Programmable Light Beam Shape Altering Device Using Separate Programmable Micromirrors for Each Primary Color

• US 20120008325A1
• Filed: 09/20/2011
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Production Resource Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Production Resource Group LLC
• Inventors: Hewlett, William E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,314,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/282
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B

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.

Claims

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 slices 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 slices of time being longer in duration than said maximum speed;

said processor operating at a third time related to said slices 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.

2. The system as in claim 1 wherein said shape is a stencil shape, and the color is for light that is within the stencil shape.

3. The system as in claim 1 wherein said gobo that is changing over time includes information indicative of a gobo shape that is rotating.

4. The system as in claim 1 wherein said gobo that is changing over time includes information indicative of a color within a defined shape that is changing over time.

5. The system as in claim 1, wherein said processor determining a velocity comprises determining movement of points of the image, and determining a time for said movement of points of the image.

6. The system as in claim 5, wherein said processor determining a velocity comprises detecting a rate of change of movement of said points.

7. The system as in claim 1, wherein said processor defines slices of time comprises determining a number of movements per slice, and using said velocity to determine a slice of time wherein said slice of time is less than 1/1000 of said maximum speed.

8. The system as in claim 1, wherein said lighting part includes a spatial light modulator.

9. The system as in claim 8, wherein said lighting part includes a bulb.

10. The system as in claim 1, wherein said processor controls carrying out an image processing effect on the shape representing the gobo, wherein said receiving information indicative of a gobo that is changing over time comprises receiving information indicative of the image processing effect being carried out over time.

11. A lighting apparatus which outputs light, comprising:

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 slice of time at which a new shape will be calculated, said slice 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 slice 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.

12. The lighting apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said shape is a stencil shape, and the color is for light that is within the stencil shape.

13. The lighting apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said shape that is changing over time includes information indicative of a shape that is rotating.

14. The lighting apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said shape that is changing over time includes information indicative of a color within a defined shape that is changing over time.

15. The lighting apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said lighting source includes a spatial light modulator.

16. The lighting apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said lighting source includes a bulb.

17. The lighting apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said slice of time is at least 1/1000 of said maximum speed.

18. The lighting apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said processor controls carrying out an image processing effect on the shape representing a gobo, wherein said image processed image is indicative of a gobo that is changing over time comprises receiving information indicative of the image processing effect being carried out over time.

19. A lighting device, comprising:

a computer determining a velocity of points of a moving shape, said

the computer for defining slices 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 change a shape of the shape being displayed between first shape and a second shape to provide a new shape image indicative of a current shape representing a shape and color for the current shape,

a light source a lighting 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 a colored light shape, and at a time related to said slices of time, using the computer for automatically determining a 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.

20. A lighting device as in claim 19, where said lighting source has a maximum speed at which pixels can be changed, and where said slice of time being less than said maximum speed at which pixels can be changed.

21. A lighting device as in claim 20, wherein said slice of time is at least 1/1000 of said maximum speed at which said pixels can be changed.

22. A lighting device as in claim 20 wherein said shape is a stencil shape, and the color is for light that is within the stencil shape.

23. A lighting device as in claim 19 wherein said moving shape also has a changing color.

24. The lighting device as in claim 19, wherein said lighting part includes a spatial light modulator.

25. The lighting device as in claim 24, wherein said lighting part includes a bulb.

26. The lighting device as in claim 19, wherein said processor controls carrying out an image processing effect on a shape representing a gobo, wherein said computer obtains information indicative of a gobo that is changing over time.

27. A method, comprising:

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 and a second shape;

b) determining a number of pixels of movement for plural interim shapes between said first shape and said second shape; and

c) determining a velocity of movement of pixels, and using said velocity to determine a slice of time at which a new shape will be calculated; and

at a new time calculated using said slice of time, using the computer for automatically determining a new shape that is one slice closer to the second shape, and using the new shape to project a different shape of light; and

creating an output light based on said shape and said new shape which change at different times.

28. The method as in claim 27 wherein said shape also has a changing color which changes over time.

29. The method as in claim 27, wherein said creating an output light uses a spatial light modulator.

30. The method as in claim 29, wherein said creating a light beam uses an HID bulb.

31. The method as in claim 27, where said creating a light beam uses a device that has maximum speed at which pixels can be changed, and where said slice of time being less than said maximum speed at which pixels can be changed.

32. A lighting device as in claim 31, wherein said slice of time is at least 1/1000 of said maximum speed at which said pixels can be changed.