Lighting console for wirelessly controlling professional lighting modules

• US 6,680,586 B1
• Filed: 11/07/2002
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Transpace Tech Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Transpace Tech Company Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Heng-Chien
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, CHUC
• Application Number:
  US10/065,656
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 315/291, 315/294, 315/292, 315/312, 315/318, 315/315, 315/316, 315/317, 340/332, 340/691, 340/628, 340/815.4
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Abstract

A professional lighting control system includes a plurality of light modules. Each light module contains a light set with at least one light source and at least one switch for switching the light source on and off. The light module also contains a driving circuit electrically connected to the light set, the driving circuit having at least one switch driver for driving the switch of the light set, and a first transceiver for wirelessly receiving control signals for the light set. The control system also includes a main console, which has a signal generator for generating the control signals that control the light set, and a controller electrically connected to the signal generator for receiving the control signals. The controller has a second transceiver for wirelessly sending control signals received from the signal generator to the first transceiver of the driving circuit so as to control the light set.

Claims

1. A professional lighting control system comprising:

a plurality of light modules, each comprising;

a light set comprising at least one light source and at least one switch for switching the light source on and off; and

a driving circuit electrically connected to the light set, the driving circuit comprising at least one switch driver for driving the switch of the light set, and a first transceiver for wirelessly receiving control signals for the light set; and

a main console comprising;

a signal generator for generating the control signals that control the light set; and

a controller electrically connected to the signal generator for receiving control signals that control the light set, the controller comprising;

a second transceiver for wirelessly sending control signals received from the signal generator to the first transceiver of the driving circuit so as to control the light set; and

a multiplexer having a plurality of input nodes and one output node, each input node being used to receive control signals from the signal generator, the output node being used for outputting control signals corresponding to a selected light module.

2. The control system of claim 1 wherein the light set further comprises at least one step motor for changing an orientation direction of the light source of the light set, and the driving circuit further comprises at least one step motor driver for driving the step motor of the light set.

3. The control system of claim 1 wherein the control signals generated by the signal generator are analog control signals, and an analog to digital converter is connected to the output of the multiplexer for converting the analog control signals into digital control signals.

4. The control system of claim 1 wherein the driving circuit further comprises a first processor for controlling operation of the driving circuit, and the controller further comprises a second processor for controlling operation of the controller.

5. The control system of claim 4 wherein the driving circuit further comprises an identifying circuit for storing identification information that uniquely identifies the corresponding light module, and the first processor of the driving circuit only processes control signals that contain identification information identical to identification information located in the identifying circuit.

6. The control system of claim 1 wherein the wireless signals transmitted between the first transceiver to the second transceiver are direct sequence spread spectrum signals.

7. The control system of claim 1 wherein the wireless signals transmitted between the first transceiver to the second transceiver conform to the IEEE 802.11b networking standard.

8. A professional lighting control system comprising:

a plurality of light modules, each comprising;

a light set comprising;

at least one light source and at least one switch for switching the light source on and off; and

at least one step motor for changing an orientation direction of the light source of the light set; and

a driving circuit electrically connected to the light set, the driving circuit comprising;

at least one switch driver for driving the switch of the light set;

a first transceiver for wirelessly receiving control signals for the light set; and

at least one step motor driver for driving the step motor of the light set; and

a main console comprising;

a signal generator for generating the control signals that control the light set; and

a controller electrically connected to the signal generator for receiving control signals that control the light set, the controller comprising a second transceiver for wirelessly sending control signals received from the signal generator to the first transceiver of the driving circuit so as to control the light set.

9. The control system of claim 8 wherein the controller further comprises a multiplexer having a plurality of input nodes and one output node, each input node being used to receive control signals from the signal generator, the output node being used for outputting control signals corresponding to a selected light module.

10. The control system of claim 9 wherein the control signals generated by the signal generator are analog control signals, and an analog to digital converter is connected to the output of the multiplexer for converting the analog control signals into digital control signals.

11. The control system of claim 8 wherein the driving circuit further comprises a first processor for controlling operation of the driving circuit, and the controller further comprises a second processor for controlling operation of the controller.

12. The control system of claim 11 wherein the driving circuit further comprises an identifying circuit for storing identification information that uniquely identifies the corresponding light module, and the first processor of the driving circuit only processes control signals that contain identification information identical to identification information located in the identifying circuit.

13. The control system of claim 8 wherein the wireless signals transmitted between the first transceiver to the second transceiver are direct sequence spread spectrum signals.

14. The control system of claim 8 wherein the wireless signals transmitted between the first transceiver to the second transceiver conform to the IEEE 802.11b networking standard.