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US-20260126165-A1 - Spotlight, Filter for a Spotlight and System of Spotlight and Filter with Smart Glass

US20260126165A1US 20260126165 A1US20260126165 A1US 20260126165A1US-20260126165-A1

Abstract

A spotlight, having a housing. The housing defines a cavity and a light exiting side of the spotlight. The spotlight has a light element provided in the cavity of the housing; a zoom optic provided in the cavity of the housing; and a filter arranged at the light exiting side on the housing. The filter has a tintable glazing (Smart Glass), wherein the translucency of the glazing is changeable by application of an electric voltage.

Inventors

  • Daniel Garcia van de Groote Poort

Assignees

  • Roxx GmbH

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251229
Priority Date
20240828

Claims (7)

  1. 1 . A filter with a tintable glazing (Smart Glass), the translucency of the glazing being changeable by applying an electric voltage, the filter comprising: a frame to which the tintable glazing is fixed, and at least four contacts provided on the frame, wherein the electric voltage for changing the translucency can be supplied via at least two of the at least four contacts, and a correct orientation and position of the filter upon mounting to a spotlight is detectable using at least two different contacts of the at least four contacts.
  2. 2 . The filter according to claim 1 , wherein the at least four contacts are arranged next to each other in a row.
  3. 3 . The filter according to claim 1 , wherein at least two of the at least four contacts are arranged in pairs next to each other in a row.
  4. 4 . The filter according to claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises at least one frame member and the at least four contacts are arranged on one of the frame members.
  5. 5 . The filter according to claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a plurality of frame members and the at least four contacts are distributed on different frame members.
  6. 6 . The filter according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two different contacts of the at least four contacts for detection of the correct position and orientation of the filter when mounting to a spotlight are electric and/or optic contacts.
  7. 7 . A spotlight with a housing, a light element provided in a cavity of the housing, a front face closing the cavity at the light exiting side of the spotlight, and a connecting portion provided at the housing at the light exiting side for detachably fixing of one or a plurality of filters according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion comprises at least four contacts which are complementary to the at least four contacts of the one filter or the plurality of filters, respectively, with respect to their position and function, an electric voltage is deliverable via at least two of the at least four contacts which serves for changing the translucency of a filter attached to the spotlight, and a correct orientation and position of the filter upon mounting to the housing of the spotlight is detectable via the at least two different of the at least four contacts.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 19/039,521 which was filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Jan. 28, 2025. Priority is claimed for this invention and corresponding application(s) having been filed in Germany on Nov. 12, 2024, No. 202024106523.9 and; Germany on Aug. 28, 2024, No. 202024104851.2, respectively. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention refers to a spotlight for professional illumination applications, e.g. for professional event illumination. Further, the invention refers to a filter, in particular an optical filter, having a variably tintable or frosted, respectively, glazing (also known as Smart Glass), which can be continuously translucent colored or opaque colored, a spotlight, on which the filter is removably mountable, as well as a system of the filter and spotlight according to the invention. 2. Description of the Related Art Spotlights for event technology, such as PAR (Parabolic Aluminized Reflector), floodlights, Fresnel or profile spotlights and strobes are well known. Furthermore, it is known to provide such spotlights with elements for generating optical effects in a non-detachable or detachable manner. Such elements for the generation of optical effects are, e.g., as disclosed in DE 20 2024 104 851 U1, filter having a tintable or frosted glazing, wherein the translucency is changeable in response to the application of an electric voltage. Such so-called Smart Glass filters are adjustable to be continuously translucent or opaque colored and/or to be continuously colored. Even though such elements for the generation of optical effects allow for the provision of different illumination effects, the flexibility thereof for the generation of illumination effects is limited, though, because during operation effects can only generated by the application of voltage or not. Alternatively, the filter has to be replaced by another type of filter or optical element during operation, which is cumbersome. Furthermore, it is known to fixedly attach filters to conventional spotlights, wherein the filters. have a tintable glazing, wherein the translucency is changeable in response to the application of an electric voltage. The spotlights do not comprise further optical elements. Such fixed filters cannot be exchanged or replaced, at best only with much effort, such that the variety of optical effects which are achievable is limited. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Based on this it is an object of the invention to provide a spotlight which allows to utilize the effects of a Smart Glass filter on a spotlight in a plurality of ways and to achieve a greater variability of illumination effects without changing the filters during operation. Further, it is an object to provide a corresponding exchangeable filter and a system of a spotlight and an exchangeable filter. Disclosure of the Invention The invention is based on the idea of combining an optical filter which is formed of a tintable glazing, a so-called Smart Glass, with a zoom optic of a spotlight, such that a plurality of effects of the light emitted by the spotlight can be achieved by the continuously adjustable Smart Glass in combination with the zoom optic and the possible combinations and therefore effects are multiplied compared to conventional spotlights. Because both the zoom optic is adjustable during operation of the spotlight and the Smart Glass is adjustable during operation, these effects can be employed and achieved flexibly at any time, without the need to change filter elements or other optic elements. The Smart Glass Filter is detachably or fixedly (non-detachably) mounted to the spotlight. If, preferably, the filter is detachably mounted to the spotlight, the Smart Glass filter may be exchanged with another filter or with another Smart Glass filter or with another optical element, if needed, which allows for even more flexibility regarding the illumination effects achievable with the spotlight, and, thus, the application of the spotlight. A preferred embodiment for the detachable mounting of a Smart Glass Filter to a spotlight is disclosed in DE 20 2024 104 851 U1, the teaching of which regarding the detachable mounting are herewith enclosed by reference. In particular, in case of detachable filters and for ensuring the correct mounting of the filter, at least four contacts are preferably provided on a frame of the filter, to which the tintable glazing is attached. Electric voltage for changing the translucency of the tintable glazing is applied via at least two of these contacts, and at least two different contacts ensure that the mounting of the filter to the spotlight, which is provided with corresponding contacts, is correct. The contacts may be provided in a row next to each other; alternatively, however, at least two of the at least four contacts can be arranged in pairs next to each other in a row. According to a pref