Programmable light beam shape altering device using separate programmable micromirrors for each primary color
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A lighting system comprising:
- a computer based processor, receiving information indicative of a gobo that is changing over time;
said processor determining a velocity of movement of said gobo and defining durations of time, based on said velocity, at which different gobo images are to be displayed representing the change of the gobo over time, said processor changing a shape of the gobo being displayed based on said gobo images between a first gobo image at a first time and a second gobo image at a second time and providing an output signal representing a shape and color for the gobo at said first and second time;
a lighting part, receiving said first and second gobo images, and displaying said first gobo image of said first time and displaying said second gobo image at said second time, said lighting part having a maximum speed at which it can change said image between a first and a second image;
said processor determining an amount of time for the gobo to move between said images, said durations of time being long enough to accommodate said amount of time;
said processor operating at a third time related to said durations of time, to automatically determining a new image with a new gobo shape based on said information indicative of a gobo that is changing over time and using the new gobo shape to display a new colored light gobo shape at said third time.
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Abstract
Three-digital micromirror devices (“DMD”) are used to alter the shape of light that is projected onto a stage. The DMDs each receive a primary color and selectively reflects some light of that color, thereby shaping the light that is projected onto the stage. The control for the alteration is controlled by an image. That image can be processed, thereby carrying out image processing effects on the shape of the light that is displayed. One preferred application follow the shape of the performer and illuminates the performer using a shape that adaptively follows the performer'"'"'s image. This results in a shadowless follow spot.
16 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A lighting system comprising:
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a computer based processor, receiving information indicative of a gobo that is changing over time; said processor determining a velocity of movement of said gobo and defining durations of time, based on said velocity, at which different gobo images are to be displayed representing the change of the gobo over time, said processor changing a shape of the gobo being displayed based on said gobo images between a first gobo image at a first time and a second gobo image at a second time and providing an output signal representing a shape and color for the gobo at said first and second time; a lighting part, receiving said first and second gobo images, and displaying said first gobo image of said first time and displaying said second gobo image at said second time, said lighting part having a maximum speed at which it can change said image between a first and a second image; said processor determining an amount of time for the gobo to move between said images, said durations of time being long enough to accommodate said amount of time; said processor operating at a third time related to said durations of time, to automatically determining a new image with a new gobo shape based on said information indicative of a gobo that is changing over time and using the new gobo shape to display a new colored light gobo shape at said third time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A lighting apparatus which outputs light, comprising:
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a lighting source, which is controllable on a pixel-by-pixel basis, and where a color of each pixel is controllable and where said lighting source has a maximum speed at which pixels can be changed;
a computer for determining an image processed image for controlling said lighting source to produce an output light, wherein said image processed image includes at least one shape which is created within the output light, and said at least one shape changes over time, and wherein said output light includes said at least one shape changing over time, wherein said computer determines a current shape of said at least one shape, by;a) determining said at least one shape at a first time as a first shape and said at least one shape at a second time as a second shape; b) determining a number of pixels of movement for interim shapes between said first and second shapes; and c) determining a velocity of movement of pixels, and using said velocity to determine a duration of time at which a new shape will be calculated, said duration of time being less than said maximum speed at which pixels can be changed; and the computer operating at a new time calculated using said duration of time, for automatically determining a new image with a new shape that is one slice closer to the second shape, and using the new shape, and controlling said lighting source to produce said light with said new shape. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A lighting device, comprising:
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a computer determining a velocity of points of a moving shape, said the computer for defining durations of time, based on said velocity, at which different effects of the shape are to be displayed, using the computer for carrying out an operation to create a colored light shape, and to change the shape being displayed between a first shape image and a second shape image to provide a new shape image indicative of a current shape representing a shape and color for the current shape; a light source, which is controllable on a pixel-by-pixel basis, and where a color of each pixel is controllable; the computer using the new shape image indicative of the shape to control said light source to create said colored light shape, and at a time related to said durations of time, using the computer for automatically determining the second new shape image that is one slice closer to the second shape, and using the second new shape image to create a new colored light shape as said colored light shape. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method, comprising:
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using a computer for determining a shape for creating a light beam, wherein a shape of an outer edge of said light beam is set by said shape, by; a) determining a first shape image and a second shape image; b) determining a number of pixels of movement for plural interim shapes between said first shape image and said second shape image; and c) determining a velocity of movement of pixels, and using said velocity to determine a duration of time at which a new shape image will be calculated; and at a new time calculated using said duration of time, using the computer for automatically determining a new shape image that is one duration closer to the second shape image, and using the new shape image to project a different shape of light; and creating an output light based on said shape image and said new shape image which change at different times. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification