Gobo Virtual Machine

• US 20090076627A1
• Filed: 11/21/2008
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Production Resource Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Production Resource Group LLC
• Inventors: Hunt, Mark A., Findley, Drew
• Granted Patent: US 8,050,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Abstract

Producing complicated effects based on image processing operations. The image processing operations are defined for a processor which may be different than the processor which is actually used. The processor that is actually used runs an interpreter that interprets the information into its own language, and then runs the image processing. The actual information is formed according to a plurality of layers which are combined in some way so that each layer can effect the layers below it. For example, the layers may add to, subtract from, or form transparency to the layer below it or make color filtering the layer below it. This enables many different effects computed and precompiled for a hypothetical processor, and a different processor can be used to combine and render those effects.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a image producing device which produces an output based on a media to be viewed, where said media to be viewed includes multiple combined parts including at least one video part, wherein said image producing device produces a first output indicative of said media to be viewed at a first brightness, and produces a second output indicative of said media to be viewed at a reduced brightness.

2. A computer system as in claim 1, further comprising an operator display, receiving and displaying said first image at said first brightness, and another output port for said second output.

3. A computer system as in claim 2, wherein said another output port connects to a projector that projects said second image at said reduced brightness.

4. A computer system as in claim 1, wherein said image producing device produces both said first output, and also produces a dimming output indicative of an amount of dimming.

5. A computer system as in claim 4, further comprising an analog multiplier that receives said dimming output, and multiplies said first output by said dimming output to produce said second output.

6. A computer system as in claim 1, wherein said image producing device produces a composite image using multiple layers which is used to produce said output.

7. A computer system as in claim 6, wherein one of said layers subtracts from another layer to produce said output.

8. A computer system as in claim 6, wherein one of said layers provides transparency to another of said layers to produce said output.

9. A system as in claim 6, wherein one of said layers is a continuous animation.

10. A system as in claim 6, wherein said image producing device produces a continuous animation as one of said layers, and produces a shaped layer as another of said layers, said shaped layer controlling an outer perimeter shape of said continuous animation.

11. A system as in claim 8, wherein said image producing device produces an output which has a shape that is based on one of said layers.

12. A system as in claim 1, wherein said image producing device stores a shape which forms the perimeter of a projected image.

13. A system, comprising:

a computer-based part which produces an image output, and which produces a dimming output indicative of an amount of dimming to be carried out on said image output, said computer part including a port for said image output which is adapted to be connected to a display;

a dimmer, receiving said second output, and also receiving said image output, and operating to produce a dimmed output by dimming said image output by an amount indicative of said second output, and where said dimmed output is produced on a port that is adapted to be connected to a projecting lamp;

said computer based part including an input for a control from a remote which allows controlling image output to one of a plurality of different image outputs.

14. A computer system as in claim 13, further comprising an operator display, receiving and displaying said image output at said first brightness, and another output port for said second output.

15. A computer system as in claim 14, wherein said another output port connects to a projector that projects said second image at said reduced brightness.

16. A computer system as in claim 13, further comprising an analog multiplier that receives said dimming output, and multiplies said first output by said dimming output to produce said second output.

17. A computer system as in claim 13, wherein said image producing device produces a composite image using multiple layers which is used to produce said output.

18. A computer system as in claim 17, wherein one of said layers subtracts from another layer to produce said output.

19. A computer system as in claim 17, wherein one of said layers provides transparency to another of said layers to produce said output.

20. A system as in claim 17, wherein one of said layers is a continuous animation.

21. A system as in claim 17, wherein said image producing device produces a continuous animation as one of said layers, and produces a shaped layer as another of said layers, said shaped layer controlling an outer perimeter shape of said continuous animation.

22. A system as in claim 13, wherein said image producing device stores a shape which forms the perimeter of a projected image.

23. A method, comprising:

receiving an input for a control from a remote unit, where said input selects from among multiple different image outputs;

producing an image output;

producing a dimming output indicative of an amount of dimming to be carried out on said image output;

displaying said image output at a full brightness;

using said dimming output to produce a dimmed version of said image; and

projecting said dimmed version of said image.

24. A method as in claim 23, wherein said using comprises multiplying said image output by said dimming output to produce said dimmed version of said image.

25. A method as in claim 23, wherein said image producing device produces said image output using multiple layers which is used to produce said output.

26. A method as in claim 25, wherein one of said layers is a continuous animation.

27. A method as in claim 23, wherein said image producing device produces a continuous image as one of said layers, and produces a shaped layer as another of said layers, said shaped layer controlling an outer perimeter shape of said continuous animation.