase in the intensity l.sub.n?1(x) of an adjacent channel K.sub.n?1 and vice versa. FIG. 2d shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention with a comparatively smaller phase shift ?.sub.n, such that the maxima 17 of the channels K.sub.1, K.sub.2, K.sub.3 within the dashed circles coincide with a residual intensity of the adjacent channels K.sub.n?1. A reduction of the intensity l.sub.n(x) of the channel K.sub.1 thus only leads to an increase of the intensity l.sub.n(x) of the adjacent channels K.sub.2,3 in the areas A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 and thus in sections. Outside of this, i.e. in areas B.sub.1,2, a reduction in the intensity l.sub.n(x) of the channel K.sub.1 also leads to a reduction in the intensity of a subsequent channel. Specifically, in the area B.sub.1, if the intensity l.sub.n(x) of the channel K.sub.1 decreases, the intensity l.sub.2(x) of the channel K.sub.2 also decreases. In the area B.sub.2, both the intensity l.sub.n(x) of the channel K.sub.1 and the intensity l.sub.3(x) of the adjacent channel K.sub.3 increase as the manipulated variable x increases.
(9) Furthermore, within a specific embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the intensities l.sub.n(x) of the channels K.sub.n do not fade outside the bell-shaped course, but have a constant value. FIG. 2e shows a corresponding curve of the channel-dependent intensities l.sub.n(x) as a function of the manipulated variable x. The basic intensity, i.e. the intensity l.sub.n(x) outside the bell-shaped area, can be identical oras showndifferent depending on the channel.
(10) FIG. 2f shows a final exemplary assignment between a manipulated variable x and the manipulated variable-dependent intensities l.sub.n(x) of the channels K.sub.n. According to this, the manipulated variable x=0 coincides with the maximum intensity l.sub.n(x) of the channel K.sub.1, which in turn produces a light cone 131 with a comparatively small opening angle ?.sub.1 and thus a spot beam (position 1). By changing the manipulated variable x to larger values, the intensity l.sub.n(x) of the channel K.sub.1 initially decreases, wherein the intensity k.sub.1(x) follows a concave function, which means that the slope of the rising edge 16 becomes smaller as the manipulated variable x increases. Meanwhile, the intensity l.sub.2(x) of the right-hand adjacent channel K.sub.2 increases simultaneously, wherein the intensity l.sub.2(x) follows a convex function, such that the slope of the descending edge 18 decreases as the manipulated variable x increases up to a maximum 17. At the point of intersection (position 2), the result is a light distribution with a larger diameter compared to position 1. A further increase of the manipulated variable x up to position 3 leads to the maximum intensity l.sub.2(x) of the channel K.sub.2, while the intensities 11,3(x) of the other channels K.sub.1, K.sub.3 fade. Further increasing the manipulated variable x increases the diameter of the light distribution, as the channel K.sub.3 is controlled with increasing intensity l.sub.3(x). The intensity l.sub.3(x) of the channel K.sub.3 follows a form that is linearly dependent on the manipulated variable x, such that a linear rising edge is provided. At the same time, the intensity l.sub.2(x) of the channel K.sub.2 decreases, wherein the manipulated variable-dependent reduction of the intensity l.sub.2(x) of the channel K.sub.2 in this area also depends linearly on the manipulated variable x. Consequently, the channel K.sub.2 has a linear falling edge 18. At position 4, a light cone is created with an opening angle ?.sub.3 that is greater compared to the opening angle ?.sub.2. A further increase of the manipulated variable x up to position 5 leads to a maximum intensity l.sub.3(x) of the channel K.sub.3 and thus to a homogeneous illumination of the area ahead with a maximum opening angle ?.sub.3, such that a flood beam is set in position 5. A mechanical and/or electronic stop of the encoder is provided at this point, such that no further increase of the manipulated variable x is provided. At least a further increase of the manipulated variable x does not lead to a change of the intensities l.sub.n(x) of the channel K.sub.n controlled in this position. In the context of an electronic stop, a vibration signal, a visual signal, for example in the form of a brief flash, and/or an acoustic signal, for example in the form of a sound, is preferably emitted to signal to the user that the stop has been reached. If necessary, different signals can be used for the right-hand stop and the left-hand stop. A light distribution according to position 1, 2, 3 or 4 is thus only possible by turning back or pushing back the encoder. A corresponding stop is also provided on the left-hand side of position 1, which is why the manipulated variable x can only be varied between positions 1 and 5.
(11) While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
(12) Luminaire 111 Light source 112 Light source 113 Light source 121 Collimator 122 Collimator 123 Collimator 131 Light cone 132 Light cone 133 Light cone 14 Actuator 141 Rotary encoder Control unit 16 Rising edge 17 Maximum 18 Falling edge 19 Arrow direction ?.sub.n Opening angle (channel-dependent) 99 .sub.n Phase shift (channel-dependent) A.sub.1,2 Area B.sub.1,2 Area l.sub.n(x) Intensity (channel-dependent) K.sub.n Channel n Index N Number of channels N Set of natural numbers x Manipulated variable
