Electronically controlled stage lighting system

• US 20010047212A1
• Filed: 06/19/2001
• Published: 11/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Production Resource Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Light and Sound Design Limited
• Inventors: Evans, Nigel, Hughes, Michael, Hewlett, William, Parker, Richard, Clarke, Ian, Hunt, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,736,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/2
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/08 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements and reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/04 by movement of reflectors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/675
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/08 by movement of the screens or filters
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0841 the reflecting element being moved or deformed by electrostatic means
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/008 using micromirror devices
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/14 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/16 Cooling; Preventing overheating
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/20 Lamp housings
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/28 Reflectors in projection beam in illumination beam G03B21/2066
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 33/04 by four or more separation records
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Abstract

A lighting system operating using a digital mirror as its operative device. The digital mirror is used to shape the light which is a passed through advanced optical devices in order to produce an output.

Claims

1. A method of illuminating a stage with substantially circular shaped spotlights, comprising:

first commanding a light shape altering device to produce a circular shaped beam of light having a profile which is brighter at its center than it is towards its edges for a spotlight mode; and

second commanding the light shape altering device to produce a circular shaped beam of light with light with a substantially uniform brightness profile, for a gobo illuminating mode.

2. A method as in

claim 1

wherein said profile is a sinusoidal profile.

3. A method as in

claim 1

wherein a profile of said light has a profile such that overlapped light beams produce an amount of light which is within 20% of an amount of light produced by the center of a nonoverlapped light.

4. A method of calibrated operation of a lighting device, comprising:

determining a characteristic of a movable lighting device control element, said movable lighting device control element including a capability of moving at least one element in said movable lighting control device from one position to another position;

determining a specific moving characteristic of positions of said movable lighting device as a function of control signal, as calibrating information;

storing said specific moving characteristic as a calibrated value for said movable lighting device;

receiving a command for said movable lighting device to move said movable lighting device to a specific position;

accessing said specific moving characteristic to determine said calibrated value to thereby operate using a calibrated operation.

5. A method as in

claim 4

wherein said movable lighting device control element is a color changer and said calibration is a calibrated position of said color changer.

6. A method as in

claim 4

wherein said movable lighting device control element is a stepper motor and said position is a calibrated position of said stepper motor.

7. A method as in

claim 4

wherein said device is a motor movement device and said position is a position of the motor device that is driven by said motor movement device.

8. A stage lighting apparatus, comprising:

a light beam producing element, producing a beam of light;

a motor control device, having an operative portion located to alter some aspect of said beam of light;

a memory, associated with said motor control device, storing some value which is uniquely associated with said motor control device to which the memory is associated; and

a command element, reading out a value from said memory, said value indicating control of said motor control device, and operating to control said device to said calibrated position based on said read out control value.

9. An apparatus as in

claim 8

wherein said motor control device is a motor driven color changer.

10. An apparatus as in

claim 8

wherein said motor control device is a pan and tilt motor to change a projected position of said beam of light.

11. A balanced optical system, comprising:

a source of light, producing an output light beam;

a movable optical element movable between positions to change some aspect of said light beam; and

a counterbalance, operatively coupled to said movable optical element, in a way such that said counterbalance is automatically moves when said optical element is moved, and operating to counterbalance movement of said movable optical element such that said movement of said movable optical element produces no change in balance to said balanced optical system.

12. A system as in

claim 11

wherein said counterbalance is a motor which drives said movable optical element, said motor weighing substantially a same amount as said movable optical element.

13. An apparatus as in

claim 11

wherein said movable optical element is an RGB wheel.

14. An apparatus as in

claim 11

wherein said movable optical element is a lens.

15. An apparatus as in

claim 11

further comprising a linear block operating to counterbalance said motor.

16. An apparatus as in

claim 11

further comprising a rotation device operating to counterbalance said motor.

17. A method of operating a stage lighting system with balanced operation, comprising:

providing a beam of light along an optical pathway;

providing an optical light changing element in said beam of light, said optical light changing element being movable in position to change some aspect of said beam of light;

providing a motor to move said optical light changing element between a first position where the optical element has a first effect on the light and a second position where the optical element has a second effect on the light different than said first effect; and

moving the motor and the optical element in reverse synchronization with another in a way such that a center of gravity between said motor and said optical element stays the same at any position of the combination of the motor and the optical element.

18. A wireless communication system for a stage lighting device, comprising:

a stage lighting luminaire, including a processor controlling operations of the luminaire, and including a wireless data port through which information can be received and sent to and from the luminaire; and

a remote computer device, including a wireless interface, and operating to communicate with said wireless data port on said stage lighting luminaire, said remote computer device receiving an output signal in a format which represents a readable format, and converting said output signal to said readable format.