Light Attenuating Mask for Photography Luminaire Reflection Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Luminaires used in photography often produce harsh lighting and unwanted reflections, leading to excessive brightness and optical effects that disrupt the final image, particularly when illuminating shiny or reflective objects.
Innovation Solution
A transparent or translucent mask is interposed between the luminaire and the subject, featuring light obstructing structures that progressively suppress light transmission with increasing distance from the central axis of the light beam, diffusing and attenuating light to minimize harshness and reflections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a luminaire is used to illuminate a subject for photography, then the illumination level is improved, but harsh lighting and unwanted reflections are produced
Solution Approach 1:
A mask is introduced as an intermediary element between the luminaire and the subject. The mask selectively transmits and blocks light to soften harsh lighting effects and prevent unwanted reflections while maintaining adequate illumination levels on the subject.
Solution Approach 2:
The mask applies different light transmission properties to different regions of the light beam. The central region allows more light transmission while peripheral regions have increased light blocking, creating a graduated effect that softens lighting without completely blocking illumination.
2Illumination intensity
If light is intensified to illuminate certain portions of an object, then visibility is improved, but overly bright lighting disrupts the final image
Solution Approach 1:
The mask creates localized variations in light transmission across different areas of the light beam. By having the mask structure with varying opacity or light-blocking properties in different regions, it allows adequate visibility in illuminated areas while preventing overly bright spots that would disrupt the image.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of trying to intensify light and then reduce it, the approach inverts the process by pre-distributing light intensity through the mask design. The mask is configured to naturally distribute light more evenly before it reaches the subject, avoiding the need for post-processing to reduce overly bright areas.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a mask is introduced to control light, then unwanted optical effects are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mask is implemented as a thin, flexible element that can be easily positioned and adjusted. This thin-film approach minimizes the physical complexity of the device while still achieving the desired light control effects, as the mask can be a simple sheet with patterned light-blocking properties rather than a complex mechanical system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces unwanted optical effects, eliminating discrete lighting zones and transitions, resulting in more balanced and visually appealing images by controlling light intensity and reflections.
Implementation Method 1
diffusing and attenuating light to minimize harshness and reflections
Implementation Method 2
light obstructing structure arranged so as to suppress light transmission progressively and increasingly with increasing distance from the center of the projected light beam
Data Source
AI summary
Method and apparatus for attenuating unwanted aspects of lighting from a luminaire which is disposed to illuminate an object or objects being photographed. A light attenuating mask is disposed between the luminaire and the object or objects. The light attenuating mask may diffuse, obstruct, or otherwise modify projected light such that light intensity is diminished, unwanted reflections of the luminaire are suppressed, or other aspects of the light are altered. The mask may attach to the luminaire or may be free standing and separate therefrom.