Zoom lighting fixture having multifunction actuator

A lighting fixture for imaging light at a distant location, comprising:

• a housing;
• an illuminator;
• one or more optical components;
• and
• a positioning mechanism mounted on the housing and configured to control the position of the one or more optical components with respect to the illuminator, the positioning mechanism having an actuator;
• wherein the one or more optical components are positioned by the positioning mechanism to form an optical system, the optical system being characterized by a focal point positioned at a focal length that can be varied;
• wherein the actuator is configured to be moved relative to the housing in a first independent degree of freedom to vary the optical system's focal length;
• and
• wherein the actuator is configured to be moved relative to the housing in a second independent degree of freedom to vary the relative positions of the illuminator and the optical system's focal point without significantly varying the optical system's focal length.

A front projection system for imaging light at a distant location, comprising:

• a housing defining an aperture for receiving light;
• a first optical component configured to receive and transmit light received by the aperture;
• a second optical component configured to receive light transmitted by the first optical component and project it at the distant location to image the light;
• a positioning mechanism mounted on the housing and configured to control the position of the first and second optical components with respect to the aperture, the positioning mechanism having an actuator;
• wherein the actuator is configured to be moved relative to the housing in a first independent degree of freedom to adjust the distance between the first optical component and the second optical component;
• and
• wherein the actuator is configured to be moved relative to the housing in a second independent degree of freedom to adjust the relative distance between the aperture and the first and second optical components.

A lens positioning mechanism for positioning a first optical component and a second optical component on a housing to image a beam of light at a distant location, comprising:

• an adjustable frame configured to be mounted on the housing, the frame having an actuator;
• wherein the frame is configured to positionably control the first optical component and the second optical component with respect to the housing;
• wherein the actuator is configured to be moved relative to the housing in a first independent degree of freedom to adjust the distance between the first optical component and the second optical component;
• and
• wherein the actuator is configured to be moved relative to the housing in a second independent degree of freedom to displace each optical component relative to the housing, while maintaining each optical components position relative to the other optical component.

A method of imaging light from an illuminator, at a distant location, comprising:

• providing a housing, a first optical component, and a second optical component, wherein the first and second optical components are configured to project the light at the distant location to image the light, wherein the housing includes an actuator configured to adjust the distance between a first optical component and a second optical component in response to being moved in a first independent degree of freedom, and wherein the actuator is configured to displace each optical component relative to the housing, while maintaining each optical component's position relative to the other optical component, in response to being moved in a second independent degree of freedom;
• moving the actuator in its first independent degree of freedom relative to the housing to controllably adjust the beam spread;
• and
• moving the actuator in its second independent degree of freedom relative to the housing to controllably adjust the distance at which the light is imaged.

A lighting fixture for imaging light at a distant location, comprising:

• a housing;
• a means for illuminating the housing;
• one or more optical components;
• and
• a means for controlling the position of the one or more optical components with respect to the means for illuminating, the means for controlling being mounted on the housing and having an actuator;
• wherein the one or more optical components are positioned by the means for controlling to form an optical system, the optical system being characterized by a focal point positioned at a focal length that can be varied;
• wherein the actuator is configured to be moved relative to the housing in a first independent degree of freedom to vary the optical system's focal length;
• and
• wherein the actuator is configured to be moved relative to the housing in a second independent degree of freedom to vary the relative positions of the illuminator and the optical system's focal point without significantly varying the optical system's focal length.