Pixel mirror based stage lighting system

Abstract

A lighting system with a digital micromirror device which forms a digital godo system that is controllable on a pixel level. The device includes a number of sensitive electronic elements. The device is controlled by two different controllers: a digital signal processor which is effectively the number crunching portion, and a controller, which controls the functions of the light. The controller also logs errors into a registery, such as a non-volatile memory. A field programmable gate array is used for a number of purposes, including to form the ports. One of those ports is a tech port, which is used to detect status of the light such as faults.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 658,627, filed Sep. 8, 2003, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 038,182, filed Oct. 24, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,617,792, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 756,037, filed Jan. 5, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,515,435, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 145,313, filed Aug. 31, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,087. The disclosures of the prior applications are considered part of (and are incorporated by reference in) the disclosure of this application.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention describes improvements in a digital mirror stage lighting system. More specifically, the present invention describes techniques which are used to improved operation in the special environment produced by the digital mirror stage lighting system. [0003] Stage lighting systems have increased in compl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention describes a way to control a digital mirror device (DMD) and its associated operations. The control is completely digital and many operations are carried out entirely mathematically. The second control element is affected out entirely by a programmable gate array, which is a particularly preferred embodiment. The digital mirror has lost some light, which requires brighter and more power-intensive bulbs. The operation occurs to keep the heat of the bulb and ignition of the bulb from affecting the other subsystems. The great amount of heat has produced the need for advanced cooling techniques, but the digital mirror has specialized temperature requirements. A pulse-driven thermo-electric cooler is used and the pulse width to the cooler is changed to change the amount of cooling. Overall, this invention provides a way to control the DMD with advanced techniques and improved performance."

Problems solved by technology

Another aspect is that the digital mirror has loses a certain amount of light.

This has required brighter, and hence more power intensive, bulbs.

Images