Controller panel and system for light and serially networked lighting system
First Claim
1. A lighting control system comprising:
- a light with at least one lamp;
a remote control having a remote keypad and signal means for transmitting a wireless remote control signal containing instructions;
a serial network output port;
at least one device connected in series to the serial network output port, each at least one connected device being addressable using a serial network protocol;
a controller contained within the light and connected to the light and to the serial network output port, the controller having a keypad including a mode switch for switching the controller between at least a local mode and a remote mode, the controller in the local mode being for changing the dimming level of the light, and the controller in the remote mode being for generating and transmitting a serial network protocol instruction signal to the light and each at least one connected device, the network protocol instruction signal containing device settings for the light and each at least one connected device, the device settings being changed using the remote keypad or the controller keypad;
linearization means in the controller for linearizing a dimming curve for the light to smoothly dim the light;
end a sensor connected to the controller for receiving the remote control signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A controller for a lighting system is integrated with a light or other device. The controller operates in a local mode to control the integrated light only and in a remote mode to function as a serial network protocol controller for a series of connected devices. In remote mode, an IR/RF remote control is used to change settings for any device connected to the controller. The controller generates a fast serial network protocol instruction sequence, such as a DMX-512 protocol instruction sequence, from the commands received relatively slowly from the IR/RF remote control. The controller can include an hours of operation counter for the integrated light and a global setting function for changing all connected devices simultaneously to a single setting.
-
Citations
36 Claims
-
1. A lighting control system comprising:
-
a light with at least one lamp;
a remote control having a remote keypad and signal means for transmitting a wireless remote control signal containing instructions;
a serial network output port;
at least one device connected in series to the serial network output port, each at least one connected device being addressable using a serial network protocol;
a controller contained within the light and connected to the light and to the serial network output port, the controller having a keypad including a mode switch for switching the controller between at least a local mode and a remote mode, the controller in the local mode being for changing the dimming level of the light, and the controller in the remote mode being for generating and transmitting a serial network protocol instruction signal to the light and each at least one connected device, the network protocol instruction signal containing device settings for the light and each at least one connected device, the device settings being changed using the remote keypad or the controller keypad;
linearization means in the controller for linearizing a dimming curve for the light to smoothly dim the light;
enda sensor connected to the controller for receiving the remote control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A control system for a studio or set location, the control system comprising:
-
a light having a housing and at least one lamp;
a serial network protocol controller integral with the light in the housing, the controller having at least two operation modes, the controller connected to the light for dimming each at least one lamp in the light in a first operation mode, the controller generating a serial network protocol control signal in a second operation mode;
a plurality of serial network protocol-controllable studio devices connected in a network with the serial network protocol controller for receiving serial network control signals, the plurality of serial network protocol-controllable studio devices each having a serial network protocol address and being selected from the group consisting of cameras, yokes, lights, projectors, sound systems, telephones, microphones, and computer; and
linearization means in the controller for linearizing a dimming curve for the light to smoothly dim the light. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A control light for a lighting control system having at least a pair of serial network protocol-controllable devices each having a serial network protocol address connected together in a network, the control light comprising:
-
a housing;
at least one lamp held in the housing;
a serial network protocol controller mounted in the housing and electrically connected to the at least one lamp for dimming the at least one lamp in a first operation mode, the controller including linearization means for linearizing the dimming curve for the at least one lamp, the controller having a second operation mode for generating and transmitting a serial network protocol signal to each of the at least a pair of serial network protocol-controllable devices and the at least one lamp. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
Specification