SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTHORING LIGHTING SEQUENCES

• US 20070086754A1
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Morgan, Frederick, Lys, Ihor, Dowling, Kevin, Blackwell, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,809,448 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/231
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/97 Instrumentation and component modelling, e.g. interactive control panel

Abstract

The systems and methods descried herein relate in part to intuitive methods for creation and design of lighting sequences, e.g., for theatrical, entertainment or advertising purposes, using a software interface. Additionally, the lighting sequences can be coordinated with control of additional devices. Also described herein is a controller capable of executing programs for lighting sequences and modifying the output and/or execution of the program based on external signals. In this way, the final output can be made responsive to external stimuli, or even interactive.

Claims

1-33. -33. (canceled)

34. An apparatus for controlling at least one lighting unit, comprising:

a data interface for receiving instructions for controlling the at least one lighting unit;

a signal interface for receiving at least one external signal;

a processor for processing said instructions to provide a data stream, the processor being capable of altering the processing of said instructions based on the at least one external signal; and

a data output for transmitting the data stream to the at least one lighting unit.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, in combination with at least one external device coupled to the signal interface to provide the at least one external signal.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said signal interface includes a port for receiving an electromagnetic signal.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said data output includes a port for transmitting data to a mechanical device other than a lighting unit.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said data output includes a port for transmitting data to a device for reproducing an audio signal.

39. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said data output includes a port for transmitting data to a device for reproducing a video image.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said data interface is a data connection for receiving the instructions from another processor.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein said data connection comprises one of an infrared port, a serial port, a parallel port, an RF port, a wireless port and a USB port.

42. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said data interface is capable of reading the instructions from a second storage medium.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein said at least one storage medium and said second storage medium each is selected from one of a magnetic disk, magnetic tape, a smart card, volatile solid state memory, non-volatile solid state memory and a compact disk.

44. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

a database to store directions for converting predetermined lighting effects having parameters associated therewith into data suitable for controlling the at least one lighting unit.

45. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

a memory module for storing information representative of effects being executed by the at least one lighting unit.

46. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

a timing mechanism for measuring intervals of time.

47. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

a first timing mechanism for measuring elapsed time; and

a second timing mechanism for determining the date and time of day.

48. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one lighting unit includes at least one LED lighting unit capable of emitting light of any of a range of colors, and wherein the processor is adapted to set a color of the at least one LED lighting unit.

93. The combination of claim 35, wherein the at least one external device includes at least one of a user interface, a sensor, a timing device, a music synchronization device, and a sound level detection device.

94. The combination of claim 93, wherein the at least one external device includes at least one user interface, and wherein the at least one user interface includes at least one of:

at least one switch;

at least one button;

at least one dial;

at least one slider;

at least one console; and

at least one keyboard.

95. The combination of claim 94, wherein the instructions received at the data interface include at least one lighting sequence, and wherein the processor is adapted to change at least one of:

at least one lighting effect in the at least one lighting sequence;

at least one parameter of at least one lighting effect in the at least one lighting sequence;

a priority amongst at least two different lighting effects in the at least one lighting sequence;

an execution speed of the at least one lighting sequence;

a brightness of light emitted by the at least one lighting unit; and

a color of light emitted by the at least one lighting unit, based on the at least one external signal provided by the at least one user interface.

96. The combination of claim 94, wherein the instructions received at the data interface include at least two different lighting sequences, and wherein the processor is adapted to selectively execute one lighting sequence of the at least two different lighting sequences based on the at least one external signal provided by the at least one user interface.

97. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the signal interface includes at least one user interface.

98. The apparatus of claim 97, wherein the at least one user interface includes at least one of:

at least one switch;

at least one button;

at least one dial;

at least one slider;

at least one console; and

at least one keyboard.

99. The apparatus of claim 98, wherein the instructions received at the data interface include at least one lighting sequence, and wherein the processor is adapted to change at least one of:

at least one lighting effect in the at least one lighting sequence;

at least one parameter of at least one lighting effect in the at least one lighting sequence;

a priority amongst at least two different lighting effects in the at least one lighting sequence;

an execution speed of the at least one lighting sequence;

a brightness of light emitted by the at least one lighting unit; and

a color of light emitted by the at least one lighting unit, based on the at least one external signal provided by the at least one user interface.

100. The apparatus of claim 98, wherein the instructions received at the data interface include at least two different lighting sequences, and wherein the processor is adapted to selectively execute one lighting sequence of the at least two different lighting sequences based on the at least one external signal provided by the at least one user interface.

101. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the instructions received at the data interface include at least one lighting sequence, and wherein the processor is adapted to change at least one of:

at least one lighting effect in the at least one lighting sequence;

at least one parameter of at least one lighting effect in the at least one lighting sequence;

a priority amongst at least two different lighting effects in the at least one lighting sequence;

an execution speed of the at least one lighting sequence;

a brightness of light emitted by the at least one lighting unit; and

a color of light emitted by the at least one lighting unit, based on the at least one external signal.

102. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the instructions received at the data interface include at least two different lighting sequences, and wherein the processor is adapted to selectively execute one lighting sequence of the at least two different lighting sequences based on the at least one external signal.

103. The apparatus of claim 34, in combination with the at least one lighting unit.

49. A method for controlling at least one lighting unit, comprising acts of:

receiving instructions for controlling the at least one lighting unit;

monitoring at least one input for at least one external signal;

processing said instructions to provide a data stream;

altering the processing of said instructions based on the at least one external signal; and

transmitting the data stream to the at least one lighting unit.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the act of monitoring at least one input includes an act of monitoring at least one user interface for the at least one external signal.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the act of monitoring at least one input includes an act of monitoring the at least one input for an electromagnetic signal.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein the act of transmitting the data stream includes an act of transmitting data to a mechanical device other than a lighting unit.

53. The method of claim 49, wherein the act of transmitting the data stream includes an act of transmitting data to a device for reproducing an audio signal.

54. The method of claim 49, wherein the act of transmitting the data stream includes an act of transmitting data to a device for reproducing a video image.

55. The method of claim 49, wherein the act of receiving instructions includes an act of receiving the instructions from another processor.

56. The method of claim 49, wherein the act of receiving instructions includes an act of receiving the instructions via an infrared port, a serial port, a parallel port, or a USB port.

57. The method of claim 49, wherein the act of receiving instructions includes an act of reading the instructions from a storage medium.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the act of reading the instructions from a storage medium includes an act of reading data from one of a magnetic disk, magnetic tape, a smart card, and a compact disk.

59. The method of claim 49, wherein the act of receiving instructions includes an act of receiving a plurality of lighting effects having parameters associated therewith.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising an act of:

utilizing directions for converting predetermined lighting effects to convert said plurality of lighting effects into data suitable for controlling the at least one lighting unit.

61. The method of claim 49, further comprising an act of:

storing information representative of effects being executed by the at least one lighting unit in a transient memory.

62. The method of claim 49, wherein the act of monitoring at least one input includes an act of monitoring a timing mechanism for the at least one external signal.

63. The method of claim 49, wherein the act of monitoring at least one input includes an act of monitoring a first timing mechanism for measuring elapsed time, and a second timing mechanism for determining the date and time of day.

64. The method of claim 49, wherein the act of monitoring at least one input includes an act of monitoring a sensor for the at least one external signal.

65. The method of claim 49, wherein the act of monitoring at least one input includes an act of receiving an alarm signal.

66. The method of claim 49, wherein the act of transmitting the data stream includes an act of setting a color of an LED lighting unit capable of emitting light of any of a range of colors.

67. The method of claim 49, wherein the act of altering the processing of the instructions based on the at least one external signal includes an act of repeating an effect until the at least one external signal is received.

68. The method of claim 49, wherein the act of altering the processing of the instructions based on the at least one external signal includes an act of modifying a rate of a lighting sequence.

69. The method of claim 49, wherein the act of altering the processing of the instructions based on the at least one external signal includes an act of switching from a high priority effect to a low priority effect.

70. The method of claim 49, wherein the act of altering the processing of the instructions based on the at least one external signal includes an act of interrupting a lighting sequence to execute a different effect.

71. The method of claim 49, wherein:

the act of receiving instructions includes an act of receiving a primary lighting effect and a secondary lighting effect, the secondary lighting effect designated to be executed instead of the primary lighting effect upon a predetermined condition;

the act of processing the instructions includes an act of providing the data stream such that the at least one lighting unit executes the primary lighting effect;

the act of monitoring at least one input includes an act of receiving a signal indicative of the predetermined condition; and

the act of altering the processing of the instructions includes an act of providing the data stream such that the at least one lighting unit executes the secondary lighting effect.

72. The method of claim 49, wherein:

the act of receiving instructions includes an act of receiving instructions for executing at least one sequence of lighting effects;

the act of transmitting the data stream includes an act of executing the at least one sequence of lighting effects utilizing the at least one lighting unit; and

the act of altering the processing of the instructions includes an act of altering the execution of the at least one sequence of lighting effects.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein the act of altering the execution of the at least one sequence of lighting effects includes an act of altering a rate of the at least one sequence.

74. The method of claim 72, wherein:

the act of receiving instructions includes an act of receiving instructions for executing at least two sequences of lighting effects;

the act of transmitting the data stream includes an act of executing a first sequence of the at least two sequences of lighting effects utilizing the at least one lighting unit; and

the act of altering the execution of the at least one sequence of lighting effects includes an act of executing a different sequence of the at least two sequences of lighting effects.

75. The method of claim 72, wherein the act of altering the execution of the at least one sequence of lighting effects includes an act of pausing during the at least one sequence.

76. The method of claim 72, wherein the act of altering the execution of the at least one sequence of lighting effects includes an act of changing a brightness of light emitted by the at least one lighting unit.

77. The method of claim 72, wherein the act of altering the execution of the at least one sequence of lighting effects includes an act of changing a color of light emitted by the at least one lighting unit.

104. The method of claim 49, wherein the act of monitoring at least one input includes an act of monitoring at least one external device for the at least one external signal.

105. The method of claim 104, wherein the act of monitoring at least one external device includes an act of monitoring at least one user interface for the at least one external signal.

106. At least one computer readable medium encoded with at least one program that, when executed, performs the method of claim 49.

78-92. -92. (canceled)