Pixel based gobo record control format

• US 6,891,656 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Production Resource Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Production Resource Group LLC
• Inventors: Hunt, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US10/638,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20040061926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 359/291, 345/431, 345/611, 345/601, 345/604, 345/441, 345/473, 345/764, 345/419, 345/619, 345/589, 382/181, 382/192, 382/203, 382/154, 382/167, 353/15, 353/25, 353/122, 362/282, 362/284, 362/294
• US Class Current: 359/291
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/007 using rotating transparent or colored disks, e.g. gobo wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/008 in the form of devices for effecting sequential colour changes, e.g. colour wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/001 using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/34 by control of light from an independent source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/346 based on modulation of the reflection angle, e.g. micromirrors micromirrors devices per se G02B26/0833

Abstract

A special record format used for commanding light pattern shapes and addressable light pattern shape generator. The command format includes a first part which commands a specified gobo and second parts which command the characteristics of that gobo. The gobo is formed by making a default gobo based on the type and modifying that default gobo to fit the characteristics.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a console, having at least one file therein which is indicative of an image, at least one control therein which controls some aspect of a light pattern shape based on the image, and a processing element that produces an output signal defining a record that includes information about said light pattern shape and at least one parameter representing said light pattern shape.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein said console includes a digital signal processor which computes information related to said output signal.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein said control allows controlling a size of the light pattern shape.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein said control allows controlling e basic shape and editing the shape.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein said control allows controlling a color of the shaped light.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein said record defines an output signal that controls a light.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein said record includes a first portion defining a gobo type, and a second portion defining characteristics of said gobo type.

8. A system as in claim 7, wherein said characteristics include size of the gobo as defined by the first portion.

9. A system, comprising:

a console, having at least one control thereon, which stores images, allows selection of one of said images, to define a gobo, and includes a processing element which produces an output signal indicative of the gobo defined by said one of said images.

10. A system as in claim 9, further comprising a control on said console which allows controlling variation of the gobo, and which changes the output signal indicative of said control.

11. A system as in claim 10, wherein the output signal includes a first value indicative of the gobo type, and a second value indicative of said variation.

12. A system as in claim 9, wherein said output signal includes a first value indicative of the gobo type and a second value indicative of additional aspects of the gobo.

13. A system as in claim 12, wherein said first value is a number indicative of a gobo shape.

14. A system as in claim 13, wherein said second value is information indicative of gobo sides.

15. A system as in claim 13, wherein said second value is information indicative of gobo time.

16. A format, comprising, a first set of bits defining the gobo control data which represents a form of a digital gobo and a second set of bits defining color data which represents a color of the digital gobo.

17. A format as in claim 16, wherein said format includes another set of bits indicative of gobo size.

18. A format as in claim 16, wherein said form of the digital gobo includes information indicative of the shape.

19. A format as in claim 16, wherein said first set of bits includes a type assignment which indicates a number of moving parts.

20. A format comprising a first set of bits defining a gobo to be projected, and a second set of bits defining the timing of moving parts of the gobo.

21. A format as in claim 20, wherein said first set of bits defines at least a shape of the gobo.

22. A format as in claim 20, wherein said second set of bits defines timing of a movement of the gobo.

23. A format as in claim 20, wherein said second set of bits defines timing of a change in size of said gobo.

24. A format comprising a first set of bite defining a gobo to be projected, said first set of bits defining a format of a notification of said gobo, and at least one additional set of bits, whose significance is determined by the first set of bits.

25. A format as in claim 24, wherein the first set of bits defines a gobo type and includes a number of parameters of the gobo, and said at least one additional set of bits defines said parameters.

26. A method, comprising:

receiving, in a light projecting element, a signal representing a digital gobo, and

using said signal representing the digital gobo to alter the shape of projected light on a pixel by pixel basis.

27. A method as in claim 26, wherein said using comprises carrying out a matrix arithmetic operation using said signal.