Electronically controlled stage lighting system

• US 20060187532A1
• Filed: 04/18/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Production Resource Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Production Resource Group LLC
• Inventors: Hughes, Michael, Hewlett, William, Parker, Richard, Clarke, Ian, Evans, Nigel, Hunt, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,379,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/298
• 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, comprising:

forming a beam of light;

directing said beam of light along an optical path;

first modifying said beam of light using a motor controlled device to make a first modification to said beam of light;

second modifying said beam of light using a second motor controlled device to make a second modification to said beam of light that is different than said first modification; and

controlling said first modifying and said second modifying over a motor control bus, in a format that allows sending a first part indicative of a function, and a second part indicative of data associated with said function, where said second part has a specified time slot relationship with said first part.

2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising using a common controller to communicate over said motor control bus and to control said first modifying and said second modifying.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said first modifying comprises changing a color of the light.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein said first modifying comprises changing an optical characteristic of the light.

5. A method as in claim 4, wherein said changing an optical characteristic comprises changing a characteristic of an optical zoom.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said first modifying comprises changing a position of projection of the light.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein said changing positioning comprises controlling pan and tilt motors.

8. A method as in claim 3, wherein said second modifying comprises changing a characteristic of an optical function of the light.

9. A method as in claim 3, wherein said second modifying comprises changing the position of projection of the light.

10. A method as in claim 1, wherein said controlling comprises sending a function, and sending data associated with the function.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein said function comprises a control to move a motor within one of the motor controlled devices, and said data comprises a position to which the motor should be moved.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein said controlling further comprises sending data representing a time profile of the motor operation.

13. A method as in claim 1 further comprising, along said optical path, digitally controlling a shape of the light.