Method and apparatus for controlling images with image projection lighting devices

• US 6,812,653 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2002
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard S. Bellivean
• Original Assignee: Richard S. Bellivean
• Inventors: Bellivean, Richard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Application Number:
  US10/206,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20040017164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 315/312, 315/316-318, 315/292-294
• US Class Current: 315/318
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/12 Picture reproducers H04N9/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission

Abstract

A lighting system includes a central controller and multiparameter lights, including IPLDs. A display of the multiparameter lights at the central controller includes the IPLDs and their image parameters, which are used to evoke a display of graphics tools at the central controller for originating images. Images originating at the central controller are transmitted to the IPLDs either by or under control of the central controller. The graphics tools may also be able to manipulate images. The central controller is provided with one or more image editors, which include the graphics tools. The outputs of the image editors, which are referred to as “image banks,” are routed to multiple multiparameter lights (including IPLDs) in accordance with assignments made by the operator of the central controller. The central controller also uses a collage display screen of a collage generator to allow the operator to select an image to collage.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a lighting system having at least a plurality of IPLDs, comprising:

displaying a first plurality of parameters of a first one of the IPLDs at a central controller, the first plurality of parameters including a first image parameter;

displaying a first plurality of images at the central controller; and

establishing at the central controller at least one first image for the first image parameter from the first plurality of images.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying a second plurality of parameters of a second one of the IPLDs at a central controller, the second plurality of parameters including a second image parameter;

displaying a second plurality of images at the central controller; and

establishing at the central controller at least one second image for the second image parameter from the second plurality of images.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein:

the first image establishing step comprises establishing at the central controller a plurality of images for the first image parameter from the first plurality of images; and

the second image establishing step comprises establishing at the central controller a plurality of images for the second image parameter from the second plurality of images.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

furnishing the first image established in the first image establishing step to the first IPLD from the central controller;

and furnishing the second image established in the second image establishing step to the second IPLD from the central controller.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

furnishing the first image established in the first image establishing step to the first IPLD from a computer other than the central controller, under control of the central controller;

and furnishing the second image established in the second image establishing step to the second IPLD from a computer other than the central controller, under control of the central controller.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein:

the first image parameter is a number, word or symbol;

and the second image parameter is a number, word or symbol.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first image establishing step comprises:

displaying a first image editor at the central controller; and

mixing at least two images from the first plurality of images with the first image editor at the central controller to establish the first image.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein the first image establishing step comprises:

displaying a first image editor at the central controller; and

mixing at least two images from the first plurality of images with the first image editor at the central controller to establish the first image;

and wherein the second image establishing step comprises;

displaying a second image editor at the central controller; and

mixing at least two images from the second plurality of images with the second image editor at the central controller to establish the second image.

9. A method of controlling a lighting system having at least a plurality of IPLDs, comprising:

displaying a first plurality of parameters of a first one of the IPLDs at a central controller, the first plurality of parameters including a first image parameter;

displaying a first plurality of images at the central controller in response to an operator selection of the first image parameter; and

originating from the central controller at least one first image for the first image parameter from the first plurality of images.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the originating step comprises:

selecting at least one of the first plurality of images at the central controller to obtain the first image; and

transmitting the first image to the first IPLD.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the originating step comprises:

selecting at least two of the first plurality of images at the central controller to obtain selected images;

manipulating the selected images to obtain the first image; and

transmitting the first image to the first IPLD.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the manipulating step comprises mixing the selected Images in accordance with operator input to obtain the first image.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising effecting the operator selection of the first image parameter in response to a selection event for the first image parameter.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

displaying an identifier for the first IPLDs at the central controller; and

effecting the operator selection of the first image parameter in response to a selection event for the identifier.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

displaying a second plurality of parameters of a second one of the IPLDs at a central controller, the second plurality of parameters including a second image parameter;

displaying a second plurality of images at the central controller in response to an operator selection of the second image parameter; and

originating from the central controller at least one second image for the second image parameter from the second plurality of images.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the step of displaying the first plurality of parameters of the first IPLD comprises displaying the first plurality of parameters on a first display screen of the central controller;

the step of displaying the second plurality of parameters of the second IPLD comprises displaying the second plurality of parameters on the first display screen of the central controller;

the step of displaying the first plurality of images comprises displaying the first plurality of images on a second display screen of the central controller; and

the step of displaying the second plurality of images comprises displaying the second plurality of images on the second display screen of the central controller.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the step of displaying the first plurality of parameters of the first IPLD comprises displaying the first plurality of parameters on a first display screen of the central controller;

the step of displaying the second plurality of parameters of the second IPLD comprises displaying the second plurality of parameters on the first display screen of the central controller;

the step of displaying the first plurality of images comprises displaying the first plurality of images on the first display screen of the central controller; and

the step of displaying the second plurality of images comprises displaying the second plurality of images on the first display screen of the central controller.

18. A method of operating a lighting system that includes a central controller and a plurality of image projection lighting devices (“

IPLDs”

), comprising;

maintaining a plurality of parameters for each of the IPLDs at the central controller, the parameters for each of the IPLDs including at least one image parameter;

originating a first image from the central controller for a first one of the IPLDs, the first image being defined by the image parameter of the first IPLD; and

originating a second image from the central controller for a second one of the IPLDs, the second image being defined by the image parameter of the second IPLD;

wherein the first image and the second image are different.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

forming the first image from a plurality of images; and

forming the second image from a plurality of images.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

mixing a plurality of images to form the first image; and

mixing a plurality of images to form the second image.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

forming the first image from a plurality of images, including a live camera image; and

forming the second image from a plurality of images, including a live camera image.

22. A method of operating a lighting system that includes a central controller and a plurality of image projection lighting devices (“

IPLDs”

), comprising;

originating a first image from the central controller for a first one of the IPLDs;

projecting the first image from the first IPLD;

originating a second image from the central controller for a second one of the IPLDs, the second image being different than the first image; and

projecting the second image from the second IPLD;

wherein the first image and the second image are selected from a plurality of images stored at the central controller, the plurality of images having an identifying scheme for operator visualization of the images.

23. A method of controlling a lighting system comprising a plurality of multiparameter lights, including gobo-type multiparameter lights and IPLD-type multiparameter lights, controllable from a central controller, comprising:

storing at least one image library at the central controller;

displaying at the central controller an identifier and a plurality of parameters for each of the multiparameter lights, wherein the parameters for each of the IPLD-type multiparameter lights includes an image parameter;

displaying an image editor at the central controller in response to an operator selection of any of the IPLD-type multiparameter lights, the image editor including an image library area having a plurality of images, a mixer area, and an image area;

selecting at least two of the plurality of images from the image library in response to an operator action;

mixing the selected images in the mixer area to obtain an output image;

displaying the output image in the image area; and

transmitting the output image from the central controller to the IPLD.

24. A method of operating a lighting system that includes a central controller and a plurality of image projection lighting devices (“

IPLDs”

), comprising;

originating a first image from the central controller for a first one of the IPLDs, the first image resulting from a crossfade between two different images;

projecting the first image from the first IPLD;

originating a second image from the central controller for a second one of the IPLDs, the second image being different than the first image and resulting from a crossfade between two different images; and

projecting the second image from the second IPLD;

wherein the first image and the second image are respectively formed from a crossfade between at least two of a plurality of images stored at the central controller.

25. A central controller for controlling a lighting system comprising a plurality of image projection lighting devices (“

IPLDs”

), each having a plurality of parameters including an image parameter, the central controller comprising;

a display screen;

a memory containing a plurality of images;

a first programmable component for creating a first display on the display screen of at least some of the images;

a second programmable component for forming a first image from the first display, under operator control, for an image parameter of a first one of the IPLDs;

a third programmable component for creating a second display on the display screen of at least some of the images; and

a fourth programmable component for forming a second image from the second display, under operator control, for an image parameter of a second one of the IPLDs;

wherein the first image and the second image are different.

26. The central controller of claim 25 further comprising:

a fifth programmable component for furnishing the first image to the first IPLD, and

a sixth programmable component for furnishing the second image to the second IPLD.

27. The central controller of claim 25 wherein:

the second programmable component comprises a component for forming the first image from a combination of at least two of the images in the first display; and

the fourth programmable component comprises a component for forming the second image from a combination of at least two of the images in the second display.

28. The central controller of claim 27 wherein:

the combination of the images in the first display is a crossfade combination; and

the combination of the images in the second display is a crossfade combination.

29. A method of controlling a lighting system, the lighting system having a central controller and at least a plurality of IPLDs and each of the IPLDs having a plurality of parameters including an image parameter, the method comprising:

selecting a first one of the IPLDs at the central controller;

editing the image parameter of the first IPLD at the central controller to visualize a first image on a visual display device of the central controller;

establishing a first effect for the first image;

visualizing a first final image on the visual display device, the first final image comprising the first image with the first effect as being projected by the first IPLD;

selecting a second one of the IPLDs at the central controller;

editing the image parameter of the second IPLD at the central controller to visualize a second image on the visual display device;

establishing a second effect for the second image; and

visualizing a second final image on the visual display device, the second final image comprising the second image with the second effect as being projected by the second IPLD.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising:

applying the first effect to the first image at the central controller; and

applying the second effect to the second image at the central controller.

31. The method of claim 29 further comprising:

applying the first effect to the first image at the first IPLD; and

applying the second effect to the second image at the second IPLD.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein:

the first image and the first final image are visualized as separate images on the visual display device; and

the second image and the second final image are visualized as separate images on the visual display device.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein:

the first image and the first final image are visualized as one image on the visual display device; and

the second image and the second final image are visualized as one image on the visual display device.

34. A method of operating a lighting system that includes a central controller and a plurality of image projection lighting devices (“

IPLDs”

), comprising;

maintaining a plurality of parameters for each of the IPLDs at the central controller, the parameters for each of the IPLDs including at least one image parameter;

originating a first image from the central controller for a first one of the IPLDs, the first image being defined by the image parameter of the first IPLD; and

originating a second image from the central controller for a second one of the IPLDs, the second image being defined by the image parameter of the second IPLD;

wherein the first image and the second image are first and second sections of a collage.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising forming the first and second sections from a single image selected by the operator.

36. The method of claim 34 further comprising forming the first and second sections by selecting the first and second sections from a plurality of images stored at the central controller.

37. A method of operating a lighting system that includes a central controller, a plurality of first-type multiparameter lights having a plurality of parameters except for an image parameter, and a plurality of second-type multiparameter lights having a plurality of parameters including an image parameter, comprising:

varying the parameters for each of the first-type multiparameter lights at the central controller;

varying the parameters for each of the second-type multiparameter lights at the central controller, wherein for each of the second-type multiparameter lights, varying the particular image parameter thereof comprises;

originating a first image from the central controller for a first scene, the first image being defined by the particular image parameter; and

originating a second image from the central controller for a second scene, the second image being defined by the particular image parameter.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein:

the first scene comprises a plurality of sections of a collage;

the first image originated for a first one of the second-type multiparameter lights in the first image originating step is a first one of the sections of the collage;

and the first image originated for a second one of the second-type multiparameter lights in the first image originating step is a second one of the sections of the collage.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising creating the sections of the collage from a style selected and applied by an operator to a single image.

40. The method of claim 38 further comprising creating the sections of the collage on a visual display device of the central controller.

41. The method of claim 38 further comprising:

projecting the first section of the collage from the first second-type multiparameter light; and

projecting the second section of the collage from the second second-type multiparameter light.

42. The method of claim 37 wherein:

the first image for each of the second-type multiparameter lights is unique; and

the second image for each of the second-type multiparameter lights is unique.

43. The method of claim 37 wherein for each of the second-type multiparameter lights, varying the particular image parameter thereof is performed by the operator with reference to a graphics visual display device of the central controller.

44. A method of operating a lighting system that includes a central controller and a plurality of image projection lighting devices (“

IPLDs”

), comprising;

displaying a plurality of parameters for each of the IPLDs at the central controller, the parameters including at least one image parameter;

evoking a graphics tool at the central controller in response to selection of one of the IPLDs by operator action;

displaying a plurality of images for the graphics tool at the central controller and;

originating an image from the central controller for the image parameter of the selected IPLD, in response to operator action with the graphics tool, from the plurality of images.

45. The method of claim 44 further comprising acquiring the images for the graphics tool from image storage local to the central controller.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein:

the image parameter of the first IPLD is an image bank;

the step of evoking a graphics toot comprises displaying an image editor for the image bank on a display screen of the central controller; and

the step of displaying a plurality of images comprises displaying an image library.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein:

the central controller comprises a first display screen and a second display screen;

the IPLD parameter displaying step comprises displaying the parameters for each of the IPLDs on the first display screen;

the evoking step comprises displaying the graphics toot on the second display screen;

and the images displaying step comprises displaying the images for the graphics tool on the second display screen.

48. The method of claim 44 wherein:

the central controller comprises only one display screen;

the IPLD parameter displaying step comprises displaying the parameters for each of the IPLDs on the display screen;

the evoking step comprises displaying the graphics tool on the display screen;

and the images displaying step comprises displaying the images for the graphics tool on the display screen.

49. The method of claim 44 wherein the lighting system further includes at least one gobo-type multiparameter light, further comprising:

providing for selection of at least one parameter of the gobo-type multiparameter light at the central controller; and

varying the selected parameter.

50. A method of operating a lighting system that includes a central controller and a plurality of image projection lighting devices (“

IPLDs”

), comprising;

displaying a plurality of parameters for each of the IPLDs at the central controller, the parameters including at least one image parameter;

evoking a first graphics tool at the central controller in response to selection of a first one of the IPLDs thereof by operator action;

displaying a plurality of images for the first graphics tool at the central controller;

originating an image from the central controller for the image parameter of the first IPLD, in response to operator action with the first graphics tool, from the plurality of images;

evoking a second graphics tool at the central controller in response to selection of a second one of the IPLDs by operator action;

displaying a plurality of images for the second graphics tool at the central controller;

and originating an image from the central controller for the image parameter of the second IPLD, in response to operator action with the second graphics tool, from the plurality of images for the second graphics tool.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein:

the image parameter of the first IPLD is a first image bank;

the step of evoking a first graphics tool comprises displaying an image editor for the first image bank on a display screen of the central controller;

the step of displaying a plurality of images for the first graphics tool comprises displaying a first image library;

the image parameter of the second IPLD is a second image bank;

the step of evoking a second graphics tool comprises displaying an image editor for the second image bank on a display screen of the central controller; and

the step of displaying a plurality of images for the second graphics tool comprises displaying a second image library.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein the first image library and the second image library are one image library.

53. The method of claim 51 wherein the first image library and the second image library are different image libraries.

54. The method of claim 50 further comprising:

acquiring the images for the first graphics tool from image storage local to the central controller; and

acquiring the images for the second graphics tool from image storage local to the central controller.

55. The method of claim 50 further comprising:

acquiring the images for the first graphics tool from image storage remote from the central controller; and

acquiring the images for the second graphics tool from image storage remote from the central controller.

56. The method of claim 50 wherein:

the central controller comprises a first display screen and a second display screen;

the IPLD parameter displaying step comprises displaying the parameters for each of the IPLDs on the first display screen;

the first graphics tool evoking step comprises displaying the first graphics tool on the second display screen;

the step of displaying images for the first graphics tool comprises displaying images for the first graphics tool on the second display screen;

the second graphics tool evoking step comprises displaying the second graphics tool on the second display screen; and

the step of displaying images for the second graphics tool comprises displaying images for the second graphics tool on the second display screen.

57. The method of claim 50 wherein:

the central controller comprises only one display screen;

the IPLD parameter displaying step comprises displaying the parameters for each of the IPLDs on the display screen;

the first graphics tool evoking step comprises displaying the first graphics tool on the display screen;

the step of displaying images for the first graphics tool comprises displaying images for the first graphics tool on the display screen;

the second graphics tool evoking step comprises displaying the second graphics tool on the display screen;

and the step of displaying images for the second graphics tool comprises displaying images for the second graphics tool on the display screen.

58. The method of claim 50 wherein the lighting system further includes at least one gobo-type multiparameter light, further comprising:

providing for selection of at least one parameter of the gobo-type multiparameter light at the central controller; and

varying the selected parameter.

59. The method of claim 50 wherein:

the step of displaying images for the first graphics tool comprises displaying at least a first sectional image of a collage;

the step of displaying images for the second graphics tool comprises displaying at least a second sectional image of the collage;

the step of originating an image for the image parameter of the first IPLD comprises furnishing the first sectional image to the first IPLD; and

the step of originating an image for the image parameter of the second IPLD comprises furnishing the second sectional image to the second IPLD.

60. A method of operating a lighting system that includes a central controller and a plurality of image projection lighting devices (“

IPLDs”

), comprising;

displaying a plurality of parameters for each of the IPLDs at the central controller, the parameters including at least one image parameter;

evoking a first graphics tool at the central controller in response to selection of a first one of the IPLDs by operator action;

displaying a plurality of images for the first graphics tool at the central controller;

originating a first sectional image of a collage from the central controller for the image parameter of the first IPLD, in response to operator action with the first graphics tool, from the plurality of images;

evoking a second graphics tool at the central controller in response to selection of a second one of the IPLDs by operator action;

displaying a plurality of images for the second graphics tool at the central controller, including a second sectional image of the collage; and

originating a second sectional image of the collage from the central controller for the image parameter of the second IPLD, in response to operator action with the second graphics tool, from the plurality of images for the second graphics tool.

61. The method of claim 60 further comprising applying a style to a single image at the central controller to form the first and second sectional images.

62. The method of claim 60 wherein the first and second sectional images are predefined.