Spot illumination apparatus and methods are described. According to one implementation a spot luminaire includes a light source for emitting a beam of light and a projection lens configured to project the beam of light towards a distant target. A first field stop, through which the beam of light passes, is positioned between the light source and the projection lens. A filter apparatus is positioned proximate the first field stop and is adapted for selectively moving at least one variable density...

A wash light optical system for use with a light beam generator includes a converging optical element that reduces the size of a light beam from the light beam generator, a color filtration mechanism that is capable of filtering the reduced light beam to a selected one of two or more colors, a spreading optical element that increases the size of the filtered light beam, and a beam shaping optical element. The optical system may also include a dimming mechanism that is capable of reducing the int...

A first multiple-lens array designed with positive-power lenses produces multiple bundles of converging light rays, and a second multiple-lens array designed with negative-power lenses produces multiple bundles of collimated light rays at a certain optimal separation between the two multiple-lens arrays. As the axial separation between the two multiple-lens arrays increases, the divergence of the entire beam of light increases.

An illumination system, reflector and method for producing a beam with a substantially circularly symmetric irradiance distribution from a light source having a plurality of linear light emitting elements arranged with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel with each other and spaced substantially symmetrically about a central longitudinal axis. The reflector includes a plurality of reflecting zones corresponding to, and aligned with, the plurality of light emitting elements. A surface o...

A zoomable light beam spreader comprising first and second multiple-lens arrays includes a plurality of plano-convex lenses in correspondence with a plurality of plano-concave lenses having matched, curved optical surfaces. In a zero-power state, the two multiple-lens arrays are very closely spaced so that the matched convex and concave surfaces effectively cancel each other optically but, as the two arrays are separated coaxially along the axis of a light beam, beam divergence angle increases a...

A stage lighting instrument having a high-intensity light source or lamp coupled with a concave reflector, and a projection optical system having a lens system that includes a well-defined aperture stop. The lens system forms a real image of the light source near the aperture stop. A color filter and dimming system may be located within the lens system so that the color filter and dimming elements occupy a volume of space near the aperture stop and within the real image of the light source. By l...

A lamp holder and ballast containing assembly has a body provided with cooling louvers. Internally positioned baffle plates are associated with the louvers and serve to position a transformer while at the same time protecting the winding thereof.

A stage lighting instrument having a high-intensity light source or lamp coupled with a concave reflector, and a projection optical system having a lens system that includes an aperture stop. The lens system forms a real image of the light source encompassing or near the aperture. A color filter and dimming system may be located within the lens system so that the color filter and dimming elements occupy a volume of space near the aperture stop and within the real image of the light source. By lo...

An improved projection unit which comprises a glass reflector, incandescent lamp (e.g. tungsten halogen), and means for maintaining the lamp in established alignment within the reflector. The alignment means includes a retention member which clamps the sealed end portion of the lamp and is designed for rotative positioning within the reflector's neck portion. The retention member and lamp are removable and permit facile replacement thereof.

An improved projection unit which permits removal of the unit's lamp from the front, concave portion of the unit's reflector. A first retention member is used to maintain the lamp in pre-established alignment within the reflector and a second retention member, e.g. resilient clamp, is movably oriented on the reflector's neck portion to secure the first retention member in a first position and release it in a second.