METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING LIGHTING

Abstract: A method for controlling lighting effects is described in which a standard computer (PC) with one or more internal controller(s) for transmission of data or similar EDP controlling equipment is used for controlling individual apparatus in a lighting installation, where a special code protocol is used, making it possible to use functional commands, for example "white flash" or "red slow scanning" which are translated into lighting settings in the lighting installation and that the respective lighting control commands for synchronizing the lighting effects in relation to the sound recording (the music) are supplied by supplier separately, the synchronous performance of the lighting control programme being controlled (initiated) by means of the standard time code present on a music CD with the actual sound recording. Furthermore, an apparatus is described for lighting controlling by means of the indicated method, the apparatus preferably being constituted by a standard CD player which is provided with a special terminal or a special plug which is connected to the reading equipment of the CD player in such a way that the time code from a music CD, preferably a standard music CD, can be derived, preferably in the form of a digital controlling signal.

Description: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING LIGHTING The present invention relates to a method of controlling lighting and of the kind mentioned in the introductory part of claim 1. At music shows and concerts, lighting is a very important scenographic effect, and special lighting effects can be obtained by using various types of light in different co¬ lours. In this connection, it is known in the art that the various lighting effects, for example shift in colours, shift between flash light and constant light or light scanning may be controlled synchronously with the music. Such a synchro¬ nous showing of light and music images takes place, for example, by means of pre-programmed lighting settings where the control unit is controlled by a separately recorded control programme which is generated taking into considera¬ tion the actual control parameters for specific apparatus in a lighting installation. US-A-4, 995, 026 describes an apparatus and a method for coding audio and lighting controlling data onto one and the same optical disc (CD) in that a synchronization signal, a digital audio-data signal and a secondary code signal in a frame are recorded, the respective signal codes corresponding to a colour parameter, an intensity parameter and fading-in and fading-out parameters being recorded in predetermined bits (binary digits) of the said secondary code signal. It is thus possible to produce an optical disc (CD) which automatically can control the lighting equipment by means of the reproduced output from the optical disc. In other words, it is the production of an extra control track on a CD which is especi- ally adopted for use in so-called KARAOKE systems. It is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved method for lighting controlling, which in a simple manner makes it possible to obtain a good synchronous con- trolling of lighting effects in connection with performance of music shows or concerts at which music CDs are used. The method according to the invention is characterized in that a special code protocol is applied which makes it possi- ble to use functional commands, such as "white flash" or "red slow scanning", which are translated into lighting settings in the lighting installation, and that the respective light¬ ing control commands for synchronization of lighting effects in relation to the sound recording (the music) are supplied separately by supplier, the synchronous running of the light¬ ing control programme being controlled (initiated) by means of the time code which is present on a standard music CD with the actual sound recording. Hereby, a possibility of a new and improved method for lighting controlling is obtained, where local controlling of specific apparatus in the lighting installation can be controlled by means of a superior macro- prjogramme which is controlled by the time code of a specific CD, and which is translated into the lighting settings in the individual lighting installation. It is to be noticed that the said CD preferably is a standard music CD (audio CD) . It is advantageous that said lighting control commands are delivered from the supplier on a data diskette. Alternative¬ ly, said lighting control commands can be obtained from supplier via on-line connection, for example via the inter- net. The invention also relates to an apparatus for lighting control using the method according to the invention, which apparatus is characterized in that it preferably constitutes or comprises a standard CD player, which is provided with a special terminal or a special plug, which is connected to the reading equipment of the CD player in such a way that the time code from a music CD, preferably a standard music CD, can be derived from preferably in the form of a digital control signal. The invention will be further explained in the following with reference to the drawing which shows a principal sketch to illustrate the method according to the invention. Within the dotted frame, the known state-in-art part of the system can be seen, which part already exists at the user, for example restaurant or discotheque, in that it is prefer¬ ably presumed in connection with the method according to the invention that the local user has a local installation with a number of controllable lighting effects in the form of sta- tionary lamps, lighting robots, light scanners, projectors with various filters and masks, smoke generating machines and the like which can be controlled via system software, i.e. computer with common internal controllers and transmitter hardware or similar EDP controlling equipment. For such an existing user installation pre-programmed light¬ ing settings will probably also have been prepared, so that varying light shows can take place, which in part are con¬ trolled by the actual sound recording. A music CD (compact disk) comprises an ID code as well as a controlling track with a well-defined time code, so that each variation in the sound recording can re-traced by means of the time code. It is thus possible to control the performance of varying light shows by means of one and the same time code, i.e. it is up to the user alone to decide which light show is to be performed to the music on a specific CD. In connection with the method according the invention, how¬ ever, it is ultimately the actual local installation which decides the performing of the light show for a specific CD in that, as mentioned before, a superior macro programme is applied which alone is controlled by the time code of the specific CD and which locally is translated into specific lighting settings in the actual lighting installation. The running of a macro programme which is supplied on a data diskette or which is obtained for the occasion via on-line connection with a supplier, may in other words be used the controlling completely different light shows in completely different lighting installations, even though the macro programme in question is designed to be controlled by the time code of a specific music CD. This is due to the fact that the specific construction of the local lighting system, i.e. the precise positioning and properties of the individual light apparatus in relation to the room parameters by means of the special macro protocol makes it possible to use functional commands such as "white flash" (white gleam) or "red slow scanning" (red slowly oscillating light beam) , i.e. that it is not necessary to address the individual lighting effect (lamp, scanner) in the installation directly, an abstract new programme level for giving control commands being used which is initiated by means of the said time control code of the music CD. This means that it is only required once and for all, by means of said superior macro protocol, to define the lighting effects of the local installation, whereafter the playing of specific music CDs will involve controlled performance of locally influenced light shows, which by playing the same music CD, naturally is unambiguous in that it is the afore- mentioned definition of the local installation alone which subsequently determines how the time control signal of the music CD affects the lighting effects. An apparatus for lighting controlling by means of the method according to the invention is preferably constituted by or comprises a standard CD player which is provided with a special terminal or a special plug which is connected to the reading equipment of the CD player in a manner so that the time code from a music CD, preferably a standard music CD, can be derived, preferably in the form of a digital control signal. Moreover, it is within the main aspect of the invention that a CD player generally can be provided with a special plug from which the time code from the actual, played music CD continuously can be derived and, for example, be used for external controlling purposes, for example for controlling or performing of light shows which are synchronized with the actual sound recording.

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1. Method for controlling lighting effects where a standard computer (PC) with one or more internal controller(s) for transmission of data, or similar EDP controlling equipment is used for controlling individual apparatus in a lighting installation, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a special code protocol is used which makes it possible to use functional commands, for example "white flash" or "red slow scanning" which are trans- lated into lighting settings in the lighting installation, and that the respective lighting control commands for syn¬ chronizing the lighting effects in relation to the sound recording (the music) are supplied by a supplier separately, the synchronous performance of the lighting control programme being controlled (initiated) by means of the time code, which is present on a standard music CD with the actual sound re.cording. 2. Method according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said lighting control commands are supplied by a suppli- er on data diskette. 3. Method according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said lighting control commands are obtained from suppli¬ er via on-line connection, for example via internet. 4. Apparatus for lighting controlling by means of the method according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it preferably constitutes or comprises a standard CD player which is provided with a special terminal or a special plug which is connected to the reading equipment of the CD player in such a way that the time code from a music CD, preferably a standard music CD, can be derived preferably in the form of a digital control signal.

Inventors: JOHANSEN PETER, JOHANSEN, PETER
Applicants: JOHANSEN PETER, MARTIN PROFESSIONAL A S, JOHANSEN, PETER, MARTIN PROFESSIONAL A/S
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A63J17
IPC codes: A63J5, H05B37