METHOD AND DEVICE CAPABLE OF UNIQUE PATTERN CONTROL OF PIXEL LEDS VIA SMALLER NUMBER OF DMX CONTROL CHANNELS

• US 20160234912A1
• Filed: 04/04/2016
• Published: 08/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James David Smith
• Original Assignee: James David Smith
• Inventors: Smith, James David
• Granted Patent: US 9,924,584 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A method of pixel control which reduces the number of DMX control channels required for generation of artistic pixel patterns displayed on a large number of pixel LEDs is described. Further described are a set of control parameters which facilitate the introduction of pixel control and sophisticated pixel pattern generation without a costly DMX controller upgrade. Also described is a device for generating lighting effects. The device may be portable, battery-powered, radio-controlled and small enough to easily hide in most theatrical and film sets, set pieces, props, and practicals. The device may be configured to process DMX data for controlling and generating graphical patterns among pixel LEDs based on the set of one or more control parameters. The method and device relocate the processing of the DMX data from the DMX controller to one or more individual hardware drivers for the pixel LEDS.

Claims

1. A method for controlling and generating graphical patterns among pixel LEDs, comprising:

providing a set of one or more control parameters;

adjusting the one or more control parameters by setting one or more DMX channels to levels that correspond with settings of one or more of the control parameters;

and processing DMX channel data from a DMX controller based on the set of control parameters;

wherein the processing occurs at a point of processing external to the DMX controller;

wherein the one or more control parameters define how the DMX channel data is interpreted, processed, and distributed among the pixel LEDs to generate graphical patterns.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the point of processing is at one or more individual hardware drivers for the pixel LEDS.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the point of processing is at a pre-processor between the DMX controller and one or more individual hardware drivers for the pixel LEDS.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more control parameters are uploaded and stored in a memory of the one or more individual hardware drivers for the pixel LEDS.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more control parameters are uploaded and stored in a memory of the pre-processor between the DMX controller and one or more individual hardware drivers for the pixel LEDS.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more control parameters are adjusted in real time.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of saving values of the settings by pressing a single button after adjustment of the settings of the one or more control parameters.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more control parameters comprise one or more of:

a Pixel Channel Footprint, which is a number of individual DMX control channels that control a single LED pixel;

Keyframe Length, which is a number of pixels that comprise a source, seed, or keyframe pattern generated by the DMX controller;

DMX Start, which is a channel number within a 512-channel DMX universe where keyframe data begins;

DMX Offset, which denotes a channel within a keyframe where a pixel driver will begin pattern generation for its first physical pixel;

Pixel Group Size, which allows multiple physical pixels to be mapped to each control pixel; and

a Pattern Replication Algorithm, which defines how pixel data will be distributed across a pixel string of any length.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the Pattern Replication Algorithm is selected from the group consisting of:

Forward Keyframe Copy, which displays keyframe data as presented by the DMX controller, and then repeats the keyframe for subsequent blocks of pixels;

Reverse Keyframe Copy, which displays keyframe data as presented by the external DMX controller, but mapped to pixels in reverse order;

Forward/Reverse Keyframe Copy, which combines Forward Keyframe Copy and Reverse Keyframe Copy to create a mirrored pixel pattern that is twice the length of the keyframe, wherein a first keyframe length of pixels displays as a Forward Keyframe, and a second keyframe length of pixels displays as a Reverse Keyframe;

Reverse/Forward Keyframe Copy, which combines Forward Keyframe Copy and Reverse Keyframe Copy to create a mirrored pixel pattern that is twice the length of the keyframe, wherein a first keyframe length of pixels displays as a Reverse Keyframe and a second keyframe length of pixels displays as a Forward Keyframe; and

Mapped Keyframe, which provides a look-up table mapping a relationship between control channels and physical pixels.

10. A device for controlling and generating graphical patterns among pixel LEDs comprising:

a receiver capable of receiving DMX channel data from a DMX controller; and

a processor;

wherein the processor is capable of processing the DMX channel data based on one or more control parameters which define how the DMX channel data is interpreted, processed, and distributed among the pixel LEDs to generate graphical patterns;

wherein the device is external to the DMX controller.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is capable of receiving DMX channel data from a wireless DMX transmitter at the receiver and converting the DMX channel data to one or more outputs, wherein each output is capable of controlling a pixel string comprising at least 500 pixels.

12. The device of claim 10, which is battery powered.

13. The device of claim 10, further comprising a memory capable of storing settings of the one or more control parameters.

14. The device of claim 10, comprising a bootloader which provides a capability of updating the one or more control parameters.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is configured to provide a capability to configure pixel color order.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is configured to provide a capability to correct color discrepancies among pixel strings.

17. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is configured to provide a capability of adjusting the one or more control parameters in real time.

18. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is configured to provide a capability of saving values of the one or more control parameters by pressing a single button.

19. The device of claim 10, wherein the one or more control parameters comprise one or more of:

a Pixel Channel Footprint, which is a number of individual DMX control channels that control a single LED pixel;

Keyframe Length, which is a number of pixels that comprise a source, seed, or keyframe pattern generated by the DMX controller;

DMX Start, which is a channel number within a 512-channel DMX universe where keyframe data begins;

DMX Offset, which denotes a channel within a keyframe where a pixel driver will begin pattern generation for its first physical pixel;

Pixel Group Size, which allows multiple physical pixels to be mapped to each control pixel; and

a Pattern Replication Algorithm, which defines how pixel data will be distributed across a pixel string of any length.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the Pattern Replication Algorithm is selected from the group consisting of:

Forward Keyframe Copy, which displays keyframe data as presented by the DMX controller, and then repeats the keyframe for subsequent blocks of pixels;

Reverse Keyframe Copy, which displays keyframe data as presented by the external DMX controller, but mapped to pixels in reverse order;

Forward/Reverse Keyframe Copy, which combines Forward Keyframe Copy and Reverse Keyframe Copy to create a mirrored pixel pattern that is twice the length of the keyframe, wherein a first keyframe length of pixels displays as a Forward Keyframe, and a second keyframe length of pixels displays as a Reverse Keyframe;

Reverse/Forward Keyframe Copy, which combines Forward Keyframe Copy and Reverse Keyframe Copy to create a mirrored pixel pattern that is twice the length of the keyframe, wherein a first keyframe length of pixels displays as a Reverse Keyframe and a second keyframe length of pixels displays as a Forward Keyframe; and

Mapped Keyframe, which provides a look-up table mapping a relationship between control channels and physical pixels.

21. A device capable of:

receiving DMX data from a DMX lighting controller, wherein the DMX data specifies primary color settings of pixel LEDs; and

capturing the primary color settings with a single button push.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the device is capable of receiving the DMX data from the DMX lighting controller in a wireless format.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the device is battery powered.