Lighting Control System with Wireless Network Connection

• US 20110002131A1
• Filed: 07/05/2010
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Production Resource Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Production Resource Group LLC
• Inventors: Lee, Robin
• Granted Patent: US 7,967,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/386
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

Wireless network used to control multiple lights, includes multiple different networks for different purposes, and interference prevention mechanisms.

Claims

1. A stage lighting console, comprising:

a console device, having a processor;

a storage part that stores a program that controls a moving light of the type having a controllable motor, that allows moving the light in at least pan and tilt directions, wherein executing said program on said processor of said console device produces effects on said moving light and moves a position of said moving light,

said console also producing an output based on said executing said program, said outputs sent to a plurality of different moving lights via a wireless network connection, and said program and said connection also producing an output based on said program that produces effects at different times,

said console wirelessly sending at least some of said effects being sent both to said moving lights, and also sent wirelessly sending at least some of said effect to plural different computing devices other than said moving lights which are within range of the wireless network and which are not part of the specific moving lights that are controlled by the program.

2. A console as in claim 1, wherein said control to said moving lights via said wireless network is sent over a channel having security, and said control to said different computing devices is sent over a channel which does not have said security.

3. A console as in claim 1, wherein said program controls effects that are carried out by a plurality of different moving lights, and also controls effects on client computers associated with clients in an audience.

4. A console as in claim 3, wherein said client computers include cell phones and PDAs.

5. A console as in claim 1 wherein said program accepts commands for the moving lights from a client computer remote from said console, over a secured network connection.

6. A console as in claim 1, wherein said console controls a first wireless stream for commanding the lights, said first wireless stream having a first security, and said console controls a second wireless stream for commanding functions of the console, said second wireless stream having a second security, and said console controls a third wireless stream for communicating to client computers within range of the console, said third wireless stream not having said first security or said second security.

7. A console as in claim 1, wherein said program sends status information about the program and/or the moving lights to a client computer, over a secured network connection.

8. A method of controlling a lighting show, comprising:

producing first outputs from a controlling console that control a movement in at least pan and tilt directions of multiple different moving stage lights which form part of a show, and which lights were programmed into said controlling console, and said outputs also controlling effects created by said multiple different moving stage lights at different times;

sending said first outputs from said controlling console wirelessly to said multiple different moving stage lights;

producing second outputs indicative of effects at said different times for computing devices other than said moving lights, said devices other than said moving lights not being lights that are programmed into the console; and

sending said second outputs wirelessly to devices within range of a wireless network.

9. A method as in claim 8, further comprising sending said first outputs over a channel having wireless security, and sending said second outputs over a channel which does not have said wireless security.

10. A method as in claim 8, wherein said controlling console runs a program that controls effects by a plurality of different moving lights, and also controls and effects on client computers that are held by clients in an audience.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein said client computers include cell phones and PDAs.

12. A method as in claim 8, wherein said controlling console accepts commands for the moving lights from a client computer, over a secured network connection.

13. A method as in claim 8, further comprising creating a first wireless stream for commanding the lights having a first security, creating a second wireless stream for commanding the console, having a second security, and creating a third wireless stream for communicating to client computers within range of the console.

14. A method as in claim 10, wherein said program causes sending of status information about the program and/or the moving lights to a client computer, over a secured network connection.

15. A method of controlling a lighting show, comprising:

producing first outputs from a controlling console that control an effect created by multiple different moving stage lights which form part of a show; and

producing second outputs from said controlling console that control an effect created on cell phones and PDAs within range of said show as part of said show.

16. A method as in claim 15, wherein said first outputs have wireless security, and said second outputs do not have said wireless security.