Illumination – Light source and modifier – With rheostat or switch
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-27
2001-08-07
Husar, Stephen (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Light source and modifier
With rheostat or switch
C362S085000, C362S233000, C362S235000, C323S235000, C338S162000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270239
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to lighting control apparatus for stage and studio applications, and more particularly to an improved fader wheel for lighting control consoles.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Lighting control consoles are used by lighting designers to control stage and studio lighting. A typical console includes a variety of input devices such as keys, sliders and wheels used by the lighting designer to create cues including selected lighting fixtures and to vary the intensity and other characteristics of the light provided by the selected fixtures. With the console, the designer can control fixtures in a sequence of cues directly, in real time, and also can record a sequence of cues for replay at a later time.
One important input device provided by known lighting control consoles is the fader wheel. The fader wheel is a rotatable wheel connected to a position sensing transducer, typically an encoder, for translating wheel movement into an electrical signal. This signal is used to control lamp intensity changes. In a typical application, for a given cue, the wheel is rotated to create fades by smoothly and gradually increasing or decreasing light intensity of one or more dimming channels.
A fader wheel as known in the past is usually a relatively massive body having substantial inertia that promotes smooth fading transitions. The wheel is usually mechanically or electrically damped in order to minimize overtravel. A segment of the wheel extends up through an opening in the top wall of the console and the accessible projecting wheel segment can be manipulated by the user. Known fader wheels are relatively large, for example a few inches in diameter, so that they can be turned with a rolling motion of the hand or fingers and can provide fine resolution. The mass of the fader wheel requires secure rotational mounting. Typically the wheel is supported by bearings engaging opposed hubs at both sides of the wheel. Consistent with this typical mounting system, the wheel is oriented in a plane perpendicular to the console top wall, with its rotational axis parallel to and located just beneath the console top wall.
One of the hubs of the typical fader wheel is coupled to a rotating input shaft of the stationary transducer. The transducer housing is mounted in a fixed position, for example by attachment to a rigid bracket. For consistent and reliable operation and long service life, it is necessary that the opposed wheel hubs and bearings as well as the transducer be precisely axially aligned. This requires precision in manufacturing and assembling the typical fader wheel assembly.
A lighting designer in the process of programming a complex production having many cues with light intensity changes uses the fader wheel a great deal over extended periods of time. Repetitive operation of the conventional type of wheel can be fatiguing because of the vertical orientation of the wheel as well as the shape, size, mass and damping of the wheel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved fader wheel assembly for lighting control consoles such as are used for control and programming of stage and studio lighting. Other objects are to provide a fader wheel assembly that is comfortable and easy to use and minimizes operator fatigue; to provide a fader wheel assembly having a mounting arrangement that results in an ergonomically improved wheel orientation promoting precise control and a natural feel and permitting electrical damping or force feedback with minimum operator fatigue; to provide a fader wheel assembly in which the necessity and expense of precise axial alignment of bearings and transducers is eliminated; and to provide a fader wheel assembly overcoming long standing problems of fader wheels used in the past.
In brief, in accordance with the invention there is provided a fader wheel assembly for a lighting control console having a top wall with a fader wheel aperture. The fader wheel assembly includes a wheel having a rotational axis and opposed inner and outer sides symmetrical about the axis. The inner side includes a projecting mounting hub located at the axis. A mounting assembly for mounting the wheel for rotation about the axis includes a bearing located under the top wall adjacent the aperture for supporting the hub and wheel for rotational motion. The mounting system supports the wheel with a segment of the wheel projecting upward through the aperture. The outer side of the wheel includes a continuous, uninterrupted plane smoothly extending across and around the axis. The mounting system supports the wheel with the axis disposed at an angle to the top wall.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a fader wheel assembly for mounting to a wall of a lighting control console. The assembly includes a massive fader wheel having a diameter in excess of about two inches. An axial hub projects from one side of the wheel. A bearing rotatably supports the hub. A bearing support engages the bearing and is adapted to be attached to the wall of the lighting control console. A rotation sensing transducer has a housing and an input member rotatable relative to the housing. The input member is coaxial with and drivingly connected to the hub. The bearing support and the bearing support the mass of the wheel. The driving connection of the hub to the input member provides substantially the entire support of the transducer. A retainer connected between the support and the transducer housing prevents rotation of the housing.
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Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
Husar Stephen
Kolehmainen Philip M.
Mason, Kolehmainen Rathburn & Wyss
Ton Anabel
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