ILLUMINATION DEVICE WITH LIGHT SOURCE EMULATION EFFECT

Abstract

An illumination device includes a plurality of light sources arranged in at least a first group of light sources having one or more light sources and a second group of light sources having one or more light sources and further includes one or more light collectors, each being arranged for collecting light from one or more light sources from the first group of light sources and for converting the collected light into one or more light beams. The first and second groups of light sources are each individually controllable. The first and second groups of light sources are both arranged for emitting light from a space on one side of the one or more light collectors. The illumination device is arranged so that light emitted from the second group of light sources through the one or more light collectors defines a pattern comprising one or more elongated elements.

Claims

1. An illumination device comprising: a plurality of light sources arranged in at least: i. a first group of light sources, wherein the first group of light sources comprises one or more light sources, and ii. a second group of light sources, wherein the second group of light sources comprises one or more light sources, wherein the first group of light sources and the second group of light sources are each individually controllable; and one or more light collectors, each being arranged for collecting light from one or more light sources from the first group of light sources and for converting the collected light into one or more light beams; wherein: the first group of light sources and the second group of light sources are both arranged for emitting light from a space on a first side of the one or more light collectors; and the illumination device is arranged so that light emitted from the second group of light sources through the one or more light collectors defines a pattern comprising one or more elongated elements being at least one of imageable or observable from a position outside the illumination device on a second side of the one or more light collectors with respect to the first side of the one or more light collectors.

2. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the second group of light sources comprises: one or more light emitting strings visible through the one or more light collectors.

3. The illumination device of claim 2, wherein the one or more light emitting strings comprise one or more light guides illuminated from one or more emitters within the second group of light sources.

4. The illumination device of claim 3, wherein the light emitting strings are LED filament strings.

5. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the illumination device is arranged so that the light which defines the pattern is emitted from the second group of light sources through the one or more light collectors through which light from the first group of light sources is also emitted.

6. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the one or more elongated elements are given by a least one of: one or more coherent elongated elements, or an arrangement of light sources within the second group of light sources, which arrangement forms a line, wherein a center-to-center distance between neighboring light sources within the second group of light sources is less than half a minimum center-to-center distance between light sources within the first group of light sources.

7. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the illumination device is arranged so that each light source within the first group of light sources is in a pair with a light collector.

8. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the one or more light collectors are gathered in a lens assembly.

9. The illumination device of claim 1, further comprising a backdrop arranged so that the second group of light sources is placed between the one or more light collectors and the backdrop.

10. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the backdrop has variations in at least one of texture or optical properties.

11. The illumination device of claim 10, wherein the backdrop is designed with circular V-grooves being concentrically arranged with respect to an optical axis of at least one light collector within the one or more light collectors.

12. The illumination device of claim 10, wherein the illumination device further comprises a third group of light sources, the third group of light sources being arranged for backlighting the backdrop.

13. The illumination device of claim 12, wherein the backdrop is at least one of placed between the third group of light sources and the one or more light collectors is substantially translucent and diffuses the light.

14. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the illumination device is a moving head.

15. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the one more light collectors comprise one or more lenses.

16. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the pattern comprising the one or more elongated elements is a line pattern.

17. A method for illumination using a lighting device comprising a plurality of light sources, the method comprising: emitting light from a least one of a first group of light sources or second group of light sources; wherein: the lighting device comprises: a plurality of light sources arranged in at least: i. the first group of light sources, wherein the first group of light sources comprises one or more light sources, and ii. the second group of light sources, wherein the second group of light sources comprises one or more light sources, wherein the first group of light sources and the second group of light sources are each individually controllable; and one or more light collectors, each being arranged for collecting light from one or more light sources from the first group of light sources and for converting the collected light into one or more light beams; the first group of light sources and the second group of light sources are both arranged for emitting light from a space on a first side of the one or more light collectors; and the illumination device is arranged so that light emitted from the second group of light sources through the one or more light collectors defines a pattern comprising one or more elongated elements, the pattern at least one of imageable or observable from a position outside the illumination device a second side of the one or more light collectors with respect to the first side of the one or more light collectors.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the one more light collectors comprise one or more lenses.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the pattern comprising the one or more elongated elements is a line pattern.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0094] The first and second aspects of the disclosure are now described in more detail with regard to the accompanying figures. The figures show one way of implementing the present embodiments and is not to be construed as being limiting to other possible embodiments falling within the scope of the attached claim set.

[0095] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustration of an example of a rotatable (moving head) illumination device,

[0096] FIG. 2 shows a front view of a part of an embodiment of an illumination device,

[0097] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a part of an embodiment of an illumination device,

[0098] FIG. 4 shows a schematic section cut of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-3,

[0099] FIG. 5-10 show schematic section cuts of alternative embodiments of illumination devices,

[0100] FIG. 11 shows a schematic illustration of a controlling scheme of an embodiment of an illumination device

[0101] FIG. 12 shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment wherein the elongated shape is given by an arrangement of light emitters within the second group of light sources, which arrangement forms a line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0102] FIG. 1 shows an example of a rotatable (moving head) illumination device 400, comprising an illumination part 402 comprising the first group of light sources (not shown) and the second group of light sources (not shown) and a plurality of light collectors 412 (being lenslets arranged in an array), a yoke 404 whereupon the illumination part 402 is rotatably mounted for rotation around axis 406 upon being driven by a driving means, such as a motor (not shown) in yoke 404, and a base 408 whereupon the illumination part yoke 404 (and thus the illumination part 402) is rotatably mounted for rotation around axis 410 upon being driven by a driving means, such as a motor (not shown) in base 408.

[0103] FIG. 2 shows a front view of a part of an embodiment of an illumination device comprising seven non-elongated LED light sources within a first group of light sources 221, 12 light sources within a second group of light sources 222, seven light collectors 224 (being lenslets arranged in an array) each being arranged for collecting light from a light source from the first group of light sources 221 and for converting the collected light into one or more light beams and furthermore each being arranged for collecting light from two or more light source from the second group of light sources 222 and for conveying the collected light to an observer being placed on the other side of the one or more light collectors with respect to the side of the one or more light collectors comprising the first group of light sources and the second group of light sources, and a backdrop 226 comprising concentrically arranged (with respect to the central light source in the first group of light sources), V-shaped grooves.

[0104] The light sources in the second group of light sources 222 are elongated, side-emitting light guides (such as those depicted in FIG. 6b in the U.S. Pat. No. 9,144,120 B2), and the illumination device 200 is arranged so that light emitted from the second group of light sources 222 through the light collectors 224 define a pattern comprising a plurality of elongated elements, which in the present case is a line pattern, as observable from the observers position for the present figure, which corresponds to a position outside the illumination device 200 and on the other side of the light collectors 224 with respect to the side of the light collectors comprising the first group of light sources 221 and the second group of light sources 222 (which would be on the other side of the light collectors with respect to the position of the observer). The order of the elements is also apparent from FIG. 3.

[0105] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a part of the embodiment of an illumination device depicted in FIG. 2, where the order of the elements in FIG. 2 appear. Furthermore, FIG. 3 depicts a printed circuit board (PCB) 328 onto which the light sources in the first group of light sources are mounted and it is understood that light from the first group of light sources 221 passes through openings in the backdrop 226 on its way towards the light collectors. The second group of light sources 222 are arranged between the backdrop 226 and the light collectors 224 (but light may enter into the light sources in the second group of light sources 222 from a position on the opposite side of the backdrop 226 with respect to the light collectors 224).

[0106] FIG. 4 shows a schematic section cut (or cross-sectional view) of an embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-3, comprising a PCB 106 whereupon is mounted light emitters 201 (such as a 4-in-1 RGBW LED which comprises a red die, green die, blue die and a white die) which together with light collecting means 102 (which are adapted to collect and mix the light from light emitters 201) and wherein light emitters 201 and light collecting means 102 together form light sources within the first group of light sources. The embodiment furthermore comprises light emitters 202 (such as LEDs) mounted on the PCB 106 and side emitting light guides 105, wherein the light emitters 202 and side-emitting light guides 105 together form light sources within the second group of light sources. The embodiment still further comprises light collectors 103, which in the present embodiment is refractive lenslets arranged in an array, each lenslet being arranged for collecting light from a light source from the first group of light sources and for converting the collected light into a light beam 104. The first group of light sources and the second group of light sources are both arranged for emitting light from a space on one side of the one or more light collectors, i.e., the left side of the lenslets 103 in the present figure. The illumination device is arranged so that light emitted from the second group of light sources through the one or more light collectors defines a pattern comprising one or more elongated elements, such as the pattern being imageable and/or observable from a position outside the illumination device and/or on the other side of the one or more light collectors with respect to the side of the one or more light collectors comprising the first group of light sources and the second group of light sources, i.e., on the right side of the lenslets 103 in the present figure. The figure furthermore shows a backdrop 107 with V-shaped grooves.

[0107] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of an embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, except that the light emitters 202 and side-emitting light guides 105 are arranged differently and more particularly the side light emitters 202 are placed in a plane between the light collectors 103 and the backdrop 107 and emit light in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the light collectors and the side-emitting light guides 105 are guiding light (only) within the plane, i.e., the do not comprise a portion bending light from a direction parallel with an optical axis of the light collectors 103 and into the plane.

[0108] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of an embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, except that the light emitters 202 and side-emitting light guides 105 in FIG. 5 have been replaced with LED filaments 105 with electrical connections 210.

[0109] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of an embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, except that the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7 furthermore comprises light sources within a third group of light sources 203 mounted on the PCB 106, which backlights the backdrop 107, i.e., from a position on the side of the backdrop 107 opposite the one or more light collectors 103 emits light onto the backdrop.

[0110] FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of an embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, except that in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 8, the third group of light sources 203 are placed on a separate PCB 808 (with respect to PCB 106 upon which is mounted light emitters 201).

[0111] FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of an embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, except that in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, the backdrop 107 and the portion of the light sources within the second group of light sources 105 from which light is emitted is in substantially the same plane, such as the same plane, i.e., in the same plane being a plane which is orthogonal to an optical axis of the one or more light collecting means 103.

[0112] FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of an embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, except that in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 10, the light emitting strings are merged or positioned into an assembly comprising the one or more light collectors 103.

[0113] FIG. 11 show a schematic illustration of a controlling scheme of an embodiment of an illumination device. More particularly, FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the illumination device according to various embodiments. The illumination device comprises a control unit 1101 comprising a processor 1103 and a memory 1105. The first group of light sources 1101 and the second group of light sources 1102 (and optionally the third group of light sources 1103) are connected to the control unit 1101 and is arranged according to one or more embodiments. The processor acts as controlling means and is adapted to control the first group 1101 of light sources and the second group 1102 of light sources individually (and furthermore optionally arranged for controlling the third group of light sources 1103 individually) meaning the processing means can control one of the groups of light sources without controlling the other group of light sources. The controlling can for instance adapted to control the color and/or intensity of the light sources and can be based on any type of communication signals known in the art of lightning e.g. PWM, AM, FM, binary signals etc. The first 1101 and second 1102 group of light sources array can thus be controlled individually and independently of each other can thus be treated as two individually and independently groups of light sources.

[0114] In one embodiment the controlling means is adapted to control the first group of light sources 1101 based on an input signal 1107 indicative of a first target color of the first group of light sources. The input signal 1107 can be any signal capable of communication parameters and can for instance be based on one of the following protocols USITT DMX 512, USITT DMX 512 1990, USITT DMX 512-A, DMX-512-A including RDM as covered by ANSI E1.11 and ANSI E1.20 standards or Wireless DMX. ACN designates Architecture for Control Networks; ANSI E1.17-2006).

[0115] In one embodiment the controlling means is adapted to control the first group of light sources based on an input signal indicative of a first target color of the first group of light sources. The input signal can for instance be indicative of a first target color can be any parameter defining the color of the light that the first group light sources shall generate, for instance RGB values, color coordinates in color maps etc. The controlling means can be adapted to control the second group of light sources based on the input signal indicative of the first target color of whereby the second group of light sources can be adapted generate substantial the same color as the color generated by the first group of light sources. However, it is also possible to integrate a color scheme such that the color of the second array is adjusted such that the color of the second group of light sources is different but aesthetic matches each other according to a predetermined color scheme. The input signal can also be indicative of a second target color and the color of the second group of light sources can be controlled based on this second target color parameter. The skilled person realizes that the illumination device also can comprise a third group 1103 of light sources. This group can be controlled in similar manners as the two other groups of light sources. The third group of light sources 1103 can function as background lighting, such as with own DMX control and both color and intensity can be varied independently of the first group of light sources 1101 and/or the second group of light sources 1102.

[0116] FIG. 12 shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of an illumination device 1200, which is similar to the embodiment and view of FIG. 2, except that the elongated shape is given by an arrangement of light emitters 1222 within the second group of light sources, which arrangement forms a line 1230. More particularly, FIG. 12 shows a front view of a part of an embodiment of an illumination device comprising seven non-elongated LED light sources within a first group of light sources 1221, 3 light sources (i.e., only 3 shown in figure, although there could be more) within a second group of light sources 1222.

[0117] The light sources in the second group of light sources 1222 are each non-elongated, but arranged so as to form a line, wherein a center-to-center distance 1232 (which in the present embodiment is 1 cm) between neighboring light sources within the second group of light sources is less than half (½ times) a minimum center-to-center distance 1231 (which in the present embodiment is 5 cm).

[0118] Although the present disclosure has been described in connection with the specified embodiments, it should not be construed as being in any way limited to the presented examples. The scope of the present invention is set out by the accompanying claim set. In the context of the claims, the terms “comprising” or “comprises” do not exclude other possible elements or steps. Also, the mentioning of references such as “a” or “an” etc. should not be construed as excluding a plurality. The use of reference signs in the claims with respect to elements indicated in the figures shall also not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Furthermore, individual features mentioned in different claims, may possibly be advantageously combined, and the mentioning of these features in different claims does not exclude that a combination of features is not possible and advantageous.