Variable color photographic lighting system

Claim 2

A variable color lighting system for illuminating a scene to be photographed, said variable color lighting system comprising: means for receiving a plurality of light sources each of said sources providing light of a different color; means for independently varying the intensity of said different color light provided by each of said plurality of light sources; and a fiber optic light mixing system for receiving and combining said different color light to provide light of a composite color representing an additive mixture of independent intensities of said different color light and for directing said light of a composite color from at least two separate locations towards a scene to be photographed.

Claim 3

A variable color lighting system as defined in claim 1 wherein said fiber optic lIght mixing system includes at least two fiber optic light mixing devices, the number of said fiber optic light mixing devices being equal to the number of said separate locations from which said composite color light is to be directed towards the scene.

Claim 4

A variable color lighting system as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said fiber optic light mixing devices has a plurality of input ends, each of said input ends being optically coupled to a different one of said plurality of light sources, and a single composite output end adapted to be positioned at one of said separate locations for directing light of said composite color towards the scene to be photographed.

Claim 5

A variable color lighting system as defined in claim 1 wherein said fiber optic light mixing system includes a plurality of fiber optic light mixing devices, the number of said fiber optic light mixing devices being equal to the number of said separate locations from which light of said composite color is directed towards the scene, each of said plurality of fiber optic light mixing devices including a plurality of bundles of individual light transmitting optic fibers, the number of said bundles being equal to the number of said plurality of light sources, each of said plurality of bundles having an input end and an output end, said input ends of each of said plurality of bundles being optically coupled, respectively, to a different one of said plurality of light sources for receiving said light of different colors for transmission through said bundles to their respective output ends, said output ends of said plurality of bundles being integrated with one another to form a composite output end of said fiber optic light mixing device, said individual optic fibers of said plurality of bundles being systematically interwoven to form an ordered array of fibers, selected alternatively from each of said plurality of bundles, such that said light of different colors intermixes to form light of a composite color for illuminating the scene to be photographed when transmitted from said composite output end, and each of said plurality of bundles having its individual optic fibers arranged randomly therein for transmitting the light received at said output ends to said composite output end in an incoherent manner.

Claim 6

A variable color lighting system as defined in claim 4 wherein said plurality of individual light sources includes a source of red light, a source of green light, and a source of blue light and each of said plurality of fiber optic light mixing devices includes first, second, and third bundles of optic fibers having their respective input ends optically coupled, respectively, to said sources of red, green, and blue light.

Claim 7

A variable color lighting system as defined in claim 4 wherein said individual fibers of said plurality of bundles are systematically arranged at said composite output end in parallel, adjacent, interdigitated rows, each of said rows having a repeating sequence of fibers selected alternatively from said individual fibers of said plurality of bundles and said adjacent rows being configured to provide a repeating array of clusters of fibers at said composite output end, each of said clusters including one fiber from each of said plurality of bundles.

Claim 8

A variable color lighting system as defined in claim 4 wherein each of said light mixing devices includes a longitudinal light transmission axis and said ordered array of fibers at said composite output end is configured to include at least one surface which is inclined with respect to said light transmission axis for directing light of a composite color outwardly from said light transmission axis.

Claim 9

A variable color lighting system as defined in claim 1 wherein said plurality of light sources includes a source of red light, a source of green light, and a source of blue light.

Claim 10

A variable color light system as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for receiving a plurality of light sources includes means for receivinG a plurality of electrically powered lamps.

Claim 11

A variable color lighting system as defined in claim 9 wherein said means for varying the intensities of said plurality of light sources includes means for independently varying the electrical power input to each of said lamps.

Claim 12

A variable color lighting system as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for independently varying the electrical power input includes means for varying the voltage input to each of said lamps.

Claim 13

A variable color lighting system as defined in claim 9 wherein said means for receiving a plurality of light sources includes means for receiving a plurality of filters, each of said filters being configured to transmit light of a different color, each of said filters being adapted to be positioned between one of said plurality of lamps and said light receiving, combining and directing means.

Claim 14

A fiber optic light mixing system for receiving and combining light from a plurality of independent light sources, each providing light of a different color and being capable of having the intensity of its light output varied independently from the light output of the other light sources, to form light of a composite color and for directing light of said composite color towards a scene or object from at least two separate locations, said fiber optic light mixing system comprising: a plurality of individual fiber optic light mixing devices, the number of said fiber optic light mixing devices being equal to the number of independent light sources; each of said fiber optic light mixing devices including; a plurality of bundles of individual light transmitting optic fibers, the number of incoherent bundles being equal to the number of the plurality of light sources, each of said bundles having an input end and an output end, said input ends of each of said plurality of bundles being adapted to be optically coupled, respectively, to one of the plurality of light sources for receiving different colored light for transmission through said plurality of bundles to their respective output ends; said output ends of said plurality of bundles being integrated with one another to form a composite output end of said fiber optic light-mixing device, said individual optic fibers of said plurality of bundles being systematically interwoven to form an ordered array of fibers, selected alternatively from each of said plurality of bundles, such that the light of different colors intermixes when transmitted from said composite output end to form light of a composite color, each of said composite output ends of said fiber optic light mixing devices being positioned at one of said locations from which light of a composite color is to be directed towards the scene or object to be illuminated.

Claim 15

A fiber optic light mixing system for receiving and combining light from a plurality of independent light sources, each providing light of a different color and being capable of having the intensity of its light output varied independently from the light output of the other light sources, to form light of a composite color and for directing light of said composite color towards a scene or object from at least two separate locations, said fiber optic light mixing system comprising: a plurality of individual fiber optic light mixing devices, the number of said fiber optic light mixing devices being equal to the number of independent light sources; each of said fiber optic light mixing devices including; a plurality of bundles of individual light transmitting optic fibers, the number of incoherent bundles being equal to the number of the plurality of light sources, each of said bundles having an input end and an output end, said input ends of each of said plurality of bundles being adapted to be optically coupled, respectively, to one of the plurality of light sources for receiving different colored light for transmission through said plurality of bundles to their respective output ends; said output ends of said plurality of bundles being integrated with one another to form a composite output end of said fiber optic light-mixing device, said individual optic fibers of said plurality of bundles being systematically interwoven to form an ordered array of fibers, selected alternatively from each of said plurality of bundles, such that the light of different colors intermixes when transmitted from said composite output end to form light of a composite color, each of said composite output ends of said fiber optic light mixing devices being positioned at one of said locations from which light of a composite color is to be directed towards the scene or object to be illuminated.

Claim 16

A fiber optic light mixing system as defined in claim 13 wherein each of said plurality of bundles has its individual fibers arranged randomly therein such that light received at said input end is transmitted to said ordered array at said composite output end in an incoherent manner.

Claim 17

A fiber optic light mixing system as defined in claim 13 wherein the plurality of independent light sources includes a source of red light, a source of green light and a source of blue light, and each of said plurality of fiber optic light mixing devices includes first, second and third bundles of optic fibers having their respective input ends optically coupled, respectively, to the sources of red, green, and blue light.

Claim 18

A fiber optic light mixing system as defined in claim 15 wherein said individual fibers of said plurality of bundles are systematically arranged at said composite output ends of said plurality of light-mixing devices in parallel, adjacent, interdigitated rows, each of said rows having a repeating sequence of fibers selected alternatively from said individual fibers of said plurality of bundles, said adjacent rows being configured to provide a repeating array of clusters of fibers at said composite Output end, each of said clusters including one fiber from each of said plurality of bundles.

Claim 19

A fiber optic light mixing system as defined in claim 14 wherein each of said light-mixing devices includes a longitudinal light transmission axis and said ordered array at said composite output end is configured to include at least one surface which is inclined with respect to said light transmission axis for directing light of a composite color outwardly from said light transmission axis.

Claim 20

A photographic system for illuminating and photographing a positive print, said system comprising: means for supporting a positive print; a copy camera located at a position for photographing a print supported by said print support means; and a variable color lighting system for directing light from at least two separate locations to illuminate a print supported by said print support means, said variable color lighting system including: means for receiving a plurality of independent light sources, each of said sources providing light of a different color; means for independently varying the intensity of said different colored light provided by each of said plurality of light sources; and a fiber optic light mixing system for receiving and combining said different colored light to provide light of a composite color representing an additive mixture of independent intensities of said different colored light and for directing said light of a composite color towards a print supported by said print support means from at least two separate locations.

Claim 21

A photographic system for illuminating and photographing a positive print, said system comprising: means for supporting a positive print; a copy camera located at a position for photographing a print supported by said print support means; and a variable color lighting system for directing light from at least two separate locations to illuminate a print supported by said print support means, said variable color lighting system including: means for receiving a plurality of independent light sources, each of said sources providing light of a different color; means for independently varying the intensity of said different colored light provided by each of said plurality of light sources; and a fiber optic light mixing system for receiving and combining said different colored light to provide light of a composite color representing an additive mixture of independent intensities of said different colored light and for directing said light of a composite color towards a print supported by said print support means from at least two separate locations.

Claim 22

A photographic system as defined in claim 18 wherein said fiber optic mixing system comprises a plurality of fiber optic light mixing devices, the number of fiber optic light mixing devices being equal to the number of separate locations from which said light of a composite color is directed towards a print supported by said print support means.

Claim 23

A photographic system as defined in claim 19 wherein each of said plurality of fiber optic light mixing devices includes a plurality of bundles of individual light transmitting optic fibers, the number of said bundles being equal to the number of said plurality of light sources, each of said bundles having an input end and an output end, said input ends of each of said plurality of bundles being optically coupled, respectively, to a different one of said plurality of light sources for receiving light of said different colors for transmission through said bundles to their respective output ends, said output ends of said plurality of bundles being integrated with one another to form a composite output end of said light receiving, combining, and directing means, said individual optic fibers of said plurality of bundles being systematically interwoven to form an ordered array of fibers, selected alternatively from each of said plurality of bundles, such that said light of different colors intermixes to form light of a composite color, for illuminating a print, when transmitted from said composite output end.

Claim 24

A photographic system as defined in claim 20 wherein said composite output end has a longitudinal light transmission axis and said ordered array included at least one surface that is inclined with respect to said light transmission axis for directing light of a composite color outwardly from said light transmission axis.

Claim 25

A photographic system as defined in claim 20 further including a negative lens positioned in front of each of said composite output ends for dispersing said light of a composite color transmitted from said composite output ends.

Claim 26

A photographic system as defined in claim 20 wherein said means for receiving a plurality of light sources includes means for receiving sources of red, green, and blue light and each of said fiber optic light mixing devices includes first, second and third bundles of optic fibers having their input ends optically coupled, respectively, to said sources of red, green and blue light.

Claim 27

A photogrAphic system as defined in claim 20 where each of said bundles of optic fibers has its individual optic fibers arranged randomly therein such that light received at said input end is transmitted to said ordered array in an incoherent manner.

Claim 28

A photographic system as defined in claim 18 wherein said means for receiving a plurality of light sources includes means for receiving sources of red, green and blue light.