Patent Publication Number: US-7221109-B2

Title: Stage lighting console

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to a console for setting stage lighting and more specifically to a stage lighting console which provides for a simple, efficient method of changing light levels of stage lights. 
   2. Background Information 
   In this country and around the world there are thousands of stages and similar venues which are lighted by a plurality of lights most often referred to as lighting instruments. In most cases it is possible to direct the lighting instruments to a particular area of the stage and to adjust the light level of each lighting instrument. That is, each lighting instrument may be made brighter or dimmer depending upon which light level settings provide the optimal appearance of the stage and the action upon the stage at any given time. During the performance of a relatively simple play, for example, there may be dozens of light level settings which are programmed to change at particular points during the production. Various audio or visual cues indicate the points at which the light level settings are to be changed during the production. 
   During rehearsals and at various other pre-production points, a person, often referred to as the operator, experiments with a variety of light level settings and lighting changes to determine the optimal or most dramatic light level settings during multiple stages of the production. Most modern stages have a lighting console which controls the various light level settings and allows them to be recorded in the proper sequence. During the production, the operator observes the various cues and, when the appropriate cue is given, manipulates a control and the proper, prerecorded, light level setting is automatically produced on stage. 
   With conventional stage lighting controls, difficulties often occur when an operator wishes to change a particular light level setting pre-production or, even, during a production. Most conventional lighting consoles are equipped with multiple slide controls that may be moved linearly from a setting of 0% to 100%. Movement of each slide control controls the light level of a particular lighting instrument or a combination of lighting instruments. That is, for example, movement of slide control  1  controls lighting instrument  1 . When slide control  1  is at 0 the lighting instrument is off and, when slide control  1  is at 100, lighting instrument  1  is at its brightest. If, for instance, a stage had twenty lights, the operator would use slide controls  1  through  20  to set the light level for each of the 20 lighting instruments for each of multiple lighting configurations or lighting set. Each of these level settings may be recorded and changed or displayed in order when the appropriate cue is received. 
   With most conventional lighting consoles, the console either includes what is known as a patch table. Using the patch table, the various slide controls may be associated with a plurality (often forty-eight) channels or signals. A plurality of outgoing channels (often five hundred and twelve) are sent from the patch table in an industry standard DMX protocol to a separate dimmer. There are a number of conventional dimmers on the market. The dimmer is connected to the various lighting instruments. Based upon the DMX channels received from the patch table, it is the dimmer which actually sets the illumination level of the various lighting instruments. The dimmer is not considered a part of the instant invention. Slide control  1 , for instance might be associated with channel  1  using the patch table. Outgoing channel  1  directs the dimmer to set the light level of lighting instrument  1  based upon the signal from outgoing channel  1 . Using the patch table, it is possible to associate more than one lighting instrument with a particular channel. That is, channel  1  might control lighting instruments  1 ,  3 , and  5 . Henceforth, it should be understood that a reference to setting a channel results in the setting of the lighting level of an associated lighting instrument and references to setting a lighting level with a slide control assume that the slide control sets the channel and the channel directs the dimmer to set the lighting level. 
   Conventional lighting consoles have what is often referred to as a highest takes precedence method of operation. That is, once a setting for a particular channel has been recorded, the setting will not change until the control slide has been moved to a higher point on the control. If, for example, channel  1  (and consequently lighting instrument  1 ) was recorded at 70% using slide control  1 , slide control  1  must be moved to a point above 70% for a change to occur. If the operator wishes to increase this light level above 70%, the slide must be moved slowly upward until the operator notices a change in the light level (above 70%), move the slider to the new position and then record the change when using most conventional consoles. If the operator wishes to decrease the light level, the slide must be moved slowly upward until the 70% level is “captured,” move the slide down to the desired level, and record this new level. There are other conventional methods to accomplish decreasing light levels including using a keypad. 
   Several problems relating to the above described method of changing light levels are apparent. Changes are slow, awkward, and require a certain skill and dexterity level. 
   The stage lighting console of the instant invention is believed to solve, in a new and unique fashion, the above described problems relating to recording and changing lighting levels and light level settings for a stage production. 
   One of the major objects of the present invention is to provide a stage lighting console which may be used to change lighting configurations or lighting sets in a simple and efficient manner. 
   Another objective of the present invention is to provide a stage lighting console which has control slides which operate in a lowest takes precedence mode or a summing mode of operation when changing settings rather than the highest takes precedence mode of operation used in conventional stage lighting consoles. 
   Another objective of the present invention is to provide a stage lighting console which is simple, safe, rugged, inexpensive, and easy to use. 
   These and other features of the invention will become apparent when taken in consideration with the following detailed description and the drawings. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The stage lighting console of the instant invention comprises a console. The console includes a plurality of sliders each of which may be used to set or control the light level of a particular lighting instrument of a stage. Each of the lighting elements of a stage may be set using one of the sliders. Once a lighting level setting has been set for a particular scene or segment of a production, all of the settings set with the sliders may be recorded using the console. The console also has replay means for replaying the various lighting level settings for segments of the production sequentially. The operator periodically activates the replay means upon receipt of an audio or visual cue to change the light level set for a particular segment. 
   The stage lighting console includes a built in computer and a monitor. The monitor displays the various settings programmed into the console. 
   Each slider moves within a slider rail which is affixed to the cover plate of the console. A slot in the cover plate accommodates movement of the slider along the length of the slider rail. In a neutral position, the sliders are at the center of the slider rail and may be moved in one direction calibrated to be from 0% illumination to 100% illumination of the appropriate stage lighting instrument. Each slider may also be moved in the opposite direction calibrated from 0% illumination to −100% illumination of the appropriate stage lighting instrument. The operation of the sliders may be explained in the following example. Slider one sets the illumination level of lighting instrument one on the stage by setting channel  1  at 20% and that level is recorded for a particular segment or lighting set. If the operator determines that the level would be better set at 30%, the slider is moved to +10% which changes the level from 20% to 30% (20%+10%). If the operator determines that the level would be better set at 15%, the slider is moved to −5% which changes the level from 20% to 15% (20%−5%). Once a setting has been recorded, the console rejects further input from the slide control until it is centered or returned to the zero position. Each slider has a center detent and spring mechanism such that the operator will feel a distinct “catch” when the slider reaches the center position. The operator must act against the spring in order to move the slider below zero or from 0% to −100%. 
   In another embodiment, each slider may be calibrated to operate from 0% to 100% above the center position and also from 0% to 100% below the center position. In this embodiment, if, for instance, lighting instrument one were set at 60% and that setting recorded; the operator could set the lighting instrument to below 60% by moving slider one to, for example, 45% below the center position. This would change the lighting level of lighting instrument one to 45%. To change the setting to a point above 60%, the operator would move slider one above the center position above 60% to the desired setting, much as described above. 
   Although the stage lighting console of the instant invention is described as being used for the setting the lighting on a stage, the stage lighting console could be easily adapted to set illumination for areas other than stages or to set sounds rather than light. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a top view of the stage lighting console of the instant invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the slider and slider rail of the instant invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the slider button of the instant invention; and 
       FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the slider block of the instant invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 through 4 , a preferred embodiment of the stage lighting console of the instant invention is shown. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the stage lighting console of the instant invention includes a console  2  which incorporates all of the various elements of the invention. The console  2  includes a plurality of sliders  4 . The sliders  4  are capable of moving within slots  6  in a cover plate  8  on the top of said console  2 . When centered as shown in  FIG. 1 , said sliders  4  are in a neutral or 0% position within the slots  6 . Said sliders  4  may be moved in one direction from the 0% position to a 100% position and to all positions in between 0% and 100%. Said sliders  4  may be moved in the other direction from the 0% position to a −100% position and to all positions in between 0% and −100%. 
   Still referring to  FIG. 1 , said console  2  also includes a built-in CPU (not shown) which is connected to said sliders  4  and all other electronic elements within said console  2 . A monitor  12  is affixed to said console  2  and also connected to the CPU. Controlled by the CPU, the monitor  12  displays the various settings of said sliders  4  and the other electronic components of said console  2 . Said console  2  also includes a variety of other components such as record and replay buttons which are conventional and not described in detail here. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an isometric of view said slider  4  and a slider rail  14  is shown. The slider rail  14  includes a slider slot  16  along its length. The slider slot  16  corresponds to said slot  6  and said slider  4  moves within said slider slot  16  from a center or 0% position to a 100% position in one direction and from the 0% position to a −100% position in the other direction. Said slider slot  16  is on the top of said slider rail  14 . There is a guide channel  18  on one of the sides of said slider rail  14 . The guide channel  18  has a forward portion  20  which is slightly closer to the top of said slider rail  14  than the rearward portion  22 . (For purposes of this explanation, forward is considered to be toward said monitor  12 , but said slider rails  14  and incorporated components could move in any direction.) The forward portion  20  of the guide channel  18  is connected to the rearward portion  22  by a channel  24 . Said slider  4  includes a pin  26  which projects outward into said guide channel  18 . Said slider  4  may be moved from the 0% position forward within said slider slot  16  to a 100% position at the forward end of said slider slot  16  and to all points in between. When said slider  4  is moved rearward within said slider slot  16  to the 0% position it hits the wall of the channel  24  and may not be moved further rearward until said slider  4  is pressed downward and rearward. Said slider  4  may then be moved from the 0% position to the −100% position and to all points in between. Said slider  4  activates a conventional sensor which senses the position of said slider  4  and sends the position information to the CPU. 
   Now referring to  FIG. 3 , an isometric view of a button portion of said slider  4  is shown. A button  30  is provided and is affixed to the top of a button shaft  32 . The pin  26  protrudes outward from the middle portion of the button shaft  32  as described above. Spring means  34  is affixed to the bottom of said button shaft  32 . The spring means  34  engages a bottom plate (not shown) and tends to force said button shaft  32  upward. 
   Now referring to  FIG. 4 , an isometric view of a slider block  38  is shown. The slider block  38  includes a hole  40  through its top center and a pin slot  42  which is in communication with the hole  40  and runs vertically from the bottom of said slider block  38  to a point just below the top of said slider block  38 . Said slider block  38  may be inserted into said slider slot  16 . Said button shaft  32  may be inserted through the hole  40  in said slider block  38 . Said pin  26  may then be inserted through said guide channel  18  into said button shaft  32 . 
   In operation, each of said sliders  4  controls the illumination level of a corresponding lighting instrument on the stage. For example, slider  4  one might control lighting instrument one and slider  4  two might control lighting instrument two. (As described previously, said sliders  4  actually control a corresponding channel which, in turn, signals a dimmer. The dimmer actally controls the lighting instruments; but, for simplicity, said sliders  4  are described as controlling the lighting instruments.) For each scene or segment of the production, the lighting level of lighting instrument one and lighting instrument two could be set using slider  4  one and slider  4  two. For segment one the lighting level of lighting instrument one could be set using slider  4  one to 70% of the total illumination possible by moving slider  4  one to the 70% position along said slider slot  16 . The lighting level of lighting instrument two could be set using slider  4  two to 40% by moving slider  4  two to the 40% position. These settings could be recorded and stored in the memory of the CPU. For segment two the lighting level of lighting instrument one could be set using slider  4  one to 60% of the total illumination possible by moving slider  4  one to the 60% position along said slider slot  16 . The lighting level of lighting instrument two could be set using slider  4  two to 50% by moving slider  4  two to the 50% position. These setting could be recorded and stored in the memory of the CPU. The operator, upon receiving the appropriate cues, may play back the memorized settings such that the stage is appropriately lighted for each segment. If, for example, the operator determined that there was too much light on the stage in segment one and too little light in segment two, the illumination levels could be changed using the appropriate sliders  4 . To lower the illumination level of lighting instrument one, the operator would move said slider  4  one to the center position to make changes possible and then move said slider  4  one the −10% position to reduce the illumination level of lighting instrument one to 60%. To raise the illumination level of lighting instrument two in segment two, the operator would move said slider  4  two to the center position to make changes possible and then move said slider  4  two to the 20% position to increase the lighting level to 70%. The new setting could then be recorded for later play back. Of course, many more lighting instruments could be controlled by other sliders  4  and dozens of segments could be recorded rather than just two. 
   In another embodiment of the instant invention and again referring to  FIG. 1 , rather than being calibrated to move from 0% to +100% and from 0% to −100% said sliders  4  could be configured and calibrated to move above the center position from 0% to +100% and below the center position also from 0% at the bottom point of said slider  4  to +100% at the center position. In this embodiment the instant invention operates on a lowest takes precedence method of operation. For example, if lighting instrument one were set using said slider  4  one to 60% and that setting recorded; lighting instrument one could be set to a setting lower than 60% by moving said slider  4  one to, for instance, 40% below the center position. This would change the setting for lighting element one to 40%. To change the setting of lighting element one to a level above 60%, the operator would move said slider  4  one to the desired point above the center position. That is, lighting element one could be set to 80% by moving said slider  4  one to 80% above the center position. In all other aspects, the instant invention would operate as described above for the preferred embodiment except that the portion of said sliders  4  would operate in a lowest takes precedence method of operation. 
   In the preferred embodiment of the stage lighting console of the instant invention, unless otherwise specified; all elements are conventional or made from conventional materials. Said spring means  34  is made from a steel spring; but other spring means could be used. 
   Although the stage lighting console of the instant invention is described above as being used to control stage lighting, it could be easily adapted to set illumination for areas other than stages or to set sounds rather than light. 
   While preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention.