Underwater Image Projection Display System and Lighting Control System And Device

Abstract

Underwater image projection system submerged in body of water and projecting an image within said body of water is provided having an enclosure with lens assembly. Projection element has light source projecting an image within the body of water from projection element with at least one light source steering and further image steering device moving the image. System controller is coupled to and controls the projected light source, the projected light source steering device and the further image steering device. User inputs image data to the controller through the user input device and the controller interprets the image data into a set of image control variables and executes control of the projected light source and image source and further image steering device in coordination and projects the image through the projection element to project from underwater a static or animated image on an underwater surface of the body of water.

1 . An underwater image projection system submerged in a body of water and projecting an image within said body of water, comprising:
 an enclosure;   a lens assembly;   at least one projection element with an at least one projected light source projecting an image within said body of water from the projection element;   at least one light source steering or modulating device;   at least one further image steering device;   a system controller coupled to and controlling the at least one projected light source, the at least one projected light source steering or modulating device and the at least one further image steering device;   a user input device, wherein a user inputs image data to the controller through the user input device and the controller interprets the image data into a set of image control variables and executes control of the at least one projected light source and image steering device in coordination with each other and projects the image through the projection element with the projected light source by controlling the at least one projected light source steering or modulating device and the at least one further image steering device to project from underwater a static or animated image on an underwater surface of the body of water.   
     
     
         2 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one projected light source is at least one of an at least one laser, incandescent bulb, halogen bulb, LED, HLED, gas discharge lamp, high intensity discharge lamp. 
     
     
         3 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one light source steering or modulating device is at least one of an at least one: motor with mirror, galvanometer with a mirror, galvanometer with a dichroic reflector, DLP device, LCOS device, LCD device, D-ILA device, SXRD device, and laser diode device. 
     
     
         4 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source steering or modulating device and the at least one light source are provided in a DLP device driven by multiple HBLEDs. 
     
     
         5 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 4 , further comprising a lens element that covers an interface of said underwater image projection system with said body of water and allows light emitted from said underwater image projection system to pass into said body of water. 
     
     
         6 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 5 , wherein the lens element contains an at least one optic section, wherein the at least one optic section modifies the direction, shape, pattern, color, or wavelength of the emitted light from said underwater image projection system. 
     
     
         7 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 5 , wherein the lens element is interchangeable with lens elements having different optical properties to affect the light emitted by said underwater image projection display system. 
     
     
         8 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 3 , further comprising software on the controller that allows a user using the user inputs to define the display area and parameters for display of the image. 
     
     
         9 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 3 , further comprising software on the controller that allows a user through the user inputs to define a pre-programmed operational call for the display of the image in combination with control of an at least one ambient light or exclusive of the at least one ambient light. 
     
     
         10 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 3 , wherein the operational call is software that instructs an at least one of operation calls for display of a moving image or series of images controlling the image and non-image light sources of the underwater image projection system or operation calls for display of a static image or images controlling the image and non-image sources of the underwater image projection system or lighting shows that control and display light only effects controlling the non-image and/or image sources of the instant invention or an operation call for a multi-media presentation controlling both light sources of the instant invention and off-board elements, such as water features and sound systems, in projecting images in the underwater image display system. 
     
     
         11 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 3 , wherein the user input device further comprises a user interface controller. 
     
     
         12 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 11 , wherein the user interface controller is remote from the enclosure. 
     
     
         13 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface controller is electronically coupled through a wireless or wired coupling to the system controller. 
     
     
         14 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface controller permits a user to select an operational call. 
     
     
         15 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface controller provides a graphical user interface for selection of image data. 
     
     
         16 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 13 , wherein the user interface controller has an input allowing a user to input image data from a computer readable media or through a wired or wireless coupling with a network. 
     
     
         17 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 12 , wherein user input image data is stored on the user interface controller or the system controller. 
     
     
         18 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 9 , wherein the operational call causes said underwater image projection to communicate with additional system controllers controlling at least one of a further light source, a further water feature, a further video display, a further sound system, a further underwater image projection system, and a further pool or spa jet control system. 
     
     
         19 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 3 , further comprising a master controller in communication with the systems controller. 
     
     
         20 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 19 , wherein the master controller receives programmed instructions and responds by sending signals to the underwater image projection system to display the image through the system controller and communicates further instructions to further display elements or control elements in communication with the body of water. 
     
     
         21 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 3 , wherein the master controller alone or in conjunction with a user interface downloads new operational calls and instructions from a network. 
     
     
         22 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 3 , further comprising an imaging system safety system wherein the at least one projection light source has sensors monitoring the projection light output variables or the safety system further comprises sensors monitoring projection light output variables or the safety system observes variables from the beam steering or modulation system and if abnormalities are detected the safety system shuts down the at least one projection light source. 
     
     
         23 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 3 , further comprises a system to measure light conditions in the body of water and use measurements from this system to control the at least one projection light source or non-imaging light sources. 
     
     
         24 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 3 , wherein the enclosure further comprises an at least one secondary enclosure, the enclosure having the at least one projection light source and at least one projected light source steering device contained therein and the at least one secondary enclosure having an at least one ambient or non-projecting light source therein. 
     
     
         25 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 3 , wherein the enclosure contains the at least one projection light source and the at least one projected light source steering or modulation device and an at least one ambient or non-projecting light source. 
     
     
         26 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 3 , wherein the enclosure is watertight. 
     
     
         27 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 3 , further comprising an at least one heat sink for cooling the underwater image projection system. 
     
     
         28 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 29 , wherein the enclosure provides for a separate watertight enclosure portion while permitting exposure of the heat sink to water from said body of water or has a thin walled section to promote cooling of the heat sink through said section. 
     
     
         29 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 21 , wherein the master controller is outside the body of water and the enclosure. 
     
     
         30 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 21 , wherein the master controller is separate from a user interface controller having a user interface with the user input thereon and both are outside the body of water and the enclosure. 
     
     
         31 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 21 , wherein the master controller is separate from a user interface controller having a user interface with the user input thereon and both are outside the body of water and the enclosure. 
     
     
         32 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 21 , wherein the master controller further controls an at least one of an at least one sound systems, boat controls, water features, bubblers, fountains, waterfalls, laminar jets, water effects, accent lights, pool lights, water special effects, pyrotechnic controls, lights and pool controls. 
     
     
         33 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 3 , further comprising an at least one user interface controller having a user interface with the user input thereon. 
     
     
         34 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 33 , wherein the user interface is outside of the enclosure and coupled to the system controller to provide control inputs. 
     
     
         35 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 4 , further comprising a further lens element separate from the lens element in contact with said body of water and having an at least one optic section, wherein the at least one optic section modifies the direction, shape, pattern, color, or wavelength of the emitted light from said underwater image projection system. 
     
     
         36 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 3 , further comprising an ambient light sensor sensing the light ambient light condition in the body of water. 
     
     
         37 . The underwater image projection system of  claim 4 , wherein the user input is an at least one switch which cycles through a selection of pre-programmed images and operational calls modifying the display of the pre-programmed images. 
     
     
         38 . The underwater projection system of  claim 37 , further comprising a separate remote user interface providing wireless communication with the underwater image projection system, wherein the at least one switch is located thereon.