Abstract:
A graphical-user-interface manipulable lighting system is disclosed in which a light source having a position of focus is moved by an articulator adapted to receive and send signals through a control box indicating the current and intended positions of the focus of the light source, and further a computer interface operating wirelessly which graphically displays the current position of the light source and is adapted to allow a user to drag an icon indicating the current position of the light source onto a new intended position thereby resulting in the movement of the light source to the new position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the provisional application No. 60/947,747 filed 3 Jul. 2007 and the complete content of this application is incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for controlling the focal point of light sources wirelessly and by utilizing a graphical user interface. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There is a need for a device which will allow a user to wirelessly and seamlessly manipulate the focal point of a light source in a user-friendly manner. In many applications, light sources must be directed to a target area such as on an actor on a stage. Because these target areas move, the light source must also move with the actor. The light source can be manually moved, as by an operator moving an articulable light source by hand, in order to follow the actor. This can expose the operator to dangerous heights, high temperatures from the light source, and can result in jerky or improper following of the target. An automated system may also be used but should the target stray from the choreographed positions then the light source will no longer be correctly located. Even partially manual systems, whereby a position is tracked utilizing an electromechanical system operated by a user, thereby moving the operator from the ceiling to the ground and resulting in somewhat smoother movements, is not user friendly. If several knobs corresponding to the various axes of motion are provided to a user, said user may accidentally mistranslate the direction of the light source owing to confusion. 
     As such, there is a need for a device which provides a user friendly manner of directing a light source to a target and for allowing the ready tracking of a target. 
     SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is, in one embodiment, a graphical-user-interface manipulable lighting system comprising: 
     (a) a light source having a position of focus constituting a physical address location; 
     (b) an articulator for said light source adapted to receive a first signal indicating a position in a room where said position of focus of said light source is to be directed and further adapted to move said light source such that the position of focus of said light source is on the position in the room indicated by said first signal;
 
(c) a control box adapted to receive said first signal indicating said position in said room where the position of focus of said light source is to be directed, said control box further adapted to transmit a second signal indicating the current position of focus of said light source, said control box further adapted to transmit said first signal to said articulator; and
 
(d) a computer adapted to transmit said first signal indicating the intended position of said focus, said computer adapted to receive a second signal indicating the current position of focus of said light source, said computer adapted to allow a user to indicate the intended position of said focus, said computer adapted to allow a user to drag a graphical icon representing the current position of focus of said light source to an intended position of said focus, said computer adapted to translate the location of said graphical icon after dragging into said first signal.
 
     The present invention also comprises, in one embodiment, a method for tracking an object with a light source comprising the steps of: 
     (a) providing the graphical-user-interface manipulable lighting system above; 
     (b) providing a two dimensional grid on the ground and assigning each light source a digital multiplex command which provides at least one encoder and at least one step motor on said articulators the X-Y location of a section of the grid in which said X-Y location corresponds to said physical address location for said focus of the light source.
 
(c) locating a target on the display of said computer in which said target is an object, entity, or position on the grid;
 
(d) moving the iconical representation of said target on the display of said computer and thereby assigning a new physical address location for said light source; and
 
(e) allowing said system to articulate said light source to said new physical address location.
 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention can best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown in drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  presents a view of a room in which a light source is directed to a point and a room where that light source is directed to another point; 
         FIG. 2  presents a view of a tablet control unit displaying a view of a light source point in a graphical user interface indicating the light source point&#39;s location and a view of a tablet after the light source point has been moved. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       100  Light and Light Articulator;  102  Operator;  104  Data and Control Stream;  106  Light Range of Motion and Grid;  108  Floor;  110  Light Beam Focal Point;  112  Perpendicular Path from Light Source to Grid;  114  Ceiling;  116  Control Unit/Tablet;  118  Antenna;  120  Light&#39;s Current Position before Movement;  122  Light&#39;s Intended Position before Movement;  124  Light&#39;s Previous Position after Movement;  126  Light&#39;s Current Position after Movement. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In one preferred embodiment of the invention, light tracking is accomplished by laying down a two dimensional grid on the ground and assigning each articulable or robotic light a digital multiplex (“DMX”) command that provides the encoders and step motors (that control the articulable or robotic light) the X-Y location of that section of the grid. Any communications protocol, including DMX512-A, RS-485 based communications protocols, or other protocols useful for controlling stage lighting and generally known in the art, may be used to provide a DMX or other command. In an embodiment for an operating room, approximately four inch squares within a fifteen foot circle centered on the center-point of an operating table therein may be provided to form the grid. 
     Once these “addresses” have been assigned in physical space by an installer of the lighting units, a virtual grid is rendered on a GUI interface of a computer, and each corresponding grid mark location in the rendering is assigned the same location address. When the user “grabs” the virtual light spot in the GUI, and “moves” it to a different location, the software varies the address instructions as the spot is moved in the GUI, and the robotic lighting controllers move the light along the path of the corresponding address assignments. As a result, a user is induced to feel that they are “moving” the light; whereas they are actually merely assigning new address locations to the robotic or articulable lighting control devices which then redirect the lights. 
       FIG. 1  provides a simplified view of the operation of another embodiment of the present invention. Light and light articulator  100  are positioned on or in a ceiling  114  and may further comprise a control box. Light source  100  has a position of focus  110  which is typically offset from the path defined by  112 . The light articulator  100  can receive a signal from a control box (not shown) which contains data comprising an intended position in a room where the focal point  110  is to be directed. The light articulator  100  receives these instructions and then directs the focal point to a new position  110  in the room. The control box operates to receive the signal containing the position information wirelessly and also transmits trajectory and position information regarding the light source to a computer  116 . As mentioned, the control box sends corresponding location information to the articulator  100 . A computer  116  having an antenna or other wireless interface  118  provides the graphical user interface for use by an operator  102 . The computer is adapted to transmit a signal containing a user&#39;s intended target for the light source and is further adapted to receive information as to the light source&#39;s current trajectory and position. This wireless communication  104  is also seen in  FIG. 1 . The computer displays the light source&#39;s current focal point in a graphical manner on its screen. The screen displays a grid showing the operational bounds of the light source, the position of the light source  120  and  126 , the trajectory (if any) of the light source, the prior position of the light source  124  and the intended position  126  (if moving) of the light source. Other information controllable and displayable include selection of light sources, selection of color mixtures and intensities, and other light source information. The computer may also display an icon indicating the position of an object or person relative to the focus of said light source. If the person or object is tagged with a wireless locator, the computer can display in real-time the present location of the person and may display further information such as the anticipated location of the person (such as with but not limited to stage directions). 
     In a preferred embodiment, a user  102  operates the computer  116  by touching the screen at the point containing an icon representing the position of the light and dragging the position (indicated by the arrow between  120  and  122  &amp;  124  and  126  in  FIG. 1 ) to the user&#39;s  116  intended position  122 . The icon moves in real time as the light source is articulated until the final position  126  is reached. Other interface means are also contemplated including keyboard or mouse control. The user may use a pen, fingers, or other objects if the computer is adapted with a touch-sensitive screen. The computer may be of any type including laptops, desktops, and preferably tablet or table-type models. 
     In one application of an embodiment of the invention, the system is used to track an actor on a stage. An operator may observe the actor on the stage and drag the iconical representation of the focal point of the light source to correspond to the actor&#39;s position. As the actor&#39;s position changes, the operator may drag the iconical representation accordingly. If the target is wearing a locator means, such as a radio-frequency identification (“RFID”) device, a BLUE-TOOTH device, a transponder, or other location means, then the computer can be commanded to automatically adjust the light source to follow the actor. 
     In another application, the system can be used in an operating room or other hospital environment. A patient (or even a surgeon or other staff member) can be affixed with a location device or a surgeon or other operator can simply track a patient&#39;s position using the graphical user interface on the computer. With multiple light sources, the computer can be used to track—either manually or automatically—a number of persons or patients in a room. Such a system could be integrated with other devices in the room. For example, a table may exist in the room whereupon a patient is placed. If the table is to be adjusted, such as by rotating the table such that the head of the table spins about the center axis of the table, then the computer can be linked to move the light source such that the light source is in constant placement over a portion or portions of the patient. In this manner, for example, a patient&#39;s head can remain illuminated while the patient is moved. 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms and visual depictions are used to illustrate the preferred embodiment. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be construed by the terms used or illustrations depicted, beyond what is shown in the prior art, since the terms and illustrations are exemplary only, and are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention. It is further known that other modifications may be made to the present invention, without departing the scope of the invention, as noted in the appended claims.