File system for a stage lighting array system

• US 7,878,671 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2007
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Production Resource Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Production Resource Group LLC
• Inventors: Hunt, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNES-BULLOCK, CRYSTAL JOY
• Application Number:
  US11/861,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20080021574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 715/713, 715/735, 715/740, 715/760, 382/100, 362/85, 345/1.3, 345/173, 345/594, 315/291, 315/312, 714/1, 714/48, 714/57
• US Class Current: 362/85
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Abstract

A file system for a stage lighting system that maintains the different files associated with the stage lighting system. Each of the files that can represent an effect are maintained within the system within a configuration file. The configuration file can be updated on each start of the system so that the system can maintain information indicative of current configuration files. A test mode can also be entered in which a pre-formed show can be tested against the current state of the configuration files.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

storing a plurality of files on a system that is associated with a device that can output light based on an applied command, at least a plurality of said files which represent a light effect, where said light effect includes shapes to be used as part of projecting said light;

forming a list file types that form said effect, wherein said system searches for said files at startup;

selecting a file from said list; and

if a selected file is not available, forming a default output of light.

2. A method, comprising:

storing a plurality of files on a computer system that is associated with a device that can output light based on an applied command, at least a plurality of said files which represent a light effect, where said light effect includes shapes to be used as part of projecting said light;

defining a configuration file which indicates file types that form said light effect; and

using a computer system for automatically searching for said file types indicated by configuration file among files within said computer system, wherein said searching occurs at startup of the system.

3. A method as in claim 2, further comprising using at least one of said files to form a shape as part of light that is projected.

4. A method as in claim 3, wherein said shape is representative of an outer perimeter of the light that is projected.

5. A method as in claim 2, wherein one of said files includes at least a compiled code which includes an image combined with an effect for the image.

6. A method as in claim 2, wherein said searching comprises searching both memory that is internal to said computer, as well as memory that is external to the computer.

7. A method as in claim 2, wherein said configuration file includes at least multiple different types of files.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein said multiple types of files include media files indicative of animations, and still image files.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein said multiple types of files further include a special kind of file that includes at least one other kind of file that is compiled with at least one effect for the still image file.

10. A method as in claim 8, wherein one of said files represents gobos to be used for the still image files.

11. A method as in claim 2, further comprising detecting that a light effect file has been used to form said shape is no longer available, and displaying a default display when said light effect file is no longer available.

12. A method as in claim 2, further comprising indexing all files in the system at a first time to form an index, and searching the index at a second time subsequent to said first time.

13. A method as in claim 12, further comprising storing information indicative of an external memory, and searching said external memory as part of said searching.

14. A method, comprising:

storing a plurality of files on a system that is associated with a device that can output light based on an applied command, at least a plurality of said files which represent a light effect, where said light effect includes shapes to be used as part of projecting said light;

defining a configuration file which indicates file types that form said effect; and

using a computer for automatically searching for said file types indicated by configuration file among files within said computer system, detecting that a light effect file has been used to form said shape is no longer available, and displaying a default display when said light effect file is no longer available, wherein said default display includes at least one band of black across an entire projection.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a lighting part that produces light based on an applied signal command;

a digitally controllable pixel level light shaping device, in a path of an output light from said lighting part, producing an output light beam which is modified based on said applied signal command;

a memory, storing a plurality of files which each represent a lighting effect, and wherein at least a plurality of said files includes at least one shape that can be used as part of producing the light, said memory also storing a configuration file which includes information about types of different files which can form said lighting effect;

a processor, searching said files in said memory for file types indicated by said configuration file, to find all files which can form said lighting effect in said memory, wherein said processor searches said files at system startup.

16. An apparatus as in claim 15, further comprising a housing, housing said lighting part, light shaping device, and processor.

17. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein said memory includes both memory that is internal to said housing and memory that is external to said housing.

18. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein said memory includes removable memory.

19. An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said processor controls projecting light and shaping the light using said digitally controllable pixel level light shaping device according to at least one of said files.

20. An apparatus as in claim 19, wherein said processor controls shaping an outer perimeter of the light according to one of said files.

21. An apparatus as in claim 19, wherein said processor controls projecting the light according to both at least one shape as well as a compiled image indicative of said shape.

22. An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said configuration file indicates file types representing at least multiple different types of files.

23. An apparatus as in claim 22 wherein said configuration file represents file types represents both media files indicative of animation, and still image files indicative of images.

24. A apparatus as in claim 22, wherein said configuration file includes information about a special file that includes at least one other kind of file, compiled with an effect for an image to be produced.

25. An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said processor also creates an index of said files, and searches said index.

26. An apparatus as in claim 25, wherein said processor also looks for files that have not been added to the index and searches said files which have not been added to the index.

27. A method, comprising:

storing a plurality of files on a system that is associated with a light producing device, where said plurality of files each represent a light effect, where said light effect includes at least one shape to be used as part of projecting light;

using a controller part for producing an index of said files; and

at a time subsequent to producing said index, using said index to find each of a plurality of files, and to produce information indicative of said each of said plurality of files, wherein said controller part searches for said files at startup.

28. A method as in claim 27, further comprising looking for files that have been added subsequent to the index, and producing information indicative of said subsequent files also.

29. A method as in claim 28, further comprising allowing selection of any of said files based on said information, and using the selected file to create an image effect in a projected light beam.

30. A method as in claim 29, wherein said image effect includes shaping of an outer perimeter of said light beam.

31. A method as in claim 29, wherein said image effect includes at least one shape, and a compiled effect for the shape.

32. A method as in claim 27, wherein said index is created based on files in a local memory.

33. A method as in claim 27, wherein said index is created based on files in both local memory and remote memory.

34. A method as in claim 27, further comprising storing an indication of information indicative of a remote memory, and wherein said index includes files that are on said remote memory indicated by said index.

35. An apparatus, comprising:

a controller part, which is adapted for controlling an external light projector that is digitally controllable,

said controller part including a memory which stores a plurality of files which each represent a lighting effect, and wherein a plurality of said files include at least one shape as part of projecting the light, wherein said memory also includes a configuration file that stores information about file types of different files included as part of a system that can form the lighting effect; and

a processor, searching all files in said memory based on information in a configuration file, and finds files in said configuration file represented by said file types in said configuration file, wherein said controller part searches for said files at startup.

36. An apparatus as in claim 35, further comprising at least one port connected to an external memory, and wherein said processor searches files both in an internal memory and in said external memory.

37. An apparatus as in claim 36, wherein said external memory includes removable memory.

38. An apparatus as in claim 35, wherein the files represent shaping of an outer perimeter of the light.

39. An apparatus as in claim 35, wherein said configuration file includes information indicative of searching for at least media files indicative of animation and still files indicative of images.

40. An apparatus as in claim 35, wherein said configuration file includes information indicative of searching for special gobo files that represent compiled gobo effects.

41. An apparatus as in claim 35, wherein said controller part forms an index of said files, and searches said index.

42. An apparatus as in claim 41, wherein said controller part also searches for files that have been added after the index.