Theatre light apparatus and method incorporating a plurality of light sources with anti-collision

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10082280-B2
Application number	US-201615242872-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2016
Priority date	Aug 22, 2016
Publication date	Sep 25, 2018
Grant date	Sep 25, 2018

Abstract

A theatrical apparatus including a first light source, a second light source and a third light source, a computer memory, and a computer processor. Each of the first, second, and third light sources may have current positions; and each may be configured to be remotely operated by the computer processor executing computer operating software to have its current position changed, independent of the other light sources. Data indicating the current position of each of the first, second, and third light sources, including a position count value for each of the first, second, and third light sources, is stored in the computer memory by the computer processor executing the computer operating software. The computer processor may be programmed by the computer operating software to use the position count values prevent collisions between the light sources.

First claim

We claim:

1. A theatrical apparatus comprising:
a first light source, and a second light source;
a computer memory, and a computer processor;
wherein computer operating software is stored in the computer memory and is configured to be executed by the computer processor;
wherein the first light source has a current position;
wherein the second light source has a current position;
wherein the first light source is configured to be remotely operated by the computer processor executing the computer operating software to have its current position changed from a first position to a second position, if the current position of the second light source is a third position; and
wherein to prevent the first light source from colliding with the second light source, the first light source is prevented by the computer operating software from having its current position changed from the first position to the second position, if the current position of the second light source is a fourth position, which is different from the third position; and
wherein changing the current position of the first light source from the first position to the second position, while the current position of the second light source is in the fourth position would cause the first light source and the second light source to collide.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising
a third light source;
wherein the third light source has a current position;
wherein the first light source is located in between the second light source and the third light source;
wherein the first light source is configured to be remotely operated by the computer processor executing the computer operating software to have its current position changed from the first position to a fifth position, if the current position of the third light source is a sixth position; and
wherein the first light source is prevented by the computer operating software from having its current position changed from the first position to the fifth position, if the current position of the third light source is a seventh position, which is different from the sixth position; and
wherein changing the current position of the first light source from the first position to the fifth position, while the current position of the second light source is in the seventh position would cause the first light source and the third light source to collide.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein
the first light source is prevented by the computer operating software from having its current position changed from the first position to the second position, if the current position of the second light source is the fourth position, by preventing any movement of the first light source from the first position towards the second position; and
wherein the first light source is prevented by the computer operating software from having its current position changed from the first position to the fifth position, if the current position of the third light source is the seventh position, by preventing any movement of the first light source from the first position towards the fifth position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein
the first light source in the first position is parallel to the second light source in the fourth position, and is parallel to the third light source in the seventh position.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein
the first light source in the first position is parallel to the second light source in the fourth position, and is parallel to the third light source in the seventh position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein
the first light source is prevented by the computer operating software from having its current position changed from the first position to the second position, if the current position of the second light source is the fourth position, by preventing any movement of the first light source from the first position towards the second position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein
the first light source in the first position is parallel to the second light source in the fourth position.

8. A theatrical apparatus comprising:
a first light source, and a second light source;
a computer memory, and a computer processor;
wherein computer operating software is stored in the computer memory and is configured to be executed by the computer processor;
wherein the first light source has a current position;
wherein the first light source is configured to be remotely operated by the computer processor executing the computer operating software to have its current position changed from a first position to a second position, independent of the second light source;
wherein the second light source has a current position;
wherein the second light source is configured to be remotely operated by the computer processor executing the computer operating software to have its current position changed from a third position to a fourth position, independent of the first light source;
wherein data indicating the current position of each of the first, and the second light sources, including a position count value for each of the first, and the second light sources, is stored in the computer memory by the computer processor executing the computer operating software;
wherein the first light source cannot be moved from the first position to the second position, while the second light source is in the third position, without colliding with the second light source;
wherein the position count value of the first light source and the position count value of the second light source are used by the computer operating software to prevent the first light source and the second light source from colliding with each other.

9. The theatrical apparatus of claim 8 wherein
the first light source is configured to be remotely operated by the computer processor executing the computer operating software to have the current position of the first light source changed from a first position to a second position by a theatrical controller.

10. The theatrical apparatus of claim 9 wherein
the first light source is configured to be remotely operated by the computer processor executing the computer operating software which includes command protocol, which is the DMX protocol, as transmitted by the theatrical controller to the computer processor.

11. The theatrical apparatus of claim 9 wherein
the first light source is configured to be remotely operated by the computer processor executing the computer operating software which includes command protocol, which is the Artnet Protocol, as transmitted by the theatrical controller to the computer processor.

12. The theatrical apparatus of claim 8 wherein
the first light source is prevented by the computer operating software from having its current position changed from the first position to the second position, if the current position of the second light source is in the third position, by preventing any movement of the first light source from the first position towards the second position.

13. A method of operating a theatrical lighting system comprising the steps of:
changing a current position of a first light source from a first position to a second position remotely by use of a computer processor implementing operating computer software stored in a computer memory;
changing a current position of a second light source from a third position to a fourth position remotely by use of the computer processor implementing the operating computer software stored in the computer memory;
wherein the first light source, and the second light source are part of a theatrical apparatus;
wherein the current position of the firs

Assignees

• Belliveau Richard S
• Brown Aaron
• Peck David
• Electronic Theatre Controls Inc

Inventors

• Belliveau Richard S
• Brown Aaron
• Peck David

Classifications

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F21Y2113/17

  forming a single encapsulated light source · CPC title

• F21V7/0091

  using total internal reflection · CPC title

• F21V25/02

  coming into action when lighting device is disturbed, dismounted, or broken · CPC title

• F21V21/30

  Pivoted housings or frames · CPC title