Programmable light beam shape altering device using programmable micromirrors
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a lighting system having at least a plurality of image projection lighting devices, comprising:
- displaying a first plurality of parameters of a first one of the image projection lighting devices at a central controller, the first plurality of parameters including a first image parameter;
displaying a first plurality of images at the central controller; and
establishing at the central controller at least one first image for the first image parameter from the first plurality of images.
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Accused Products
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.
76 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a lighting system having at least a plurality of image projection lighting devices, comprising:
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displaying a first plurality of parameters of a first one of the image projection lighting devices at a central controller, the first plurality of parameters including a first image parameter;
displaying a first plurality of images at the central controller; and
establishing at the central controller at least one first image for the first image parameter from the first plurality of images. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of controlling a lighting system having at least a plurality of image projection lighting devices, comprising:
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displaying a first plurality of parameters of a first one of the image projection lighting devices at a central controller, the first plurality of parameters including a first image parameter;
displaying a first plurality of images at the central controller in response to an operator selection of the first image parameter; and
originating from the central controller at least one first image for the first image parameter from the first plurality of images. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of operating a lighting system that includes a central controller and a plurality of image projection lighting devices, comprising:
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maintaining a plurality of parameters for each of the image projection lighting devices at the central controller, the parameters for each of the image projection lighting devices including at least one image parameter;
originating a first image from the central controller for a first one of the image projection lighting devices, the first image being defined by the image parameter of the first image projection lighting devices; and
originating a second image from the central controller for a second one of the image projection lighting devices, the second image being defined by the image parameter of the second image projection lighting devices;
wherein the first image and the second image are different. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of operating a lighting system that includes a central controller and a plurality of image projection lighting devices comprising:
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originating a first image from the central controller for a first one of the image projection lighting devices;
projecting the first image from the first image projection lighting devices;
originating a second image from the central controller for a second one of the image projection lighting devices, the second image being different than the first image; and
projecting the second image from the second image projection lighting devices;
wherein the first image and the second image are selected from a plurality of images stored at the central controller, the plurality of images having have an identifying scheme for operator visualization of the images.
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23. A lighting system comprising:
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a plurality of multiparameter lights, including at least first and second image projection lighting devices;
a central controller comprising;
a memory containing a plurality of images; and
a programmable component for selecting a first one of the images for projection by the first image projection lighting devices and for selecting a second one of the images for projection by the second image projection lighting devices; and
a communications system interconnecting the central controller with the multiparameter lights.
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24. A method of operating a lighting system that includes a central controller and a plurality of image projection lighting devices (“
- image projection lighting devices”
), comprising;
originating a first image from the central controller for a first one of the image projection lighting devices, the first image resulting from a crossfade between two different images;
projecting the first image from the first image projection lighting devices;
originating a second image from the central controller for a second one of the image projection lighting devices, the second image being different than the first image and resulting from a crossfade between two different images; and
projecting the second image from the second image projection lighting devices;
wherein the first image and the second image are respectively formed from a crossfade between at least two of a plurality of images stored at the central controller.
- image projection lighting devices”
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25. A central controller for controlling a lighting system comprising a plurality of image projection lighting devices, each having a plurality of parameters including an image parameter, the central controller comprising:
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a display screen;
a memory containing a plurality of images;
a first programmable component for creating a first display on the display screen of at least some of the images;
a second programmable component for forming a first image from the first display, under operator control, for an image parameter of a first one of the image projection lighting devices;
a third programmable component for creating a second display on the display screen of at least some of the images; and
a fourth programmable component for forming a second image from the second display, under operator control, for an image parameter of a second one of the image projection lighting devices;
wherein the first image and the second image are different. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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29. A method of controlling a lighting system, the lighting system having a central controller and at least a plurality of image projection lighting devices and each of the image projection lighting devices having a plurality of parameters including an image parameter, the method comprising:
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selecting a first one of the image projection lighting devices at the central controller;
editing the image parameter of the first image projection lighting devices at the central controller to visualize a first image on a visual display device of the central controller;
establishing a first effect for the first image;
visualizing a first final image on the visual display device, the first final image comprising the first image with the first effect as being projected by the first image projection lighting devices;
selecting a second one of the image projection lighting devices at the central controller;
editing the image parameter of the second image projection lighting devices at the central controller to visualize a second image on the visual display device;
establishing a second effect for the second image; and
visualizing a second final image on the visual display device, the second final image comprising the second image with the second effect as being projected by the second image projection lighting devices. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of operating a lighting system that includes a central controller, a plurality of first-type multiparameter lights having a plurality of parameters except for an image parameter, and a plurality of second-type multiparameter lights having a plurality of parameters including an image parameter, comprising:
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varying the parameters for each of the first-type multiparameter lights at the central controller;
varying the parameters for each of the second-type multiparameter lights at the central controller, wherein for each of the second-type multiparameter lights, varying the particular image parameter thereof comprises;
originating a first image from the central controller for a first scene, the first image being defined by the particular image parameter; and
originating a second image from the central controller for a second scene, the second image being defined by the particular image parameter. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A method of operating a lighting system that includes a central controller and a plurality of image projection lighting devices, comprising:
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displaying a plurality of parameters for each of the image projection lighting devices at the central controller, the parameters including at least one image parameter;
evoking a graphics tool at the central controller in response to selection of one of the image projection lighting devices by operator action;
displaying a plurality of images for the graphics tool at the central controller; and
originating an image from the central controller for the image parameter of the selected image projection lighting devices, in response to operator action with the graphics tool, from the plurality of images.
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43. A method of operating a lighting system that includes a central controller and a plurality of image projection lighting devices, comprising:
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displaying a plurality of parameters for each of the image projection lighting devices at the central controller, the parameters including at least one image parameter;
evoking a first graphics tool at the central controller in response to selection of a first one of the image projection lighting devices thereof by operator action;
displaying a plurality of images for the first graphics tool at the central controller;
originating an image from the central controller for the image parameter of the first image projection lighting devices, in response to operator action with the first graphics tool, from the plurality of images;
evoking a second graphics tool at the central controller in response to selection of a second one of the image projection lighting devices by operator action;
displaying a plurality of images for the second graphics tool at the central controller; and
originating an image from the central controller for the image parameter of the second image projection lighting devices, in response to operator action with the second graphics tool, from the plurality of images for the second graphics tool. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A method of controlling a lighting system comprising a plurality of multiparameter lights, including gobo-type multiparameter lights and image projection lighting devices-type multiparameter lights, controllable from a central controller, comprising:
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storing at least one image library at the central controller;
displaying at the central controller an identifier and a plurality of parameters for each of the multiparameter lights, wherein the parameters for each of the image projection lighting devices-type multiparameter lights includes an image parameter;
displaying an image editor at the central controller in response to an operator selection of any of the image projection lighting devices-type multiparameter lights, the image editor including an image library area having a plurality of images, a mixer area, and an image area;
selecting at least two of the plurality of images from the image library in response to an operator action;
mixing the selected images in the mixer area to obtain an output image;
displaying the output image in the image area; and
transmitting the output image from the central controller to the image projection lighting devices.
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Specification