Patent Grant
RE43234
Notice: More than one reissue application has been filed for the reissue U.S. Pat. No. 6,605,907. The reissue application numbers are Ser. Nos. 11/199,548 (the present application), 12/852,799, and 13/292,162.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to lighting systems that are digitally controlled and to the light fixtures used therein, and more particularly to such lighting systems as well as to multiparameter lights that have an image projection lighting parameter and a camera and that are useful in such lighting systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Lighting systems are formed typically by interconnecting many light fixtures by a communications system and providing for operator control from a central controller. Such lighting systems may contain multiparameter light fixtures, which illustratively are light fixtures having individually remotely adjustable parameters such as beam size, color, shape, angle, and other light characteristics. Multiparameter light fixtures are widely used in lighting industry because they facilitate significant reductions in overall lighting system size and permit dynamic changes to the final lighting effect. Applications and events in which multiparameter light fixtures are used to great advantage include showrooms, television lighting, stage lighting, architectural lighting, live concerts, and theme parks. Illustrative multiparameter light devices are described in the product brochure entitled “The High End Systems Product Line 2001” and are available from High End Systems, Inc. of Austin, Tex.
Prior to the advent of relatively small commercial digital computers, remote control of light fixtures from a central controller was done with either a high voltage or low voltage current; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,706,914, issued Dec. 19, 1972 to Van Buren, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,898,643, issued Aug. 5, 1975 to Ettlinger. With the widespread use of computers, digital serial communications over wire was widely adopted as a way to achieve remote control; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,139, issued Jun. 13, 1978 to Symonds et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,227, issued Sep. 29, 1987 to Callahan. In 1986, the United States Institute of Theatre Technology (“USITT”) developed a digital communications system protocol for multi-parameter light fixtures known as DMX512. Basically, the DMX512 protocol consists of a stream of data which is communicated one-way from the control device to the light fixture using an Electronics Industry Association (“EIA”) standard for multipoint communications know as RS-485.
A variety of different types of multiparameter light fixtures are available. One type of advanced multiparameter light fixture which is referred to herein as an image projection lighting device (“IPLD”) uses a light valve to project images onto a stage or other projection surface. A light valve, which is also known as an image gate, is a device such as a digital micro-mirror (“DMD”) or a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) that forms the image that is projected. U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,958, issued May 2, 2000 to Hunt, discloses a pixel based gobo record control format for storing gobo images in the memory of a light fixture. The gobo images can be recalled and modified from commands sent by the control console. U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,868, issued Nov. 3, 1998 to Hutton, discloses storing video frames as cues locally in a lamp, and supplying them as directed to the image gate to produce animated and real-time imaging. A single frame can also be manipulated through processing to produce multiple variations. Alternatively, a video communication link can be employed to supply continuous video from a remote source.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,828,485, issued Oct. 27, 1998 to Hewlett, discloses the use of a camera with a DMD equipped light fixture for the purpose of following the shape of the performer and illuminating the performer using a shape that adaptively follows the performer's image. The camera taking the image preferably is located at the lamp illuminating the scene in order to avoid parallax. The image can be manually investigated at each lamp or downloaded to some central processor for this purpose. This results in a shadowless follow spot.
While the type of light fixture that provides a shadowless follow spot function and while the type of light fixture that stores images internally for projection have value in the lighting industry, these types of light fixtures and/or the lighting systems in which they operate all limit the operator of the lighting system to carrying out image projection operations on the basis of individual light fixtures. Moreover, having to store images at the light fixture is very limiting to the user of the device, since the operator must upload images to the light fixture from a computer before placing the light fixture into service.
These and other disadvantages of the prior art are overcome in one or more embodiments of the present invention by supporting two or more channels of content in digital form, including content such as image content, over one communications path for projection by multiple IPLDs in a lighting system, or by supporting a command channel and at least one channel of content in digital form, including content such as image content, over one communications path for projection by at least one IPLD in a lighting system. The term “image” is a general term that refers to a wide variety of image types, including continuous video images such as movies, graphic effects, and news programs, and still images such as pictures and clip art. In this way, one or more IPLDs on the same communications system may be supplied with one or more different channels of image content while at the same time being able to respond to commands, thereby giving the operator of the lighting system enormous creative control with regard to the image content projected by the various IPLDs in the system. The term “content” is a general term that refers to various types of creative works, including image-type works and audio works.
One embodiment of the present invention is a lighting system comprising a central controller, a digital communications path, and a plurality of image projection lighting devices. The digital communications path comprises a plurality of content transfer channels having respective unique content transfer channel addresses and being individually selectable in accordance with the content transfer channel addresses thereof. The plurality of image projection lighting devices have respective unique device addresses and are interconnected by the digital communications path for communicating content on a selected one or more of the content transfer channels in response to commands from the central controller.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a lighting system comprising a first digital communications path compliant with a DMX protocol; a second digital communications path having a bandwidth sufficient for transferring content in digital form; a plurality of light fixtures interconnected by the first digital communications path, the light fixtures including a plurality of image projection lighting devices having respective unique device addresses and being interconnected by both the first and second digital communications paths; and a DMX controller interconnected with the light fixtures by the first digital communications path. The second digital communications path is a bidirectional path comprising a plurality of addressable content transfer channels individually selectable by the DMX controller in accordance with the addresses thereof.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a multiparameter light comprising an internal control system, a light valve, an image control interface coupling the light valve to the internal control system, and a communications port coupled to the internal control system. The internal control system comprises a component for recognizing a unique device address received at the communications port on a control channel, and a component for selectively accessing a plurality of content transfer channels having respective unique content transfer channel addresses to communicate content in digital form thereon in response to receipt of the unique device address and at least one of the content transfer channel addresses at the communications port on the control channel.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of controlling a lighting system comprising a digital communications path with a bandwidth sufficient for communicating a plurality of content signals in digital form on respective transfer channels having respective unique channel addresses, and a plurality of image projection lighting devices interconnected by the digital communications path and having respective unique device addresses. The method comprises selecting a first one of the image projection lighting devices by the unique device address thereof; accessing with the first image projection lighting device a first one of the transfer channels of the digital communications path by the unique channel address thereof; carrying a first content signal over the digital communications path on the first transfer channel during at least part of the first image projection lighting device accessing step; selecting a second one of the image projection lighting devices by the unique device address thereof; accessing with the second image projection lighting device a second one of the transfer channels of the digital communications path by the unique channel address thereof; and carrying a second content signal over the digital communications path on the second transfer channel during at least part of the second image projection lighting device accessing step.
A further embodiment of the present invention is a lighting system comprising a central controller; an image projection lighting device comprising a housing, a light valve contained within the housing, and at least one communications connector mounted to the housing; and a digital communications path comprising a plurality of content transfer channels having respective unique content transfer channel addresses, the digital communications path being coupled to the central controller and further being coupled to the image projection lighting device via the communications connector.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a lighting system comprising a central controller; an image projection lighting device comprising a housing, a light valve contained within the housing, an external video input mounted to the housing, an external audio input mounted to the housing, and at least one communications connector mounted to the housing; and a digital communications path comprising a plurality of content transfer channels having respective unique content transfer channel addresses, the digital communications path being coupled to the central controller and further being coupled to the image projection lighting device via the communications connector.
Although the IPLD shown in
The DMX port is provided in the IPLDs of
Other types of multiparameter light fixtures such as, for example, the unitary housing type that uses mirrors to direct the projected light (not shown), may also be equipped for image projection lighting and may also be provided with a camera.
While the camera 140 may be integrated with the lamp housing 130 in any desired manner, and may be independently positionable if desired, preferably the camera 140 is rigidly and securely attached to the lamp housing 130. The camera 140 thereby receives an image from wherever the lamp housing 130 is directed at by the pan and tilt mechanism of the multiparameter light 100. In this way, the light projected by the multiparrameter light and the camera essentially point in the same direction. Images received by the camera 140 are sent to the control electronics located within the base housing 110 of the multiparameter light fixture 100.
Having a camera mounted on a multiparameter light fixture is advantageous in may ways. For example, frequently large television shows such as award shows and the like use many multiparameter lights on the stage set. A broadcasting company may also use several cameras to create several camera angles that provide different looks at the stage, for broadcast purposes. IPLD type of light fixtures also may be mounted at many locations on the stage set. Some will often be mounted on the stage itself behind the performer. Some lights of the invention will be mounted overhead of the performer while still others are mounted to stage right or left. A camera as a component of a IPLD can produce at or almost broadcast quality pictures from aspects of the stage where the broadcast companies television cameras are not located and do not have the ability to image that particular location or direction. The video camera may be a block camera type such as those available from Sony Broadcast and Professional of One Sony Drive Park Ridge, N.J. The communications port 112 is connected to a digital communications path (
The multiparameter light 100 is suitable for use in a communications system with other multiparameter lights, which may or may not be IPLD type, as well as with other types of light fixtures that may or may not have integrated cameras. The communications system may be single path or multiple path. A suitable multiple path communications system is described in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,756 entitled “Method and Apparatus for Digital Communications with Multiparameter Light Fixtures,” which issued Dec. 18, 2001 and hereby is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The communications system of
Content transfer channels each have an identification scheme or address. The identification scheme is defined as a way for the central processor of the IPLD to recognize a particular content transfer channel from a group of available content transfer channels available on the enhanced performance communications path. Examples of suitable address or identification schemes include a specific digital code such as a stream of bytes identifying the start of the channel, a timed based address when one particular content transfer channel starts sending video information, and the expected order of the content transfer channels. Any scheme by which an IPLD can select one particular content transfer channel from a plurality of content transfer channels is an identification scheme, and is herein referred to as an “address” for convenience. A particular IPLD is commanded over the enhanced performance communications path by commands sent from the central controller 380 to select, for example, content transfer channel 1 from several content transfer channels, and to decode the content transfer channel information and project the resultant image.
Each of the IPLDs 312, 314 and 316 has a unique device identifying address for use with the control channel of the enhanced performance communications path. This enables an operator to send operation commands to a specific IPLD from among many IPLDs. The command set used by the control channel for commanding the IPLDs may include but are not limited to the following commands: Lamp ON, Lamp OFF, X and Y (pan and tilt) coordinates, color change values, intensity values, request for service information, lens focus, and lens zoom. The command set may also include commands for the on board camera, such as zoom, focus, color balance, camera enable and iris. The control channel may have any suitable address or identification scheme, including, for example, a default address, a specific digital code such as a stream of bytes identifying the start of the channel, a timed based address when one particular channel starts sending information, an expected channel ordering, and so forth.
As implemented in
The system architecture of an IPLD-type multiparameter light 400 having a camera 464 contained in a camera housing 460 that is rigidly attached to a lamp housing 440 is shown in
The IPLD 400 has separate base and lamp housing sections with respective housings 410 and 440. The lamp housing section 440 is capable of pan and tilt relative to the base housing 410 by virtue of yoke (see yoke 120 in
The communications port 413 has an input to receive the DMX transmissions from the DMX controller 370. The DMX input typically is looped through an output to pass communications received on the input to a neighboring light fixture (not shown) in the lighting system. The communications port 411 is an I/O port for handling communications between the central controller 380 and the IPLD 400 over the preferably bi-directional enhanced performance communications path, and may terminate the connection or act as a pass through depending on the networking technology used for the enhanced performance communications path. If desired, one may use a priority determining system such as, for example, the type described in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,756 entitled “Method and Apparatus for Digital Communications with Multiparameter Light Fixtures,” which issued Dec. 18, 2001 and which hereby is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
If the central controller 380 transmits an address on the control channel over the enhanced performance communications path that is the same as the address of the IPLD 400, the match is recognized by the microprocessor 416 which then responds to an operational command that follows the address on the enhanced performance communications path. The memory 415 stores the operating system for the microprocessor 416, as well as various applications programs that are capable of producing or modifying images. One type of program for producing images is the graphics program, which generates artistic images using various algorithms. An example of a graphics program is the Gforce program, which is available from Andy O'Meara from his Website at the internet address http://www.55ware.com/index.html. The memory 415 is any type or combination of types of memory, including ROM and RAM, implemented in any desired memory technology, including magnetic, electronic or optical. If desired, the memory 415 may buffer incoming image data received from the communications port 411, from the camera 464, or from the external video input connector 422 to assist in producing a visually error free signal to the image control interface 412.
The microprocessor 416 acts on commands that are received from the communications system to control various parameters of the IPLD 400. For example, the microprocessor 416 controls the motors of the IPLD 400 through the motor control interface 418, controls power levels and duty cycle of the lamp 445 by controlling the lamp power supply 421 through the lamp power supply control interface 419, and to control the light valve 446 through the image control interface 412. Commands of this type may be received over the DMX communications path from the DMX controller 370 or over the enhanced performance communications path from the central controller 380. Other types of commands not conventionally sent over a DMX communications path may be sent over the enhanced performance communications path. For example, the microprocessor 416 may act on commands that are received over the enhanced performance communications path from the central controller 380 to control the camera 464 through the video control interface 417.
The microprocessor 416 also receives image data that is transmitted over one or more content transfer channels from the central controller 380 or from other IPLDs in the lighting system 400.
The microprocessor 416 also receives video signals from the video control interface 417. The video control interface 417 may include the ability to process the video signal in various ways, such as, for example, by compressing the video received from the camera 464, or signal compression may be performed in the microprocessor 416. The microprocessor 416 may use the camera video in various ways. One way is simply to use the camera video to control the light valve 446 through the image control interface 412. Another way is to transmit the camera image to any one or more other IPLDs in the lighting system or to the central controller 380 by transmitting the addresses of the selected IPLDs or the central controller 380 over the enhanced performance communications path on the control channel via the communications port 411, and transmitting the camera video over the enhanced performance communications path on one of the content transfer channels via the communications port 411. If the camera image is sent to the central controller 380, the central controller 380 may store the camera image for later use by any IPLD in the lighting system, or may manipulate the image in a manner to produce special effects or some pleasing alteration and then stored for later use or returned to the IPLD 400 or sent to any other IPLD in the lighting system. Any camera image received, stored, or manipulated by the central controller 380 may also be sent to a television network wireless transmitter 360 and transmitted over the airways or via satellite.
Transmitting a camera image from one IPLD (a “source”) to another IPLD (a “recipient”) in the lighting system may be performed by the operator in various ways, using the central controller 380. The operator may select the source or recipient first, depending on the desired effect. The operator selects the source IPLD by, for example, using the keyboard to type in the address of the source IPLD followed by the command to send its video image to the address of the particular content transfer channel. The operator selects the recipient IPLD by, for example, using the keyboard to type in the address of the recipient IPLD followed by the command to project any image data appearing on the particular content transfer channel that has been addressed. Alternatively or in addition to the projection command sent to the recipient IPLD, the recipient IPLD may be instructed to store any image data appearing on the particular content transfer channel. A variety of other addressing schemes, including addressing schemes well known in the art, are suitable for use in transmitting a camera image from one IPLD to another.
If the IPLD 400 is designated as a recipient IPLD for storage of images transmitted on one or more particular content transfer channels, the memory 415 would contain one or more sets of images received over one or more content transfer channels. These image data are stored and cataloged in the memory 415 of the IPLD 400 in any appropriate manner; for example, by date, time and address received from or by designated file names. The date, time and address image that identifies the image file may automatically become the identifier of the file when the record command is given from the central controller 380. It is also possible for the store command to contain a file name so that the operator can name the image file with the keyboard of the central controller 380 for later recall from the memory 415.
While the central controller 370 (
It will be appreciated that if all the light fixtures in the lighting system are interconnected by the communications path from the central controller 380, all of the functions of the DMX controller 370 as well as additional functions may be performed by the central controller 380. In this event, the DMX controller 370 and the DMX communications path may be omitted from the lighting system.
While image content may be transferred under operator control from the central controller 380, the DMX controller 370 may be used to control the transfer of image content between the IPLDs in the lighting system over the enhanced performance communications path in a manner similar to that described for the central controller 380, even in the absence of the central controller 380. The image data transferred between IPLDs can be projected immediately, stored locally, or both stored and projected, and may even be cataloged if desired. In this way the DMX controller 370 with the simpler protocol can still command a show of significant magnitude.
While
An auxiliary channel may carry additionally or separately other types of information, including audio information and low quality image information. Each IPLD may be equipped with a transducer device such as described in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,249,091, which issued Jun. 19, 2001, and hereby is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The transducer may be a microphone such as the microphone 462 (
The IPLD may also have at least one external video input such as the video input 423 (
The microprocessor 416 may be programmed in various ways to process images, whether received from the camera 464, from the external video input 423, any image content (video or graphics) received over any content transfer channel, and any image content (video or graphics) stored in the memory 415. The microprocessor 416 in the IPLD 400 may be commanded by the central controller 380 to act upon any of the sources of content described above. The IPLD 400 may act upon the various content in a variety of different ways, as by transferring content to another IPLD over the communications system, or by projecting an image using the light valve 446 on a stage or other projection surface. Modifications include but are not limited to rotation of the image, digital zoom, keystone correction, color modification, fading between one video content source such as one content transfer channel to another, and various other special effects.
As can be seen by comparing
The level of quality established for the various content transfer channels may be dynamically set by the operator. The operator decides which of the central controller 380 and the other IPLDs in the lighting system are to receive the image content from the source IPLD, and also decides on the importance of a particular image content that is intended to be transmitted. Using the central controller 380, the operator enters using the keyboard or any other suitable input technique the source IPLD address, followed by the address of the content transfer channel to be used for sending the particular image content, followed by a quality identifier to indicate the level of quality. Using the central controller 380, the operator enters using the keyboard or any other suitable input technique the recipient IPLD (or central controller) address or addresses, followed by the address of the content transfer channel to be used for sending the particular image content to the recipient, followed by a quality identifier to indicate the level of quality.
Preferably, a quality identifier is furnished to both the source and recipient so that the source may ready the data by preparing the appropriate level of compression, and the recipient may optimize the receiving process. The part of the communications system under control of the central controller 380 preferably is designed so that an operator of the central controller 380 can command all the IPLDs, including what is being sent on a content transfer channel, what IPLD is projecting from what content transfer channel, and what the quality of the video is on the content transfer channel. The quality identifier can happen as a separate identifier that is sent when the commands are given for the IPLD to select the designated content transfer channel, or it could automatically happen by the IPLD just recognizing the bandwidth or other attributes such as a data stream of the content transfer channel. Preferably, the IPLD receives specific commands that identify the quality of the channel it is about to act upon. The order in which the commands are given can be varied. For instance, the operator could address an IPLD to receive a particular content transfer channel at a particular quality level, and to act by projecting that image content with no image content yet being transferred on the particular content transfer channel. Later the operator could supply from the control system a continuous video signal over that particular content transfer channel, in which event the IPLD would respond as soon as the continuous video signal is detected on the particular content transfer channel.
The description of the invention and its applications as set forth herein is illustrative and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. Variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein are possible, and practical alternatives to and equivalents of the various elements of the embodiments are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. These and other variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
This patent document is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/002,708, filed Nov. 1, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,459,217, which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/394,300, filed Sep. 10, 1999 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,756, issued Dec. 18, 2001), all of which hereby are fully incorporated herein in their entirety by reference thereto.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3706914 | Van Buren | Dec 1972 | A |
| 3898643 | Ettlinger | Aug 1975 | A |
| 4095139 | Symonds et al. | Jun 1978 | A |
| 4697227 | Callahan | Sep 1987 | A |
| 4980806 | Taylor et al. | Dec 1990 | A |
| 5085495 | Iwahara et al. | Feb 1992 | A |
| 5113332 | Richardson | May 1992 | A |
| 5769527 | Taylor et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
| 5828485 | Hewlett | Oct 1998 | A |
| 5829868 | Hutton | Nov 1998 | A |
| 5988817 | Mizushima et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
| 6057958 | Hunt | May 2000 | A |
| 6099128 | Jessl | Aug 2000 | A |
| 6113253 | Yoshii et al. | Sep 2000 | A |
| 6208087 | Hughes et al. | Mar 2001 | B1 |
| 6219093 | Perry | Apr 2001 | B1 |
| 6249091 | Belliveau | Jun 2001 | B1 |
| 6331756 | Belliveau | Dec 2001 | B1 |
| 6375327 | Holman et al. | Apr 2002 | B2 |
| 6400394 | Kim et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
| 6412972 | Pujol et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
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| 6588944 | Harris | Jul 2003 | B2 |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 09394300 | Sep 1999 | US |
| Child | 10002708 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10002708 | Nov 2001 | US |
| Child | 10090926 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10090926 | Mar 2002 | US |
| Child | 11199548 | US |
