This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for controlling the focal point of light sources wirelessly and by utilizing a graphical user interface.
There is a need for a device which will allow a user to wirelessly and seamlessly manipulate the focal point of a light source in a user-friendly manner. In many applications, light sources must be directed to a target area such as on an actor on a stage. Because these target areas move, the light source must also move with the actor. The light source can be manually moved, as by an operator moving an articulable light source by hand, in order to follow the actor. This can expose the operator to dangerous heights, high temperatures from the light source, and can result in jerky or improper following of the target. An automated system may also be used but should the target stray from the choreographed positions then the light source will no longer be correctly located. Even partially manual systems, whereby a position is tracked utilizing an electromechanical system operated by a user, thereby moving the operator from the ceiling to the ground and resulting in somewhat smoother movements, is not user friendly. If several knobs corresponding to the various axes of motion are provided to a user, said user may accidentally mistranslate the direction of the light source owing to confusion.
As such, there is a need for a device which provides a user friendly manner of directing a light source to a target and for allowing the ready tracking of a target.
The present invention is, in one embodiment, a graphical-user-interface manipulable lighting system comprising:
(a) a light source having a position of focus constituting a physical address location;
(b) an articulator for said light source adapted to receive a first signal indicating a position in a room where said position of focus of said light source is to be directed and further adapted to move said light source such that the position of focus of said light source is on the position in the room indicated by said first signal;
(c) a control box adapted to receive said first signal indicating said position in said room where the position of focus of said light source is to be directed, said control box further adapted to transmit a second signal indicating the current position of focus of said light source, said control box further adapted to transmit said first signal to said articulator; and
(d) a computer adapted to transmit said first signal indicating the intended position of said focus, said computer adapted to receive a second signal indicating the current position of focus of said light source, said computer adapted to allow a user to indicate the intended position of said focus, said computer adapted to allow a user to drag a graphical icon representing the current position of focus of said light source to an intended position of said focus, said computer adapted to translate the location of said graphical icon after dragging into said first signal.
The present invention also comprises, in one embodiment, a method for tracking an object with a light source comprising the steps of:
(a) providing the graphical-user-interface manipulable lighting system above;
(b) providing a two dimensional grid on the ground and assigning each light source a digital multiplex command which provides at least one encoder and at least one step motor on said articulators the X-Y location of a section of the grid in which said X-Y location corresponds to said physical address location for said focus of the light source.
(c) locating a target on the display of said computer in which said target is an object, entity, or position on the grid;
(d) moving the iconical representation of said target on the display of said computer and thereby assigning a new physical address location for said light source; and
(e) allowing said system to articulate said light source to said new physical address location.
The present invention can best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown in drawings, in which:
100 Light and Light Articulator; 102 Operator; 104 Data and Control Stream; 106 Light Range of Motion and Grid; 108 Floor; 110 Light Beam Focal Point; 112 Perpendicular Path from Light Source to Grid; 114 Ceiling; 116 Control Unit/Tablet; 118 Antenna; 120 Light's Current Position before Movement; 122 Light's Intended Position before Movement; 124 Light's Previous Position after Movement; 126 Light's Current Position after Movement.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, light tracking is accomplished by laying down a two dimensional grid on the ground and assigning each articulable or robotic light a digital multiplex (“DMX”) command that provides the encoders and step motors (that control the articulable or robotic light) the X-Y location of that section of the grid. Any communications protocol, including DMX512-A, RS-485 based communications protocols, or other protocols useful for controlling stage lighting and generally known in the art, may be used to provide a DMX or other command. In an embodiment for an operating room, approximately four inch squares within a fifteen foot circle centered on the center-point of an operating table therein may be provided to form the grid.
Once these “addresses” have been assigned in physical space by an installer of the lighting units, a virtual grid is rendered on a GUI interface of a computer, and each corresponding grid mark location in the rendering is assigned the same location address. When the user “grabs” the virtual light spot in the GUI, and “moves” it to a different location, the software varies the address instructions as the spot is moved in the GUI, and the robotic lighting controllers move the light along the path of the corresponding address assignments. As a result, a user is induced to feel that they are “moving” the light; whereas they are actually merely assigning new address locations to the robotic or articulable lighting control devices which then redirect the lights.
In a preferred embodiment, a user 102 operates the computer 116 by touching the screen at the point containing an icon representing the position of the light and dragging the position (indicated by the arrow between 120 and 122 & 124 and 126 in
In one application of an embodiment of the invention, the system is used to track an actor on a stage. An operator may observe the actor on the stage and drag the iconical representation of the focal point of the light source to correspond to the actor's position. As the actor's position changes, the operator may drag the iconical representation accordingly. If the target is wearing a locator means, such as a radio-frequency identification (“RFID”) device, a BLUE-TOOTH device, a transponder, or other location means, then the computer can be commanded to automatically adjust the light source to follow the actor.
In another application, the system can be used in an operating room or other hospital environment. A patient (or even a surgeon or other staff member) can be affixed with a location device or a surgeon or other operator can simply track a patient's position using the graphical user interface on the computer. With multiple light sources, the computer can be used to track—either manually or automatically—a number of persons or patients in a room. Such a system could be integrated with other devices in the room. For example, a table may exist in the room whereupon a patient is placed. If the table is to be adjusted, such as by rotating the table such that the head of the table spins about the center axis of the table, then the computer can be linked to move the light source such that the light source is in constant placement over a portion or portions of the patient. In this manner, for example, a patient's head can remain illuminated while the patient is moved.
In the foregoing description, certain terms and visual depictions are used to illustrate the preferred embodiment. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be construed by the terms used or illustrations depicted, beyond what is shown in the prior art, since the terms and illustrations are exemplary only, and are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention. It is further known that other modifications may be made to the present invention, without departing the scope of the invention, as noted in the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of the provisional application No. 60/947,747 filed 3 Jul. 2007 and the complete content of this application is incorporated by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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20060284734 | Newman, Jr. | Dec 2006 | A1 |
20070229250 | Recker et al. | Oct 2007 | A1 |
20070268680 | Lee | Nov 2007 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20090009984 A1 | Jan 2009 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60947747 | Jul 2007 | US |