Pixel mirror based stage lighting system

Abstract

A lighting system with a digital micromirror device which forms a digital godo system that is controllable on a pixel level. The device includes a number of sensitive electronic elements. The device is controlled by two different controllers: a digital signal processor which is effectively the number crunching portion, and a controller, which controls the functions of the light. The controller also logs errors into a registery, such as a non-volatile memory. A field programmable gate array is used for a number of purposes, including to form the ports. One of those ports is a tech port, which is used to detect status of the light such as faults.

1 . A digital light, comprising: 
 a controller, which receives a command indicative of one of a plurality of pixel sets, at least one of which pixel sets which define light images including light shapes which can be described as a plurality of pixels;    a memory, which stores a library of said pixel sets; and    a processing part, responsive to a command, which produces an output signal indicative of a specific pixel set indicated by said command to be retrieved from said memory.    
     
     
         2 . A light as in  claim 1 , further comprising a digitally controllable light altering device, controlled by said output signal, and adapted to be located in a path of a light beam.  
     
     
         3 . A light as in  claim 2 , wherein said digitally controllable light altering device is a digital micro mirror device.  
     
     
         4 . A light as in  claim 1 , wherein said controller is formed as part of reconfigurable logic.  
     
     
         5 . A light as in  claim 4 , wherein said reconfigurable logic also forms a portion of a communications circuit which receives said command.  
     
     
         6 . A light as in  claim 1 , wherein said memory is local to the light, and shares a common data bus with said controller and said processing part.  
     
     
         7 . A light as in  claim 6 , wherein said processing part includes a video driver.  
     
     
         8 . A light as in  claim 1 , wherein said processing part operates to allow processing of said pixel set.  
     
     
         9 . A digital lighting system, comprising: 
 a first processor, which monitors subsystems of the digital lighting system;    a second processor, separate from the first processor, which carries out numerical calculations used by the digital lighting system, to produce output signals to be used by the digital lighting system;    a digital light shape altering device, monitored by the first processor, and controlled by the second processor, and controlled by one of a plurality of different pixel level sets of information, at least one of said different pixel level sets of information, including a shape for the light beam to be projected.    
     
     
         10 . A digital lighting system as in  claim 9 , wherein the second processor is a digital signal processor.  
     
     
         11 . A digital lighting system as in  claim 9 , further comprising a memory, storing a plurality of said different pixel level sets of information, and wherein said second processor operates to process at least one of said plurality of said as.  
     
     
         12 . A digital lighting system as in  claim 9 , wherein said first processor monitors a lamp ignition, and hold said second processor In re set during said lamp ignition.  
     
     
         13 . A digital lighting system, comprising: 
 a light controlling memory, which stores a plurality of different sets of pixels, at least one of said different sets of pixels including at least one shape for a projected light beam which is adapted to shape an output light beam; and    a controlling processor, which controls selection of sets from the memory, and formatting the sets for use in digitally projecting the light, wherein said controlling processor also determines errors in the digital lighting system, based on tests carried out in the digital lighting system, and produces an output indicative of errors in the digital lighting system.    
     
     
         14 . A system as in  claim 13 , further comprising a port on said light, and wherein said output is provided through said port.  
     
     
         15 . A system as in  claim 13 , wherein said controlling processor includes a first processor which monitors subsystems of the digital lighting system, and determines said errors, and a second processor, separate from said first processor, which carries out numerical calculations used by the digital lighting system to produce output signals used thereby.  
     
     
         16 . A system as in  claim 13 , further comprising a light shape altering device, controlled by the signal from said controlling processor.  
     
     
         17 . A system as in  claim 16 , wherein said light shape altering device includes a DMD.  
     
     
         18 . A system as in  claim 16 , wherein the controlling processor produces a video output.  
     
     
         19 . A system as in  claim 13 , wherein said processor checks a condition of controlling buses within the digital light, and establishes an error when at least one of the controlling buses does not respond properly.  
     
     
         20 . A system as in  claim 19 , wherein said controlling bus is an IIC bus.  
     
     
         21 . A system as in  claim 19 , wherein said condition of the controlling bus includes a start condition.  
     
     
         22 . A system as in  claim 19 , wherein said condition of the controlling bus includes an acknowledge condition.  
     
     
         23 . A system as in  claim 13 , wherein said processor checks to determine whether a temperature sensing device within the digital lighting system is operating correctly.  
     
     
         24 . A system as in  claim 13 , wherein said processor checks to determine whether a clock on the digital lighting system is operating correctly.  
     
     
         25 . A system as in  claim 13 , wherein said processor checks to determine whether backup memory is operating correctly.  
     
     
         26 . A system as in  claim 19 , wherein said processor checks identifying numbers of assemblies attached to said bus, and compares said identifying designations with acceptable designations.  
     
     
         27 . A system as in  claim 16 , further comprising a connection between the processor and a light shape altering device, which controls the light shape altering device to produce readable text indicative of said errors.  
     
     
         28 . A digital lighting system, comprising: 
 a light controlling memory, which stores a plurality of different sets of pixels, at least one of said different sets of pixels including at least one effect for a projected light beam which is adapted to shape an output light beam; and    a controlling processor, which controls selection of sets from the memory, and formatting the sets for use in digitally projecting the light, and also, controlling an output which is adapted to control the light shape altering device to produce readable text indicative of light status.    
     
     
         29 . A system as in  claim 28 , wherein said controlling processor also determines errors in the digital lighting system, based on tests carried out in the digital lighting system, and produces an output indicative of said errors in the digital lighting system.  
     
     
         30 . A system as in  claim 29 , further comprising a port on said light, and wherein said output is provided through said port.  
     
     
         31 . A system as in  claim 30 , wherein said output is used to control said light shape altering device to produce said readable text.  
     
     
         32 . A system as in  claim 28 , wherein said controlling processor includes a first processor which monitors subsystems of the digital lighting system, and determines said errors, and a second processor, separate from said first processor, which carries out numerical calculations used by the digital lighting system to produce output signals used thereby.  
     
     
         33 . A system as in  claim 28 , further comprising a digital light altering device, controlled by the signal from said controlling processor.  
     
     
         34 . A system as in  claim 33 , wherein said digital light altering device includes a DMD.  
     
     
         35 . A system as in  claim 33 , wherein the controlling processor produces a video output which drives said digital light altering device.  
     
     
         36 . A system as in  claim 28 , wherein said processor checks condition of controlling buses within the digital light, and establishes an error when at least one of the controlling buses does not respond properly.  
     
     
         37 . A system as in  claim 36 , wherein said controlling bus is an IIC bus.  
     
     
         38 . A system as in  claim 36 , wherein said condition of the controlling bus includes a start condition.  
     
     
         39 . A system as in  claim 36 , wherein said condition of the controlling bus includes an acknowledge condition.  
     
     
         40 . A system as in  claim 28 , wherein said processor checks to determine whether a temperature sensing device within the digital lighting system is operating correctly.  
     
     
         41 . A system as in  claim 28 , wherein said processor checks to determine whether a clock on the digital lighting system is operating correctly.  
     
     
         42 . A system as in  claim 28 , wherein said processor checks to determine whether backup memory is operating correctly.  
     
     
         43 . A system as in  claim 36 , wherein said processor checks identifying numbers of assemblies attached to said bus, and compares said identifying designations with acceptable designations.  
     
     
         44 . A method, comprising: 
 storing a library of pixel sets, at least one of which pixel sets including light shapes which can be described as a plurality of pixels receiving a command indicative of one of said plurality of pixel sets; and    producing an output signal indicative of a specific pixel set indicated by said command.    
     
     
         45 . A method as in  claim 44 , further comprising using a digitally controllable light altering device, controlled by said output signal, and located in a path of a light beam.  
     
     
         46 . A method as in  claim 45 , wherein said digitally controllable light altering device is a digital micro mirror device.  
     
     
         47 . A method as in  claim 44 , further comprising reconfiguring reconfigurable logic to carry out said receiving.  
     
     
         48 . A method as in  claim 47 , further comprising reconfiguring to form a portion of a communications circuit which receives said command.  
     
     
         49 . A method as in  claim 44 , further comprising sharing a common data bus with said light and said processing part.  
     
     
         50 . A method as in  claim 44 , further comprising using a video driver to produce said output signal.  
     
     
         51 . A method, comprising: 
 using a first processor, which monitors subsystems of the digital lighting system;    using a second processor, separate from the first processor, to carry out numerical calculations used by the digital lighting system, to produce output signals to be used by the digital lighting system; and    using a digital light shape altering device, monitored by the first processor, and controlled by the second processor, and controlled by one of a plurality of different pixel level sets of information, at least one of said different pixel level sets of information including a shape for the light beam to be projected.    
     
     
         52 . A digital lighting method, comprising: 
 storing a plurality of different sets of pixels, at least one of said different sets of pixels including at least one effect for a projected light beam which is adapted to shape an output light beam;    controlling selection of sets from the memory, and formatting the sets for use in digitally projecting the light; and    determining errors in the digital lighting system, based on tests carried out in the digital lighting system, and producing an output indicative of errors in the digital lighting system.    
     
     
         53 . A method as in  claim 52 , further comprising controlling a light shape altering device using the signal from said controlling processor.  
     
     
         54 . A method as in  claim 53 , wherein said light shape altering device includes a DMD.  
     
     
         55 . A method as in  claim 53 , further comprising producing a video output.  
     
     
         56 . A method as in  claim 53 , wherein said processor checks condition of controlling buses within the digital light, and establishes an error when at least one of the controlling buses does not respond properly.  
     
     
         57 . A methods in  claim 56 , wherein said controlling bus is an IIC bus.  
     
     
         58 . A method as in  claim 56 , wherein said condition of the controlling bus includes a start condition.  
     
     
         59 . A method as in  claim 56 , wherein said condition of the controlling bus includes an acknowledge condition.  
     
     
         60 . A method as in  claim 52 , wherein said condition is to determine whether a temperature sensing device within the digital lighting system is operating correctly.  
     
     
         61 . A method as in  claim 52 , wherein said condition determines whether a clock on the digital lighting system is operating correctly.  
     
     
         62 . A system as in  claim 49 , wherein said condition is whether backup memory is operating correctly.  
     
     
         63 . A method as in  claim 56 , wherein said condition is a check of identifying numbers of assemblies attached to said bus, and further comprising comparing said identifying designations with acceptable designations.  
     
     
         64 . A system as in  claim 53 , further comprising a connection between the processor and a light shape altering device, which controls the light shape altering device to produce readable text indicative of said errors.