Selectable audio controlled parameters for multiparameter lights
Contents
1. 15 20 25 30 35 40 50 55 60 65 10 example multiparameter lighting device 502 shown in FIG 5 by selecting the appropriate input devices of 570 through 577 in a known manner to uniquely select the address of the multiparameter lighting device 502 as known in the art The control device 550 may employ a numerical keypad as one or more of the input devices 570 through 577 Other input devices could be used such as voice Light emitting diodes mouse or any other that would be known to those skilled in the art The operator may first press a select button which may be one of input devices 570 through 577 on control device 550 to allow the input of an address next the operator may input the address of the multiparameter light ing device for example 502 to be addressed by pressing the correct address number on the keypad such as for example address 32 Next the operator may use the select button to select a parameter to be adjusted In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention during the adjustment of the parameter the operator may select the parameter to function as audio responsive The operator would adjust the individual parameter selected by entering an amount of adjustment on the keypad one of devices 570 577 Next he may hit record which may be one of the input devices of 570 577 on control device 550 or just select another multiparameter lighting device to be addressed The2. 317a based on the lamp intensity modification signal to the lamp power supply 317 The lamp power supply 317 then would provide a corresponding output signal to change the intensity of the lamp 354 through lamp power lines 383 and 384 Although FIG 3 illustrates multiparameter lighting device 300 with a base 310 separate from the lamp housing 350 other types of housings can be utilized such as a single housing for both the base 310 and the lamp housing 350 without the bearing assemblies FIG 4 illustrates a multiparameter lighting device 400 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprised of base 410 bearings 414 yoke 420 and 0 6 249 091 1 9 lamp housing 450 a light aperture 412 a power cord 440 and tilt bearings 416 and 418 The multiparameter lighting device 400 may include internal components similar to the embodiment of FIG 3C The multiparameter lighting device 400 may include a display and keypad device 430 similar to the display and keypad device 130 shown in the prior art for FIG 2A A microphone 411 is shown mounted in the electronic housing FIG 5 illustrates a plurality of multiparameter lighting devices including multiparameter lighting devices 502 504 506 508 510 512 and 514 arranged in a multiparameter lighting system 500 that employs an embodiment of the present invention Each of the multiparameter lighting devices may be similar to multiparameter lighting device
3. parameter and causes the first parameter to be modified in response to the first audio signal 3 apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first digital communications signal specifies the first parameter and a second parameter and causes the first 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 12 and the second parameter to be modified in response to the first audio signal 4 The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first parameter is the color of light emitted from the first multiparameter lighting device 5 apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first parameter is the intensity of light emitted from the first multiparameter lighting device 6 The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first parameter is a direction of light emitted from the first multiparameter lighting device 7 apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first parameter is a pattern of light emitted from the first multiparameter lighting device 8 The apparatus of claim 1 further comprised of second multiparameter lighting device the second multiparameter lighting device comprised of second sound transducer for changing sound waves into a second audio electrical signal second node for receiving a second digital commu nications signal second processor which in response to the second digital communications signal causes a first parameter of the sec ond multiparameter lighting device to be modified in response to the second audio elect
4. parameter lighting device may be the color emitted by the device tilt of the device a pattern of light emitted by the device or the intensity of the light emitted by the device In one embodiment a control device is provided which provides the first digital communications signal The control device may be electrically connected to the first multipa rameter lighting device through one or more communication lines Aplurality of further multiparameter lighting devices may also be provided whose parameters can be controlled by the control device Each further multiparameter lighting device may have a sound transducer for receiving sound waves a node for receiving a digital communications signal from the control device and a processor for causing an individual parameter of any of the plurality of multiparameter lighting devices to be modified in response to a particular audio electrical signal The control device may provide various digital communications signals to control the multiparam eter lighting devices The communication signals may be provided in response to operator inputs supplied at the control device The present invention in various a embodiment provides the ability to remotely select audio controlled parameters for multiparameter lighting devices Remotely is used to mean where a control device is located at a different location from a multiparameter lighting device but the control device may still be hardwired to
5. FIG 4 which includes an internal bearing assembly 380 which has wires 381 382 383 and 384 running through the bearing assem bly The yoke not shown may also be similar to the yoke 114 of the prior art in FIG 2A Not all wires running through the bearing assembly 380 are shown for simplification The base 310 includes microphone 311 logic card 312 a logic power supply 316 and a lamp power supply 317 The logic card 312 includes a communications interface 312a a microprocessor 312b a signal processor 312c a lamp power supply output driver 312d and a motor driver section 312e The logic card 312 of the base 310 is connected to communications line 313 through communications node 312a The lamp power supply 317 and the logic power supply 316 of the base 310 1 connected to external power cable 314 which includes wires 314a and 314b which 15 connected to an external power source The external power cable 314 provides power to the multiparameter lighting device 300 The lamp housing 350 includes a fan 351 a fan inlet port 352 a reflector 353 a lamp 354 a condensing lens 355 light beam shown in dotted lines 3560 and 3565 optical wheels 360 364 and 368 Optical wheel 360 is fixed to the 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 8 shaft 361 which is connected to the motor 362 Optical wheel 364 is fixed to the shaft 365 which is connected to the motor 366 Optical wheel 368 is fixed to
6. Various methods of controlling a show to audio without the operator precisely keeping time with a musical score have been tried in the prior art Control systems such as the High End Systems INTELLABEAM trademarked control ler as illustrated in the High End Systems All Product Brochure have included an audio input to the control device An audio signal is provided to the audio input of the control device This audio input is converted to a control signal that is used to advance a scene that has already been programmed by an operator Several scenes may be advanced as an audio signal is received at the input of the control device Unfor tunately this prior art method of advancing the scenes to audio only advances the preprogrammed scenes and what ever parameters have changed due to the programming of the scenes At least one manufacture has included a transducer or microphone within the multiparameter lighting device hous ing to detect an audio signal The TRACKSPOT trademarked multiparameter lighting device as illustrated in the High End Systems All Product Brochure is equipped with a microphone for advancing scenes when one of the multiparameter lighting devices is selected as a master unit The master unit converts the audio signal received by the microphone and utilizes the converted signal to advance the preprogrammed scenes contained within the master s memory The master in turn advances the scenes of the rest of the multipar
7. of claim 26 wherein the first set of a plurality of parameters for the first multiparameter lighting device is a subset of the second set of a plurality of parameters for the first multipa rameter lighting device 28 The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the first set of a plurality of parameters for the first multiparameter lighting device is the same as the second set of a plurality of parameters for the first multiparameter lighting device 29 An apparatus comprising a first multiparameter lighting device which includes a first set of a plurality of parameters which include pan tilt color pattern and intensity wherein a subset of the first set of a plurality of parameters can be selected by a first audio signal a second multiparameter lighting device which includes a second set of a plurality of parameters which include pan tilt color pattern and intensity wherein a subset of the second set of a plurality of parameters can be selected by a second audio signal and a control device which controls the first set of a plurality of parameters of the first multiparameter lighting device and the second set of a plurality of parameters of the second multiparameter lighting device
8. offer several variable parameters such as pan tilt color pattern iris and focus Multiparameter lighting devices are often controlled by a remote control device under the direction of an operator The remote control device is typically hardwired to the multi parameter lighting devices through communication lines and there is remote control in the sense that the multiparameter lighting devices may be at distant locations An operator may program the control device to produce a show with the multiparameter lighting devices The shows programmed by the operator may consist of twenty or more multiparameter lighting devices Each mul tiparameter lighting device may have as many as eight to twelve parameters that may be varied to produce a desired lighting effect The parameters to be varied are selected by an operator of the remote control device The operator may program the multiparameter lighting devices from the con trol device to produce a scene A scene is produced by varying the parameters for each of the multiparameter lighting devices as to produce a desired effect In the prior art within a scene a particular multiparameter lighting device will have its parameters set in a particular manner for example the color may be set to red the tilt may be set to ninety degrees the pattern may be set to a circular pattern etc Each scene for the total of the twenty or more multipa rameter lighting devices may take the operator of t
9. present invention allow an operator of the multiparameter lighting devices to select during programming which parameter of which light is to be responsive to audio signals The multiparameter lighting device of the invention can be equipped with a sound transducer such as a microphone for receiving external sound waves and converting the sound waves into one or more audio electrical signals The audio electrical signal derived from the microphone may be ampli fied and the amplified audio electrical signal may be fed to an analog to digital converter as part of a signal processor The amplifier and analog to digital converter and other signal processing may be integrated into a microprocessor 0 6 249 091 1 5 multiparameter lighting device The microprocessor processes the digital audio signal in various ways that are derived from operating software programmed in the micro processor For instance the digital audio signal may be processed to remove all frequency components except the low frequencies The microprocessor may process the audio signal to remove all frequency components except the midrange audio frequencies The processed midrange information may be used by the microprocessor to effect changes to the parameters of the multiparameter lighting device controlled by the processor The microprocessor may omit all fre quency components except the low frequency components The low frequency information might be pro
10. second multi parameter lighting devices is a pattern of light emitted from the corresponding first and second multiparameter lighting devices 15 The apparatus of claim 1 further comprised of control device which provides the first digital commu nications signal 16 The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the control device provides the first digital communica tions signal in response to an operator input supplied at the control device 0 6 249 091 1 13 17 The apparatus of claim 8 further comprised of a control device which provides the first and second digital communications signals 18 The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the control device provides the first and the second digital communications signals in response to respective first and second operator inputs supplied at the control device 19 The apparatus of claim 15 further comprised of a communications line which electrically connects the control device with the first multiparameter lighting device 20 The apparatus of claim 17 further comprised of one or more communication lines which electrically con nect the control device with the first and the second multiparameter lighting devices 21 The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first sound transducer is a microphone 22 The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of parameters of the first multiparameter lighting device include color pan tilt pattern and intensity 23 A method comprising the ste
11. the multiparameter lighting device through communication lines For the most part the hard wired system is used From time to time the wires can not be run and the hard wired communications node at the control device is plugged into a transmitter In a wireless form a transmitter would typically send the communica tions signal or signals to a receiver that outputs again to hard wire The present invention in one embodiment allows the operator of a control device for a group of multiparameter lighting devices the ability to select audio macros for certain equipped parameters of the multiparameter lighting devices For example a color parameter of a multiparameter lighting device may respond to the prior art commands received from operator inputs of a control device such as color index or macros such as color spin or random color yet also respond to certain audio controlled macros The present invention in one embodiment allows several parameters of a multipa rameter light to be selected to respond to an audio signal while several others may be selected not to respond to the audio signal With embodiments of the present invention a much greater dimension of control options are made available for multiparameter lighting devices During the programming of shows that have limited programming time available the audio controlled parameters allow the operator of the control device more creativity and as such greater productivity Embodiments of the
12. the shaft 369 which is connected to the motor 370 Optical wheels 360 364 and 368 can be made to rotate by their respective motor The optical parameter wheels 360 364 and 368 can be rotated to a different position i e a different aperture like one of apertures 202 214 to provide a particular color parameter or a particular pattern parameter lamp housing 350 also includes an iris 390 and focusing lens 391 each of which would be connected to its own motor not shown Sound waves 315 are shown going into the microphone 311 In operation the multiparameter lighting device 300 functions as follows The multiparameter lighting device 300 first receives an electronic signal command from a control device not shown but may be similar to control device 50 in FIG 1 through communication line 313 an electronic signal command received over communication line 313 would be a digital communications signal in accordance an embodiment of the present invention or by receiving an input by an operator via a display and keypad device not shown but may be similar to display and keypad device 130 shown part of base 102 in FIG 2A of the multiparameter lighting device 300 The microphone 311 picks up various audio signals The microphone 311 is preferably fixed to and contained within the housing 319 shown by dashed lines of the base 310 The microphone 311 may of course be separate from the housing 319 and connected to the signal pro
13. 00 139 ine 136 138 134 iy ANS 102 02 lt 137 eX elm 104 152 134 114 133 110 U S Patent Jun 19 2001 Sheet 3 of 5 US 6 249 091 1 U S Patent Jun 19 2001 Sheet 4 of 5 US 6 249 091 1 Fig 4 440 4t EE 430 418 412 Mus U S Patent Jun 19 2001 Sheet 5 of 5 US 6 249 091 1 500 555 556 557 508 aa 508 e 5d af i EL f lt E 514 512 554 0 6 249 091 1 1 SELECTABLE AUDIO CONTROLLED PARAMETERS FOR MULTIPARAMETER LIGHTS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to stage lighting and more particu larly multiparameter lights with remote controlled param eters BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Stage lighting instruments may be used in theatre rock concerts restaurants nightclubs or special events Multi parameter stage lighting instruments or devices are typically comprised of a light source and one or more parameters that may be controlled by an operator through a control device U S Pat No 4 392 187 to Bohnhorst which is incorporated by reference and which is titled Computer controlled lighting system having automatically variable position color intensity and beam divergence describes multipa rameter lighting devices and a central control device Mul tiparameter lighting devices may
14. 400 of FIG 4 which includes internal components shown in FIG 3C Each of the multiparameter lighting devices may have a microphone Multiparameter lighting device 502 504 506 508 510 512 and 514 may have microphones 502a 504a 506a 508a 510a 512a and 514a each of which may have the function of microphones 411 of FIG 4 or of FIG 3 The system 500 can be capable of selecting by remote control which of the multiparameter lighting devices of 502 through 514 will have what par ticular parameter such as color pattern pan tilt etc as mentioned previously selected to respond to an incoming audio signal as received by the appropriate transducer microphone such as 502a through 514 The multiparameter lighting system 500 includes a con trol device 550 The control device 550 and the multipa rameter lighting devices 502 514 are each connected to power lines 552a and 552b which may be part of an AC alternating current power source The power lines 552a and 552b may be the same as the power lines 314a and 3145 shown in FIG 3C The control device 550 includes input devices 570 577 which are shown simplified and may be comprised of rotary encoder wheels slider potentiometers touch screen input devices and input switches that are well known in the prior art The control device 550 may be electrically connected by digital communications line 554 to communications input 502c of multiparameter lighting device 502 Com
15. 56 57 58 59 and 60 are electrically connected to communi cations output 4b and communications input 6c communi cations output 6b and communications input 8b communi cations output 8c and communications input 146 communications output 14 and communications input 126 and communications output 12 and communications input 10b respectively The digital communication lines 54 60 transmit control information from the control device 50 to the multiparameter lighting devices 2 14 such as control information for controlling all available parameters of each of the multiparameter lighting devices 2 14 such as for example but not limited to pan tilt color shutter pattern and focus FIG 2A illustrates a prior art multiparameter lighting device 100 The multiparameter lighting device 100 includes a base 102 a bearing 104 a yoke 114 bearings 116 and 118 and lamp housing 120 The lamp housing 120 is connected to the yoke 114 by bearings 116 and 118 which are shown in simplified form The yoke 104 is connected to the base 102 by bearings 104 shown in simplified form The lamp housing 120 includes an aperture 112 for light to be emitted from the lamp housing 120 The lamp housing 120 houses various electronic mechanical and optical parts The external parts shown in FIG 2A are known in the prior art The present invention will introduce new internal parts or new operation of internal parts such as will be shown and described with ref
16. United States Patent US006249091B1 12 10 Patent No US 6 249 091 B1 Belliveau 45 Date of Patent Jun 19 2001 54 SELECTABLE AUDIO CONTROLLED 5 209 560 5 1993 Taylor et al 362 85 PARAMETERS FOR MULTIPARAMETER 5 493 281 2 1996 Owens 340 825 24 LIGHTS 5 896 457 4 1999 Tyrrel 9 381 56 5 921 659 7 1999 Hunt et al 362 233 76 Inventor Richard S Belliveau 10643 Floral 6 166 496 12 2000 Lys et al ise 315 316 Park Austin TX US 78759 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Notice Subject to any disclaimer the term of this Trackspot User Manual ftp ftp highland com pub Prod patent is extended or adjusted under 35 ucts Trackspot manual tsv1 pdf U S C 154 b by 0 days wetted bycexamihet 21 Appl No 09 566 763 Primary Examiner Haissa Philogene 74 Attorney Agent or Firm Walter J Tencza Jr 22 Filed May 8 2000 5 57 ABSTRACT 51 mnt eiecti 05 37 00 52 US Ch etii 315 312 315 316 315 362 Individual variable parameters of a multiparameter lighting 362 85 340 825 24 device may be varied in response to a processed audio 58 Field of Search 315 149 154 signal The multiparameter lighting device is equipped with 315 292 295 312 316 362 362 85 233 an audio transducer to receive sound waves in the vicinity of 239 340 825 22 825 24 the device The audio signal generated by the transducer in response to the sound waves is s
17. ameter lighting devices that are on the same communication system visually simultaneously with the audio advance signal received by the master This prior art audio advance system is limited as it only advances the preprogrammed scenes to a processed audio signal An operator cannot program a scene at the control system and select a parameter of an individual TRACKSPOT trademarked multiparameter light to be audio responsive The Trackspot system only advances the factory pro grammed scenes to the audio When a scene is advanced the parameters of the lights in that scene are not audio respon sive SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention in one embodiment provides an apparatus comprising a first multiparameter lighting device wherein the first multiparameter lighting device is com prised of a first transducer and a first node for receiving a first digital communications signal and a first processor The first transducer may change sound waves into a first audio electrical signal The first processor may receive a digital communications signal and in response cause a first parameter of the first multiparameter lighting device to be modified in response to the first audio electrical signal The first digital communications signal may specify the first parameter The first digital communications signal may 10 15 20 25 30 35 45 50 55 60 65 4 specify additional parameters The parameters of the multi
18. as known in the art In the prior art a previously varied parameter of a multiparameter light may be recalled in a previously pro grammed scene The varied parameter in the prior art may for example be a color wheel indexed to the red color In the prior art the varied parameter may also be a color wheel rotation at a slow speed In one embodiment of the present invention the varied parameter may or may not be for example an audio respon sive color wheel With embodiments of the present invention several parameters may or may not be responsive to the received audio information in a previously programmed scene Embodiments of the present invention provide the operator the ability to recall scenes that have previously selected parameters responding to audio The invention can provide a single scene that may contain several multiparam eter lights with several selected parameters responsive to audio With the invention creative audio responsive visual 0 6 249 091 1 11 changes can be viewed by the spectators of the event yet all happen within a single scene Many types of actuators may be controlled by the audio electrical signal supplied by the microphone transducer such as microphone 311 in FIG 3C of a particular multi parameter lighting device such as device 300 in FIG 3C audio electrical signal from the transducer microphone 311 is sent to the signal processor 312c where the desired audio content is sent to the micro
19. ations lines The display and keypad device 130 is used to select a communications address for the multi parameter lighting device 100 By using the display system and keypad 130 the multi parameter lighting device 100 and any similar multi parameter lighting device may be given a unique address so that the multiparameter lighting device 100 may respond separately to commands from a control device not shown 0 6 249 091 1 7 but may be control device 50 as FIG 1 over commu nication system not shown but may include for example communications lines 54 through 60 in FIG 1 for the unique address is recognized by the multiparameter lighting device 100 The unique address is set for each multiparam eter lighting device such as device 100 by using the input buttons on the display and keypad device such as 130 The unique address is set to be different from the other multi parameter lighting devices used in a show and possibly referenced by the location as seen by the operator For instance the first multiparameter lighting device such as device 2 in FIG 1 closest to the operator in the show may be set as address one A power cable with plug 140 is also shown in FIG 2A for plugging into a standard electrical power outlet The display and keypad device 130 may also be used to control the parameters of the multiparameter lighting device 100 directly without the need for a control device The localized control of the mult
20. ator requires to be creative manufactures of multiparameter lighting devices have included various additional commands for many of the parameters These various additional com mands might be considered as macros A color wheel utilized by the multiparameter lighting device may most often respond to indexing commands that are sent to the light from the control device An indexing command allows the operator to choose which color is to be placed in the light path of the multiparameter lighting device The various additional commands or macros may include random color at a fast change speed random color at a slow change speed color spin at a fast change speed the color wheel rotates continuously color spin at a slow change speed By select ing one of the color parameter macros the operator can save the programming time necessary to create something similar that might be accomplished using multiple scenes with the corresponding required indexing commands As another example a mechanical shutter parameter used to blackout the light emitted by the multiparameter lighting device may not only be programmable on or off but different actions of the shutter may also be chosen This means for a stroboscopic effect where the shutter may open and close several hundred times the operator need not program the shutter to open and close several hundred times by programming several hundred scenes that sequence Instead the operator may communicate from t
21. cessed by the microprocessor to effect changes to the selected parameters of the multiparameter lighting device controlled by the microprocessor The operator of the control device may start by program ming a scene The creation of the scene may involve the programming of several multiparameter lighting devices and their parameters One of the multiparameter lighting devices is addressed by the control device under the guidance of an operator as it has been in the prior art The operator may select from the addressed multiparameter lighting device a parameter to control For instance the operator may select to control the color parameter With the multiparameter light ing device of embodiments of the present invention the color command set for the color parameter of a particular multiparameter lighting device might include one or several audio macros that affect the color parameter The control device would tell a multiparameter lighting device which audio macro is to be executed in response to which audio signal inputs BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG 1 illustrates a typical multiparameter light system of the prior art FIG 2A illustrates the general appearance of a prior art type of multiparameter lighting device FIG 2B illustrates a side view of the prior art multipa rameter lighting device described in FIG 2A FIG 3A illustrates a color wheel of the prior art Shown are several color apertures a motor and the color wh
22. cessor 312c within the housing 319 of the base 310 by wire radio frequency or other transmission means The audio signal is sent from the microphone 311 to the signal processor 312c via the signal line 311a The signal processor 312c may contain an ampli fier to amplify the audio signal The signal processor 312c may contain an analog to digital converter Various types of signal processor systems may be used to extract the desired audio information as well known in the art The signal processor 312c provides the first modified signal to the microprocessor 312b The microprocessor 312b converts the first modified signal to create a second modified signal which is provided to the motor driver section 312e The motor drive section 312e then provides motor drive signals via control line lines 381 and 382 which drive the motors 362 366 and 370 to turn the shafts 361 365 and 369 respectively to rotate the wheels 360 364 and 368 respectively in relation to the original audio signal received at microphone 311 The modifications for transforming the first modified signal into the second modified signal are stored in operational software code of the microprocessor 312b from which the microprocessor 312b operates from The microprocessor 3126 may also provide a lamp inten sity modification signal to the lamp power supply output driver 3124 The lamp power supply output driver 3124 may then provide a lamp driver signal via communications line
23. eel FIG 3B is a side view of the color wheel described in FIG 3A FIG 3C illustrates a multiparameter lighting device of an embodiment of the present invention FIG 4 illustrates a multiparameter lighting device of an embodiment of the present invention and FIG 5 illustrates a multiparameter lighting system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG 1 illustrates a typical multiparameter light system 10 of the prior art A control device 50 is shown that is used to program the parameters of a plurality of multiparameter lighting devices 2 4 6 8 10 12 and 14 The control device 50 and the multiparameter lighting devices 2 through 14 are connected to the power source 30 which may be an alter nating current AC power source through power lines 52a and 52b Although seven multiparameter lighting devices 2 14 are shown typical systems may consist of twenty or more of such multiparameter lighting devices A digital communication line comprised of a plurality of communication lines is illustrated Digital communication 10 15 20 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 6 line 54 which may be a communications bus comprised of two or more wires is connected to control device 50 and to the communications input 2c Digital communication line 55 is electrically connected to communications output 26 and to communications output 4c Digital communication lines
24. ent to a signal processor 56 References Cited where the audio signal is processed and converted to a control signal for varying selected parameters of the multi U S PATENT DOCUMENTS parameter lighting device The multiparameter lighting 3 635 121 1 1972 Knauff iret Cis 84 464 device is operated remotely from a control device using 3 720 939 3 1973 Polanek et al 340 815 46 digital communication scheme An operator of the control 4 392 187 7 1983 Bornhorst 362 233 device may remotely select which parameter of the multi 4 394 656 7 1983 Goettsche 340 825 73 parameter lighting device may be varied in response to the 4 408 308 10 1983 Smith al 367 197 processed audio signal One or several parameters may be m n ee s LG varied in response to the processed audio signal The inten 621 well d 4753 148 E 84 464 sity of the light source may also be varied in response to the 5 023 517 6 1991 Husak 5 083 064 1 1992 Jones Sr p 5 140 304 8 1992 Miller 340 472 processed audio signal 29 Claims 5 Drawing Sheets 508a U S Patent Jun 19 2001 Sheet 1 of 5 US 6 249 091 1 Fig 1 Prior Art U S Patent Jun 19 2001 Sheet 2 of 5 US 6 249 091 1 Fig 2A Fig 2B Prior Art Prior Art 140 1
25. erence to FIG 3C into the prior art structure of FIG 2A The base 102 typically houses electronic circuitry for controlling positioning of the lamp housing 120 The lamp housing 120 may be positioned by remote control positioning means control of tilt and panning Tilt ing the lamp housing 120 refers to tilting the lamp housing 120 about bearings 116 and 118 with respect to the yoke 114 panning the lamp housing 120 refers to panning the yoke 114 and thus the lamp housing 120 about the bearings 104 with respect to the base 102 The positioning of the lamp housing 120 can thus be controlled with at least these two parameters The base 102 includes a display and keypad device 130 The display and keypad device 130 includes buttons 131 134 and Light Emitting Diode Displays 135 138 The buttons 131 134 are input devices to allow on board control of the various parameters for such things as setting the address of a multiparameter lighting device such as device 100 and for performing tests on the parameters such as pan tilt etc The LED displays 135 138 or a lesser number of such LEDs are shown in simplified form and are typically used to display the address information as well as service information for the multiparameter lighting device 100 The base 102 includes input 152 and output 150 communications connections which are shown in FIG 2B for connecting to in and out electronic communi c
26. he control device considerable time to program For each scene the average of twenty multiparameter lighting devices often comprised of eight to twelve parameters each results in a large amount of options for the operator The final result of the show that utilizes twenty or more multiparameter light ing devices may have fifty to one hundred scenes where each scene contains hundreds of parameters of many multiparam eter lighting devices that are varied The operator of the control device may spend consider able time programming the show using the control device Sometimes the show rehearsal times do not allow enough time for the operator to be as creative as they would like With so many parameters available from each multi parameter lighting device it can be very time consuming for the operator to address each one Addressing typically requires an operator of the control device to identify by operator inputs the address or unique identification for a particular multiparameter lighting device and then after the address signal has been sent allows the operator through 10 15 20 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 2 additional operator inputs to specify each parameter of the multiparameter lighting device For instance to set the color parameter of a multiparam eter light may require setting a color wheel to a particular rotational position a color wheel may typically have eight apertures one for each c
27. he control device to the multiparameter lighting device a macro com mand that operates from the operating memory of the multiparameter lighting device This macro command may provide the repetitive opening and closing of the shutter necessary to create the stroboscopic effect operator of the control system may implement several macros in to each scene during the programming of the show Many multiparameter lighting devices may have several macros available per parameter The macro com mands available affect the parameters of the multiparameter lighting device save the operator time and allow for greater creativity 0 6 249 091 1 3 After programming the show on the control device the show containing all the scenes and corresponding param eters for each of the multiparameter lighting devices is recalled from the control device s memory The scenes can be called up during the actual show by the operator who may be present at the control device during the show or they might be synchronized to a timer so that they are automati cally called up during the show If the scenes are called up by the operator during the show it is important that the correct scene be called up at the correct moment during the show During a musical or a rock concert the operator may call up scenes precisely in time with a climactic musical score This offers the audience of the show a sense that the lighting is tracking or responding to the show
28. i parameter lighting device 100 by utilizing the display and keypad device 130 may be used for small shows or events where a control device may not be cost effective FIG 2B shows a side view of the multiparameter lighting device 100 FIG 3A shows a back view of a color wheel 200 of the prior art The color wheel 200 includes apertures 202 204 206 208 210 212 and 214 The aperture 212 is shown in dashed lines because aperture 212 has no color and freely passes the white light from a lamp such as lamp 354 in FIG 3C The other apertures 202 210 and 214 may contain color filters The color wheel 200 can be made to rotate in a clockwise CLK direction or in a counterclockwise CTR direction as shown in FIG 3A through the use of a motor 230 which has a shaft 232 connected to the color wheel 200 FIG 3B is a side view of the color wheel 200 and the motor 230 and shaft 232 described in FIG 3A FIG 3C illustrates a multiparameter lighting device 300 of an embodiment of the present invention FIG 3C shows the internal components FIG 4 shows the external structure into which components of FIG 3C can be incorporated The multiparameter lighting device 300 includes a base 310 which may include electronics housing and corresponds to base 410 in FIG 4 and a lamp housing 350 which may correspond to lamp housing 450 of FIG 4 The base 310 is connected to the lamp housing 350 by a yoke not shown which may correspond to yoke 420 in
29. munica tions input 502 may correspond to communications input 152 shown in FIG 2B A similar digital communications line 555 may electrically connect communications output 502b to communications input 504c of device 504 Similar digital communications lines 556 557 558 559 and 560 may electrically connect communications output 5045 with communications input 506c communications output 506b with communications input 508b communications output 508c with communications input 5145 communications output 514 with communications input 5126 and commu nications output 512c with communications input 510b The multiparameter lighting devices 502 514 may be electrically connected to the same power source electrically connected to the same hardwired digital communications source i e control device 550 through digital communica tions lines 54 through 60 and are capable in an embodiment of the present invention of receiving and responding to particular wireless audio signals The digital communications line 554 and other digital communications lines 555 560 may be the same as line 313 in FIG 3C and may connect to an input connection like connection 152 in FIG 2B of a multiparameter lighting device such as 502 The operation of an embodiment in accordance with FIGS 3A 3B 3C 4 and 5 will now be described An operator of the control device 550 can first select one of the multiparameter lighting devices available such as for 10
30. olor which is located on the multiparameter lighting device The color wheel of a mul tiparameter lighting device may index from one color one rotational position to another when a color change com mand is received from the control device If the operator wants to sequence several colors from the wheel to be placed in the light path he normally must program a separate scene for each color to be presented into the light path Next the scenes of selected colors are sequenced at the control device by the operator The operator may play back the pro grammed scenes that he programmed sequentially by inputting a command to the control device or by a signal from the control device The prior art multiparameter light ing devices do not typically store the scenes or if they are stored they are pre stored as in the prior art TRACKSPOT registered trademark device at a factory The TRACK SPOT registered trademark device is disclosed in TRACK SPOT registered trademark User Manual copyright High End Systems Inc 1997 P N 60600034 Version 4 1 which is incorporated by reference The control device which is located remotely sends control signals which cause the scenes to sequence The programming of the show with its corresponding scenes can be very time consuming for the operator as each multiparameter lighting device might be individually addressed and its many parameters varied In order to reduce the programming time that the oper
31. operator of the control system continues to address all of multiparameter lights and in turn adjusts all of their parameters to produce the desired effect When the operator has produced the desired effect the operator may then choose to record what they have programmed as a scene operator may input a designated number to record and reference the first scene to by inputting to one of the input devices 570 577 on control device 550 as known in the art Next the operator may produce further scenes in the same manner as described above In accordance with embodi ments of the present invention one or more parameters of one or more multiparameter lighting devices such as 502 through 514 may be selected as audio responsive during the scene programming process When the operator has produced the desired amount of scenes to create the desired effect the operator has created a show programming of the scenes and overall creation of the show is usually done during a rehearsal time for the event while the spectators are not present When the actual event takes place the operator may set the control system by inputting to input devices 570 577 on control device 550 as known in the art to sequentially step through the scenes in the order that the show was produced The operator may choose to step through the previously produced scenes by inputting to a next button by inputting to input devices 570 577 on control device 500
32. processor 312b of the multiparameter lighting device 300 Computer software routines set up in the operational code of the microprocessor 312b are acted upon by the microprocessor 312b based on the modified audio signal received from the signal processor 312c The microprocessor 312b in turn controls the actuator also by routines set up in operational code of the micropro cessor 312b by interfacing with the drive circuit 312e for the actuators The actuators in the FIG 3C embodiment are the three motors 362 366 and 370 for the three corresponding shafts 361 365 and 369 which turn the three corresponding color wheels 360 364 and 368 Using embodiments of the present invention the lamp intensity of a lamp such as lamp 354 of one of the multiparameter lighting devices such as device 300 in FIG 3C or a plurality of lamps may also be controlled in much the same manner The signal processor 312c receives the audio signal from the sound waves picked up by the trans ducer microphone 311 In turn the desired audio content as formed by the signal processor 312c is sent to the micro processor 312b of the multiparameter lighting device 300 Routines set up in the operational code of the microproces sor 312b are acted upon based on the audio signal received by the signal processor 312c Multiparameter lighting devices 502 514 in FIG 5 may be similar in operation and structure to multiparameter lighting device 300 in FIG 3C With the invention
33. ps of receiving a digital communications signal receiving sound waves converting the sound waves to a first audio electrical signal setting a parameter of a multiparameter lighting device based on the digital communications signal and the first audio electrical signal 24 The method of claim 23 wherein the digital communications signal is received from a control device which is electrically connected to the multiparameter lighting device 25 The method of claim 23 wherein the digital communications signal provides information which uniquely identifies the multiparameter lighting device 26 An apparatus comprising a first multiparameter lighting device 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 14 the first multiparameter lighting device comprised of a first sound transducer for changing sound waves into a first audio electrical signal a first node for receiving a first digital communications signal a first processor which in response to the first digital communications signal causes a first parameter of the first multiparameter lighting device to be selected from a first set of a plurality of parameters for the first multiparameter lighting device and causes the first parameter to be modified in response to the first audio electrical signal and wherein the first multiparameter lighting device has a second set of a plurality of parameters which includes color pan tilt pattern and intensity 27 The apparatus
34. rical signal 9 The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first and second digital communications signals specify the corresponding first parameters of the respective first and second multiparameter lighting devices and cause the corresponding first parameters to be modified in response to the corresponding first and second audio electrical signals 10 The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first and second digital communications signals specify the first parameter and a second parameter of the respective first and second multiparameter lighting device and cause the corresponding first and the second parameters to be modified in response to the corre sponding first and second audio electrical signals 11 The apparatus of claim 8 wherein first parameter of each of the first and second multipa rameter lighting devices is the color of light emitted from the corresponding first and second multiparameter lighting devices 12 The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first parameter of each of the first and second multi parameter lighting devices is the intensity light emitted from the corresponding first and second multiparameter lighting devices 13 The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first parameter of each of the first and second multi parameter lighting devices is a direction of light emit ted from the corresponding first and second multipa rameter lighting devices 14 The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first parameter of each of the first and
35. the operator may save time during programming as the audio function assigned to a parameter acts on the parameter as a macro Many different looks can be created as the parameter of a multiparameter lighting device such as 502 in FIG 5 responds to audio During playback the operator need not precisely control the chang ing of individual scenes to track the audio as it is accom plished in the multiparameter lighting device 502 itself by having the audio signal vary the selected parameters within the scene that is called The microphone may be located in the base or within any of the housing components The microphone may be located external to the multiparameter light and the light may receive the signal via wires or radio frequency I claim 1 An apparatus comprising first multiparameter lighting device the first multiparameter lighting device comprised of first sound transducer for changing sound waves into first audio electrical signal a first node for receiving a first digital communications signal first processor which in response to the first digital communications signal causes a first parameter of the first multiparameter lighting device to be selected from a plural ity of parameters for the multiparameter lighting device and causes the first parameter to be modified in response to the first audio electrical signal 2 The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first digital communications signal specifies the first
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