Method and device for creating a facsimile of an image

Abstract

A technique of using an electronic device to change light into the facsimile of an image. Signals are generated, indicative of the image shape. An array of electro optical devices are transformed based on the image signals, and those devices are used to transform the light characteristics.

1 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         2 . A lighting system, comprising: 
 a memory, storing information indicative of at least one image; and    a driver, which outputs a signal based on said at least one image, said signal adapted for controlling each element of an array of devices between a first condition of light passing and a second condition of light blocking, which produces a shaped beam of light based on said at least one image.    
     
     
         3 . A system as in  claim 2 , further comprising a liquid crystal device as said array of devices.  
     
     
         4 . A system as in  claim 3 , further comprising a lighting element which produces a beam of light that is altered by said liquid crystal device.  
     
     
         5 . A system as in  claim 2 , wherein said memory stores information indicative of a matrix of pixel signals, said information indicative of intensity of each of a plurality of points within an image field.  
     
     
         6 . A system as in  claim 2 , further comprising, as said array of devices, and array of electro-optical devices which are transformable between first and second conditions, based on said output signal from said driver.  
     
     
         7 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein said driver outputs a signal indicative of a silhouette of the selected image having a portion representing the selected image that is transparent, and a portion representing parts other than the selected image which is opaque.  
     
     
         8 . A system as in  claim 7 , wherein said driver outputs a control signal which will form a light beam of a triangular shape.  
     
     
         9 . A system as in  claim 7 , wherein said driver outputs a control signal, which will form a light beam of a circular shape.  
     
     
         10 . A lighting system as in  claim 2 , wherein said driver continually produces the same output signal for an indeterminate time until a desired change is made.  
     
     
         11 . A lighting system as in  claim 2 , wherein said signal represents a transparent facsimile of the shape based on said memory.  
     
     
         12 . A lighting system as in  claim 2 , wherein said signal represents a silhouette of the selected image in a selected color, having a portion in the selected color representing the selected image, and another portion, representing parts other than the selected image, which is substantially opaque.  
     
     
         13 . A lighting system as in  claim 2 , wherein said signal represents an animated silhouette, having a shape which continuously changes as an animation, and having a portion outside the shape which is substantially opaque.  
     
     
         14 . A lighting system as in  claim 2 , further comprising a light, connected to receive said output signal from said driver, said light including a light beam source, a moving portion, which allows the light to move, and an array of electro-optical devices which are transformable between a first state which allows light to be projected, and a second state which blocks light from being projected, said array controlled based on said output signal to shape the light beam from said source.  
     
     
         15 . A lighting system as in  claim 14 , further comprising a color control, and wherein said output signal commands a specific color, which is controlled by said color control.  
     
     
         16 . A lighting system as in  claim 2 , further comprising an image processor, in communication with said driver, which processes said image.  
     
     
         17 . A lighting system, comprising: 
 an image source, including at least one image;    a driver, coupled to said image source, and obtaining information about said at least one image from said image source, and producing an output signal indicative of said image which represents a light beam shaping output signal, which output signal controls an external device to shape outer edges of the light beam, said driver operating to produce a continuous signal for an indeterminate amount of time, until receiving information of a new image to be used in shaping a light beam.    
     
     
         18 . A system as in  claim 17 , wherein said image is an image representing only a specified shape for the light beam.  
     
     
         19 . A system as in  claim 17 , wherein said image is an image representing both shape and intensity for different portions of the shaped light beam.  
     
     
         20 . A system as in  claim 17 , wherein said at least one image includes an image of a circle, producing an output signal which shapes the light beam to be circular.  
     
     
         21 . A system as in  claim 17 , wherein said output signal is a signal adapted for driving an array of electro-optical devices which are transformable between a first condition which passes light and a second condition which does not pass light.  
     
     
         22 . A system as in  claim 19 , wherein said signal is adapted for driving an array of liquid crystal devices that change between a condition of transparency and opaqueness.  
     
     
         23 . A system as in  claim 17 , further comprising an array of electro-optical devices, driven by said output signal, and transformable by said output signal, on an element-by-element basis, between a first condition which passes light, and a second condition which does not pass light, thereby collectively producing a shaped signal.  
     
     
         24 . A system as in  claim 22 , wherein said array of electro-optical device is a liquid crystal array.  
     
     
         25 . A system as in  claim 17 , wherein said driver produces an output signal that continuously represents a specified shape.  
     
     
         26 . A system as in  claim 17 , wherein said output signal is indicative of a portion of the shape which is substantially clear.  
     
     
         27 . A system as in  claim 17 , wherein said output signal is indicative of a portion of the shape which is not opaque, and also includes information indicative of a color within the non-opaque portion.  
     
     
         28 . A system as in  claim 17 , wherein said driver outputs a control signal which will form a light beam of a triangular shape.  
     
     
         29 . A system as in  claim 17 , wherein said signal represents an animated silhouette, having a shape which continually changes as an animation, and having a portion outside the shape which is substantially opaque.  
     
     
         30 . A system as in  claim 17 , further comprising lighting instrument, connected to receive said output signal from said driver, and including a light beam source which projects light, an array of electro-optical devices that are transformable between first and second states based on said signal from said driver, said first state being one allows light to be projected, and said second state being one which blocks light from being projected, and said array controlled based on said output signal to shape the light beam from said light beam source.  
     
     
         31 . A lighting system, comprising: 
 an image source, including information of at least one image; and    a driver which outputs a signal based on said at least one image, said signal adapted for controlling an array of devices between a first condition in which light is passed to a desired target, and a second condition in which light is not passed to said desired target, and where said first and second conditions cause light to be projected to the target, having a shape which is based on said at least one image, and where said signal further includes a color portion, which commands a color of the shaped portion of the image which is projected to the target.    
     
     
         32 . A lighting system as in  claim 31 , wherein said image represents both shape and intensity of the light beam.  
     
     
         33 . A lighting system as in  claim 31 , wherein said image represents a circular shaped light beam.  
     
     
         34 . A lighting system as in  claim 31 , wherein said image represents a triangular shaped light beam.  
     
     
         35 . A system as in  claim 31 , wherein said output signal is a signal that is adapted for driving an array of electro-optical devices are transformable between a first condition which passes light and a second condition which does not pass light.  
     
     
         36 . A lighting unit, comprising: 
 a housing;    a lighting device, mounted within said housing, producing an output beam of light along a light beam axis;    an electro-optical device, within said housing, along said light beam axis, adapted for modifying said beam of light to produce an output light beam.    
     
     
         37 . A lighting unit as in  claim 36 , wherein said in electro-optical device is an array of liquid crystals.  
     
     
         38 . A lighting unit as in  claim 36 , further comprising a cooling mechanism which cools said electro-optical device.  
     
     
         39 . A lighting unit as in  claim 38 , wherein said cooling mechanism is a convection cooling mechanism.  
     
     
         40 . A lighting is unit as in  claim 39 , wherein said convection cooling mechanism includes a chimney.  
     
     
         41 . A lighting unit as in  claim 38 , wherein said cooling mechanism is an active cooling mechanism including at least a fan.  
     
     
         42 . A lighting unit as in  claim 38 , wherein said cooling mechanism includes both of fan and a chimney.  
     
     
         43 . A lighting unit as in  claim 36 , wherein said lighting device produces incoherent light.  
     
     
         44 . A lighting unit as in  claim 43 , further comprising at least one lens which focuses light after passing the electro-optical device.  
     
     
         45 . A lighting unit as in  claim 36 , further comprising a light coloring part which colors at least a portion of the light.  
     
     
         46 . A lighting system, comprising: 
 an information source, storing information about animation frames which represent a moving image; and    a driver, producing an output signal based on said information, which output signal drives an external device to shape the outer perimeter of a beam of light based on said animation frames, thereby producing a control signal that projects light with an animated perimeter.    
     
     
         47 . A system as in  claim 46 , wherein said output signal drives an electro-optical device.  
     
     
         48 . A system as in  claim 46 , further comprising an electro-optical device, which is driven by said control signal.  
     
     
         49 . A system as in  claim 48 , further comprising a lighting element, producing a light beam at a shape according to the animation frames.  
     
     
         50 . A method, comprising: 
 obtaining information indicative of at least one image; and    producing a signal based on said at least one image which signal is adapted to control a lighting control device to shape an output of a light beam according to said at least one image.    
     
     
         51 . A method as in  claim 50 , wherein said at least one image signal is adapted to control a liquid crystal device.  
     
     
         52 . A method as in  claim 50 , wherein said producing signal comprises producing a signal which individually controls each element within the matrix of elements.  
     
     
         53 . A method as in  claim 50 , wherein said producing signal comprises producing a signal which will form a light beam of a circular shape.  
     
     
         54 . A method as in  claim 50 , wherein said producing a signal comprises producing a signal which will form a light beam of a triangular outer shape.  
     
     
         55 . A method as in  claim 50 , wherein said signal also controls color of a projected light beam.  
     
     
         56 . A method as in  claim 50 , wherein said signal is produced for an indeterminate time.