Thermal management techniques for lighting instruments

Claim 2

A lighting instrument having variable parameters, comprising: a light source for producing radiant energy having a visible portion and an infrared portion; a housing having a frame and first and second ends for enclosing said light source near said first end, said housing and said frame having ventilation holes for enhancing air flow through said frame and said housing; a reflector disposed proximally to said light source for reflecting a portion of said energy and forming a light beam projected toward said second end, said reflector including a cold mirror film capable of reflecting said visible portion and transmitting said infrared portion of said energy; a heat sink disposed proximally to said reflector for dissipating heat from said infrared portion which is transmitted to said reflector, said heat sink having heat conductive fins disposed externally to said frame; a moveable color filter mechanism mounted to said frame in the path of said beam for varying the color of said beam; at least one motor for driving said color filter mechanism; and a thermally isolating motor mount for mounting said motor to said frame.

Claim 3

A lighting instrument according to claim 1, wherein said heat conductive fins are disposed parallel to said beam.

Claim 4

A lighting instrument according to claim 1, further including a heat shield plate supporting said motor mount and a finned heat sink coupled to said motor.

Claim 5

A lighting instrument according to claim 1, further including a yoke attached to said housing, said yoke having motors for panning and tilting said housing, and means for thermally shielding said yoke from said housing.

Claim 6

A lighting instrument according to claim 1, further including a plurality of light baffles mounted to said frame and corresponding to said ventilation holes for blocking stray light rays from said beam.

Claim 7

A motorized lighting instrument comprising: a housing for enclosing a light source in a free air-flow environment; said housing including ventilation passages means for enhancing free air-flow through said housing; reflector means for reflecting light from said light source for forming a light beam, said reflector means including means for transmitting heat rays from said light source; means for dissipating heat from said reflector and said light source; means for selectively modifying said beam including moveable color filter means disposed in the path of said beam for varying the color of said beam; motor means disposed within said housing for driving said color filter means; means for dissipating heat generated by said motor means; and heat shield means for isolating an air-flow environment surrounding said motor means from an air-flow environment surrounding said light beam.

Claim 8

A motorized lighting instrument comprising: a housing for enclosing a light source in a free air-flow environment; said housing including ventilation passages means for enhancing free air-flow through said housing; reflector means for reflecting light from said light source for forming a light beam, said reflector means including means for transmitting heat rays from said light source; means for dissipating heat from said reflector and said light source; means for selectively modifying said beam including moveable color filter means disposed in the path of said beam for varying the color of said beam; motor means disposed within said housing for driving said color filter means; means for dissipating heat generated by said motor means; and heat shield means for isolating an air-flow environment surrounding said motor means from an air-flow environment surrounding said light beam.

Claim 9

A motorized lighting instrument according to claim 6, further including: yoke means for suspending said housing, said yoke means further including means for pivoting said housing in pan and tilt directions; and heat shield means for isolating an air-flow environment surrounding said housing from an air-flow environment surrounding said yoke means.

Claim 12

The method according to claim 8, further comprising substantially thermally isolating said motor from said frame.

Claim 13

The method according to claim 8, further comprising disposing a heat shield between said motor and said frame.

Claim 14

The method according to claim 8, further comprising dissipating heat generated by said motor with a finned heat sink, said finned heat sink having a fin providing a surface suitable for convective heat transfer of heat generated by said motor to atmosphere.

Claim 15

The method according to claim 8, further comprising facilitating air flow through said housing.

Claim 16

The method according to claim 12, wherein said facilitating comprises providing ventilation holes in said housing.

Claim 17

The method according to claim 8, further comprising facilitating ventilation through said frame.

Claim 18

The method according to claim 14, wherein said facilitating comprises providing ventilation holes in said frame.

Claim 19

The method according to claim 8, further comprising mounting said motor externally of said frame.

Claim 20

The method according to claim 8, wherein said lighting instrument further includes a yoke attached to said housing, said yoke having motors for panning and tilting said housing, said method further comprising: thermally shielding said yoke from said housing.

Claim 21

The method according to claim 8, further comprising isolating the air flow environment surrounding said motor from the air flow environment surrounding said color filter mechanism.

Claim 22

The method according to claim 8, wherein said method is conducted without the use of a fan.

Claim 23

The method according to claim 8, further comprising disposing a non-metallic heat shield between said motor and said frame.

Claim 26

A motorized lighting instrument comprising: a housing having first and second ends, said housing including a frame and at least one serviceable cover, said frame and said cover having ventilation holes formed therein; a primary ventilated air chamber formed between said frame and said cover, said primary air chamber extending between said first and second ends of said housing; a light source enclosed by said housing near said first end, said light source producing radiant energy having a visible portion and an infrared portion; a reflector disposed proximally to said light source, said reflector including a cold mirror film capable of reflecting said visible portion and transmitting said infrared portion of said energy, and of forming said visible portion into a light beam projected along a path toward said second end of said housing; a yoke supporting said housing for adjustment about an axis of rotation which is transverse to said path of said light beam; a primary heat sink disposed proximally to said reflector, said primary heat sink having fins for dissipating heat from said infrared portion of energy transmitted through said reflector, said fins positioned in planes which are parallel to said path of said light beam and transverse to said axis of rotation; a color filter mechanism supported by said frame in the path of said light beam, said mechanism having moveable color filter elements and at least one color filter motor coupled to a plurality of said filter elements, said color filter motor fixedly attached to a mounting system comprising a heat shielded plate suspended from said frame, a thermally isolating motor mount supported on said heat shield plate, and a finned heat sink thermally coupled to said color filter motor; a plurality of secondary heat sinks mounted to said frame, said secondary heat sinks having fins extending into said primary ventilated air chamber; and a secondary ventilated air chamber disposed such that the air flow environment of said secondary air chamber is substantially separate from the air flow environment of said primary air chamber, said secondary chamber enclosing said color filter motor and said mounting system, said secondary air chamber being formed between said heat shield plate and said cover, said cover having ventilation holes in a portion thereof which overlays said secondary air chamber.

Claim 27

A motorized lighting instrument comprising: a housing having first and second ends, said housing including a frame and at least one serviceable cover, said frame and said cover having ventilation holes formed therein; a primary ventilated air chamber formed between said frame and said cover, said primary air chamber extending between said first and second ends of said housing; a light source enclosed by said housing near said first end, said light source producing radiant energy having a visible portion and an infrared portion; a reflector disposed proximally to said light source, said reflector including a cold mirror film capable of reflecting said visible portion and transmitting said infrared portion of said energy, and of forming said visible portion into a light beam projected along a path toward said second end of said housing; a yoke supporting said housing for adjustment about an axis of rotation which is transverse to said path of said light beam; a primary heat sink disposed proximally to said reflector, said primary heat sink having fins for dissipating heat from said infrared portion of energy transmitted through said reflector, said fins positioned in planes which are parallel to said path of said light beam and transverse to said axis of rotation; a color filter mechanism supported by said frame in the path of said light beam, said mechanism having moveable color filter elements and at least one color filter motor coupled to a plurality of said filter elements, said color filter motor fixedly attached to a mounting system comprising a heat shielded plate suspended from said frame, a thermally isolating motor mount supported on said heat shield plate, and a finned heat sink thermally coupled to said color filter motor; a plurality of secondary heat sinks mounted to said frame, said secondary heat sinks having fins extending into said primary ventilated air chamber; and a secondary ventilated air chamber disposed such that the air flow environment of said secondary air chamber is substantially separate from the air flow environment of said primary air chamber, said secondary chamber enclosing said color filter motor and said mounting system, said secondary air chamber being formed between said heat shield plate and said cover, said cover having ventilation holes in a portion thereof which overlays said secondary air chamber.

Claim 28

The motorized lighting instrument of claim 22 wherein said color filter elements are supported by filter carrier elements which are journaled for rotation within bearings supported by said frame, said secondary heat sinks being thermally coupled to said bearings.

Claim 29

The motorized lighting instrument of claim 22, further comprising: a motorized mechanism operable to rotate said housing about said axis of rotation; thermally isolating axle members rotatably coupling said housing to said motorized yoke; and heat shield plates disposed between said yoke and said housing.