Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems – Current and/or voltage regulation
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-07
2004-01-20
Wong, Don (Department: 2821)
Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
Current and/or voltage regulation
C340S332000, C315S294000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06680586
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a professional lighting control system, and more specifically, to a lighting console with a transceiver for wirelessly controlling a plurality of professional lighting modules.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Lighting control consoles are commonly used in order to control a plurality of lighting modules through a single control console. Please refer to FIG.
1
.
FIG. 1
is a block diagram of a professional lighting control system
10
according to the prior art. The professional lighting control system
10
includes a console
12
connected to a plurality of lighting sets
18
and
24
.
The console
12
comprises a plurality of light control circuits
14
and
20
for generating control signals to control the lighting sets
18
and
24
. The light control circuit
14
produces digital control signals and the light control circuits
20
produce analog control signals. A digital bus
19
connects the light control circuit
14
to a driving circuit
16
. The driving circuit
16
receives digital control signals from the light control circuit
14
over the digital bus
19
, and uses the digital control signals to drive operation of the lighting set
18
.
Since the light control circuits
20
produce analog control signals, driving circuits
22
corresponding to each of the light control circuits
20
are often located within the console
12
. The driver circuits
22
receive analog control signals from the light control circuits
20
, and then drive operation of the lighting sets
24
through power analog buses
26
.
The digital bus line
19
is used because some lighting sets like the lighting set
18
require digital control signals for operation of devices such as step motors. The digital bus line
19
can be a multi-channel and a multi-line bus line, and normally is a power digital line of a stepping motor. On the other hand, the power analog buses
26
are used because some lighting sets like the lighting sets
24
require analog control signals for operation of devices such as DC motors or magnetic switches. The power analog buses
26
can be a multi-channel, multi-line, and multi-amplification bus line.
Please refer to FIG.
2
.
FIG. 2
is a block diagram of the prior art driver circuit
22
and lighting set
24
. The driver circuit
22
has a plurality of control interface circuits
30
. Each of the control interface circuits
30
is connected to either a switch driver circuit
32
or to a motor driver circuit
34
. The lighting set
24
contains a plurality of light sources
40
that are controlled by switches
42
and motors
44
. Specifically, each switch driver circuit
32
in the driver circuit
22
corresponds to one of the switches
42
in the lighting set
24
. The control interface circuit
30
receives control signals from the light control circuit
20
, and passes these commands on to the switch driver circuit
32
. The switch driver circuit
32
then sends these commands to the switch
42
for controlling operation of the light source
40
. Similarly, each motor driver circuit
34
in the driver circuit
22
corresponds to one of the motors
44
in the lighting set
24
. The control interface circuit
30
receives control signals from the light control circuit
20
, and passes these commands on to the motor driver circuit
34
. The motor driver circuit
34
then sends these commands to the motor
44
for controlling operation of the light source
40
.
Unfortunately, the prior art console
12
and lighting sets
18
and
24
are connected together with wired connections. Thus, expensive cable must be run between each lighting set
18
and
24
and the console
12
. In addition, if the console
12
is to be moved, care must be taken to ensure that the cables connecting the lighting sets
18
and
24
to the console
12
are long enough to reach the new location of the console
12
.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is therefore a primary objective of the claimed invention to provide a professional lighting control system for using a console to wirelessly control a plurality of lighting sets in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.
According to the claimed invention, a professional lighting control system includes a plurality of light modules. Each light module contains a light set with at least one light source and at least one switch for switching the light source on and off. The light module also contains a driving circuit electrically connected to the light set, the driving circuit having at least one switch driver for driving the switch of the light set, and a first transceiver for wirelessly receiving control signals for the light set. The control system also includes a main console, which has a signal generator for generating the control signals that control the light set, and a controller electrically connected to the signal generator for receiving the control signals. The controller has a second transceiver for wirelessly sending control signals received from the signal generator to the first transceiver of the driving circuit so as to control the light set.
It is an advantage of the claimed invention that the console is able to wirelessly control the lighting sets, eliminating the need for expensive cables used to connect the console to the lighting sets. In addition, the console can easily be moved without concern for the wires having sufficient length.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5031082 (1991-07-01), Bierend
patent: 5392025 (1995-02-01), Figh et al.
patent: 5815068 (1998-09-01), Vadseth
patent: 6252358 (2001-06-01), Xydis et al.
patent: 6300727 (2001-10-01), Bryde et al.
patent: 6424096 (2002-07-01), Lowe et al.
patent: 6459217 (2002-10-01), Belliveau
patent: 6548967 (2003-04-01), Dowling et al.
Hsu Winston
Tran Chuc D
Transpace Tech Co., LTD
Wong Don
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