Method, apparatus and system for image projection lighting

• US RE43,234 E1
• Filed: 08/08/2005
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard S. Belliveau
• Original Assignee: Richard S. Belliveau
• Inventors: Belliveau, Richard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, DAVID HUNG
• Application Number:
  US11/199,548
• Time in Patent Office: 2,409 Days
• Field of Search: 315/294, 315/316, 315/317, 315/315, 315/312, 362/85, 362/233, 362/234, 348/744, 348/771, 353/30, 353/94
• US Class Current: 315/294
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 37/0254 linked via data bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 37/029 a plurality of lamps following a preassigned sequence, e.g. theater lights, diapositive projector

Abstract

A central controller and a number of image projection lighting devices (“IPLD”), a type of multiparameter light, are interconnected by an enhanced performance communications path that is capable of simultaneously carrying different digital signals on various bidirectional channels, such as various content signals, including continuous video and/or audio, in digital form on respective content transfer channels, a command signal on a control channel, and a control or content signal in digital form on an auxiliary channel. In accordance with commands transmitted from the central controller over the control channel, content signals may be sent from any of the IPLDs to any other of the IPLDs, or from the central controller to any of the IPLDs, or from any of the IPLDs to the central controller. The IPLDs have respective unique device addresses, and the control channel, the auxiliary channel, and the content transfer channels also have respective unique channel addresses.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising:

a central controller;

a digital communications path comprising a plurality of content transfer channels having respective unique content transfer channel addresses and being individually selectable in accordance with the content transfer channel addresses thereof; and

a plurality of image projection lighting devices having respective unique device addresses and being interconnected by the digital communications path for communicating content on a selected one or more of the content transfer channels in response to commands from the central controller.

2. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein:

the digital communications path is bi-directional and further comprises a control channel; and

the central controller is interconnected with the image projection lighting devices by the digital communications path for communicating device addresses and content transfer channel addresses on the control channel.

3. The lighting system of claim 2 wherein the digital communications path further comprises an auxiliary channel accessible to the central controller and to the image projection lighting devices for communicating commands and content in digital form.

4. The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising:

a DMX controller; and

a DMX communications path;

wherein the image projection lighting devices are additionally interconnected by the DMX communications path for communicating device addresses and content transfer channel addresses thereon.

5. The lighting system of claim 4 wherein at least one of the image projection lighting devices is a gateway-capable light fixture.

6. A lighting system comprising:

a first digital communications path compliant with a DMX protocol;

a second digital communications path having a bandwidth sufficient for transferring content in digital form;

a plurality of light fixtures interconnected by the first digital communications path, the light fixtures including a plurality of image projection lighting devices having respective unique device addresses and being interconnected by both the first and second digital communications paths; and

a DMX controller interconnected with the light fixtures by the first digital communications path;

wherein the second digital communications path is a bi-directional path comprising a plurality of addressable content transfer channels individually selectable by the DMX controller in accordance with the addresses thereof.

7. The lighting system of claim 6 wherein the second digital communications path further comprises an addressable control channel, the lighting system further comprising an additional central controller interconnected with the image projection lighting devices by the second digital communications path, wherein the content transfer channels and the control channel are individually selectable by the additional central controller in accordance with the addresses thereof.

8. A multiparameter light comprising:

an internal control system;

a light valve;

an image control interface coupling the light valve to the internal control system;

a communications port coupled to the internal control system;

wherein the internal control system comprises;

a component for recognizing a unique device address received at the communications port on a control channel; and

a component for selectively accessing a plurality of content transfer channels having respective unique content transfer channel addresses to communicate content in digital form thereon in response to receipt of the unique device address and at least one of the content transfer channel addresses at the communications port on the control channel.

9. The multiparameter light of claim 8 further comprising:

a camera; and

a video control interface coupling the camera to the internal control system.

10. The multiparameter light of claim 8 wherein the component for selectively accessing a plurality of content transfer channels comprises:

a component for receiving continuous video signals; and

a component for transmitting continuous video signals.

11. A method of controlling a lighting system comprising a digital communications path with a bandwidth sufficient for communicating a plurality of content signals in digital form on respective transfer channels having respective unique channel addresses, and a plurality of image projection lighting devices interconnected by the digital communications path and having respective unique device addresses, the method comprising:

selecting a first one of the image projection lighting devices by the unique device address thereof;

instructing the first image projection lighting device to communicate a first content signal on a first one of the transfer channels of the digital communications path by the unique channel address thereof;

selecting a second one of the image projection lighting devices by the unique device address thereof; and

instructing the second image projection lighting device to communicate a second content signal on a second one of the transfer channels of the digital communications path by the unique channel address thereof.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

selecting a third one of the image projection lighting devices by the unique device address thereof;

instructing the third image projection lighting device to communicate the first content signal on the first transfer channel by the unique channel address thereof;

selecting a fourth one of the image projection lighting devices by the unique device address thereof; and

instructing the fourth image projection lighting device to communicate the second content signal on the second transfer channel by the unique channel address thereof.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

transmitting the first content signal to the digital communications path on the first transfer channel with one of the first and third image projection lighting devices;

receiving the first content signal from the digital communications path on the first transfer channel with the other one of the first and third image projection lighting devices;

transmitting the second content signal to the digital communications path on the second channel with one of the second and fourth image projection lighting devices; and

receiving the second content signal from the digital communications path on the second channel with the other one of the second and fourth image projection lighting devices.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the lighting system further comprises a central controller interconnected with the image projection lighting devices by the digital communications path, the method further comprising:

communicating, with the central controller, the first content signal on the first transfer channel by the unique channel address thereof; and

communicating, with the central controller, the second content signal on the second transfer channel by the unique channel address thereof.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the lighting system further comprises a central controller interconnected with the image projection lighting devices by the digital communications path, the method further comprising:

transmitting the first content signal to the digital communications path on the first transfer channel with one of the first image projection lighting device and the central controller;

receiving the first content signal from the digital communications path on the first transfer channel with the other one of the first image projection lighting device and the central controller;

transmitting the second content signal to the digital communications path on the second channel with one of the second image projection lighting device and the central controller; and

receiving the second content signal from the digital communications path on the second channel with the other one of the second image projection lighting device and the central controller.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one of the first and second content signals is an audio signal.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one of the first and second content signals is a video signal.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

acquiring the first content signal from a camera disposed with the first image projection lighting device, the first content signal comprising a video content signal; and

transmitting the first content signal to the digital communications path on the first transfer channel with the first image projection lighting device.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

acquiring the first content signal from an external video input disposed with the first image projection lighting device, the first content signal comprising a video content signal; and

transmitting the first content signal to the digital communications path on the first transfer channel with the first image projection lighting device.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

acquiring the first content signal from a memory of the first image projection lighting device, the first content signal comprising a video content signal; and

transmitting the first content signal to the digital communications path on the first transfer channel with the first image projection lighting device.

21. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

acquiring the first content signal from a microphone disposed with the first image projection lighting device, the first content signal comprising an audio content signal; and

transmitting the first content signal to the digital communications path on the first transfer channel with the first image projection lighting device.

22. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

acquiring the first content signal from an external audio input disposed with the first image projection lighting device, the first content signal comprising an audio content signal; and

transmitting the first content signal to the digital communications path on the first transfer channel with the first image projection lighting device.

23. The method of claim 11 wherein:

the lighting system further comprises a central controller interconnected with the image projection lighting devices by the digital communications path;

the bandwidth of the digital communications path is also sufficient for communicating a command signal on a control channel, the control channel having a unique channel address; and

the first image projection lighting device selecting step comprises sending a command signal from the central controller to the digital communications path on the control channel by the unique channel address thereof, the command signal comprising the unique device address for the first image projection lighting device and the unique channel address for the first transfer channel.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the bandwidth of the digital communications path is also sufficient for communicating a quality identifier signal on the command channel, the command signal further comprising the quality identifier signal.

25. The method of claim 11 wherein:

the lighting system further comprises a DMX controller interconnected with the image projection lighting devices by a DMX communications path; and

the first image projection lighting device selecting step comprises sending a DMX command signal from the DMX controller to the DMX communications path.

26. A lighting system comprising:

a central controller;

an image projection lighting device comprising a housing, a light valve contained within the housing, and at least one communications connector mounted to the housing; and

a digital communications path comprising a plurality of content transfer channels having respective unique content transfer channel addresses, the digital communications path being coupled to the central controller and further being coupled to the image projection lighting device via the communications connector.

27. The lighting system of claim 26 wherein the image projection lighting device further comprises at least one external video input mounted to the housing.

28. The lighting system of claim 27 wherein the external video input is analog.

29. The lighting system of claim 27 wherein the external video input is digital.

30. A lighting system comprising:

a central controller;

an image projection lighting device comprising a housing, a light valve contained within the housing, an external video input mounted to the housing, an external audio input mounted to the housing, and at least one communications connector mounted to the housing; and

a digital communications path comprising a plurality of content transfer channels having respective unique content transfer channel addresses, the digital communications path being coupled to the central controller and further being coupled to the image projection lighting device via the communications connector.

31. The lighting system of claim 30 wherein the external audio input is analog.

32. The lighting system of claim 30 wherein the external audio input is digital.

33. A method of controlling a lighting system comprising a digital communications path and a plurality of image projection lighting devices interconnected by the digital communications path, the method comprising:

instructing a first one of the image projection lighting devices by a first device address to transmit an image-containing signal to the digital communications path, the first device address being unique to the first image projection lighting device; and

instructing a second one of the image projection lighting devices by a second device address to receive an image-containing signal from the digital communications path, the second device address being unique to the second image projection lighting device;

wherein transfer of an image from the first image projection lighting device to the second image projection lighting device occurs when the first image projection lighting device is transmitting and the second image projection lighting device is receiving, regardless of when the first image projection lighting device instructing step occurs relative to the second image projection lighting device instructing step.

34. A method of controlling a lighting system comprising a digital communications path and a plurality of image projection lighting devices interconnected by the digital communications path, the method comprising:

transmitting an image-containing signal from a first one of the image projection lighting devices to the digital communications path, the image-containing signal containing an image from a source disposed with the first image projection lighting device; and

receiving the image-containing signal at a second one of the image projection lighting devices from the digital communications path.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the source is a memory of the first image projection lighting device, further comprising reading the image from the memory for transmission to the digital communications path.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the source is a camera disposed with the first image projection lighting device, further comprising acquiring the image from the camera for transmission to the digital communications path.

37. A lighting system comprising:

a digital communications path having a control channel;

a plurality of image projection lighting devices having respective unique device addresses and being interconnected by the digital communications path; and

a central controller interconnected with the image projection lighting devices by the digital communications path;

wherein at least one of the image projection lighting devices comprises a camera; and

wherein the image projection lighting devices are individually selectable by their respective device addresses to receive a camera control signal from the control channel of the digital communications path.

38. The lighting system of claim 37 wherein the camera control signal is a camera enable signal, a color balance signal, an iris signal, a focus signal, or a zoom signal.

39. A method of controlling a lighting system comprising a digital communications path, a central controller, and a plurality of image projection lighting devices, the central controller and the image projection lighting devices being interconnected by the digital communications path, the method comprising:

instructing a first one of the image projection lighting devices by a first device address to transmit an image-containing signal to the digital communications path, the first device address being unique to the first image projection lighting device; and

enabling the central controller to receive an image-containing signal from the digital communications path;

wherein transfer of an image from the first image projection lighting device to the central controller occurs when the first image projection lighting device is transmitting and the central controller is receiving, regardless of when the first image projection lighting device instructing step occurs relative to the central controller instructing step.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising reading the image from a memory of the first image projection lighting device for transmission to the digital communications path.

41. The method of claim 39 further comprising acquiring the image from a camera disposed with the first image projection lighting device, for transmission to the digital communications path.

42. The method of claim 39 wherein the enabling step comprises instructing the central controller by a second device address to receive an image-containing signal from the digital communications path, the second device address being unique to the central controller.

43. A method of controlling a lighting system comprising a digital communications path, a central controller, and a plurality of image projection lighting devices, the central controller and the image projection lighting devices being interconnected by the digital communications path, the method comprising:

instructing a first one of the image projection lighting devices by a first device address to receive a first image-containing signal from the digital communications path, the first device address being unique to the first image projection lighting device;

instructing a second one of the image projection lighting devices by a second device address to receive a second image-containing signal from the digital communications path, the second device address being unique to the second image projection lighting device;

transmitting the first image-containing signal to the digital communications path from the central controller; and

transmitting the second image-containing signal to the digital communications path from the central controller,

wherein transfer of a first image is enabled after both the first image projection lighting device instructing step and the first image-containing signal transmitting step occur, regardless of the order thereof; and

wherein transfer of a second image is enabled after both the second image projection lighting device instructing step and the second image-containing signal transmitting step occur, regardless of the order thereof.

44. A method of controlling a lighting system comprising a digital communications path, a central controller, and a plurality of image projection lighting devices, the central controller and the image projection lighting devices being interconnected by the digital communications path, the method comprising:

transmitting a first image-containing signal to the digital communications path from the central controller;

receiving the first image-containing signal from the digital communications path at a first one of the image projection lighting devices based on a first device address, the first device address being unique to the first image projection lighting device;

transmitting a second image-containing signal to the digital communications path from the central controller; and

receiving the second image-containing signal from the digital communications path at a second one of the image projection lighting devices based on a second device address, the second device address being unique to the second image projection lighting device;

wherein transfer of a first image occurs after both the first image-containing signal transmitting step and the first image-containing signal receiving step occur, regardless of the order thereof; and

wherein transfer of a second image occurs after both the second image-containing signal transmitting step and the second image-containing receiving step occur, regardless of the order thereof.

45. A method of controlling a lighting system comprising a digital communications path, a central controller, and a plurality of image projection lighting devices, the central controller and the image projection lighting devices being interconnected by the digital communications path, the method comprising:

transmitting an instruction from the central controller to a first one of the image projection lighting devices to receive and store an image-containing signal from the digital communications path, the instruction including a first device address unique to the first image projection lighting device;

receiving the image-containing signal from the digital communications path with the first image projection lighting device; and

storing an image from the image-containing signal received in the receiving step in a memory of the first image projection lighting device.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising transmitting the image-containing signal from the central controller to the digital communications path.

47. The method of claim 45, further comprising transmitting the image-containing signal from a memory of a second one of the image projection lighting devices.

48. The method of claim 45, further comprising transmitting the image-containing signal from a camera disposed with a second one of the image projection lighting devices.

49. A method of controlling a lighting system comprising a digital communications path, a central controller, and a plurality of image projection lighting devices, the central controller and the image projection lighting devices being interconnected by the digital communication path, the method comprising:

receiving an image-containing signal from the digital communications path with a first one of the image projection lighting devices;

transmitting an instruction from the central controller to the first image projection lighting device, by a first device address unique to the first image projection lighting device, to act upon the image-containing signal from the receiving step; and

acting upon the image-containing signal from the receiving step in accordance with the instruction from the transmitting step under control of a microprocessor in the first image projection lighting device.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the acting upon step further comprises transferring an image in the image-containing signal to a second one of the image projection lighting devices.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the acting upon step further comprising projecting an image in the image-containing signal from the first image projection lighting device.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein the acting upon step further comprises modifying an image in the image-containing signal.

53. The method of claim 49:

further comprising receiving an additional image-containing signal from the digital communications path with the first image projection lighting devices;

wherein the acting upon step further comprises fading from an image in the image-containing signal to another image in the additional image-containing signal.

54. A method of controlling a lighting system comprising a digital communications path, a central controller, and a plurality of image projection lighting devices, the central controller and the image projection lighting devices being interconnected by the digital communications path, the method comprising:

selecting a channel bandwidth from among a plurality of channel bandwidths to establish a level of image quality;

transmitting an instruction from the central controller to a first one of the image projection lighting devices by a first device address to receive an image-containing signal at the selected bandwidth from the digital communications path, the first device address being unique to the first image projection lighting device; and

transmitting the image-containing signal to the digital communications path at no greater than the selected bandwidth.

55. An image projection lighting device comprising:

a base section;

a lamp section coupled to the base section for motorized pan and tilt movement relative thereto, the lamp section comprising;

a lamp;

a light valve disposed along a light path from the lamp; and

a projection lens disposed along the light path;

an external digital video signal input for receiving an external digital video signal;

an internal digital video memory source for storing an internal digital video signal; and

a control system coupled to the external digital video signal input, the internal digital video memory source, and the light valve for manipulating the light valve in accordance with the external digital video signal and the internal digital video signal.

56. The image projection lighting device of claim 55 wherein the control system comprises means for compressing the external digital video signal.

57. The image projection lighting device of claim 55 wherein the external digital video signal is for producing a first image, and the internal digital video signal is for producing a second image, the first image and the second image being a same image.

58. The image projection lighting device of claim 55 wherein the external digital video signal is for producing a first image, the internal digital video signal is for producing a second image, the first image and the second image being different images.

59. The image projection lighting device of claim 55 further comprising a camera having a camera video output;

wherein the control system is coupled to the camera for manipulating the light valve in accordance with a camera video signal from the camera video output.

60. The image projection lighting device of claim 59 wherein the control system comprises means for compressing the camera video signal.

61. The image projection lighting device of claim 59 wherein the control system comprises means for manipulating the light valve in accordance with both the external digital video signal and the camera video signal to produce a combined projected image.

62. The image projection light device of claim 59 wherein the control system comprises:

a video interface coupled to the external digital video signal input and the camera video output for receiving the external digital video signal and the camera video signal respectively;

a microprocessor for issuing light valve control signals in response to the external digital video signal received at the external digital video signal input, and the camera video signal at the camera video output; and

an image interface coupled to the light valve for controlling the light valve in response to the light valve control signals from the microprocessor.

63. The image projection lighting device of claim 55 further comprising an image control, the external digital video signal being sent to the image control for manipulation of the light valve.