Lighting Control Device

Abstract

To provide a lighting control device 30 with low latency.SOLUTION: When transmitting a control signal consisting of a plurality of universes 0, 1, 2, and 3 to a plurality of lighting devices 10, a lighting control device 30 makes the frequency of transmission of the signals of the second universes 1 and 3 consisting only of signals not used for the performance lower than the frequency of transmission of the signals of the first universes 0 and 2 that include signals used for the performance from among the plurality of universes 0, 1, 2, and 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention relates to a lighting control device that transmits a control signal that includes multiple universes. [Background technology]

[0002] Lighting systems for lighting effects are installed in TV studios and halls where stage performances are held. In such lighting systems, a dimmer console, which acts as a lighting control device, adjusts the illuminance and color of the light emitted by multiple lighting fixtures. The dimmer console is configured to communicate with lighting fixtures that comply with the DMX standard or the RDM standard, an extension of DMX, defined by ESTA (Entertainment Services and Technology Association), based on signals that comply with the standard.

[0003] The signal block of the above standard can control lighting devices with 512 channels. If you need to control more than 512 channels, you can use multiple "universes," which are 512-channel signal blocks. For example, using four universes makes it possible to control more than 2,000 channels.

[0004] However, signals (buckets) containing multiple universes generate a lot of communication traffic, and there was a risk that latency could cause disruptions to the production. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-34258 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] An embodiment of the present invention aims to provide a lighting control device with low latency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In an embodiment of the lighting control device of the present invention, when transmitting control signals consisting of multiple universes to multiple lighting devices, the frequency of transmitting signals from a second universe consisting only of signals not used in the performance is lower than the frequency of transmitting signals from a first universe containing signals used in the performance. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a lighting control device with low latency can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram of a lighting system having a lighting control device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a control signal transmitted by a lighting control device. [Figure 3] 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating control signals transmitted by the lighting control device of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a control signal transmitted by a lighting control device according to a modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a control signal transmitted by a lighting control device according to a modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing the operating state of a lighting control device according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In an embodiment of the lighting control device of the present invention, when transmitting control signals consisting of multiple universes to multiple lighting devices, the frequency of transmitting signals from a second universe consisting only of signals not used in the performance is lower than the frequency of transmitting signals from a first universe containing signals used in the performance.

[0011] The second universe does not include the channel on which the lighting device is configured.

[0012] The lighting control device does not transmit signals from the second universe.

[0013] Each of the plurality of lighting devices has a channel set in advance, and the lighting control device determines whether each of the plurality of universes is the first universe or the second universe by obtaining the channel set for each of the plurality of lighting devices.

[0014] The lighting control device transmits a signal with a level of 0% as the signal of the second universe.

[0015] The lighting control device transmits a signal of the second universe at a level of 0% at least once at the start of a performance.

[0016] The lighting control device transmits a signal of the second universe at a level of 0% during a performance.

[0017] The lighting control device can transmit a signal of the second universe with a level of 0% at any timing.

[0018] First Embodiment 1, lighting control device 30 of this embodiment, together with multiple lighting devices 10-1 to 10-N and multiple transmission devices 20-1 to 20-K, constitutes lighting system 1 (N and K are natural numbers). Hereinafter, each of lighting devices 10-1 to 10-N will be referred to as a lighting device 10. Similarly, each of transmission devices 20-1 to 20-K will be referred to as a transmission device 20. The types and numbers of lighting devices 10 and transmission devices 20 connected to lighting system 1 can be set arbitrarily.

[0019] In the lighting system 1, the lighting devices 10 can communicate with the transmission device 20 using a communication protocol conforming to the DMX standard or a communication protocol conforming to the RDM standard, which is an extension of DMX. The lighting devices 10 are connected to the transmission device 20 directly or via other lighting devices 10. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the lighting devices 10-1 to 10-3 are connected in series to the transmission device 20.

[0020] The lighting devices 10 have light sources such as LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), and perform lighting effects in studios, on stages, and the like by changing the control target in accordance with a control signal.

[0021] The transmission devices 20-1 to 20-K are connected to the lighting control device 30 via a wired or wireless network such as Ethernet (registered trademark) in a manner that allows communication with the lighting control device 30. The transmission device 20 is a connection terminal that is connected to one or more lighting devices 10 via a communication method conforming to the DMX standard or the RDM standard.

[0022] For example, the lighting control device 30 transmits a signal to the transmission device 20 using a broadcast protocol (Art-Nrt) that enables DMX signals and RDM standards to be used over Ethernet, or a multicast protocol (sACN).

[0023] Here, the transmission device 20 may be used as a long device called a baton that suspends the lighting devices 10, or may be fixed to the stage, or may be used in a movable state. Alternatively, the transmission device 20 may be a baton device that suspends the lighting devices 10 and can relay communication between the lighting devices 10 and the lighting control device 30.

[0024] The lighting control device 30 is a control device capable of communicating control information with the lighting devices 10, and is generally called a dimmer console or a control console. The lighting control device 30 outputs operation commands to the lighting devices 10 in response to fader operations by a user as control signals. The lighting control device 30 has a CPU 31, which is a controller that controls the output signals.

[0025] A user sets one or more channels for the lighting device 10 using the lighting control device 30, depending on the type and mode of the lighting device 10. The lighting device 10 changes the control target according to the control using the set channel.

[0026] The lighting device 10 controls the color of the light it emits, such as red, green, blue, cyan, and white (R: Red, G: Green, B: Blue, C: Cyan, and W: White), the illuminance (Intensity), the direction of the light (Moving), and so on.

[0027] In the lighting device 10, a different channel is set for each control object, and when the lighting device 10 receives a control signal indicating the channel set in the lighting device 10, the lighting device 10 changes the control object indicated by that channel in accordance with the received control signal.

[0028] For example, for lighting device 10-1, a channel is set for each of five control objects, namely color (RGBC) and illuminance (I). For lighting device 10-2, a channel is set for each of four control objects, namely color (RGB) and movement (M). For lighting device 10-3, a channel is set for each of six control objects, namely color (RGBW), illuminance (I), and movement (M).

[0029] For example, a start address of "1" is set for the lighting device 10-1 in correspondence with its own device identification information "UID1" [0]. The lighting device 10-1 sets five consecutive channels starting from the start address "1," i.e., channels "1" to "5," as the channels for each control object. For example, a start address of "6" is set for the lighting device 10-2 in correspondence with its own device identification information "UID2." The lighting device 10-2 uses four consecutive channels starting from the start address "6," i.e., channels "6" to "9," as the channels for each control object. For example, a start address of "10" is set for the lighting device 10-3 in correspondence with its own device identification information "UID3." The lighting device 10-3 uses six consecutive channels starting from the start address "10," i.e., channels "10" to "15," as the channels for each control object. Similarly, the other lighting devices 10 also set channels for each control object.

[0030] In communication protocols based on the DMX or RDM standards, 512 channel control signals are repeatedly transmitted as one packet. This communication protocol uses one start bit and two stop bits, and the data is little-endian. At the beginning of the packet there is a break signal of at least 88 microseconds, followed by a "Mark After Break" (MAB) of at least 8 microseconds. The break signal notifies the receiver that data will follow. The first slot is a "start code" that indicates the type of data that will follow.

[0031] When lighting control device 30 receives an operation command for lighting devices 10 from a user, lighting devices 10-1 to 10-N generate control information including the assigned channel information and transmit the control information to transmission devices 20-1 to 20-K. Transmission devices 20-1 to 20-K convert the control information into a control signal (e.g., a dimming signal) that complies with the standard, and output the control signal to lighting devices 10 indicated by the channel. In this way, lighting control device 30 remotely controls lighting devices 10-1 to 10-N using channels that have been set in advance for lighting devices 10-1 to 10-N.

[0032] As already explained, in communication protocols based on the DMX or RDM standards, if control of more than 512 channels is required, multiple "universes" each containing control signals for 512 channels are used. For example, as shown in Figure 2, a lighting control device repeatedly transmits four universes 0, 1, 2, and 3 as one packet.

[0033] Here, universes 0, 1, 2, and 3 do not necessarily have channels on which lighting devices 10 are set. For example, universes 0 and 2 may have channels on which lighting devices 10 are set, but universes 1 and 3 may not have lighting devices 10 used for performance set on any of the 512 channels.

[0034] Hereinafter, a universe including a channel to which the lighting devices 10 used in the performance are set will be referred to as the "first universe," and an unnecessary universe not including a channel to which the lighting devices 10 used in the performance are set will be referred to as the "second universe." In other words, the first universe includes signals used in the performance, and the second universe consists only of unnecessary signals not used in the performance. Whether a universe is the first universe or the second universe may be determined and set by the user, or, for example, may be determined by the CPU 31.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 3, when the lighting control device 30 of this embodiment transmits control signals consisting of multiple universes to multiple lighting devices 10 under the control of the CPU 31, it repeatedly transmits signals from the first universes 0 and 2, which contain signals used for performance, as one bucket, and does not transmit signals from the second universes 1 and 3, which consist only of signals not used for performance.

[0036] The lighting control device 30 has smaller communication traffic and therefore smaller latency than conventional lighting control devices that repeatedly transmit four universes 0, 1, 2, and 3 as one packet. Note that if the time required to transmit one packet is 20 ms or less, the latency will not interfere with the performance.

[0037] <Modification of the first embodiment> The lighting control device 30A of the modified example of the first embodiment is similar to the lighting control device 30 of the modified example of the first embodiment and has the same effects. Therefore, components with the same functions are given the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0038] The lighting system 1 is used for various performances. Different lighting devices 10 are used depending on the performance. Furthermore, various patterns of performances are often tested to determine the performance. For this reason, when the performance starts, lighting devices 10 that are not used in the performance may be set to a channel and remain lit, resulting in so-called "leftover" lighting devices.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 4, in the lighting control device 30A of this modification, under the control of the CPU 31, at the start of a performance, signals with 0% levels for all set channels are transmitted as signals for the second universes 1A and 3A, in which only the lighting devices 10 not used in the performance are set as channels. A signal with a level of 0% is a signal that is turned off by fader operation. The signals for universes 1A and 3A are signals of the second universe consisting of signals not used in the performance.

[0040] In consideration of the occurrence of communication errors, it is preferable to repeatedly transmit universes 1A and 3A with a level of 0% multiple times. For example, at the start of a performance, the lighting control device 30A transmits a packet consisting of universes A, 1A, C, and 3A for several cycles, and thereafter repeatedly transmits only the packet consisting of universes 0 and 2 containing the control signals used in the performance.

[0041] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the lighting control device 30A may take into consideration the lighting of lighting devices 10 not used in the performance due to a communication error occurring during the performance, and may transmit a packet consisting of universes 0 and 2 multiple times during the performance, while occasionally transmitting a packet consisting of universes 0, 1A, 2, and 3A.

[0042] Furthermore, the lighting control device 30A may be configured to be able to transmit the second universes 1A and 3A with a level of 0% at any timing in response to a user operation.

[0043] The lighting control device 30A of this modified example transmits signals from a second universe consisting only of signals not used for performance, but the frequency of transmission of signals from the second universe is lower than the frequency of transmission of signals from the first universe, which includes signals used for performance.

[0044] Therefore, the lighting control device 30A can perform control with low latency while preventing the occurrence of "undisappeared light."

[0045] Second Embodiment The lighting control device 30B of this modified embodiment is similar to the lighting control device 30 of the first embodiment and has the same effects. Therefore, components with the same functions are given the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0046] If the communication protocol used is a protocol that allows two-way communication, such as a communication protocol conforming to the RDM standard, the lighting control device 30B can acquire information from multiple lighting devices 10.

[0047] In a large-scale lighting system, it is cumbersome to set the channels of multiple lighting devices 10 each time depending on the performance. For this reason, there are cases where channels are set in advance for each of the multiple lighting devices 10.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 6, if a channel is set in advance for each of the plurality of lighting devices 10 (step S10) (YES), then (step S20) the lighting control device 30B acquires information about the channel set for each of the plurality of lighting devices 10.

[0049] Then (step S30), the CPU 31 of the lighting control device 30B determines whether each of the multiple universes is a first universe that includes the channels of the lighting devices used in the performance, or a second universe that does not include the channels of the lighting devices used in the performance.

[0050] (Step S40) The lighting control device 30 transmits only the signals of the first universe including the signals used for the performance. Then, (Step S50) the signal transmission in Step S40 is repeated until the performance ends (YES).

[0051] Lighting control device 30B does not require setting a channel corresponding to lighting device 10 by lighting control device 30B, and is capable of control with small latency.

[0052] If (step S10) channels have not been set in advance for each of the plurality of lighting devices 10 (NO), (step S60) channels are set for the plurality of lighting devices 10 using the lighting control device 30.

[0053] It goes without saying that the lighting control device 30B, like the lighting control device 30A, can prevent "leftovers" from occurring by occasionally sending signals with all levels at 0% at the start of or during the performance as control signals for the second universe, which does not include the channels of the lighting devices used in the performance.

[0054] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1. Lighting System 10...Lighting equipment 20 Transmission equipment 30, 30A, 30B... Lighting control device

Claims

1. A lighting control device that, when transmitting control signals consisting of a plurality of universes to a plurality of lighting devices, transmits signals of a second universe consisting only of signals not used in the performance less frequently than a signal transmission frequency of a first universe including signals used in the performance, among the plurality of universes, In the plurality of lighting devices, respective channels are set in advance, A lighting control device characterized in that it determines whether each of the plurality of universes is the first universe or the second universe by obtaining the channels set for each of the plurality of lighting devices.

2. The lighting control device according to claim 1 , wherein a signal having a level of 0% is transmitted as the second universe signal.

3. 3. The lighting control device according to claim 2, wherein a signal of the second universe with a level of 0% is transmitted at least once at the start of a performance.

4. The lighting control device according to claim 3, characterized in that during a performance, a signal of the second universe at a level of 0% is transmitted.

5. 3. The lighting control device according to claim 2, wherein a signal of the second universe with a level of 0% can be transmitted at any timing.

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