Lighting Console Servo Control via Ambient Noise Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional 'move in black' methods for controlling lighting systems can cause acoustic disturbances due to motor noise during low ambient volumes, disrupting stage shows.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses a microphone to measure ambient noise levels, adjusting the movement of lighting devices' servomotors only when the noise is sufficiently high to avoid disturbances, ensuring servomotors are activated before the next lighting position is needed, and allowing for program-controlled lighting effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lighting device is moved using servomotors in the conventional 'move in black' method, then the lighting device can be repositioned to different positions, but acoustic disturbances occur due to motor noise during low ambient volume
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a microphone to continuously monitor ambient noise levels and feeds this information back to the control desk. The processor compares the measured ambient volume against threshold values to dynamically determine whether servomotor movements should proceed, creating a closed-loop feedback system that adapts to acoustic conditions in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operation of servomotors based on measured ambient noise levels. Instead of fixed movement schedules, the system makes real-time decisions about whether to activate servomotors based on current acoustic conditions, making the lighting system adaptive and flexible rather than static.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If servomotors are only activated when ambient noise exceeds a threshold, then acoustic disturbances are minimized, but lighting device positioning may be delayed if the threshold is never reached
Solution Approach 1:
The system activates servomotors in advance of the actual lighting change requirement. By calculating the travel time needed for servomotors to reach their target positions, the system triggers movements earlier than strictly necessary from a lighting perspective, creating a buffer that ensures positioning is complete before the lighting change is needed, regardless of acoustic conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically balances acoustic considerations against lighting program requirements by adjusting servomotor activation timing. When ambient noise is low, movements are delayed until thresholds are exceeded. When timing constraints would be violated, the system overrides acoustic restrictions to ensure reliable lighting program fulfillment, creating a dynamic priority system.
3Productivity
If the lighting device is moved before switching off the light source, then the movement can be completed, but the moving light effect is perceived by the viewer
Solution Approach 1:
The system switches off the light source before initiating servomotor movements. By reversing the conventional sequence and turning off the lights in advance of the movement, the system ensures that any subsequent motor-driven repositioning occurs in darkness, preventing viewers from perceiving the movement as a moving light effect.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively minimizes acoustic disturbances during quiet moments while maintaining lighting effects by synchronizing motor movements with ambient noise levels, ensuring smooth performance without compromising the lighting program.
Implementation Method 1
a microphone is connected to the lighting control desk in order to measure an ambient noise level in the auditorium
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling a lighting system with a lighting adjusting console, wherein digital control commands are generated in the lighting adjusting console and are transmitted via data links to a lighting device of the lighting system, wherein a lighting effect can be generated in each case by a control of the lighting devices, and wherein at least one adjustable lighting device can be adjusted by at least one adjuster motor to allow the lighting device to approach the various positions for the lighting device, the method comprising the following method steps: a) software-controlled switching off of the adjustable lighting device, so that no lighting effect is produced by the lighting device; b) software-controlled drive of the adjuster motor to shift the lighting device to the next predetermined position thereof; c) software-controlled switching on of the lighting device to generate a lighting effect in the position shifted to; wherein the ambient volume is measured with a microphone, wherein the lighting devices are adjusted by driving with the allocated adjuster motor as a function of the ambient volume measured.