SELF-CONTAINED, WEARABLE LIGHT CONTROLLER WITH WIRELESS COMMUNICATION INTERFACE

• US 20120078393A1
• Filed: 09/29/2010
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illuminate LLC
• Original Assignee: Illuminate LLC
• Inventors: Kotb, Miral, Grow, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 8,892,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/90
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/085 Luminous ornaments
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A system for controlling a plurality of wearable wireless light-bearing units is disclosed. The light-bearing units may comprise lighting elements coupled to garments such as those used in the performing arts and entertainment. The system comprises a control unit wirelessly communicating with light-bearing units. The light-bearing units comprise a control box coupled to a plurality of lights. Operators can control one or more of the light-bearing units in synchrony with each other and with other audio-visual elements using standard protocols. The device also provides a library of preprogrammed effects and can perform self-diagnostic functions.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A wireless lighting system, comprising:

a plurality of wearable light units, each of the light units comprising a plurality of lighting elements separately coupled to a control box; and

a central control unit programmed to obtain a set of lighting inputs and to wirelessly communicate with the control box of one or more of said plurality of light units in order to control the plurality of light units according to said set of lighting inputs.

22. The wireless lighting system of claim 21, wherein:

said central control unit is programmed to convert said set of lighting inputs into a set of commands, and transmit said set of commands wirelessly to one or more of said plurality of light units;

said control unit is programmed to establish a wireless network connection with said plurality of wearable light units, and to transmit said set of commands over an internet protocol layer.

23. The wireless lighting system of claim 22, wherein:

said central control unit comprises a timer generating a timing output; and

said central control unit is programmed to send said commands to each light unit in said plurality of light units in a synchronous manner, based on a rhythm generated from the output of said timer.

24. The wireless lighting system of claim 22, wherein:

said central control unit is programmed to periodically determine a plurality of command patterns, each of said command patterns within said plurality of command patterns being designated for a designated light unit within said plurality of light units, and to send each set of commands to the designated light unit within said plurality of light units.

25. The wireless lighting system of claim 24, wherein:

said set of lighting inputs is generated from a group of command input units consisting of a DMX bridge, an SMPTE bridge, a human operating a computer console, a set of commands stored in a memory, and an auxiliary input.

26. The wireless lighting system of claim 25, wherein:

said set of lighting inputs comprises a plurality of data streams, at least two data streams in said plurality of data streams corresponding to a single light unit within said plurality of light units, said at least two data streams originating from different command input units within said group of command input units; and

said system further comprises a selector module programmed to receive a selector input, and for each light unit within said plurality of lighting units to which at least two data streams in said plurality of data streams corresponds, select one of said at least two data streams for said light unit based on said selector input.

27. The wireless lighting system of claim 21, wherein:

the control box in each light unit in said plurality of light units further comprises a communications module for wirelessly communicating with said central control unit, a memory chip storing pre-programmed sequences for controlling said plurality of lighting elements in a desired manner, and firmware programmed to interpret command instructions received from said central control unit and to direct the lighting elements according to said command instructions.

28. The wireless lighting system of claim 27, wherein:

each light unit in said plurality of light units further comprises a removable connector coupling said plurality of lighting elements to said control box, said removable connector comprising a plurality of cavities, at least one of which has a metal pressure clamp for securably receiving stripped wire ends of wires connected to said plurality of lighting elements;

said control box further comprises a plurality of header pins; and

said removable connector further comprises a plurality of header pin holes positioned on the side of the removable connector opposite to said plurality of cavities, said plurality of header pin holes having metal contacts and positioned to receive said plurality of header pins such that an electrical connection is made between said plurality of lighting elements and said plurality of header pins.

29. The wireless lighting system of claim 28, wherein:

the plurality of lighting elements is grouped into a plurality of channels, each channel comprising one or more lighting elements, each lighting element within each channel being controlled by said control box in unison

31. A method of controlling a plurality of wearable light units with a control unit, each of said light units comprising a plurality of lighting elements, the method comprising:

obtaining a set of lighting inputs;

generating a plurality of commands from said set of lighting inputs;

wirelessly transmitting said plurality of commands to said plurality of light units; and

interpreting said plurality of commands to control said plurality of lighting elements.

30. The wireless lighting system of claim 31, wherein:

each light unit in said plurality of light units is incorporated into a garment, said plurality of lighting elements coupled to said garment.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

establishing a wireless network connection between said control unit and said plurality of wearable light units; and

transmitting said set of commands over an internet protocol layer;

said plurality of commands comprising commands to adjust the brightness of said plurality of lighting elements within each of said light units.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein:

said plurality of commands comprises commands to play lighting sequences pre-recorded into a memory unit coupled to at least one light unit within said plurality of light units.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

generating a timing output; and

sending commands to each light unit in said plurality of light units in a synchronous manner, based on a rhythm generated from said timing output.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

periodically determining a plurality of command patterns, each of said command patterns within said plurality of command patterns being designated for a different light unit within said plurality of light units; and

sending each of said commands to its designated light unit within said plurality of light units.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein:

said set of lighting inputs is generated from a group of command input units consisting of a DMX bridge, an SMPTE bridge, a human operating a computer console, a set of commands stored in a memory, and an auxiliary input.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein:

said set of lighting inputs comprises a plurality of data streams, at least two data streams in said plurality of data streams corresponding to the same lighting unit within said plurality of lighting units, said at least two data streams originating from different command input units within said group of command input units; and

said method further comprises receiving a selector input, and for each lighting unit within said plurality of lighting units to which at least two data streams in said plurality of data streams corresponds, selecting one of said at least two data streams for said lighting unit based on said selector input.

38. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

translating raw DMX data input into a set of commands by correlating at least one group of bytes in said raw DMX data input to at least one light unit in said set of light units, correlating at least one byte in said at least one group of bytes to at least one lighting element in said at least one light unit, and determining a lighting command for said at least one lighting element based on said at least one byte.

39. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

translating an SMPTE timecode into a set of commands by providing said SMPTE timecode to a memory correlating SMPTE timecodes to commands patterns, and retrieving, from said memory, a command pattern correlated with said SMPTE timecode.

40. The wireless lighting system of claim 31, further comprising:

retrieving a current index;

providing said current index to a memory correlating indices with command patterns; and

retrieving a command pattern correlated with said current index.