Theatre light projector incorporating a plurality of light sources and improvements to blending the light output

Abstract

A theatre light projector including a housing, a plurality of light sources, a first aperture device and a lens system. The lens system may include a first lens sector and a second lens sector, each of which may have a positive spherical optical power. The first lens sector may have a first radii, and the second lens sector may have a second radii, wherein the first radii and the second radii are substantially parallel to each other. The first aperture device may be comprised of a first aperture comprised of a color filter and/or a pattern. The plurality of light sources may be comprised of a first light source and a second light source and each may be comprised of a white solid state light source, which may be a light emitting diode. The white solid state light source may be a laser diode.

I claim: 
     
       1. A theatre light projector comprising:
 a housing; 
 a light source; 
 and a plurality of radially arranged substrates; 
 wherein the light source projects light having a light path; 
 wherein each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates has a first edge and a second edge; 
 wherein each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates has a sector shaped surface which is bound by a first radius defined by the first edge, a second radius defined by the second edge, and an arc; 
 wherein the first edge has a thickness which is perpendicular to the sector shaped surface; 
 wherein the second edge has a thickness which is perpendicular to the sector shaped surface; 
 wherein the first edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates intersects the light path of the light projected by the light source perpendicularly while the sector shaped surface is parallel to the light path; 
 wherein the first edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates is prepared to accept an entrance of light from at least a portion of the light source; and 
 wherein the second edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates is prepared to cause light to be emitted from the second edge due to acceptance of the entrance of light by the first edge. 
 
     
     
       2. The theatre light projector of  claim 1  wherein
 the first edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates is polished to prepare the first edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates to accept the entrance of light from at least a portion of the light source. 
 
     
     
       3. The theatre light projector of  claim 1  wherein
 the first edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates is molded to prepare the first edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates to accept the entrance of light from at least a portion of the light source. 
 
     
     
       4. The theatre light projector of  claim 1  wherein
 the second edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates is textured to prepare the second edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates to emit light in response to light entering the corresponding first edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates. 
 
     
     
       5. The theatre light projector of  claim 1  wherein
 the second edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates is sanded to prepare the second edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates to emit light in response to light entering the corresponding first edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates. 
 
     
     
       6. The theatre light projector of  claim 1  wherein
 the first edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates is a polished edge. 
 
     
     
       7. The theatre light projector of  claim 1  wherein
 the second edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates is a sanded edge. 
 
     
     
       8. The theatre light projector of  claim 1  wherein
 the plurality of radially arranged substrates are optically diffusing substrates. 
 
     
     
       9. The theatre light projector of  claim 1  wherein
 the light source is a light emitting diode light source. 
 
     
     
       10. The theatre light projector of  claim 1  wherein
 each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates is configured to be adjusted from a first diffusing state to a second non diffusing state and the second non-diffusing state causes light to be emitted from the second edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates in response to light entering the corresponding first edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates. 
 
     
     
       11. The theater light projector of  claim 1  wherein
 the light source is comprised of a plurality of light sources. 
 
     
     
       12. The theatre light projector of  claim 1  further comprising
 a light exiting aperture comprised of a polymer that is located to be a final light exiting aperture from the theatre light projector. 
 
     
     
       13. A theatre light projector comprising:
 a housing; 
 a plurality of light sources 
 and a plurality of radially arranged polymer substrates; 
 wherein the plurality of light sources are combined to project a light path; 
 wherein each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates has a first edge and a second edge; 
 wherein each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates has a sector shaped surface which is bound by a first radius defined by the first edge of the corresponding radially arranged substrate, a second radius defined by the second edge of the corresponding radially arranged substrate, and an arc; 
 wherein the first edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates has a thickness which is perpendicular to the sector shaped surface of the corresponding radially arranged substrate; 
 wherein the second edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates has a thickness which is perpendicular to the sector shaped surface of the corresponding radially arranged substrate; 
 wherein the first edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates intersects the light path of the light projected by the light source perpendicularly while the sector shaped surface is parallel to the light path; and 
 wherein the first edge and the second edge of each of the plurality of light sources have been prepared to cause light to be emitted from each second edge due to the intersection of the light path of the light projected by the light source with the corresponding first edge of the plurality of radially arranged substrates. 
 
     
     
       14. The theatre light projector of  claim 13  wherein
 each of the plurality of the light sources is a multiwavelength colored light source. 
 
     
     
       15. The theatre projector of  claim 14  wherein
 the plurality of light sources comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes. 
 
     
     
       16. A method comprising
 preparing a first edge of each of a plurality of radially arranged substrates to accept entrance of light projected by a light source, the projected light being perpendicular to each first edge and parallel to a corresponding sector shaped surface of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates; and 
 preparing a second edge of each of a plurality of radially arranged substrates to cause light to be emitted from each second edge in response to entrance of light perpendicular to each corresponding first edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates; 
 wherein each sector shaped surface of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates is bound by a first radius defined by the first edge, a second radius defined by the second edge, and an arc; 
 wherein each first edge has a thickness which is perpendicular to each corresponding sector shaped surface; and 
 wherein each second edge has a thickness which is perpendicular to each corresponding sector shaped surface. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  wherein
 the plurality of radially arranged substrates are part of a theatre light projector, 
 wherein the theatre light projector includes a housing and the light source. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  wherein
 the theatre light projector includes a light exiting aperture comprised of a polymer which is a final exiting aperture from the theatre light projector. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16  wherein
 the first edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates is polished to prepare the first edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates to accept the entrance of light from at least a portion of the light source. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 16  wherein
 the first edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates is molded to prepare the first edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates to accept the entrance of light from at least a portion of the light source. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 16  wherein
 the second edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates is textured to prepare the second edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates to emit light in response to entrance of light into the corresponding first edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates. 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 16  wherein
 the second edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates is sanded to prepare the second edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates to emit light in response to entrance of light into the corresponding first edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates. 
 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 16  wherein
 the first edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates is a polished edge. 
 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 16  wherein
 the second edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates is a sanded edge. 
 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 16  wherein
 the plurality of radially arranged substrates are optically diffusing substrates. 
 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 16  wherein
 the light source is a light emitting diode light source. 
 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 16  wherein
 each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates is configured to be adjusted from a first diffusing state to a second non diffusing state and the second non-diffusing state causes light to be emitted from the second edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates in response to entrance of light at the corresponding first edge of each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates. 
 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 16  wherein
 the light source is comprised of a plurality of light sources. 
 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 16  wherein
 each of the plurality of radially arranged substrates is a polymer substrate. 
 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 29  wherein
 the light source is comprised of a light emitting diode light source. 
 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 29  wherein
 the light source is comprised of a plurality of light emitting diode light sources. 
 
     
     
       32. A theatre light projector comprising:
 a housing;   a plurality of light sources;   a mask;   and a plurality of pie shaped lens sectors, one for each of the plurality of light sources;   wherein the plurality of light sources are arranged around a central axis which passes through the mask;   wherein each of the plurality of light sources projects light through its corresponding one of the plurality of pie shaped lens sectors; and   wherein the plurality of pie shaped lens sectors are constructed of fresnel lens material.    
     
     
       33. The theatre light projector of  claim 32  further comprising:
 an aperture device; and 
 wherein the aperture device is located between the plurality of light sources and the mask.  
 
     
     
       34. The theatre light projector of  claim 33   wherein the aperture device is comprised of a plurality of color filters; and   wherein each of the color filters is configured to modify a color of a corresponding one of the plurality of light sources.    
     
     
       35. A method comprising:
 fixing a plurality of light sources to a housing of a theatre light projector; and   projecting light from each of the plurality of light sources through a corresponding one of a plurality of pie shaped lens sectors from the theatre light projector; and   wherein the plurality of light sources are arranged around a central axis which passes through a mask; and   wherein the plurality of pie shaped lens sectors are constructed of fresnel lens material.    
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 35  further comprising
 locating an aperture device between the plurality of light sources and the mask.  
 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 36  wherein
 the aperture device is comprised of a plurality of color filters; and 
 wherein each of the color filters is configured to modify a color of a corresponding one of the plurality of light sources.  
 
     
     
       38. A theatre light projector comprising
 a plurality of light sources, wherein each of the plurality of light sources is comprised of a plurality of wavelengths; and   a plurality of lens sectors, wherein each of the plurality of lens sectors has a least two flat sides;   wherein the plurality of lens sectors are molded together in a single piece;   wherein each of the plurality of lens sectors is a Fresnel lens sector, such that there are a plurality of Fresnel lens sectors;   wherein the single piece traverses along a center axis of the plurality of light sources to obtain a variable focus; and   wherein a first light source of the plurality of light sources emits light through a first Fresnel lens sector of the plurality of Fresnel lens sectors; and   wherein a second light source emits light through a second Fresnel lens sector of the plurality of Fresnel lens sectors.    
     
     
       39. A theatre light projector comprising:
 a housing;   a plurality of light sources;   and a plurality of lens sectors, one for each of the plurality of light sources; wherein the plurality of lens sectors are triangular shaped;   wherein each of the plurality of light sources projects light through its corresponding one of the plurality of triangular lens sectors;   wherein the plurality of lens sectors are constructed of polymer Fresnel material molded of one piece;   wherein the plurality of lens sectors is traversable between the plurality of light sources and a blended light beam output; and   wherein the blended light beam output includes light from each of the plurality of light sources projected through its corresponding one of the plurality of triangular lens sectors.