Framing Shutter Mechanism Using Five-Bar Linkage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated framing shutter systems for luminaires are either slow to operate or prone to inaccuracies due to complex mechanisms with many interconnected parts, failing to provide both accurate positioning and rapid movement.
Innovation Solution
A framing shutter mechanism with four independently adjustable and rotatable blades, utilizing a five-bar linkage system and stepper motors for precise control, allowing for quick and accurate positioning and angle adjustment of the blades within the optical train of the luminaire.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a complex mechanism with many interconnected parts is used to achieve accurate positioning and angle adjustment of shutter blades, then positioning precision is improved, but operational speed decreases and mechanical hysteresis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical lead screw systems with a five-bar linkage mechanism coupled with stepper motors. This substitution eliminates the mechanical hysteresis and slow operation associated with lead screws while maintaining precise positioning through the geometric constraints of the five-bar linkage and digital control of the stepper motors.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter blade control is segmented into independent degrees of freedom: radial movement (in/out of beam) and angular rotation are controlled separately by different stepper motors through the five-bar linkage. This segmentation allows each motor to operate independently at full speed without waiting for coordinated movement of multiple interconnected parts, thereby increasing operational speed while maintaining positioning accuracy.
2Manufacturing precision
If a lead screw system is used to control shutter blade movement, then positioning control is achieved, but the system operates slowly and has many interconnected parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the lead screw mechanical system with a five-bar linkage mechanism driven by stepper motors. The five-bar linkage provides inherent mechanical constraints that ensure precise positioning through its geometric structure, while the stepper motors provide digital control without the mechanical complexity and hysteresis of lead screws.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the lead screw component from the system entirely, replacing it with the five-bar linkage mechanism. This extraction eliminates the problematic interconnected parts and mechanical hysteresis while retaining the essential function of precise positioning control through the linkage's geometric constraints.
3Reliability
If traditional framing shutter mechanisms are used, then beam framing is achieved, but the operation is slow and prone to inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the shutter blade system dynamic by enabling independent, rapid movement in multiple degrees of freedom (radial position and angular rotation) through stepper motors and five-bar linkages. This dynamic capability allows the system to quickly adjust beam framing in response to control signals, achieving both high speed operation and high reliability through the precision of the linkage geometry and motor control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional slow-operating mechanical shutter mechanisms with a modernized system using five-bar linkages and stepper motors. This substitution provides reliable, accurate framing through the geometric constraints of the linkage while achieving rapid operation through the direct digital control of the motors without mechanical hysteresis.
Data Source
AI summary
Described are an improved automated luminaire 12 and luminaire systems 10 employing an improved automated framing shutter mechanism 18 for an automated luminaire which provides rapid and accurate operation via a five-bar linkage driven by two motors for each shutter blade constrained by spacer plates and with a circular aperture integrated between at least two of the shutter blades.