Follow Spot Control System

Abstract

A follow spot controller stores two sets of individual calibration parameters for automated luminaires and calibrates a 3-D model of a performance area and mounting for the luminaires, based on the stored calibration parameters. A physical orientation of the controller is sensed and resulting operator parameters are sent to a first luminaire. Individual calculated parameters based on the operator parameters and the 3-D model are sent to the other luminaires. A representation of the performance area is displayed, with a trace cursor representing a target point on the performance area determined from the operator parameters and the 3-D model. Information relating to the luminaires is received and a representative position on the performance area is calculated from the received values and the 3-D model. A position cursor indicating a location of the representative position in the performance area is displayed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A follow spot control system, comprising:
 a memory;   a display screen;   a processor electrically coupled to the memory and the display screen and configured to execute instructions received from the memory; and   a communication interface electrically coupled to the processor, the communication interface configured to communicate with a plurality of automated luminaires,   wherein the processor is further configured to:
 store in the memory first and second sets of individual calibration parameters for each of the plurality of automated luminaires; 
 calibrate a three-dimensional (3-D) model of (i) a surface of a performance area and (ii) locations and mounting orientations of the plurality of automated luminaires relative to the performance area, where the calibration is based on the stored first and second sets of individual calibration parameters; 
 sense a change in a physical orientation of a follow spot controller; 
 send operator parameters to a first automated luminaire of the plurality of automated luminaires via the communication interface, the operator parameters based on the sensed change in the physical orientation of the follow spot controller; 
 send individual calculated parameters to each of the remainder of the plurality of automated luminaires via the communication interface, the individual calculated parameters based on (i) the operator parameters of the first automated luminaire and (ii) the 3-D model; 
 display a representation of the performance area on the display screen; 
 determine from the operator parameters and the 3-D model an operator target point on the performance area; 
 display a trace cursor on the display screen, the trace cursor indicating a location of the operator target point in the displayed representation of the performance area; 
 receive information relating to current pan and tilt values for the plurality of automated luminaires; 
 calculate from the received current pan and tilt values and the 3-D model a representative position on the performance area; and 
 display a position cursor on the display screen, the position cursor indicating a location of the representative position in the representation of the performance area, 
   the individual calibration parameters, the operator parameters, and the individual calculated parameters comprising pan, tilt, and focus or size parameters.   
     
     
         2 . The follow spot control system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 store a third set of individual calibration parameters for each of the plurality of automated luminaires; and   calibrate the 3-D model based on the stored first, second, and third set of individual calibration parameters.   
     
     
         3 . The follow spot control system of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of individual calibration parameters are configured to point the plurality of automated luminaires at a common first calibration region of the performance area and the second set of individual calibration parameters are configured to point the plurality of automated luminaires at a second calibration region of the performance area. 
     
     
         4 . The follow spot control system of  claim 3 , wherein the performance area is a horizontal surface. 
     
     
         5 . The follow spot control system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive a height control signal; and   send height-adjusted parameters to the plurality of automated luminaires via the communication interface, the height-adjusted parameters based on a group target point of the plurality of automated luminaires, the 3-D model, and a value of the height control signal.   
     
     
         6 . The follow spot control system of  claim 1 , wherein the representation of the performance area is a live video image of the performance area. 
     
     
         7 . The follow spot control system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to receive the information relating to current pan and tilt values from the plurality of automated luminaires via the communication interface. 
     
     
         8 . The follow spot control system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 store in the memory a preset target point on the performance area; and   display an icon on the display screen, the icon indicating a location of the stored preset target point in the representation of the performance area.   
     
     
         9 . The follow spot control system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive a control input selecting the preset target point; and   send individual calculated parameters to each of the plurality of automated luminaires via the communication interface, where the individual calculated parameters are based on the selected preset target point and the 3-D model.