Light fixture with fabric layer having printed dots

Abstract

A light fixture is disclosed. The light fixture includes a frame, a light source disposed within and coupled to the frame, and a lens coupled to the light source. The light also includes a first fabric layer coupled to the frame at a first distance from the lens and a second fabric layer coupled to the frame at a second distance from the lens. The first fabric layer has a plurality of dots printed thereon.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A light fixture comprising:
 a light source; and   a translucent fabric layer disposed below and spaced apart from the light source,   wherein the fabric layer comprises a plurality of ink dots printed thereon, and   wherein the fabric layer is spaced apart from the light source by between two and twelve inches.   
     
     
         2 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , wherein light emitted by the light source passes through the dots, and
 wherein the dots modify the chromaticity of the light that passes through the dots.   
     
     
         3 . The light fixture of  claim 2 , wherein light emitted by the light source passes through the fabric layer, and
 wherein chromaticity of the light that passes through the dots is modified differently from chromaticity of the light that passes through the fabric layer.   
     
     
         4 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the dots are uniformly distributed on the fabric layer. 
     
     
         5 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric layer comprises a lightly woven fabric. 
     
     
         6 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a diverging lens. 
     
     
         7 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises an array of light-emitting diodes. 
     
     
         8 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the light source emits light at a light emission angle of at least 150 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , further comprising a frame,
 wherein the light source is disposed within the frame,   wherein the fabric layer extends across the frame, and   wherein light from the light source either passes through the fabric layer or reflects back within the frame.   
     
     
         10 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , wherein 75%-90% of light emitted by the light source passes through the fabric layer. 
     
     
         11 . A fabric layer comprising:
 a translucent fabric; and   a plurality of dots printed on the translucent fabric,   wherein the fabric layer modifies color characteristics of light passing through the fabric layer by a combination of reflecting light, refracting light through areas of the fabric layer without dots, and refracting light through the dots.   
     
     
         12 . The fabric layer of  claim 11 , wherein the dots are ink. 
     
     
         13 . The fabric layer of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the modified color characteristics is color temperature. 
     
     
         14 . A light fixture, comprising:
 a light source; and   the fabric layer of  claim 11  disposed below and spaced apart from the light source,   wherein the light passing through the fabric layer emanates from the light source.   
     
     
         15 . The light fixture of  claim 14 , wherein the light source emits the light at a light emission angle of at least 150 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . A method of producing light with desired color characteristics, the method comprising:
 passing light from a light source through a first fabric layer having dots printed thereon in a first configuration, wherein color characteristics of the light are altered by the first fabric layer and the dots;   measuring color characteristic values of the light after it has passed through the first fabric layer; and   comparing the measured color characteristic values against target color characteristic values;   modifying a dot parameter based on the comparison to define a second dot configuration;   passing light from the light source through a second fabric layer having dots printed thereon in the second dot configuration.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising diverging the light from the light source through a lens, wherein the lens emits the light at a light emission angle of at least 150 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the dot parameter is a dot pattern. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the dot parameter is dot color. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the dot parameter is at least one of dot shape or dot size.