Method and apparatus for digital communications with multiparameter light fixtures

• US 20020047648A1
• Filed: 11/01/2001
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard S. Belliveau
• Original Assignee: Richard S. Belliveau
• Inventors: Belliveau, Richard S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,459,217 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/312
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission

Abstract

A typical light fixture is an integral unit that has a lamp assembly and a communications node to control the lamp assembly. Lighting systems contain many such light fixtures. One type of lighting system has at least two communications systems that interconnect the light fixtures. A digital controller is connected to one of the communications systems, at least one of the light fixtures of that communications system is a designated gateway for sending control signals to the other communications system. Another type of lighting system has two digital controllers connected to respective communications systems. Each of the communications systems interconnects many light fixtures, at least one of which has two communications nodes respectively connected to the communications systems. A third type of lighting system mixes combines the first and second types.

Claims

1. A multi-parameter light fixture comprising:

a housing;

a lamp assembly contained in the housing;

a first digital communications node contained in the housing and having a first control output coupled to the lamp assembly and a first communications port;

a second digital communications node contained in the housing and having a second communications port; and

a gateway circuit contained in the housing and coupled between the first digital communications node and the second digital communications node.

2. A multi-parameter light fixture as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second communications nodes supports bi-directional digital communications.

3. A multi-parameter light fixture as in claim 1, wherein the second digital communications node further comprises a second control output coupled to the lamp assembly.

4. A multi-parameter light fixture as in claim 1, wherein the first and second digital communications nodes are compliant with different communications protocols.

9. A multi-parameter light fixture as in claim 1 wherein the first digital communications node comprises a “

lamp on”

parameter.

10. A multi-parameter light fixture as in claim 3 wherein both the first and second digital communications nodes comprise a “

lamp on”

parameter.

11. A multi-parameter light fixture as in claim 3 wherein:

the lamp assembly comprises a plurality of controllable components; and

the first control output controls a first group of the controllable components and the second control output controls a second group of the controllable components, the first and second groups of the controllable components having at least one controllable component in common.

15. A multi-parameter light fixture as in claim 1 wherein the housing comprises an electronics module and a light housing moveably coupled thereto, the first and second communications nodes and the gateway circuit being contained in the electronics module and the lamp assembly being contained in the light housing.

16. A multi-parameter light fixture as in claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a unitary light housing, the first and second communications nodes, the gateway circuit, and the lamp assembly being contained in the unitary light housing.

5. A multi-parameter light fixture comprising:

a housing;

a lamp assembly contained in the housing;

a first digital communications node contained in the housing and having a first control output coupled to the lamp assembly and a first communications port; and

a second digital communications node contained in the housing and having a second communications port;

wherein at least one of the first and second digital communications nodes supports bi-directional digital communications.

6. A multi-parameter light fixture as in claim 5, wherein at least one of the first and second digital communications nodes supports DMX protocol digital communications.

7. A multi-parameter light fixture as in claim 5, wherein the second digital communications node further comprises a second control output coupled to the lamp assembly.

8. A multi-parameter light fixture as in claim 5, wherein the first and second digital communications nodes are compliant with different communications protocols.

12. A multi-parameter light fixture as in claim 5 wherein the first digital communications node comprises a “

lamp on”

parameter.

13. A multi-parameter light fixture as in claim 7 wherein both the first and second digital communications nodes comprise a “

lamp on”

parameter.

14. A multi-parameter light fixture as in claim 7 wherein:

the lamp assembly comprises a plurality of controllable components; and

the first control output controls a first group of the controllable components and the second control output controls a second group of the controllable components, the first and second groups of the controllable components having at least one controllable component in common.

17. A multi-parameter light fixture as in claim 5 wherein the housing comprises an electronics module and a light housing moveably coupled thereto, the first and second communications nodes being contained in the electronics module and the lamp assembly being contained in the light housing.

18. A multi-parameter light fixture as in claim 5 wherein the housing comprises a unitary light housing, the first and second communications nodes and the lamp assembly being contained in the unitary light housing.