Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems – Plural load device systems – Electric switch in the supply circuit
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-29
2002-02-12
Wong, Don (Department: 2821)
Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
Plural load device systems
Electric switch in the supply circuit
C315S312000, C315S316000, C315S149000, C362S085000, C340S870030, C340S870030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06346783
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to theatre lighting, and more particularly the automated positioning of a patterned beam from a multiparameter light.
2. Description of Related Art
Multiparameter lights are useful for many dramatic and entertainment purposes such as, for example, Broadway shows, television programs, rock concerts, restaurants, nightclubs, theme parks, the architectural lighting of restaurants and buildings, and other events. A multiparameter light typically includes a light source and one or more effects known as “parameters” that are controllable by an operator from an external lighting control system. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,187 issued Jul. 5, 1983 to Bohnhorst and entitled “Computer controlled lighting system having automatically variable position, color, intensity and beam divergence” describes multiparameter lights and a lighting control system. Multiparameter lights typically offer several variable parameters such as strobe, pan, tilt, color, pattern, iris and focus.
Multiparameter lights are able to project color or patterns of light on, for example, a stage, a room, an arena, or the external features of a building, to achieve a desired lighting effect. In some types of multiparameter lights, patterns of light are created within the beam typically by the use of such components as stencils and lithos. Patterns of light may be caused to rotate by rotating the stencils and lithos in the beam. In other types of multiparameter lights, patterns of light are created within the beam by the use of special lenses such as lenticular lenses. The location of patterns of light projected by the multiparameter light from scene to scene is controlled by a position parameter, which may be varied by the operator of the lighting control system. Typically, a multiparameter light receives commands such as the position parameter from the lighting control system, and includes some form of internal control system to handle communications and control operation of the various components of the multiparameter light. Typically, the internal control system includes a controller integrated circuit or microprocessor and associated memory for storing operational code and data. The operator of the lighting control system uses a joystick or other input device to move the patterned beam from the multiparameter light to the desired location. Each multiparameter light has a separate communications address so that the respective locations for the patterns projected by the multiparameter light may be individually set. Typically thirty or more multiparameter lights may have their projections positioned to provide the desired lighting effect.
A particular type of multiparameter light known as the Emulator laser simulator, previously available from High End Systems of Austin, Texas, created patterns of light with beam movement rather than with stencils. The Emulator laser simulator produced a narrow beam of light by using a Xenon lamp and an optical system to collimate the light from the Xenon lamp. The collimated beam of light was passed within the housing through a color wheel to a shutter, an X scanning mirror, a Y scanning mirror, and an exiting aperture. Unlike conventional multiparameter lights which use stencils to create patterns of light, the Emulator laser simulator created specific patterns of light by directing the collimated beam with the X and Y scanning mirrors as specified by a “program” parameter. Instructions for creating the patters of light were stored in the Emulator light itself as non-changeable factory code. The patterns were selected by the lighting control system for the Emulator laser simulator, which used a dedicated protocol. The lighting control system for the Emulator laser simulator could control multiple Emulator laser simulators by addressing them separately and then selecting the parameters to be adjusted. For example, the operator of the lighting control system for the Emulator laser simulator might first have selected one of the Emulator laser simulators to be addressed in a particular scene. Next the operator might have set the program parameter to select a pattern to be created by movement of the straight beam of collimated light. The pattern might have had several other operator-selected variables such as scanning rate and pattern size. Next the operator might have selected a color and/or strobe. The operator might have move the pattern to a particular position by changing the position parameter, the pattern being reference to the position parameter. The operator might have moved the pattern to different positions during a show by changing the position parameter from scene to scene.
Prior to the advent of relatively small commercial digital controllers, remote control of light fixtures was done with either a high voltage or low voltage current; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,706,914, issued Dec. 19, 1972 to Van Buren, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,898,643, issued Aug. 5, 1975 to Ettlinger. With the widespread use of digital computers, digital serial communications has been adopted as a way to achieve remote control; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,139, issued Jun. 13, 1978 to Symonds et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,227, issued Sep. 29, 1987 to Callahan.
Some time ago, a number of proprietary protocol schemes for serial communications with theatre devices were developed, which left the user desiring to control theatre devices from different manufacturers with the necessity of having to use an array of different equipment using different protocols designed by the respective manufacturers. In response to this situation, the United States Institute of Theatre Technology (“USITT”) in 1986 adopted a standard digital communications system protocol for theatre devices known as DMX512. While the DMX512 protocol has been updated several times since its adoption, the basic communications protocol remains the same. Basically, the DMX512 protocol requires a continuous stream of data at 250 Kbaud which is communicated one-way from the lighting control system to the theatre devices. Typically, the theater devices use an Electronics Industry Association (“EIA”) standard for multi-point communications know as RS-485. Information on DMX512 can be found in the publication “Digital Data Transmission Standard for Dimmers and Controllers” by the United States Institute for Theatre Technology Inc, 6443 Ridings Road Syracuse, N.Y. 13206-1111 USA. he DMX 512 protocol allows for up to 512 separate control channels.
FIG. 1
shows an illustrative multiparameter lighting system based on the USITT DMX512 protocol. Power mains
12
provide AC power to a controller
10
and multiparameter lights
20
,
22
,
24
,
26
,
32
,
34
and
36
over standard building electrical wiring
14
. A communications cable
16
is run from the controller
10
to the first multi-parameter light fixture
20
, and additional communication cable segments
21
,
23
,
25
,
31
,
33
and
35
sequentially connect the light fixtures
22
,
24
,
26
,
32
,
34
and
36
. While only seven multiparameter lights are shown in
FIG. 1
for clarity, typically multiparameter lighting systems may have thirty or more such lights. Lighting control systems are available from several manufacturers, including High End Systems, Inc. of Austin, Tex.
An illustrative light fixture
100
suitable for use in the multi-parameter lighting system of
FIG. 1
is shown in greater detail in
FIGS. 2 and 3
. The front view of
FIG. 2
shows a lamp housing
110
which has a light exit aperture
111
. The lamp housing
110
is rotatably attached to a yoke
108
by two bearing assemblies
107
and
109
. The yoke
108
is in turn rotatably attached by a bearing assembly
105
to an electronics housing
104
, which contains a power supply, a communications receiver, and the internal control system. While multiple bearing assemblies typically are used, simplified bearing assemblies—bearing
105
for pan, bearings
107
and
109
for tilt—are shown in the figure for clarity. A line power cord
1
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