Interface Computer for a Stage Lighting System

Abstract

A stage lighting system with a digital and analog part. The digital part is used to form the image, which can be, for example, a full brightness image. The analog part is used to dim the image, and to carry out failsafe operation. If an error occurs in the digital part, then the analog part prevents the image from being shown.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a first, computer system, including a video card, producing an output signal intended for driving a projector with an image, based on the control signal, and producing a second output signal, based on said control signal, indicative of a dim value of the output signal; and   a second system, receiving said output signal, and said dim value, and operating to dim an intensity value of the output signal based on said dim value, to produce an output signal to be projected.   
     
     
         2 . A system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a lighting projector, receiving said output signal to be projected, and producing a projection output based thereon. 
     
     
         3 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein said second system produces a second output signal intended for display on a monitor, having a dim value which is separately controlled from a dim value of the output signal to be projected. 
     
     
         4 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein said second system includes a plurality of analog multipliers, controlled by said dim value. 
     
     
         5 . A system as in  claim 4 , wherein said dim value is produced over a USB connection. 
     
     
         6 . A system as in  claim 4 , further comprising a D/A converter, receiving said first output signal, and producing an analog version of said first output signal, said analog version connected to said plurality of analog multipliers. 
     
     
         7 . A system as in  claim 3 , further comprising a lighting projector, receiving said output signal to be projected, and producing a projection output based thereon, and further comprising a user interface monitor, receiving said second output signal, and producing a different output based on said second signal. 
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 a controller part, which produces video information indicative of an image to be displayed; and   a bank of dimmer devices, controlled by said controlling part, and coupled to receive said video information and to provide a dimming function for said video information to produce another output signal indicative of a dimmed version of said image.   
     
     
         9 . A system as in  claim 8 , wherein said bank of dimmer devices includes a first dimmer device for dimming red components of the video information, a second dimmer device for dimming green components of the video information, and a third dimmer device for dimming blue components of the dimmer information. 
     
     
         10 . A system as in  claim 9 , wherein each dimmer device in said bank of dimmer devices includes an analog multiplier which multiplies said information indicative of the image by a dim value. 
     
     
         11 . A system as in  claim 8 , further comprising a first dimmer part which produces a first dimmed version for display on a monitor screen, and a second dimmer port which produces dimming information separately for a display version. 
     
     
         12 . A system as in  claim 8 , wherein said the dimmer device monitors said controller part for errors, and immediately produces a maximum dimming when said errors are detected. 
     
     
         13 . A system as in  claim 9 , wherein said bank of dimmer devices monitors said controller part for errors, and immediately produces a maximum dimmed effect on said display version, but does not dim an output for said monitor screen to be viewed at normal intensity, when said errors are detected. 
     
     
         14 . A system as in  claim 13 , further comprising an output which produces information indicative of dimming in a format which is timeslot multiplexed. 
     
     
         15 . A system as in  claim 11 , further comprising, responsive to a command from said controlling part, dimming said display version while not dimming said monitor screen. 
     
     
         16 . A system as in  claim 8 , further comprising a universal serial bus link between said controller part and said bank of dimmer devices. 
     
     
         17 . A system, comprising:
 a first, controlling part, including a video card, producing an output signal indicative of an image, by drawing the output signal in the video card; and   an external device, receiving information from said video card, and producing a first output for a monitor screen and a second output to be displayed, and monitoring for updates from said first controlling part, and preventing the output signal from being displayed on said display screen when said updates are not received for a specified time period.   
     
     
         18 . A system as in  claim 17 , wherein said outputs are indicative of an amount of dimming to be carried out by said external device for a current frame. 
     
     
         19 . A system as in  claim 18 , wherein said external device includes analog dimmers thereon. 
     
     
         20 . A system as in  claim 19 , wherein said video dimmers comprise analog multipliers, which multiply said output signal by a value, and includes a first multiplier which produces said first output and a second multiplier which produces a separately dimmed output for said second output display. 
     
     
         21 . A system as in  claim 17 , further comprising producing a serialized version of dimmer commands as an output signal. 
     
     
         22 . A system as in  claim 17 , wherein said first controlling part produces an image at full brightness, and produces output signals indicative of an amount of dimming to be carried out. 
     
     
         23 . A system as in  claim 17 , further comprising a controlling console, controlling a plurality of lamps which collectively form a light show, and producing output signals indicative of said control, one of said output signals being coupled to said first controlling part. 
     
     
         24 . A method, comprising: producing a digital representation of an image to be displayed on an external projector; and
 carrying out an analog dimming of the image prior to display on said external projector.   
     
     
         25 . A method, comprising:
 producing a request for an output image at less than full output intensity; drawing a full intensity output image in a video card; and   carrying out a dimming operation on said full intensity output image.   
     
     
         26 . A system, comprising: an input for video signals; a plurality of analog multipliers, coupled to receive said video signal, said plurality of analog multipliers including a first multiplier set which produces a first viewable output, and a second multiplier set which produces a second, monitor output,
 a processor, also having an input for a control signal and which controls said first multiplier set separately from said second multiplier set; and   first and second video outputs, said first video output receiving an output from said first multipliers said, and said second video output receiving said output from said second multiplier set.   
     
     
         27 . A system as in  claim 26 , further comprising a serializer, producing an output in a DMX  512  format. 
     
     
         28 . A system as in  claim 26 , wherein said control signal uses a USB format control signal. 
     
     
         29 . A system as in  claim 26 , wherein said processor monitors for control signals at specified intervals, ‘and automatically produces a dimmed output on said first multipliers set when said control signals are not received at said specified intervals.