Programmable light beam shape altering device using programmable micromirrors
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A light shape altering device, comprising:
- a memory, storing information indicative of at least one light shape to shape a perimeter of a light beam to be projected; and
a control system, producing a control signal indicative of said one of said shapes, and producing said control signal as an output in a format to control a digitally controllable light shape altering device.
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Abstract
A digital micromirror device (“DMD”) is used to alter the shape of light that is projected onto a stage. The DMD selectively reflects some light, thereby shaping the light that is projected onto the stage. The control for the alteration is controlled by an image. That image can be processed, thereby carrying out image processing effects on the shape of the light that is displayed. One preferred application follows the shape of the performer and illuminates the performer using a shape that adaptively follows the performer'"'"'s image. This results in a shadowless follow spot.
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Citations
210 Claims
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1. A light shape altering device, comprising:
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a memory, storing information indicative of at least one light shape to shape a perimeter of a light beam to be projected; and
a control system, producing a control signal indicative of said one of said shapes, and producing said control signal as an output in a format to control a digitally controllable light shape altering device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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18. A lighting controller, comprising:
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a memory, storing an image in a computer readable format;
a processor, reading said image from said memory, allowing changing of an aspect of said image and producing an output signal indicative of said image as a signal indicative of a shape of a light beam to be projected.
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36. A lighting controller, comprising:
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a memory, storing at least a plurality of images representing a plurality of shapes of light beam production;
a user interface, allowing selecting one of said plurality of shapes to use to shape an outer perimeter of a light beam and to select a change to be made to said outer perimeter and at a speed of making said change; and
a processor, which operates to change the outer shape of said image according to a selection done by said user interface and producing an output signal indicative of an outer perimeter of a light beam to be projected.
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47. A lighting control system, comprising:
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a memory, storing an image representing a shape of a light beam to be projected; and
a processor, converting said image into a map representing states of elements of the digital light reflecting device, and producing an output signal to control said digital light reflecting device to project said light beam of said shape.
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53. A system as in claim wherein said processor is operative to change a duty cycle of states of elements of the digital light reflecting device to thereby change a brightness of the image being projected.
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54. A system, comprising:
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an image memory, storing at least one image;
a user interface, producing an output indicative of an image representing an aspect of light projection and a position of said light projection; and
a processor, receiving said output from said user interface, and producing an output signal of a form that controls a digital micrometer device to produce said image at said position. - View Dependent Claims (55, 57, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 80, 101)
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56. A lighting system, comprising
a memory, storing at least one compressed image; - and
a computer part, producing an output indicative of said at least one compressed image, said computer part operable to produce an output indicative of said at least one compressed image in a form that controls a digital light shape altering device.
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58. A method, comprising:
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selecting a shape to be used as a shape for projecting a beam of light, and producing a control signal indicative thereof; and
using said control signal to control a digital light shape altering device which produces a projected beam having a shape that is based on said control signal.
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76. A method as in claim on 63, wherein said image processing comprises correlating the image against a reference.
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81. A method, comprising:
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using a digital device to produce a first color shape at a first time, and to produce a second color shape at a second time, where an interval between said first and second times is shorter than a human'"'"'s persistence of vision; and
projecting a composite color beam that is based on a combination of said first color shape at said first time, and said second color shape at said second time, wherein said composite color beam has an outer shape that is controlled by said first and second color shapes. - View Dependent Claims (82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100)
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102. A method comprising:
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selecting an image to be used as a shape for a projection spot;
image processing said image to change some aspect of said image to produce an image processed image; and
producing an output signal indicative of a shape of said image processed image, said output signal in a format to control a digital light shape altering device. - View Dependent Claims (103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 119, 120, 121, 122, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 182, 183, 184, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200)
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118. A method as in claim on 102, wherein said image processing comprises correlating the image against a reference.
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123. A method, comprising:
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determining a first electronic file indicative of a first shape a light beam to be projected at a first time;
determining a second electronic file indicative of a second shape of a second light beam to be projected at a second time, after said first time;
determining interim files indicative of interim shapes between said first and second light shapes; and
outputting said files to control said shapes of said light beams.
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143. A method, comprising:
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reading a first electronic file indicative of a beam shape, for a beam of light, from a memory;
forming a map from said compressed electronic file, said map indicative of states of an array of pixels of size x by y to form said beam shape; and
outputting said map.
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158. A method, comprising:
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using a first file to form an output signal to control a digital light shape altering device to produce a first shape at a first time;
at a second time, subsequent to said first time, recalculating a new image representing a desired incremental change in said shape and using said new image to control said digital light shape altering device, wherein said desired incremental change represents an incremental change between said first shape and a desired second shape to be produced at a second time after said first shape.
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169. A method, comprising:
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producing a beam of light to be used as a stage lighting beam, said beam of light having an intensity greater than 600 watts;
filtering said beam of light using a filter that reflects at least some of its infrared energy; and
digitally controlling and element in a path of said beam of light after said filtering to shape said beam of light according to said digitally controlling.
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181. A method, comprising:
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selecting a basic Aperture shape from a memory;
converting said basic Aperture shape to a plurality of states, each representing a state of a pixel of an array; and
producing and output signal indicative thereof.
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185. A method, comprising:
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displaying a beam of light in a specified and controlled shape; and
digitally dimming said beam of light by adjusting a duty cycle between on and off times of said beam of light at a speed faster than human persistence of vision.
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201. A method, comprising:
forming a beam of light in a shape that projects completely unconnected shapes of a type that cannot be formed using and etched metal Gobo. - View Dependent Claims (202, 203, 204, 205, 206)
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207. A method, comprising:
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projecting a beam of light from a lighting device in a specified shape towards a target;
detecting and/action which is occurring at the target; and
changing said specified shape according to said action which is occurring. - View Dependent Claims (208)
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209. A method, comprising
projecting a beam of light from a lighting device in a specified shape towards a target; - and
updating said specified shape at least 30 times per second. - View Dependent Claims (210)
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Specification