Patent Grant
7961075
The present invention relates to programmable lighting units, and particularly to programmable lighting units employable in the field of events.
DE102004007057 discloses a concept of transmitting a DMX-512 signal for control of lighting bodies. Particularly, a DMX signal is created at a control console at a first location and compressed via a transmitting modem and modulated onto the usual power supply signal. The compressed DMX signal is then transmitted via the normal power supply network to a lighting system at a distant location. There, a receiving modem is provided which extracts the DMX signal and controls a lighting system with it. Alternatively, the transmission from the control console at the first location to the lighting system at the second location can take place wirelessly such that a radio transmitting modem is provided at the control console and that a radio receiving modem is provided at the distant location where the lighting system is located. Particularly, signals for controlling the color of the lighting body or signals for panning and/or rotating (PAN/TILT) are transmitted to the lighting body to activate one or multiple motors starting from these signals to direct the spot of the lighting body to a desired place.
Particularly, lighting bodies in the field of events or in the sector of stage lighting are often put up, taken down and put up again at another place. Furthermore, recent intelligent programmable lighting units have a high functionality and depending on form of design a high price. On the other hand, an organizer does not necessarily have to own a great number of programmable lighting units. Instead, the number of rental service providers, which lend out programmable lighting units from event to event as needed, increases.
Therefore, it can no longer be assumed that a lighting unit, once it has been put up, will remain at this place forever. Instead, exactly the opposite is becoming reality, namely that a lighting unit is put up at a place, then an event takes place, for example, for one or more days and weeks, and then the lighting unit is taken down again, transported to another location and put up there again for another event.
On the other hand, many intelligent devices used in the sector of stage lighting can be addressed by means of serial data protocols, to be able to transmit the numerous control signals, for example, concerning the brightness, the color, the direction of the spot, etc., to the lighting unit. In particular, a data line is piped hereby from the control console to the first device, then to the second device, then to the third, and so on. In order to achieve this, a data address must be assigned to the individual devices such that each device extracts the part of the data protocol or the channel which contains the data that is intended for the corresponding device.
A possibility for initializing the devices, i.e., to perform a set up for the devices, is using the DIP switches at the back of each device. This procedure, however, is complicated because the DIP switches are small and sensitive and can therefore be damaged due to frequent rough handling in the event sector. Additionally, the person adjusting the DIP switches had to know the binary code.
An alternative possibility is performing this set up initialization by displays and buttons of which there are often four which have the functions Yes/No/More/Less. Alternatively, there are rotation encoders. With them operation has become more comfortable. But now the problem is that power supply is needed for the setting of the devices, i.e., to supply the displays and buttons or the rotation encoders with current. It is especially this supply which is often not available for systems which are put up in alternate halls, like systems which are “on tour” together with a band. In most cases, these devices must be hung up first, while the mobile power supply is installed only later on and the supply of the hall is too weak or turned off. Once the devices have been hung up under the ceiling in a concert hall, adjusting becomes a task for acrobats.
An alternative possibility is improving the adjustment by means of accumulator-buffered systems. This does not render the handling independent of voltage, but has a few major disadvantages. An accumulator and an elaborated charging electronics are necessary. Accumulators contain problematic substances as, for example, cadmium, and are therefore critical. Additionally, accumulators only have a limited lifetime and they further have the problem of self discharge. This means, when the device is not operated regularly, the accumulator will be empty one day or the other and will no longer be of use. This can occur particularly in the rental sector when a lighting unit has not been lent out for a longer period. In case of a supply with an accumulator the power electronics of a remote controlled lighting unit must be decoupled elaborately, for example for motor drives and control electronics, because the accumulator would rapidly be empty when having to supply the complete device with current. On the other hand, when supplying the whole device with current by the accumulator, the accumulator would be unnecessarily big and heavy. When the electronics for the controller and for normal operation of the lighting unit are decoupled, a data address is adjustable but a functional test is still not viable because the device itself does not run which is why the functionality and/or correctness of the adjustment cannot be tested.
According to an embodiment, a programmable lighting unit may have: a radio interface for receiving parameter data; a parameter adjustment means for adjusting one or multiple parameters of the programmable lighting unit using the parameter data; a controllable lamp for emitting light; a control input for receiving control data for the controllable lamp; and a controller for controlling the controllable lamp using the control data, wherein the controller is adapted to be programmed using the parameters such that a reaction by the controller to the control data depends on the one or the multiple parameters.
According to another embodiment, a method for operating a programmable lighting unit may have the steps of: receiving parameter data via a radio interface; adjusting one or multiple parameters of the programmable lighting unit using the parameter data; emitting light via a controllable lamp; receiving control data for the controllable lamp; and controlling the controllable lamp using the control data using the one or the multiple parameters, wherein a reaction to control data in the step of controlling depends on the one or the multiple parameters.
According to another embodiment, a remote control for a programmable lighting unit with a controllable lamp may have: an input interface for inputting parameter data for the programmable lighting unit, wherein the parameter data includes one or multiple parameters for the programmable lighting unit; and a radio interface for sending the parameter data to the programmable lighting unit or to multiple programmable lighting units, wherein the parameter data is such that a reaction by the programmable lighting unit to control data depends on the parameter data.
According to another embodiment, a method for operating a remote control for a programmable lighting unit may have the steps of: receiving an input of parameter data for the programmable lighting unit; and sending the parameter data to the programmable lighting unit or to multiple programmable lighting units in a radio range of the remote control, wherein the parameter data is such that a reaction by the programmable lighting unit to control data depends on the parameter data.
According to another embodiment, a computer program with a program code for executing the methods as mentioned above when the computer program runs on a computer.
The present invention is based on the fact that parameters for programmable lighting units which relate to the basic adjustment of programmable lighting units or the set up of programmable lighting units, are adjusted via a radio remote control. Thus it is achieved that the programmable lighting units can easily be installed at the final position where they are to operate, and that the programmable lighting units can also be connected to the usual power supply, and that, nevertheless, a basic programming of the lighting unit is easily permitted without acrobats being necessary to get to the lighting units.
Instead, a parameter adjustment of the programmable lighting unit is achieved inventively by radio remote control. Parameters which are adjusted by radio remote control include an indication to a channel in a multi-channel access method, as for example an identification of a time slot, an identification of a frequency carrier, or an identification of a specific code in a time-division multiplexing, frequency-division multiplexing or code-division multiplexing process. A parameter adjustable by radio remote control can also be a data address or a start address with which a programmable lighting unit is addressed, wherein this start address or data address for a programmable lighting unit determines which data of a data protocol which is sent to multiple different lighting units is to be received and interpreted by a specific addressed lighting unit and which data is to be ignored by a specific lighting unit because the data is intended for other lighting units with other data addresses or start addresses.
Advantageously, multiple lighting units cooperate with a radio remote control in a master-slave-operation, the radio remote control being the master and the individual lighting units logging on as slaves at the radio remote control to obtain their data addresses and/or the indication to the channel in a multi-channel access method. In embodiments this is done, for example, by each lighting unit sending a unique identification of, for example, each serial number or another information to the radio remote control and being assigned, in connection with this identification, an address and/or a channel over which communicating with the lighting unit becomes possible in the future, in order for the lighting unit to receive the usual control signals. A controller for controlling the programmable lighting unit uses this normal control data. However, the interpretation of this control data by the controller depends on which parameters are adjusted via the described radio interface and on how the parameters have been adjusted. Thus, according to the invention, parameters of the device are adjusted by remote control, i.e., such adjustments which determine how the programmable lighting unit reacts to control data later on.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail in what follows with relation to the accompanied drawings, in which:
Further, the controller 48 is adapted to be programmed using the parameters derived from the parameter adjustment means 42 such that a reaction by the controller 48 to the control data depends on the one or multiple parameters in the parameter data as received from the radio interface 40. For this, the controller 48 particularly includes a non-volatile memory (NVM), for example. Such non-volatile memories are programmed by the parameter adjustment means 42. Possibilities for non-volatile storage are providing a magnetic memory or any other storage medium which does not necessarily have to be a semiconductor memory, but may be any kind of memory which can be written to by the parameter adjustment means 42 and which retains its values even when the power supply of the programmable lighting unit shown in
The controllable lamp 44 can be a usual lamp or can include LEDs. Particularly, even multi-colored LEDs can be provided. Further, also LEDs and additional normal incandescent lights or alternative lamps, such as mercury vapor lamps, etc., can be provided.
In embodiments the controllable lamp 44 further includes one or multiple motors for being able to move the lamp in one or multiple dimensions. These movements are also referred to as panning or tilting. The controllable lamp 44 is advantageously implemented to have three illuminants of different colors, such as red (R), green (G) and blue (B), to span a complete RGB color space. All colors can then be adjusted to different brightnesses of individual illuminants by the control signal received from the data bus 47 (
In the embodiment shown in
The programmable lighting units do not need an accumulator for the programming of parameter data. Instead, the lighting units can be put up at the intended location of operation before being initialized at all or before having received a set up, wherein the place at which the lighting unit can be put up is a ceiling, a pole or a wall, for example. This is schematically indicated in
Further, in the embodiment shown in
The parameters sent by the remote control 15 include a start address per lighting unit, a channel assignment or channel occupancy for a data protocol, a response to control data in the data protocol, etc. Particularly, a parameter can also include an assignment of brightness signals, chromaticities, pan or tilt data such that data that is actually provided as pan data is interpreted, due to a parameter adjustment, without problems by a programmable lighting unit as tilt data. Similarly, when for example an RGB light is provided, a control signal which was originally intended for the R channel can easily be interpreted, due to a parameter adjustment, by the programmable lighting unit as control signal for G or B.
As shown in
The present invention is advantageous in that, during the put up phase of an event, the programmable lighting unit no longer has to be addressed and/or tested while still at the ground, but after it is mounted to its location of operation, usually under the ceiling, by means of the mounting means 53 (
Inventively, the programmable lighting units can comfortably be operated from the ground by remote control although the lighting unit is already hung up at its final destination. A further advantage lies in the fact that the lighting unit which is hung up at its final destination is supplied with its usual power supply voltage which ensures that alongside the normal power supply for the lamp also the power supply for the configuration, that is the parameter adjustment (parameter set up), works virtually automatically such that neither accumulators nor batteries nor a laborious connecting, programming, disconnecting and recurrent packaging is necessary.
Advantageously, the data connection with the remote control is bi-directional. This permits reading out data, such as temperatures, reset failures, lifetime of a lamp and specific data errors, from the programmable lighting units for the purpose of a diagnosis. Therefore, it can happen that, due to bad cable, wrong laying or strong interference fields on the data line, so called “wave reflections” develop which are known in particular for the protocol DXM512. This error can be detected by connecting an analyzer to various locations of the data line and controlling the actual incoming data package. However, it is problematic herein that this can only be accomplished by climbing up to the lamp and connecting the device to the lamp there.
Inventively, however, a data analysis is carried out on the remote control by means of the bi-directional data connection between the remote control and the programmable lighting unit, for example, on the display of the remote control or via an extended functionality of the remote control which is, for example, provided with a micro controller.
A further functionality of the invention is achieving the possibility for calibration of colors which is offered by some programmable lighting units but which up to now had to take place before the putting up, by the inventive parameter adjustment taking place after the putting up. Further, the calibration via radio interface solves the problem of sometimes not being able to see the device from the place from which data is fed in. Also this problem is thus eliminated with the inventive parameter adjustment via radio interface.
In specific embodiments the programmable lighting unit can be remote controlled completely via a radio interface such that the normal data bus 47 is also implemented via a radio interface. In this case, the RF front end 40 of each programmable lighting unit is used twice. However, a channel separation takes place in the RF front end to extract the parameter data from the radio signal and use it for the parameter adjustment on the one hand, and to extract the control data from the radio signal and supply it to the lighting unit controller 48 on the other hand. Such an implementation is advantageous when the programmable lighting units are arranged far away from each other, for example, when a river is illuminated from both banks. Then the programmable lighting unit is implemented to receive a complete DMX 512 universe signal with 512 channels by radio via its radio interface. Starting from this receiving device, the data can then be passed through serially, for example, via cable or further radio interfaces, to further devices, but it is advantageous that these further devices are, by means of a usual data bus line 47 that is coupled to power, connected to the programmable lighting unit which has the radio receiver and which feeds the data bus that is coupled to power. In this case, the remote control would no longer be implemented as a watch but as a table top or rack device, because the entire control of the lighting units and not only the parameter data feeding has to be performed by the remote control.
So, device parameters are adjusted inventively by remote control, i.e., adjustments which determine how the device reacts to control data later on when the device is in operation. Thus, the invention is not primarily aimed at devices being installed in some fixed position, such as libraries, museums, restaurants, etc., because here the parameters of the device are usually have to be adjusted only once, i.e., during the installation of the devices. The normal case to which the invention mainly relates falls into the business sector of events. Here, for example, a putting up of the devices is carried out at alternate locations during a tour, which is in different stadiums/halls, because the necessary equipment is usually not available at these locations. Ideally, the position of an event is thus an empty hall with a correspondingly strong power supply to supply the lamps of the programmable lighting units sufficiently. All other equipment necessary for the event is brought along by a service provider. When the service provider equips an event for which, for example, 30 device are needed, but he himself owns only 20 devices of whom 10 pieces previously have been at the event X and 10 pieces at the event Y, he uses his 20 devices and rents further 10 devices from a rental service. The organizer then has 30 devices of completely identical design which may have undergone three or more totally different pre-programmings or parameter adjustments.
Thus, these devices react totally different to payload data sent later on and, of course, also have data addresses and/or start addresses and/or indications to a channel in a multiple-access method which are not synchronized. Without the invention all device would have to be matched prior to the putting up so that afterward the parameters of all devices are equal. This would be accomplished on the side of the service provider, which means that the device has to be taken out of the carrier box, has to be connected, has to be turned on and programmed, has to be turned off, cables have to be disconnected and has to be packed again. It is apparent that this involves a lot of time which increases the costs considerably.
Alternatively, such a programming can also take place before the putting up at the location of the event. However, this means that the devices have to be brought into the hall in its transport boxes, a temporary power supply has to be organized, the devices have to be taken out of the transport boxes, are to be connected, are to be turned on, are to be programmed accordingly and turned off, the cables have to be disconnected, and that only then the devices are hung up for operation, but now readily programmed.
The latter variation saves having to recurrently packaging of the devices. However, with this variation laying of a temporary power supply is necessary which is needed exclusively to perform these programmings. Therefore, the corresponding space is needed at the location of the event which is normally rare due to the constructions built up simultaneously. Also, when the variation with a battery is used, each device still has to be programmed individually before being put up.
Inventively, this programming in advance becomes redundant. The devices are mounted as are, delivered from the preceding events, at its final position and are also connected to the power supply with which they are later operated during the event. Naturally, a predisposition is that the devices are not completely out of order and have to be repaired.
Now the parameterizing is carried out by means of the remote control without having to connect the devices provisionally beforehand and having to put them into operation. Thus, this process is performed at a later time than was the case so far. This saves the recurrent packaging at the storehouse and/or the effort involved with the installation for the temporary power supply.
Another advantage lies in the fact that inventively the programming does not have to be performed individually at each device. Instead, a simultaneous programming of multiple devices is permitted inventively. When, for example, devices are to be reset to their settings made by the manufacturer first, before special data addresses are then assigned, this means a simple programming effort compared to, for example, 200 individual programming activities for 200 different lamps. The saving of time here is tremendous.
Parameters which should not be identical for all devices as for example the start address and/or the indication to the specific channel in a multi-channel access method, can be adjusted automatically by means of the system. At this, the remote control is the master, while all programmable lighting units are slaves in the radio network. The slaves automatically log on at the master, the user selects a sequence of the devices, and the devices are then assigned its starting addresses automatically, which also leads to an enormous saving of time. This is accomplished by a corresponding assignment software or assignment hardware implemented on the remote control.
Alternatively, the programming of the individual lighting units can also be accomplished without a lighting unit-specific ID, for example, when it is provided for that the programmable lighting units are turned on successively so that already by the sequence of lighting units being turned on the remote control only communicates with a specific programmable lighting unit at a time. Thus, only one lighting unit newly turned on is in the log-on mode to receive and implement the start address just sent out by the remote control and/or the indication to a channel in a multi-channel scenario then sent out by the remote control. In a step 25, the lighting unit then receives the start address and adjusts the start address and/or the indication to a channel in a multi-channel access method in its parameter set up. Afterwards, further individual or general parameter adjustments of one or multiple programmable lighting units in a radio range can be accomplished, as is illustrated in a step 26. These further individual or general parameter adjustments are the response of a programmable lighting unit to control data in the data protocol, calibrations of colors, or other control parameters which determine how a programmable lighting unit reacts to control data.
Depending on the circumstances, the inventive method can be implemented in either hardware or software. The implementation may be on a digital storage medium, in particular on a disc or a CD having control signals which may be read out electronically, which can cooperate with a programmable computer system such that the corresponding method will be executed. Generally, the invention thus also is in a computer program product having a program code stored on a machine-readable carrier for performing the inventive method when the computer program product runs on a computer. Put differently, the invention may thus also be realized as a computer program having a program code for performing the method when the computer program runs on a computer.
While this invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents which fall within the scope of this invention. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and compositions of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.
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