System for luminaire

Abstract

A system includes a luminaire having a head configured for rotation relative to a fixed housing of the luminaire. The head includes a camera access port. The system also includes a camera module configured to be removably mounted to a camera access port of the luminaire, and a cover plate configured to be removably mounted to the luminaire head to cover the camera access port. A weight of the cover plate substantially matches a weight of the camera module.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 580,290, filed on September 1, 2023, entitled “SYSTEM FOR LAMP,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to light fixtures, and more particularly to removable camera systems and optical systems for automated light fixtures. Background Art

[0004] Some lamps in the entertainment and architectural lighting markets include automated and remotely controllable features. Such lamps may be used in theaters, television studios, concerts, theme parks, nightclubs, and other venues. A lamp may provide control over the pan and tilt functions of the lamp, allowing an operator to control the direction in which the lamp is pointing and thus the position of the lamp's beam on stage or in the studio. This position control may be obtained via control of the position of the lamp on two orthogonal axes of rotation, which may be referred to as pan and tilt. Some lamps provide control over other parameters such as intensity, color, focus, beam size, beam shape, and / or beam pattern. Where such a lamp is remotely controllable, such a lamp may be referred to as an automated lamp.

[0005] The optical system of such an automated luminaire may be designed to enable the user to control the beam size from a very narrow output beam to a wider cast beam. Such control may allow such a luminaire to be used for long distance projection to a target, or for nearly parallel light effects, as well as for wider, more traditional cast effects. Optical systems capable of producing narrow beams may be referred to as "beam" optics, while optical systems capable of producing wide beams may be referred to as "cast" optics. Summary of the invention

[0006] In a first embodiment, a system includes a light fixture having a head configured to rotate relative to a fixed housing of the light fixture. The head includes a camera access port. The system also includes a camera module configured to be removably mounted to the camera access port of the light fixture, and a cover plate configured to be removably mounted to the light fixture head to cover the camera access port. The weight of the cover plate approximately matches the weight of the camera module.

[0007] In a second embodiment, the light fixture includes a head configured to rotate relative to a fixed housing of the light fixture. The head includes a camera access port and a cover plate configured to be mounted to the head to cover the camera access port. The cover plate is removable to allow a camera module to be mounted to the head, and the weight of the cover plate substantially matches the weight of the camera module.

[0008] In a third embodiment, the camera module includes a camera configured to generate image data based on light received from a field of view of the camera. The camera module also includes a mounting base coupled to the camera, wherein the mounting base is configured to be removably mounted to the light fixture and cover a camera access port of the light fixture. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, reference is now made to the following brief description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like features throughout.

[0010] Figure 1 presents an isometric view of a luminaire according to the present disclosure in a first configuration;

[0011] Figure 2 Presented Figure 1 An isometric view of a light fixture with a camera module attached to the head;

[0012] Figure 3 A method for using a mobile phone according to the present disclosure including a removable weight module is presented. Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a cover plate of a lamp;

[0013] Figure 4 Presented Figure 2 an isometric view of a light fixture with the head cover removed and the output connector for the camera shown;

[0014] Figure 5 Presented Figure 2 an isometric view of the luminaire with the second head cover removed to reveal the internal optical system;

[0015] Figure 6 Presented Figure 2 An exploded view of the internal optical system of the lamp;

[0016] Figure 7 presents a view of a gobo wheel of an internal optical system according to the present disclosure;

[0017] Fig. 8A , Figure 8B and Figure 8C A schematic diagram of an aperture protection system according to the present disclosure is presented; and

[0018] Fig. 9 A flow chart of a method of controlling a lamp according to the present disclosure is presented. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Preferred embodiments are presented in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to designate like and corresponding parts throughout the different drawings.

[0020] Some lamps (automated and non-automated) include a light source comprising a discharge lamp or an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs), or a laser-based light source where the laser LED is used as a pump for a light-emitting phosphor.

[0021] Some automated light fixtures can be used as follow points, allowing a remote operator to control the pan and tilt of the light fixture to illuminate the performer as they move around the stage or performance area. Such light fixtures may be equipped with a camera, allowing the operator to observe the output of the light fixture.

[0022] A luminaire including a light source according to the present disclosure may include various optical systems: a fixed "beam" optical system that maintains a small diameter of the light beam emitted by the light source; a fixed "cast" optical system that produces a wide light beam; or a zoom optical system that can change the beam diameter from a narrow beam to a wide beam. Such a zoom optical system may also have the ability to produce high-quality images through a gobo or pattern inserted into the optical train.

[0023] It may be useful to reduce the tradeoffs associated with a luminaire configured to operate both as a follow spot (e.g., operating in a long throw mode using beam optics) and as a floodlight (e.g., using floodlight optics). For example, a luminaire may be equipped with an aperture that allows a user to reduce the size of the output beam (beam size aperture). The beam size aperture may include a relatively large number of aperture blades to enable the production of a relatively narrow beam having a substantially circular cross-section. In some cases, the large number of aperture blades may require that the individual aperture blades be relatively thin to avoid unduly impacting the form factor of the beam size aperture or luminaire. For high power light sources, for example, when the aperture is closed or partially closed, a significant amount of energy (e.g., light energy) may be absorbed from the illuminating beam, potentially resulting in damage to the aperture. Damage to thinner aperture blades may be more severe and / or occur more quickly. The present disclosure presents a system and method for mitigating such potential damage.

[0024] Additionally, it may be useful to reduce the tradeoffs associated with providing a camera-enabled luminaire. For example, a luminaire may also be equipped with a video camera to enable a remote operator to observe the output of the luminaire. However, luminaires with integrated cameras may be correspondingly more expensive. If such luminaires are used without the need for a camera, this may waste operator resources. Because such a camera is not always required, embodiments of the present disclosure may provide luminaires with removable (or post-mounted) cameras, which may reduce operator costs when a camera is not required. However, the addition or removal of such a camera may change the balance of the luminaire and, therefore, affect the effectiveness of the hardware (e.g., motors, actuators) used to control the movement of the luminaire. The present disclosure provides a system and method for mitigating such balance changes.

[0025] Figure 1 An isometric view of a lamp 100 according to the present disclosure in a first configuration is presented. The lamp 100 is a lamp that includes a head 102 that is configured to rotate about a pitch axis 124 within a yoke 120. The yoke 120 is configured to rotate about a pan axis 122 relative to a fixed housing 126. The pan axis 122 and the pitch axis 124 are orthogonal to each other. The pan and tilt moving members can be mechanically coupled to manually operated manual controls, or can be coupled to motors, linear actuators, or other electromechanical control mechanisms for movement. Such electromechanical mechanisms can be controlled by a control system 110 (e.g., a microcontroller or other programmable processing system) included in the lamp 100. In some embodiments, the control system 110 can be controlled locally via a user interface 112 included in the lamp 100. In other embodiments, the control system can communicate wired or wirelessly with a remotely located console via a data link, which an operator uses to indicate a desired position of the head 102. In such an embodiment, an operator can direct light output from the light fixture 100 in a desired direction through movement of the head 102 along the pan axis 122 and the tilt axis 124 .

[0026] like Figure 1 As shown, the light fixture 100 includes a cover plate 104 for a mounting structure for a camera module. The cover plate 104 is configured to cover a camera access port of the head 102. As further described below, the cover plate 104 is configured to be removably mounted to the camera access port of the head 102. Therefore, when the cover plate 104 is mounted to the head 102, the cover plate 104 covers the camera access port. Similarly, the camera module is configured to be removably mounted to the camera access port of the head 102. Therefore, when the camera module is mounted to the head 102, the camera module covers the camera access port.

[0027] Figure 2 Presented Figure 1 100 , wherein the cover plate 104 is removed and the camera module 106 is mounted in place on the light fixture 100. The camera module 106 includes a camera configured to generate image data based on light received from a field of view of the camera. The camera module 106 also includes a mounting base coupled to the camera and configured to be removably mounted to the light fixture 100. As described above, the mounting base of the camera module 106 is configured to cover the camera access port of the head 102.

[0028] In some embodiments, the cover plate 104 is fitted with internal materials so that the weight of the cover plate 104 approximately matches the weight of the camera module 106. In some examples, the weight of the cover plate 104 approximately matches the weight of the camera module 106 when the weight of the cover plate 104 is within + / -10% of the weight of the camera module 106. In some embodiments, the camera module 106 weighs 1 kilogram (kg). Matching the weight of the cover plate 104 to the weight of the camera module 106 mitigates changes in the balance of the head 102 about the pitch axis 124 when the cover plate 104 is removed and the camera module 106 is installed, and vice versa.

[0029] Although camera module 106 is shown mounted to an automated light fixture (light fixture 100 ), camera modules according to the present disclosure may be mounted to other types of light fixtures (eg, non-automated light fixtures, as well as moving and static light fixtures).

[0030] Figure 3 1 shows a schematic diagram of the inner side 302 of the cover panel 104 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this example, a plurality of weight modules 304 are removably coupled to the inner side 302 of the cover panel 104. The weight modules 304 can be coupled to the cover panel 104 using any removable coupling, such as a semi-permanent adhesive, a hook-and-loop type coupling, various rail-mounted couplings or track-mounted couplings, etc. Figure 3 In the example of FIG. 3 , the weight modules 304 are depicted in a stacked configuration; however, in other examples, the weight modules 304 can be distributed in other ways. Because the weight modules 304 are removable or interchangeable, the weight of the cover plate 104 can be adjusted or "tuned" to more closely match a variety of different camera modules.

[0031] For example, without any counterweight modules 304 coupled to the cover plate 104, the cover plate 104 may weigh 200 grams (g). Continuing with this example, the counterweight modules 304 may each weigh 200 g. Thus, in the example where the camera module 106 weighs 1 kg, four counterweight modules 304 are coupled to the cover plate 104, and thus the total weight of the cover plate 104 (i.e., including the counterweight modules 304) is 1 kg, which approximately matches the weight of the camera module 106.

[0032] In another example, a lighter camera module 106 is used that weighs only about 700 g. Because the unloaded cover plate 104 weighs 200 g, an additional 500 g of counterweight is provided by the counterweight module 304 (e.g., a combination of two 200 g counterweight modules 304 and one 100 g counterweight module 304). Therefore, the cover plate 104 in this example can also be adjusted to a weight that roughly matches the weight of the lighter camera module 106.

[0033] Figure 4 Presented Figure 2 An isometric view of the lamp 100 with the head covering removed. Figure 4 Also shown are a data link 107 and a camera output connector 108 on the fixed housing 126. As described above, the light fixture 100 includes a control system (or controller) 110 of the light fixture 100. The control system 110 is configured to control the movement of various electromechanical mechanisms of the light fixture 100. In various embodiments, the control system 110 includes a microcontroller or other programmable processing system. In some embodiments, the control system 110 can be coupled to a user interface 112 included in the light fixture 100 for local control and is configured to receive signals from the user interface 112 related to the desired position of the electromechanical mechanisms.

[0034] In other embodiments, the control system 110 can be coupled to a remotely located control console for remote control via a data link 107 (e.g., a wired or wireless data link) and receive signals (e.g., commands) indicating various electrical or electromechanical control operations to be performed by the luminaire 100 (or a camera module 106 coupled to the luminaire 100) from the data link 107. The data link 107 can use a DMX512 (digital multiplexing) protocol or other suitable communication protocols, such as Art-Net, Architecture of Control Networks (ACN), and Streaming ACN.

[0035] The light fixture 100 may also include wiring that connects the camera output connector 108 to the camera module 106 mounted on the head 102. In some embodiments, this wiring may be permanently installed in the light fixture and is not removed or added when the camera module 106 is removed or added. This wiring may be Cat-5 or any type of video cable. The camera output connector 108 may be an RJ45 or other type of connector suitable for video signals.

[0036] Thus, in some embodiments, the luminaire 100 includes a power connector and a signal connector configured to be electrically coupled to the camera module 106 via the camera access port on the head 102. The signal connector can transmit the video signal from the camera module 106 to the camera output connector 108, while the power connector can provide power to the camera module 106 (e.g., from a power supply inside the luminaire 100, or from an external power supply). In one example, the signal connector and the power connector are combined (e.g., by using a Power over Ethernet (PoE) link). The signal connector can also be coupled to the data link 107 and / or the control system 110. Thus, the signal connector can provide various commands to the camera module 106 (e.g., to adjust the optical device or its operation) and receive various communication signals generated by the camera module 106. In one example, the camera module 106 is configured to provide a signal to the luminaire 100 when the camera module 106 is coupled to the luminaire 100. The provided signal can be used as a positive indication (e.g., to the control system 110) that the camera module 106 is successfully electrically coupled to the luminaire 100.

[0037] In some embodiments, the camera module 106 includes a sensor 404 configured to interact with a corresponding sensor 406 on the light fixture 100 when the camera module 106 is coupled to the light fixture 100. The sensors 404, 406 may be an electromechanical sensor pair, such as when the camera module 106 is mounted to the light fixture 100, a protrusion of the camera module 106 triggers a corresponding switch on the light fixture 100. The sensors 404, 406 may also be a magnetic sensor pair, such that when the camera module 106 is mounted to the light fixture 100, the sensor 404 generates a magnetic field that is sensed by the sensor 406 (e.g., as an induced current). The sensors 404, 406 may also be an optical sensor pair, such that when the camera module 106 is mounted to the light fixture 100, the sensor 404 interrupts an optical signal within the sensor 406. In general, the sensors 404, 406 may be any type of sensor pair capable of indicating that the camera module 106 is mechanically coupled to the light fixture 100. As described above, successful coupling of the camera module 106 to the luminaire 100 may be indicated by a signal provided to the control system 110 and / or an external connection system, such as via the data link 107 .

[0038] In some embodiments, the light fixture is sealed at an ingress protection (IP) rating of 65 (IP65) to reduce damage from dust or moisture. In such embodiments, both the cover plate 104 and the camera module 106 (e.g., its mounting base) are equipped with gaskets or other such seals to provide such a seal. In some embodiments, the head 102 may include a specific mating area surrounding the camera access port. The mating area is configured to facilitate sealing the head 102 relative to the cover plate 104 or the camera module 106 (depending on which is installed at a given time) to provide an IP65 rating when either the cover plate 104 or the camera module 106 is installed to the head 102. For example, the mating area may include a recess that is configured to interface with (e.g., receive) a portion of a gasket of the camera module 106 or a gasket of the cover plate 104. In another example, the mating area can also include a textured surface (e.g., a micro-textured surface) that increases the resistance of the light fixture 100 to dust or moisture ingress when interfacing with a gasket of the camera module 106 or the cover plate 104. In yet another example, the mating area can also include a relatively smooth surface (e.g., a polished surface) that increases the resistance of the light fixture 100 to dust or moisture ingress when interfacing with a gasket of the camera module 106 or the cover plate 104. In other embodiments, the gasket can be on the head 102 and thus seal relative to a corresponding mating area of ​​the camera module 106 (e.g., its mounting base) or the cover plate 104.

[0039] Figure 5 Presented Figure 2 An isometric view of the luminaire 100 with the second head cover removed to reveal the internal optical system 200 of the luminaire 100; Figure 6An exploded view of the internal optical system 200 is presented. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the internal optical system 200 includes various optical subsystems, including but not limited to those described herein. A light beam is generated by a light source 600, which may be a discharge lamp, a light emitting diode (LED) array, a laser-based light source, or other light source. The light beam is directed through a color filter subsystem 602 (which may include a color wheel or a subtractive color mixing system) before passing through an animation subsystem 604. From the animation subsystem 604, the light beam then enters an imaging subsystem, which includes one or more gobo wheels 606 and a beam size aperture 608. In some embodiments, the imaging subsystem may also include a framing shutter subsystem. After passing through the imaging subsystem, the light beam passes through lens subsystems 610 and 616, and beam conditioners such as prisms 614 and lens hoods 612, which may be moved into or out of the path of the light beam. The light beam is emitted from the fixture through a final output lens 618. The lens subsystems 610, 616 and the final output lens 618 can provide a variable focal length zoom optical subsystem configured to adjust the beam angle of the output beam from wide to narrow. In some embodiments, such a zoom optical system produces a beam angle from 3.5° to 52°.

[0040] The various components that move or otherwise adjust the internal optical system 200 may be coupled to manually operated controls via mechanical couplings, or to motors, linear actuators, or other electromechanical mechanisms for movement. Such electromechanical mechanisms may be electrically coupled to the control system 110. In such embodiments, the control system 110 is configured to move the various components of the internal optical system 200 in response to signals (e.g., commands) received via the data link 107.

[0041] Figure 7 A view of a gobo wheel 606 of internal optical system 200 is presented. Gobo wheel 606 includes a plurality of gobo holders 620, each of which may include a gobo or pattern 622. Gobo wheel 606 is configured to rotate under the control of control system 110 of luminaire 100 to position a selected one of gobos 622 in the light beam. Gobo wheel 606 also includes a beam reducer 624 in place of or in addition to one of gobo holders 620. Beam reducer 624 may be constructed of a heat resistant material or multiple layers of material such that beam reducer 624 is capable of absorbing a significant amount of energy from the light beam with little or no damage.

[0042] In operation, a user may wish to produce a very narrow angle beam from the luminaire 100 to illuminate an object at a long distance from the luminaire 100, particularly when the luminaire 100 is used as a follow point as described above. In one example, a concert production in a stadium may require a 100 meter (m) throw from the luminaire 100 to the stage, which may require such a very narrow angle beam. To obtain such a narrow beam, an operator may move the luminaire to the narrowest angle zoom configuration, which may produce, for example, a beam angle of 3.5°. However, this narrowest angle beam from the zoom optical system may not be narrow enough for some applications. For example, for a 100m throw, an operator may wish to use a beam with a beam angle of 1° or less. To obtain a further reduction in the beam angle, the operator may close the beam size aperture 608 to present a narrow aperture to the zoom lens for imaging, thereby further reducing the beam angle. In some embodiments, closing the beam size aperture 608 to its minimum size may reduce the beam angle of the beam emitted by the luminaire 100 to 0.8°. The aperture of the beam size aperture 608 may be controlled or otherwise adjusted by the control system 110. For example, the control system 110 may receive a command (e.g., via the data link 107) indicating a commanded aperture value for the beam size aperture 608. In response to such a command, the control system 110 is configured to move the beam size aperture 608 to achieve the commanded aperture value.

[0043] However, because the beam size aperture 608 now blocks a large amount of energy in the beam, the beam size aperture 608 may be damaged (e.g., heat damage from the absorbed light energy) when approaching such a size. In some luminaires, the control system 110 can reduce the light output of the luminaire to prevent such damage to the aperture. However, a dimmer beam is less useful for such a long distance beam. Alternatively, in addition to closing the beam size aperture 608, the control system 110 also causes a beam reducer 624 to move into the beam. The beam reducer 624 reduces the beam angle before the light enters the beam size aperture 608, and thus reduces the energy of the beam entering the beam size aperture 608. In some embodiments, the beam reducer 624 reduces the beam angle for a 3.5° beam exiting the animation subsystem 604 to obtain a 2° beam entering the beam size aperture 608.

[0044] In some embodiments, the beam reducer 624 can be automatically placed in the beam when needed by the control system 110. For example, if the operator closes the beam size aperture 608 to a small aperture, the control system 110 can recognize this configuration and automatically bring the beam reducer 624 into the beam to reduce or prevent damage to the beam size aperture 608.

[0045] In some embodiments, the beam reducer 624 is mounted in the gobo wheel 606. For example, the beam reducer 624 can be a single-hole gobo in the gobo wheel 606 that reduces the angle of the received light beam. In other embodiments, the beam reducer 624 can be mounted separately from the gobo wheel 606, such as on an arm that is actuated by an actuator (e.g., to move the beam reducer 624 into and out of the light path of the light beam). In general, the beam reducer 624 is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The first position is any position of the beam reducer 624 outside of an emitted light beam (e.g., from the light source 600). The second position is a position where the beam reducer 624 is located in the light path of the light beam. In the context of the present disclosure, the beam reducer 624 being located in the light path of the light beam refers to a position where the beam reducer 624 receives the emitted light beam and blocks an outer portion of the emitted light beam to emit a reduced light beam. Thus, the reduced light beam has a beam angle that is smaller than the beam angle of the emitted light beam. The beam reducer 624 may receive the emission beam directly from the light source 600 , or from another component between the beam reducer 624 and the light source 600 .

[0046] Thus, when the beam reducer 624 is in the second position, the beam reducer 624 absorbs light energy from the outer portion of the emitted light beam. According to various embodiments, the beam reducer 624 is designed so that the absorption of light energy does not damage the beam reducer 624. For example, the beam reducer 624 can be made of a metal having a sufficient thickness so as not to deform in response to the temperature generated by the absorption of light energy. In another example, a fan provides cooling to the beam reducer 624 to avoid damage from the absorption of light energy. In yet another example, the beam reducer 624 is coupled to a heat sink and / or a heat pipe to provide cooling to the beam reducer 624 to avoid damage from the absorption of light energy.

[0047] Regardless of how the beam reducer 624 is moved between the first position and the second position, the beam reducer 624 is upstream of the optical path of the beam size aperture 608. Therefore, the beam size aperture 608 is configured to receive the transmitted light beam when the beam reducer 624 is in the first position (i.e., when the beam reducer 624 is not in the optical path). In contrast, the beam size aperture 608 is configured to receive the reduced light beam when the beam reducer 624 is in the second position. Therefore, in the second position, the beam reducer 624 reduces the energy of the light beam impinging on the beam size aperture 608, and thus reduces the possibility that the beam size aperture 608 will be damaged by absorbing light energy of the light beam from the light source 600.

[0048] According to various embodiments, the position of the beam reducer 624 may be controlled by the control system 110. That is, the control system 110 is configured to generate signals that cause the beam reducer 624 to move between the first position and the second position in response to various circumstances, in response to various conditions being met, and / or in response to various commands received (e.g., via the data link 107).

[0049] For example, in one embodiment, the beam reducer 624 is configured to move to the second position in response to the aperture of the beam size aperture 608 being less than a predetermined threshold. In other words, the control system 110 is configured to move the beam reducer 624 to the second position in response to determining that the aperture of the beam size aperture 608 is less than the predetermined threshold. The threshold may be set such that, above the threshold, the area of ​​the beam size aperture 608 exposed to the beam is small enough that the beam size aperture 608 does not absorb enough light energy to damage the beam size aperture 608. However, as the size of the aperture of the beam size aperture 608 is further reduced, a larger area of ​​the beam size aperture 608 is exposed to the beam, and thus, if the beam reducer 624 is not in the second position, the beam size aperture 608 may absorb enough light energy to damage the beam size aperture 608. Therefore, the threshold is set such that, when the aperture of the beam size aperture 608 is less than the threshold, if the beam reducer 624 is not in the second position, the beam size aperture 608 will likely be damaged.

[0050] In some embodiments, the beam reducer 624 is further configured to move to the first position in response to the aperture of the beam size aperture 608 being greater than a predetermined threshold. In other words, the control system 110 is configured to move the beam reducer 624 to the first position in response to determining that the aperture of the beam size aperture 608 is greater than the predetermined threshold. In the example where the beam reducer 624 is mounted in the gobo wheel 606, this can enable the gobo wheel 606 to be used to provide other effects when the aperture of the beam size aperture 608 is open enough to not be damaged by the light energy of the beam.

[0051] In some embodiments, the beam reducer 624 is configured to move to the first position and the second position in response to a direct command to do so. For example, the control system 110 is configured to move the beam reducer 624 to the second position in response to receiving a command via the data link 107 to place the luminaire 100 in the beam reduction mode.

[0052] Regardless of whether the beam reducer 624 is in the second position based on the size of the aperture of the beam size aperture 608 or a direct command, when the beam reducer 624 is in the second position, the control system 110 can be configured to ignore commands received via the data link 107 to move the beam reducer 624 to the first position.

[0053] For example, when the aperture of the beam size aperture 608 is less than a predetermined threshold, the control system 110 is configured to ignore a command to move the beam reducer 624 to the first position (or a command to adjust the position of the gobo wheel 606 when the beam reducer 624 is mounted to the gobo wheel 606). In another example, when the luminaire 100 is already placed in the beam reduction mode, the control system 110 is configured to ignore a command to move the beam reducer 624 to the first position (or a command to adjust the position of the gobo wheel 606 when the beam reducer 624 is mounted to the gobo wheel 606). Thus, the control system 110 is configured to act as a protection device against erroneous user commands that may result in damage to the beam size aperture 608, such as by causing the beam reducer 624 to be moved to the first position when the aperture of the beam size aperture 608 is sufficiently small such that the beam size aperture 608 is damaged by light energy of the beam impinging on the beam size aperture 608.

[0054] Fig. 8A , Figure 8B and Figure 8C An aperture protection system according to the present disclosure is illustrated. Fig. 8A Light beam 630 is shown passing through beam size aperture 608 when beam size aperture 608 is fully open, thereby producing an exit light beam 632a.

[0055] Figure 8B The beam sizing aperture 608 is shown in a configuration in which the aperture blades 634 of the beam sizing aperture 608 reduce the aperture size. As can be seen, a majority of the beam 630 is now blocked by the aperture blades 634, thereby producing an exit beam 632b having a smaller beam angle than the exit beam 632a. In this configuration, the aperture blades 634 and the beam sizing aperture 608 may be damaged by absorbing the blocked energy of the beam 630.

[0056] Figure 8C A configuration is shown in which a beam reducer 624 is introduced into the light beam 630. The beam reducer 624 reduces the light beam 630 to produce a reduced light beam 636 having a narrower beam angle than the light beam 630. In this way, the beam reducer 624 blocks a majority of the light energy from the light beam 630 that would otherwise impinge on the aperture blades 634. The reduced light beam 636 passes through the beam sizing aperture 608 in a reduced aperture size configuration (e.g., below the predetermined threshold described above), thereby producing an exit light beam 632c. However, by the action of the beam reducer 624 producing the reduced light beam 636, a smaller portion of the beam energy of the light beam 630 impinges on the aperture blades 634. Although the exit light beam 632c has the same beam angle as the exit light beam 632b, there is little or no damage to the aperture blades 634 and the beam sizing aperture 608.

[0057] Fig. 9 A flow chart of a method 900 for controlling a luminaire 100 according to the present disclosure is shown. The method 900 begins at block 902, where a command indicating a command aperture value for a beam size aperture is received. For example, the control system 110 may receive a command indicating a command aperture value for the beam size aperture 608 (e.g., via the data link 107). In response to such a command, the control system 110 is configured to move the beam size aperture 608 to achieve the command aperture value.

[0058] The method 900 continues in block 904 by moving a beam reducer of the luminaire 100 between a first position and a second position based on the commanded aperture value. As described above, in the first position, the beam reducer 624 is located outside the light beam emitted from the light source 600. In the second position, the beam reducer 624 receives the light beam from the light source 600 and blocks an outer portion of the emitted light beam to emit a reduced light beam, wherein the reduced light beam has a beam angle that is smaller than the beam angle of the emitted light beam.

[0059] For example, the control system 110 is configured to move the beam reducer 624 to the second position in response to determining that the aperture of the beam size aperture 608 is less than the predetermined threshold. Additionally, or in another example, the control system 110 is configured to move the beam reducer 624 to the first position in response to determining that the aperture of the beam size aperture 608 is greater than the predetermined threshold. In another example, the control system 110 is further configured to move the beam reducer 624 to the second position in response to receiving a command to place the luminaire 100 in a beam reduction mode.

[0060] Thus, method 900 avoids damage to beam sizing aperture 608 by introducing beam reducer 624 into the light beam in response to certain situations where beam sizing aperture 608 might otherwise be damaged if exposed to an unreduced light beam (thus absorbing its light energy).

[0061] Although only some embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art who benefit from the present disclosure that other embodiments may be designed without departing from the scope disclosed herein. Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, it should be appreciated that various changes, substitutions and modifications may be made to the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A system comprising: a light fixture comprising a head configured for rotation relative to a fixed housing of the light fixture, wherein the head comprises a camera access port; a camera module configured to be removably mounted to the camera access port of the light fixture; and A cover plate is configured to be removably mounted to a light fixture head to cover the camera access port, wherein a weight of the cover plate substantially matches a weight of the camera module.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The camera module includes a mounting base, and wherein the mounting base includes a gasket that seals the light fixture to an IP65 rating.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The cover plate includes a gasket configured to seal the light fixture to an IP65 rating.

4. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The lamp includes a signal connector and a power connector, which are configured to be electrically connected to the corresponding signal connector and power connector of the camera module through the camera access port, wherein the signal connector of the lamp is electrically connected to the output connector on the fixed housing of the lamp.

5. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The cover plate includes a plurality of removable weight modules located on an inner side of the cover plate.

6. A lamp, comprising: A head configured to rotate relative to a fixed housing of the light fixture and comprising: Camera access port; and A cover plate is configured to be mounted to the head to cover the camera access port, wherein the cover plate is removable to allow a camera module to be mounted to the head, wherein the weight of the cover plate substantially matches the weight of the camera module.

7. The lamp according to claim 6, wherein: The cover plate includes a gasket configured to seal the light fixture to an IP65 rating.

8. The lamp according to claim 6 or 7, wherein: The head includes a mating area surrounding the camera access port, and wherein the mating area is configured to a) interface with the gasket of the cover plate to provide an IP65 rating when the cover plate is mounted to the head, or b) interface with a gasket of the camera module that is configured to provide an IP65 rating when the camera module is mounted to the head.

9. The luminaire of any one of claims 6 to 8, further comprising a signal connector and a power connector configured to be coupled to corresponding signal connectors and power connectors of the camera module through the camera access port, wherein: The signal connector of the light fixture is electrically coupled to an output connector on the fixed housing of the light fixture.

10. A luminaire according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein: The cover plate includes a plurality of removable weight modules located on an inner side of the cover plate.

11. The luminaire according to any one of claims 6 to 10, further comprising: a first sensor configured to interact with a corresponding second sensor of the camera module when the camera module is coupled to the light fixture; as well as A control system is coupled to the first sensor, wherein the control system is configured to generate a signal indicating that the camera module is coupled to the light fixture based on an interaction of the first sensor with the second sensor.

12. The lamp according to claim 11, wherein The first sensor includes an electromechanical sensor, a magnetic sensor or an optical sensor.

13. A camera module, comprising: a camera configured to generate image data based on light received from a field of view of the camera; as well as A mounting base is coupled to the camera, wherein the mounting base is configured to be removably mounted to a light fixture and cover a camera access port of the light fixture.

14. The camera module according to claim 13, wherein: The mounting base includes a gasket configured to seal the light fixture to an IP65 rating.

15. The camera module of claim 13 or 14, further comprising a signal connector and a power connector coupled to the camera and routed through the mounting base, wherein: The signal connector and the power connector are configured to be coupled to corresponding signal connectors and power connectors of the light fixture through the camera access port.

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