Lighting Controller Synchronization with Music Playback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting control systems struggle to maintain synchronization between music piece reproduction and lighting control, especially during special reproductions or unplanned operations, leading to temporal mismatches and impaired stage effects.

Innovation Solution

A sound responsive lighting system that includes a music piece reproduction apparatus, a lighting fixture, and a lighting controller with an information acquisition unit, lighting control unit, and operation interlock control unit, which analyze music piece data, generate lighting control data, and adjust lighting control in real-time to match music piece reproduction changes, using DMX512 standard for synchronization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If lighting control data is generated in advance and allocated to music blocks, then lighting can be automatically matched with music piece, but synchronization is lost during special reproduction operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic lighting controlVSAvoidsynchronization accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting control system transitions from static pre-generated control data to dynamic real-time control. The lighting controller continuously monitors the current reproduction position of the music piece and dynamically adjusts lighting control data during playback, especially during special reproduction operations like scratching, to maintain synchronization between lighting effects and music blocks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by detecting the current reproduction position of the music piece during playback and using this information to adjust lighting control data. The lighting controller receives feedback about playback position changes and modifies lighting effects accordingly, ensuring that lighting remains synchronized with the correct music blocks even when playback position shifts occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If dedicated lighting staff manipulates lighting device, then accurate stage effect is obtained, but cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting control accuracyVSAvoidoperational cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting control system performs self-service by automatically analyzing music piece data, detecting beat positions, identifying music blocks, and generating appropriate lighting control data without requiring dedicated lighting staff. The system uses the music playback position and pre-stored lighting effect information to autonomously control lighting effects, eliminating the need for expensive human operators while maintaining accurate stage effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If lighting control data is adjusted on site during special reproduction, then synchronization can be maintained, but timing setting becomes difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization maintenanceVSAvoidtiming adjustment difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical adjustment of lighting timing with automated electronic control. Instead of requiring operators to manually adjust lighting control data during special reproduction operations, the lighting controller automatically detects playback position changes and electronically adjusts lighting timing in real-time based on the current music reproduction position and pre-stored lighting effect information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3457817B1Illumination control device, illumination control method and illumination control program
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 ALPHATHETA CORP
  • EP3457817B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3457817B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3457817B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A device includes: an information acquisition unit (31) configured to obtain music piece information containing at least information on a beat position in music piece data (11); a lighting control unit (34) configured to control a lighting fixture (20) with reference to a change point of a lighting effect, whose minimum unit is defined by the beat position; and an operation interlock control unit (39) configured to apply, in response to an operation performed on a music piece reproduction apparatus (10) configured to reproduce the music piece data (11) or a music piece reproduction controller (19) configured to control the music piece reproduction apparatus (10), the lighting effect corresponding to the operation to the control of the lighting fixture (20).