Concept to Product: The Halo L1955 Beam Concentrator

The product now marketed by Halo Lighting began as a prototype in the early 80's, when Dan Kainen was experimenting with focused beams, like stage lights, that used a lens to create a sharply defined spot. The problem that arose was cost and size; in many applications, a low wattage beam was all that was required and stage lights were expensive over-kill. So called "Framing Projectors", if bought from a lighting company, rather than a stage supply, used green, common glass lenses, and were very inefficient, although their power level (usually 75Watts or below), was appropriate. Mr Kainen noticed that the 2" diameter MR-16 quartz reflector bulb, in its flood design, actually focused to a narrow, 5/8" spot, just over an inch away from the bulb's rim. By putting an aperture at that spot, and a very short focal length lens on the opposite side of the aperture, an "ideal" projector was formed, having equal length condenser and projection focal-lengths, and so creating an optimal situation for both light output and projector size. Because the MR-16 fixtures were ubiquitous, the projector unit was made as a snap-on accessory to fit the large majority of MR-16 fixtures, further lowering cost. Rather than use "framing shutters", or leaves, as stage lights do, three, snap-in discs of descending size were used for different, round, spot sizes, fulfilling most applications, and again reducing manufacturing cost. Lightolier brand immediately came out with a framing projector retrofit of their own, but the Halo unit was, and still is, the most compact, efficient, and low-cost projector of its kind.