Systems and methods for controlling the position of a moving light fixture

• US 10,274,175 B1
• Filed: 01/04/2018
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls Incorporated
• Inventors: Wood, Michael, Peterson, Thomas, Ingham, Scott, Schweiner, Maxwell, Stoner, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan B
• Application Number:
  US15/862,047
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/15 specially adapted for power operation, e.g. by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06

Abstract

Moving light fixture and method for controlling the position of a moving light fixture. In one example, the moving light fixture includes a housing, light sources, a stepper motor, a magnetic position encoder, and an electronic controller. The stepper motor rotates the housing. The magnetic position encoder is configured to transmit a position signal indicating an angular position of the housing. The electronic controller determines the angular position of the housing based on the position signal. The electronic controller also determines a full step of the stepper motor based on the angular position of the housing, and a micro step of the stepper motor. The electronic controller also determines a current position of the moving light fixture based on the full step and the micro step. The electronic controller drives the stepper motor to move the moving light fixture from the current position to a target position.

Claims

1. A moving light fixture comprising:

a housing;

one or more light sources disposed within the housing;

a stepper motor operably coupled to the housing such that the stepper motor rotates the housing about an axis of rotation;

a magnetic position encoder configured to transmit a position signal indicating an angular position of the housing about the axis of rotation; and

an electronic controller configured to

receive a target position of the moving light fixture,

determine the angular position of the housing about the axis of rotation based on the position signal,

determine a current full step of the stepper motor based on the angular position of the housing about the axis of rotation,

determine a current micro step of the stepper motor,

determine a current position of the moving light fixture based on the current full step of the stepper motor and the current micro step of the stepper motor, and

drive the stepper motor to move the moving light fixture from the current position to the target position.

2. The moving light fixture of claim 1, wherein a resolution of the magnetic position encoder is less than or equal to twelve bits.

3. The moving light fixture of claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is further configured to determine the current micro step of the stepper motor based on one or more control signals transmitted to the stepper motor from the electronic controller.

4. The moving light fixture of claim 1, further comprising a frame coupled to the housing such that the housing is rotatable relative to the frame about the axis of rotation,

wherein the magnetic position encoder including

a magnet operably coupled to the housing such that the magnet rotates with the housing about the axis of rotation, and

a magnetic position sensor fixably coupled to the frame and positioned adjacent to the magnet.

5. The moving light fixture of claim 1, further comprising a frame coupled to the housing such that the housing is rotatable relative to the frame about the axis of rotation,

wherein the magnetic position encoder including

a magnetic position sensor operably coupled to the housing such that the magnetic position sensor rotates with the housing about the axis of rotation, and

a magnet fixably coupled to the frame and positioned adjacent to the magnetic position sensor.

6. The moving light fixture of claim 1, further comprising a base coupled to the housing such that the housing is rotatable relative to the base about the axis of rotation,

wherein the magnetic position encoder including

a magnet operably coupled to the housing such that the magnet rotates with the housing about the axis of rotation, and

a magnetic position sensor fixably coupled to the base and positioned adjacent to the magnet.

7. The moving light fixture of claim 1, further comprising a base coupled to the housing such that the housing is rotatable relative to the base about the axis of rotation,

wherein the magnetic position encoder including

a magnetic position sensor operably coupled to the housing such that the magnetic position sensor rotates with the housing about the axis of rotation, and

a magnet fixably coupled to the base and positioned adjacent to the magnetic position sensor.

8. The moving light fixture of claim 1, wherein upon start up, the electronic controller is configured to determine the current position of the moving light fixture prior to moving the moving light fixture with the stepper motor.

9. A method of controlling a position of a moving light fixture, the moving light fixture including one or more light sources disposed within a housing, and a stepper motor operably coupled to the housing such that the stepper motor rotates the housing about an axis of rotation, the method comprising:

receiving a target position of the moving light fixture;

determining, with a magnetic position encoder, an angular position of the housing about the axis of rotation;

determining, with an electronic controller, a current full step of the stepper motor based on the angular position of the housing about the axis of rotation;

determining, with the electronic controller, a current micro step of the stepper motor;

determining, with the electronic controller, a current position of the moving light fixture based on the current full step of the stepper motor and the current micro step of the stepper motor; and

driving the stepper motor to move the moving light fixture from the current position to the target position.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the axis of rotation is a first axis of rotation, wherein the moving light fixture further including a second stepper motor operably coupled to the housing such that the second stepper motor rotates the housing about a second axis of rotation, wherein the second axis of rotation is perpendicular to the first axis of rotation, wherein the method further comprising

determining, with a second magnetic position encoder, a second angular position of the housing about the second axis of rotation;

determining, with the electronic controller, a current full step of the second stepper motor based on the second angular position of the housing about the second axis of rotation;

determining, with the electronic controller, a current micro step of the second stepper motor;

determining, with the electronic controller, the current position of the moving light fixture based on the current full step of the second stepper motor and the current micro step of the second stepper motor; and

driving the second stepper motor to move the moving light fixture from the current position to the target position.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the current micro step of the stepper motor includes determining the current micro step of the stepper motor based on one or more control signals transmitted to the stepper motor from the electronic controller.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising

upon start up, determining, with the electronic controller, the current position of the moving light fixture prior to moving the moving light fixture with the stepper motor.

13. A moving light fixture comprising:

a housing;

one or more light sources disposed within the housing;

a first stepper motor coupled to the housing such that the first stepper motor rotates the housing about a first axis of rotation;

a second stepper motor operably coupled to the housing such that the second stepper motor rotates the housing about a second axis of rotation;

a first magnetic position encoder configured to transmit a first position signal indicating a first angular position of the housing about the first axis of rotation;

a second magnetic position encoder configured to transmit a second position signal indicating a second angular position of the housing about the second axis of rotation; and

an electronic controller configured to

receive a target position of the moving light fixture;

determine the first angular position of the housing about the first axis of rotation based on the first position signal,

determine a current full step of the first stepper motor based on the first angular position of the housing about the first axis of rotation,

determine the second angular position of the housing about the second axis of rotation based on the second position signal,

determine a current full step of the second stepper motor based on the second angular position of the housing about the second axis of rotation,

determine a current position of the moving light fixture based on the current full step of the first stepper motor and the current full step of the second stepper motor, and

drive the first stepper motor and the second stepper motor to move the moving light fixture from the current position to the target position.

14. The moving light fixture of claim 13, wherein the second axis of rotation is perpendicular to the first axis of rotation.

15. The moving light fixture of claim 14, wherein the electronic controller is further configured to

determine a current micro step of the first stepper motor,

determine a current micro step of the second stepper motor, and

determine the current position of the moving light fixture based on the current full step of the first stepper motor, the current micro step of the first stepper motor, the current full step of the second stepper motor, and the current micro step of the second stepper motor.

16. The moving light fixture of claim 14, further comprising

a frame coupled to the housing such that the housing is rotatable relative to the frame about the first axis of rotation;

a first shaft fixably coupled to a first side of the housing along the first axis of rotation;

a second shaft fixably coupled to a second side of the housing along the first axis of rotation, wherein the second side of the housing opposite from the first side of the housing;

a first pulley fixably mounted to a first output shaft of the first stepper motor for rotation therewith; and

a second pulley coupled to the first pulley via a first belt to transfer torque therebetween, the second pulley fixably mounted to the first shaft to rotate the first shaft about the first axis of rotation.

17. The moving light fixture of claim 16, wherein the first magnetic position encoder including

a first magnet fixably mounted to the first shaft or the second shaft such that the first magnet rotates with the housing about the first axis of rotation, and

a first magnetic position sensor fixably coupled to the frame and positioned adjacent to the first magnet.

18. The moving light fixture of claim 16, further comprising

a base coupled to the frame such that the frame and the housing are rotatable relative to the base about the second axis of rotation;

a third shaft fixably coupled to the base and partially extending into the frame;

a third pulley fixably mounted to a second output shaft of the second stepper motor for rotation therewith; and

a fourth pulley coupled to the third pulley via a second belt to transfer torque therebetween, the fourth pulley fixably coupled to the third shaft.

19. The moving light fixture of claim 18, further comprising

a fourth shaft fixably coupled to rotate with the frame about the second axis of rotation, the fourth shaft partially disposed within the base;

a fifth pulley fixably mounted to the fourth shaft to rotate with the fourth shaft about the second axis of rotation, the fifth pulley disposed within the base; and

a sixth pulley coupled to the fifth pulley via a third belt to transfer torque therebetween.

20. The moving light fixture of claim 19, wherein the second magnetic position encoder including

a second magnet fixably mounted to the sixth pulley such that the second magnet rotates with the housing about the second axis of rotation, and

a second magnetic position sensor fixably coupled to the base and position adjacent to the magnet.