Gobo Virtual Machine

• US 20120046766A1
• Filed: 11/01/2011
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Production Resource Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Production Resource Group LLC
• Inventors: Hunt, Mark A., Findley, Drew
• Granted Patent: US 8,538,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/90
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Abstract

Producing complicated effects based on image processing operations. The image processing operations are defined for a processor which may be different than the processor which is actually used. The processor that is actually used runs an interpreter that interprets the information into its own language, and then runs the image processing. The actual information is formed according to a plurality of layers which are combined in some way so that each layer can effect the layers below it. For example, the layers may add to, subtract from, or form transparency to the layer below it or make color filtering the layer below it. This enables many different effects computed and precompiled for a hypothetical processor, and a different processor can be used to combine and render those effects.

Claims

1. A control system for a console based lighting system, comprising:

a housing, housing at least one computer having a first type of processor, and having a connection which receives commands indicating a precompiled file indicating a plurality of different images and at least one effect for said different images, to be created by an external light;

said connection receiving a control input, and having an output port, producing outputs indicative of a current control of said housing;

said at least one computer receiving said precompiled file which is compiled to include at least a first layer including an image, a second layer that creates a perimeter that blocks all but the perimeter of the first layer, and a third layer that provides color for the combination of the first layer, second layer and third layer, said precompiled file compiled for a processor other than a type of said first processor;

and

said at least one computer interpreting said precompiled file that includes each of said first, second and third layers, and creating outputs directed to at least one light, that are created from interpreting said precompiled file.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein there are multiple computers in said housing.

3. The system as in claim 1, wherein said precompiled file is compiled for a hypothetical processor, different than a language of said processor in said housing.

4. The system as in claim 2, wherein said housing having a switch which controls connecting to any of said computers from a single keyboard, and also controls producing outputs from any of said computers to a common monitor.

5. The system as in claim 3, further comprising a code interpreter which interprets said precompiled file into a native language used by said processor in said housing.

6. The system as in claim 1, wherein each of said layers include at least one of a time, a color, and/or an effect, and each layer affects all of the other layers.

7. The system as in claim 6, wherein said layers are arranged with one layer overlaying each other layer, each layer affects layers below that layer.

8. The system as in claim 6, wherein each layer that represents an effect includes a parameter associated therewith, specifying an amount of the effect.

9. The system as in claim 1, wherein said first layer includes an animated image which continuously changes.

10. The system as in claim 8, wherein one of said effects include a continual sinusoidal wobble, and wherein said parameter includes a speed of the wobble.

11. The system as in claim 1, wherein one of said effects includes a forced redraw, where at a specified interval, an all-black image is created, followed by the processor redrawing an entire image.

12. An effect creating system control system for a lighting system that is remotely controllable, comprising:

a computer which receives information indicating a plurality of different images and at least one effect for said different images, to be created by an external light;

said information including all of a first layer including an image, a second layer that creates a perimeter that blocks all but the perimeter of the first layer, and a third layer that provides color for the combination of the first layer, second layer and third layer,

said computer combining said first layer, said second layer and said third layer, and compiling said first layer, second layer and third layer, for a specified kind of processor to create a precompiled file, said specified kind of processor the processor other than the one used by the external light.

13. The system as in claim 12, wherein said precompiled file is compiled for a hypothetical processor.

14. The system as in claim 12, wherein each of said layers include at least one of a time, a color, and/or an effect, and each layer affects all of the other layers.

15. The system as in claim 14, wherein said layers are arranged with one layer overlaying each other layer, each layer affects layers below that layer.

16. The system as in claim 12, wherein at least one of said layers includes an effect.

17. The system as in claim 16, Wherein each layer that represents an effect includes a parameter associated therewith, specifying an amount of the effect.

18. The system as in claim 12, wherein said first layer includes an animated image which continuously changes.

19. The system as in claim 17, wherein one of said effects include a continual sinusoidal wobble, and wherein said parameter includes a speed of the wobble.

20. The system as in claim 12, wherein one of said effects includes a forced redraw, where at a specified interval, an all-black image is created, followed by the processor redrawing an entire image.

21. A control system for a console based lighting system, comprising:

a housing, housing at least one computer having a first type of processor, and having a connection which receives commands indicating a precompiled file indicating a plurality of different images and at least one effect for said different images, to be created by an external light;

said connection receiving a control input, and having an output port, producing outputs indicative of a current control of said housing;

said at least one computer receiving said precompiled file which is compiled to include at least a first layer including an image, a second layer that creates a perimeter that blocks all but the perimeter of the first layer, and a third layer that provides color for the combination of the first layer, second layer and third layer, said precompiled file also including at least one effect that causes a shaking of an entire overall image created by combining said first, second and third layers, and said precompiled file being compiled for a processor other than a type of said first processor; and

said at least one computer interpreting said precompiled file that includes each of said first, second and third layers, and controlling at least one light, created from interpreting said precompiled file.

22. The system as in claim 21, wherein there are multiple computers in said housing.

23. The system as in claim 21, wherein said precompiled file is compiled for a hypothetical processor, different than a language of said processor in said housing.

24. The system as in claim 22, wherein said housing having a switch which controls connecting to any of said computers from a single keyboard, and also controls producing outputs from any of said computers to a common monitor.

25. The system as in claim 23, further comprising a code interpreter which interprets said precompiled file into a native language used by said processor in said housing.

26. The system as in claim 21, wherein each of said layers include at least one of a time, a color, and/or an effect, and each layer affects all of the other layers.

27. The system as in claim 26, wherein each layer that represents an effect includes a parameter associated therewith, specifying an amount of the effect.

28. The system as in claim 21, wherein said first layer includes an animated image which continuously changes.

29. The system as in claim 27, wherein one of said effects include a continual sinusoidal wobble, and wherein said parameter includes a speed of the wobble.

30. The system as in claim 21, wherein one of said effects includes a forced redraw, where at a specified interval, an all-black image is created, followed by the processor redrawing the entire image.