Mesh Network Stage-Light Synchronization With Delay Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional stage lights controlled by DMX unidirectional communication or 5G protocols face synchronization issues due to signal delays and lack of feedback mechanisms, leading to desynchronization during performances.
Innovation Solution
A Mesh network-based synchronization system is implemented, where stage lights form a local area network with a master node and tree-shaped topological structure, allowing for time synchronization and delayed start commands to ensure synchronized show performance, with power failure recovery and independent group operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If DMX unidirectional communication protocol is used to control stage lights, then the control system is simple, but the console cannot know the status of each light and automatic adjustment for synchronization cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where stage lights transmit their status and timing information back to the console through the Mesh network. This allows the console to monitor actual light status and timing deviations, enabling automatic adjustment and compensation to maintain synchronization, thereby resolving the contradiction between simple control and reliable synchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a Mesh network as an intermediary communication layer between the console and stage lights. This intermediary enables bidirectional communication, allowing both control commands from the console and status feedback from lights, thus achieving reliable synchronization without significantly increasing control system complexity.
2Ease of operation
If 5G communication is used to control stage lights, then wireless control is achieved, but communication delay is high and synchronization among multiple stage lights is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication network into a local Mesh network among stage lights and a separate control link from the console. The Mesh network handles time-sensitive synchronization commands with direct peer-to-peer communication, avoiding the high delay of cellular networks, while still maintaining wireless ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the Mesh network as an intermediary for time-critical communications between stage lights. This intermediary provides low-latency direct communication for synchronization, while the console can still wirelessly control lights through the Mesh network, balancing ease of operation with low communication delay.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional unidirectional control is used, then the system is easy to implement, but signal delays cause stage lights to be out of synchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary timing calculations where the console calculates and compensates for transmission delays before sending control commands. The system预先 determines the optimal timing for each light based on its position in the Mesh network, ensuring synchronized operation while maintaining ease of implementation through automated delay compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback from stage lights about their actual timing and status to enable the console to calculate and compensate for signal delays. This feedback loop allows the system to maintain high synchronization precision while keeping the implementation relatively simple through automated delay adjustment algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
A Mesh network-based synchronization system includes a plurality of stage lights and a controller for controlling the stage lights, each of the stage lights having an ad hoc network module. A LAN is established based on the Mesh technology among several stage lights by the controller under the help of the ad hoc network module, one stage light in the LAN acts as a master node, the remaining stage lights forms at least one tree-shaped network topological structure connected to the master node, and some stage lights are selected to form a group. Subsequent to time synchronization of the stage lights in the group, delay time of each stage light relative to the master node is respectively calculated according to the layer level, the master node sends a start command in advance of the corresponding delay time to the respective stage light to synchronously display a show.