Virtual reality interface for show control

• US 6,563,520 B1
• Filed: 04/01/1997
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Production Resource Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Light and Sound Design Limited
• Inventors: Hewlett, William, Parker, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US08/847,174
• Time in Patent Office: 2,233 Days
• Field of Search: 345/326, 345/339, 345/340, 345/355, 345/964, 345/970, 345/771, 345/810, 395/919, 395/920, 395/921
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

A system for designing light and sound systems for use in stage productions. Virtual reality interfaces facilitate the selection and location of lighting and sound displays by providing a real-time simulation of the devices and the display produced thereby. The system also calculates parameters with respect to structural elements used for mounting the lighting and sound equipment. In addition, the virtual reality interface permits the simulation of the packing of the lighting and sound equipment and the automatic calculation of parameters relating to packing space, package weight, preferred location, and order of packing.

Claims

1. A virtual reality stage lighting design tool comprising:

a memory storing information representing a plurality of lighting devices and lighting effects that can be produced by said lighting devices;

a processor, coupled to the memory, simulating a lighting display based on said information;

a virtual reality display unit, coupled to the processor, and displaying said lighting simulation to a user as a simulated three dimensional representation of lighting simulation; and

a virtual reality user interface;

responsive to three dimensional motion of an operator, to simulate and display the operators actions and responses thereto in selecting one of the lighting devices for modification by graphical reference to one of the simulated lighting devices displayed on the virtual reality display unit, the processor modifying the simulated lighting display responsive to said modification to produce a new lighting simulation so as to reflect the selection of lighting devices and modification options, said virtual reality user interface allowing the user to select a lighting device from said plurality of lighting devices, and operating to determine, from said memory, information about the selected lighting device, including options which can be effected on the selected lighting device, and providing a selectable list of said options which can be effected, and allowing selection of one of said options for control wherein said lighting devices include portable lighting devices that are removably attached to temporary support structures

wherein said modification options include the selection and movement of said temporary support structures; and

wherein the processor calculates allowable parameters that are a function of the weight of the lighting devices.

2. A virtual reality stage lighting design tool comprising:

a memory storing information representing a plurality of lighting devices and lighting effects that can be produced by said lighting devices;

a processor, coupled to the memory, simulating a lighting display based on said information;

a virtual reality display unit, coupled to the processor, and displaying said lighting simulation to a user as a simulated three dimensional representation of lighting simulation; and

a virtual reality user interface, responsive to three dimensional motion of an operator, to simulate and display the operators actions and responses thereto in selecting one of the lighting devices for modification by graphical reference to one of the simulated lighting devices displayed on the virtual reality display unit, the processor modifying the simulated lighting display responsive to said modification to produce a new lighting simulation so as to reflect the selection of lighting devices and modification options, said virtual reality user interface allowing the user to select a lighting device from said plurality of lighting devices, and operating to determine, from said memory, information about the selected lighting device, including options which can be effected on the selected lighting device, and providing a selectable list of said options which can be effected, and allowing selection of one of said options for control wherein said lighting devices include portable lighting devices that removably attached to temporary support structures,

wherein said modification options include the selection and movement of said temporary support structures, and wherein the modification options includes the routing of cables connected to the lighting devices.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the display unit displays the cables in a selected routing option.