Automatic Tracking Motion Control System for a Stage Set

• US 20080048864A1
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Production Resource Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Production Resource Group LLC
• Inventors: Mayhew, Rusty
• Granted Patent: US 8,054,179 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Movable items on a stage have their position detected in three dimensions, and multiple different lights can be shined at the moving items even after they are moved. Shadowing can be detected and compensated.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

associating a movable item with a device that automatically senses its location and wirelessly reports its location, said movable item reporting information indicative of a first location when located at a first location, and wirelessly reporting information indicative of a second location different than said first location, when located at said second location;

receiving the wireless report of location;

storing positions of plural different lights, which can be moved in directions to illuminate different areas; and

based on said wireless report and said positions, calculating a direction for at least one of said lights to point at said movable item.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said calculating calculates first and second directions for at least first and second of said lights, said first and second lights being in different positions, and said first and second directions being different directions which cause said first and second lights to both shine on said movable item.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said movable items are props on a stage.

4. A method as in claim 3, wherein said movable items are movable by a winch in a direction that is vertical relative to the stage.

5. A method as in claim 3, wherein said items are moved by a pulley in a direction that is horizontal relative to the stage.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said lights can be moved in pan and tilt directions to allow each of the lights to be moved in plural different positions.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein said automatically senses its position comprises triangulating between a number of different position detecting elements.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein said calculating a direction comprises first comparing a received position with the previously received position, and carrying out said calculating a direction only when the received position is different than the previously received position.

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein said calculating comprises calculating pointing directions for a plurality of different lights, where each of said pointing directions for each of said different lights are different.

10. A method as in claim 1, wherein said movable items are items driven by winches and pulleys.

11. A method as in claim 1, wherein said movable item is a performer.

12. A method as in claim 1, further comprising calculating which lights would form a shadow, and selecting lights that illuminate the item based on minimizing the shadow.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a lighting controller, storing a plurality of information points indicative of a plurality of positions of remotely-located lights, and also receiving at least one signal indicative of a position of a movable item, said wireless controller calculating pointing positions for at least two of said remotely located lights based on said position of said movable item, such that said two lights will each point at said movable item, where said at least two remotely located lights are in separate positions, and said at least two pointing positions are separate pointing positions, and producing a signal which causes said lights to point in said at least two separate pointing positions.

14. An apparatus as in claim 13, wherein said receiving at least one signal is received wirelessly.

15. An apparatus as in claim 13, wherein said lighting controller receives a position, determines if the position is the same as a previous position, and if not, carries out said calculating.

16. A apparatus as in claim 13, further comprising controlling moving of said movable items.

17. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein said controlling controls a winch.

18. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein said controlling controls a pulley.

19. An apparatus as in claim 13, wherein said lighting controller calculates down an amount of shadow that will be caused by illuminating by different lights, and selects lights based on said calculating.

20. A method, comprising:

receiving a signal from a movable item, which signal is indicative of a current position of the movable item;

storing a plurality of positions of lights, wherein at least two of the positions of lights are nonparallel to one another;

based on said signal indicative of the current position, and said light positions, calculating an amount of shadowing that will be caused by at least a plurality of different lights illuminating the movable item; and

selecting lights to illuminate the movable item, and positions for those lights to a movement eliminate the movable item, based on said calculating.