Wireless Dimmer with Digital Effects Engine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for creating lighting effects in theatrical and film sets require extensive control channels and programming effort, especially when aiming for random and independent effects, which can be cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a portable, battery-powered, radio-controlled wireless dimmer with a built-in digital effects engine allows for the creation of untethered props that can produce desired lighting effects with reduced cable and channel connections, using DMX control channels to set effect parameters rather than directly controlling lamp intensities, and employing random number generators to create independent and synchronized lighting effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traditional DMX-controlled dimmer devices are used to create lighting effects, then lighting effects can be produced, but the number of control channels required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple dimmer channels into a single integrated device. Each wireless dimmer unit integrates multiple dimmer channels (e.g., 4 channels per device) that can be controlled individually, allowing multiple light sources to be controlled with fewer total control channels. This merging reduces the overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to create complex lighting effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless dimmer devices are designed to be universally controllable through a single wireless controller, with each device capable of receiving and processing multiple DMX channels wirelessly. This multi-functional design allows one controller to manage multiple devices, each handling multiple channels, thereby reducing the total number of physical connections and control infrastructure needed.
2Reliability
If traditional wired dimmer devices are used, then reliable control is achieved, but installation complexity and cable requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wired connection system with a wireless communication system. The wireless dimmer devices communicate with the controller via radio frequency, eliminating the need for physical DMX cables connecting each dimmer to the controller. This substitution maintains control reliability through wireless protocol error handling while dramatically simplifying installation by removing cable routing and physical connection requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple individual dimmer devices are used to create independent lighting effects, then effect independence is achieved, but programming complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the lighting control into independent wireless dimmer units, each capable of receiving and processing its own set of DMX channels. This segmentation allows each device to operate independently with its own lighting effects while being part of a coordinated system. The wireless nature and individual channel processing reduce programming complexity compared to traditional wired systems where all channels must be sequentially assigned through a complex daisy-chain configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a system for controlling lighting effects. The system comprises a controller and one or more wireless dimmer devices with incorporated digital effects engine. The controller transmits wirelessly and effects parameters to the wireless dimmer devices. The dimmer devices receive the effects parameters, generate output effects parameters using the digital effects engine, and provide the output effects parameters to either dimmer output channels or DMX output channels. The digital effect engine comprises a low frequency oscillator and several random number generators. The random number generators may be used to modulate frequency of the low frequency oscillator and modulate a level of each dimmer output channel. The random number generators are configured to generate independent strings of pseudo-random numbers.