Patent US4461079A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent EP0752632A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0752632A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Computer controlled lighting system with distributed control resources
Assignee: Vari Lite Inc
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Filing: 1996-06-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A distributed control system for a lighting system, including: one or more control devices for entering parameter-controlling inputs according to a specified format, the parameter-controlling inputs directing the operation of the lighting system, the control devices including a data processor coupled to the parameter-controlling inputs and a memory coupled to the processor; one or more computing devices for storing, editing, and displaying data related to the parameter-controlling inputs, the computing devices including at least a data processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a data display device coupled to the processor; one or more load interface modules each including a data processor for controlling the respective interface module and for monitoring data link signals, each of the load interface modules supporting at least one device-control data link network; a control-resources data link network connecting the control devices, the computing devices, and the load interface modules; and at least one devicecontrol data link network having a common path for connecting the load interface module to a plurality of multiple-parameter lamp units having a plurality of adjustable parameters relating to beam characteristics and a driver for controlling a plurality of the parameters in response to the parameter-controlling inputs.
Inventors
- 👤 Brooks W. Taylor
- 👤 Thomas E. Walsh
- 👤 Mikell D. Nelson
- 👤 Charles H. Reese
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:58
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/042; G05B19/0421; G05B19/0426; H; H05; H05B; H05B47/00; H05B47/10; H05B47/105; H05B47/115; H05B47/12; H05B47/155; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/20; G05B2219/21; G05B2219/21023; G05B2219/21046; G05B2219/21047; G05B2219/21081; G05B2219/21092; G05B2219/22; G05B2219/2206; G05B2219/23; G05B2219/23043; G05B2219/23045; G05B2219/23089; G05B2219/23091; G05B2219/23135; G05B2219/23157; G05B2219/23182; G05B2219/23183; G05B2219/23205; G05B2219/23253; G05B2219/23272; G05B2219/23386; G05B2219/23452; G05B2219/24; G05B2219/24148; G05B2219/25; G05B2219/25157; G05B2219/25164; G05B2219/25172; G05B2219/25174; G05B2219/25181; G05B2219/25211; G05B2219/25232; G05B2219/25274; G05B2219/25411; G05B2219/26; G05B2219/2664; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B20/00; Y02B20/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A distributed control system for a lighting system comprising: A. one or more control devices for entering parameter-controlling inputs according to a specified format, said parameter-controlling inputs directing the operation of said lighting system, said control devices including a data processor coupled to said parameter-controlling inputs and a memory coupled to said processor; B. one or more computing devices for storing, editing, and displaying data related to said parameter-controlling inputs, said computing devices comprising at least a data processor, a memory coupled to said processor, and a data display device coupled to said processor; C. one or more load interface modules each including a data processor for controlling said respective interface module and for monitoring data link signals, each of said load interface modules supporting at least one device-control data link network; D. a control-resources data link network connecting said control devices, said computing devices, and said load interface modules; and E. at least one said device-control data link network having a common path for connecting said load interface module to a plurality of multiple-parameter lamp units each having means for producing a light beam having a plurality of adjustable parameters relating to beam characteristics and drive means for controlling a plurality of said parameters in response to said parameter-controlling inputs.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of operating a distributed control lighting system equipped with an intelligent lighting assistant, said lighting system comprising an input device, a reasoning engine, a data repository, a load interface module, a multiple parameter lamp unit and a network, the method comprising the steps of: injecting an operator parameter command into the reasoning engine via the input device; evaluating said operator command in the reasoning engine; comparing said operator command to a three dimensional model resident in the data repository, the model comprising a representation of the system and a system operating environment; calculating a system parameter adjustment based on said operator command and said three dimensional model; composing a system command to achieve the parameter adjustment ordered by the operator command; and transmitting said system command to the multiple parameter lamp via the load interface module and the network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of: displaying a representation of the three dimensional model as altered by the system parameter adjustment on a graphic display device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 or 3, further comprising the step of: implementing the system command upon receipt of an additional operator command.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of programming operations of a distributed control lighting system equipped with an intelligent lighting assistant, said assistant comprising an operator command input device, a reasoning engine, a data repository, and a graphic display device, the method comprising the steps of: injecting an operator command into the reasoning engine via the input device; evaluating said operator command in the reasoning engine; comparing said operator command to a three dimensional model resident in the data repository, the model comprising a representation of the system and a system operating environment; calculating a system parameter adjustment based on said operator command and said three dimensional model; composing a system command to achieve the parameter adjustment ordered by the operator command; and displaying a representation of the three dimensional model as altered by the system parameter adjustment on the graphic display device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
148 words
A distributed control lighting system connected by a network and comprising an operator command input device, a general purpose computer having a system data repository, a load interface module, and a multiple parameter lamp unit; and an intelligent lighting assistant characterised by a reasoning engine interactively connected to said operator command input device and said system data repository, said reasoning engine configured to calculate system parameter adjustments and system commands responsive to said operator commands, and further connected to said interface module for transmitting said system commands via the network to the multiple parameter lamp unit; said data repository maintaining a three dimensional model comprising a representation of the system and a system operating environment; and a graphic display device, whereon said reasoning engine displays the results of implementing its calculations of system parameter adjustments and system commands responsive to said operator commands on said three dimension model.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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