Theatrical lighting control network

• US 20060001387A1
• Filed: 06/21/2005
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John W. Fuller, Leonard M. Chansky, Robert Whitten, Ronald A. Land
• Original Assignee: John W. Fuller, Leonard M. Chansky, Robert Whitten, Ronald A. Land
• Inventors: Fuller, John W., Land, Ronald A., Chansky, Leonard M., Whitten, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,737,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/315
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission

Abstract

A theatrical lighting control network is disclosed which incorporates a local area network for communication among a number of node controllers and control consoles or devices employed in establishing lighting or other effects levels in a theater, film production stage or other performance environment. Use of the network eliminates the requirements for the majority of hardwiring for interconnection of consoles and other controller or monitoring devices to effects controller racks and provides great flexibility in location and relocation of various components of the system.

Claims

1. A theatrical lighting control network consisting of:

a single local area network having a plurality of connection points for a structure of control devices, peripheral devices and effect control elements, said structure comprising;

a control console connected to the local area network, wherein the control console is constructed and arranged to transmit settings of a plurality of effect control elements to the local area network;

a plurality of node controllers connected to the local area network including;

a first plurality of peripheral node controllers having interfaces constructed and arranged to connect a peripheral device remote from the control console, and

a second plurality of node protocol converters constructed and arranged to receive settings transmitted through the local area network, translate the settings to a control protocol, and transmit the control protocol as an output; and

a plurality of racks, each rack having a plurality of effect control elements connected to one of the node protocol converters and arranged to receive the control protocol for operation of the effect control elements.