Digital theatrical lighting fixture

Number: 10165239
Published: 2018-12-25
Filed: 2016-12-19
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: Laduke; Thomas F.
CPC: H04N9/3194; H04N9/3185; F21S2/00; H04N9/3176; H04N9/3147; H05B45/20; H04N9/3182; H05B47/175
Verdict: Medium Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Digital theatrical lighting fixture (grant dup).

Abstract

A digital theatrical lighting fixture that can be used to provide a new lighting system with improved features and functionality. The digital theatrical lighting fixture integrates light production, light modulation, and a camera into a single device along with a control interface, integrated image processing capability such as for processing images captured by the camera, and communication capability, e.g., for communicating with a central controller and/or with other digital theatrical lighting fixtures. This highly integrated fixture uses the camera to monitor a lit scene, and its (or the central controller's) intelligence/software to dynamically adjust its output as well as to implement a show lighting script much like a projector. In a lighting system, the lighting fixtures described herein can communicate to each other and to a central controller (or control systems) such that lighting produced by the lighting system can be calibrated and coordinated in a comprehensive way.

Background

BACKGROUND1. Field of the Description(1) The present description relates, in general, to stage or theatrical lighting systems, components, and methods and, more particularly, to theatrical lighting fixtures and theatrical lighting systems and methods implementing the new theatrical lighting fixtures.2. Relevant Background(2) Stage or theatrical lighting is the craft of lighting as it applies to the production of theater, dance, opera, and other performance arts. Theatrical lighting has multiple functions including selective visibility, revelation of form, focus, mood, location and time of day, projected scenery, plot/script changes, composition, and effect, and there are many applications for lighting equipment and theatrical lighting including lighting for shows and rides in many amusement or theme parks.(3) For many shows, hundreds to thousands of lighting instruments or fixtures will be mounted in a fixed position so as to be directed toward a particular portion of a theatrical stage or other show or entertainment space. Each lighting fixture typically includes a box or housing (e.g., a metal or plastic container to house the whole instrument and prevent light from spilling in unwanted directions), a light source (or lamp), and a lens or opening where the light is output from the housing. Traditional theatrical lighting fixtures use a high output, broad spectrum white light source that may be modified by filters and perhaps shaped (e.g., by a gobo, which is a physical sten

Claims

1. A theatrical lighting fixture for use in a lighting system to provide lighting to a space such as a theatrical stage or set, comprising: a housing; a light source in the housing operable to generate light; a light modulator, in the housing, operable to modulate the light generated by the light source to form one or more images; a camera, supported by the housing, operable to capture digital images; a communications module in the housing; and a fixture controller operable to generate control signals to selectively operate the light source, the light modulator, and the camera and to transmit and receive communications with the communications module, wherein the fixture controller modifies operation of the light source or the light modulator with the control signals in response to image processing of the images captured by the camera, wherein the image processing includes comparing the images with planned illumination of surfaces of a 3D model of a space, wherein the comparing includes determining illumination of one of the surfaces differs from the planned illumination for the one of the surfaces, and wherein the modifying of the operation of the light source or the light modulator includes modifying the light generated by the light source. 6. A system for lighting a space such as a theatrical stage, comprising: a lighting system controller generating a set of control signals; and a plurality of lighting fixtures operating in response to receipt of one or more the control signals to output light into the space, wherein each of the lighting fixtures includes a light source, a light modulator modulating light from the light source and outputting the modulated light, and a camera capturing images of the space during operations of the light source and the light modulator, wherein the set of control signals are generated based on processing of the captured images, wherein the processing of the captured images includes comparing illumination of surfaces in the space shown in the captured images with planned illumination of the surfaces in the space, and wherein the set of control signals are generated to implement a lighting script defined for the space to vary the output light over a timeline for a show or display. 10. A system for lighting a space such as a theatrical stage, comprising: a lighting system controller generating a set of control signals; and a plurality of lighting fixtures operating in response to receipt of one or more the control signals to output light into the space, wherein each of the lighting fixtures includes a light source, a light modulator modulating light from the light source and outputting the modulated light, and a camera capturing images of the space during operations of the light source and the light modulator, wherein the lighting fixtures each further includes a communications module operable to provide inter-fixture messaging between the lighting fixtures, and wherein the lighting fixtures each further includes a controller processing the inter-fixture messaging and, in response, modifying operation of at least one of the light sources and the light modulators to modify the output light.