IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,038,159
Granted Patent B2
US 12,038,159 · App. 17/877,253 · Granted Jul 16, 2024

Method for creating XYZ focus paths with a user device

Inventors: Matthew Halberstadt (Middleton, WI); Christopher Mizerak (Oceanside, CA); Dennis Varian (Madison, WI); Dan Duffy (Middleton, WI); Ethan White (Verona, WI)
Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
F21V21/15F21W2131/406G06F3/0346
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,038,159
App. No.
17/877,253
Granted
Jul 16, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for operating a lighting fixture. The method includes positioning a user device at a first interaction point in a venue, designating a first light attribute, the first light attribute including at least one of a first light color, a first light intensity, and a first light focus corresponding to the first interaction point, moving the user device to a second interaction point, and designating a second light attribute, the second light attribute including at least one of a second light color, a second light intensity, and a second light focus corresponding to the second interaction point, the second light attribute being different than the first light attribute. The method further includes controlling the lighting fixture to direct light having the first light attribute toward the first interaction point and controlling the lighting fixture to direct light having the second light attribute toward the second interaction point.

Claims (55)

1. A system comprising:

a lighting fixture;

a user device; and

a controller in communication with the lighting fixture and the user device, the controller including an electronic processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions that when executed by the electronic processor configure the controller to:

identify a plurality of interaction points in a sequence, including positioning the user device at each of the plurality of interaction points, in a venue;

receive a plurality of commands, each command associated with at least one of the plurality of interaction points, the commands corresponding to at least one selected from a group of light color, light intensity, and light focus; and

control the lighting fixture to move according to the sequence and change at least one selected from a group of light color, light intensity, and light focus according to the commands.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one display associated with the user device, wherein the user device is configured to display, via the at least one display, a three-dimensional representation of the venue including the plurality of interaction points.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one camera associated with the user device, wherein the controller is further configured to identify the plurality of interaction points in the sequence based on a capture view of the at least one camera.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a pan angle and a tilt angle of the lighting fixture based on a position and an orientation of the user device at each of the plurality of interaction points in the sequence.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the command associated with each respective interaction point is different for each respective interaction point.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein each command of the plurality of commands is associated with one of the plurality of interaction points.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is associated with a remote server.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is associated with a light control board.

9. A method for operating a lighting fixture, the method comprising:

positioning a user device at a first interaction point in a venue;

designating a first light attribute, the first light attribute including at least one selected from a group of a first light color, a first light intensity, and a first light focus corresponding to the first interaction point;

moving the user device to a second interaction point in a venue;

designating a second light attribute, the second light attribute including at least one selected from a group of a second light color, a second light intensity, and a second light focus corresponding to the second interaction point, the second light attribute being different than the first light attribute;

controlling the lighting fixture to direct light having the first light attribute toward the first interaction point; and

controlling the lighting fixture to direct light having the second light attribute toward the second interaction point.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein positioning the user device and designating the light attributes occurs before controlling the lighting fixture.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein

the user device is positioned on a stage in the venue for both the first interaction point and the second interaction point, and

the user device is not positioned on the stage in the venue while controlling the lighting fixture.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the controlling the lighting fixture to direct light having the first light attribute toward the first interaction point includes:

determining a first pan angle and a first tilt angle of the lighting fixture based on a position and an orientation of the user device at the first interaction point; and

controlling the lighting fixture to direct light based on the first pan angle and the first tilt angle.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the user device is associated with at least one camera, and

wherein the determining a first pan angle and a first tilt angle of the lighting fixture based on a position and an orientation of the user device at the first interaction point includes:

using a capture view of the at least one camera to determine the position and the orientation of the user device at the first interaction point.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the controlling the lighting fixture to direct light having the second light attribute toward the second interaction point includes:

determining a second pan angle and a second tilt angle of the lighting fixture based on a position and an orientation of the user device at the second interaction point; and

controlling the light fixture to direct light based on the second pan angle and the second tilt angle.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the user device is associated with at least one display, the method further comprising:

displaying, via the at least one display, a three-dimensional representation of the venue including at least the first interaction point and the second interaction point.

16. A method for operating a lighting fixture, the method comprising:

identifying a first interaction point, including positioning a user device at the first interaction point, in a venue with the lighting fixture turned off;

identifying a second interaction point, including positioning the user device at the second interaction point, in the venue after identifying the first interaction point;

turning on the lighting fixture after the first interaction point and the second interaction point have been identified;

automatically directing the lighting fixture to the first interaction point; and

automatically directing the lighting fixture to the second interaction point after the first interaction point.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the identifying a first interaction point, via a user device, in a venue with the lighting fixture turned off includes:

determining a first pan angle and a first tilt angle of the lighting fixture based on a position and an orientation of the user device at the first interaction point.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the identifying a second interaction point, via the user device, in the venue after identifying the first interaction point includes:

determining a second pan angle and a second tilt angle of the lighting fixture based on a position and an orientation of the user device at the second interaction point.

19. The method of claim 18 , the method further comprising:

communicating, via the user device, the first interaction point and the second interaction point to the lighting fixture after turning on the lighting fixture.

20. The method of claim 19 , the method further comprising:

recreating, via the light fixture, the first pan angle and the first tilt angle prior to automatically directing the light fixture; and

recreating, via the light fixture, the second pan angle and the second tilt angle prior to automatically directing the light fixture.

21. The method of claim 16 , further comprising

changing a position of the user device in the venue after identifying the first interaction point, and

wherein identifying the second interaction point begins after changing the position of the user device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2022
From: HALBERSTADT, MATTHEW; MIZERAK, CHRISTOPHER; VARIAN, DENNIS; DUFFY, DAN; WHITE, ETHAN
To: ELECTRONIC THEATRE CONTROLS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060688/0177 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240035648A1 · Feb 1, 2024