# US 10,678,220 B2 · Follow spot control system

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- Number: US 10,678,220 B2
- Document ID: US10678220B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/004,223
- Filed: 2018-06-08
- Published: 2018-10-11
- Granted: 2020-06-09
- Earliest claimed: 2017-04-03
- Assignees: Robe Lighting s.r.o.
- Applicants: Robe Lighting s.r.o.
- Inventors: Martin Farnik; Pavel Jurik; Josef Valchar; Jindrich Vavrik; Jiri Zatopek
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10678220B2

## CPC

- G05B 19/416: characterised by control of velocity, acceleration or deceleration (G05B19/19 takes precedence)
- F21V 21/15: specially adapted for power operation, e.g. by remote control
- H05B 47/125: by using cameras
- F21W 2131/406: for theatres, stages or film studios
- G05B 2219/36447: Project light on path to be followed, keep also distance constant
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS

## Abstract

A follow spot controller and method are provided that store first and second sets of individual pan and tilt parameters for each of a plurality of automated luminaires and calibrate a 3-D model of a surface of a performance area and location and mounting orientations of the automated luminaires relative to the performance area, based on the stored sets of individual pan and tilt parameters. A physical orientation of the follow spot controller is sensed and operator pan and tilt parameters are sent to one of the automated luminaires. The operator pan and tilt parameters are based on the physical orientation of the follow spot controller. Individual calculated pan and tilt parameters are sent to each of the other automated luminaires. The individual calculated pan and tilt parameters are based on the operator pan and tilt parameters and the 3-D model.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A follow spot control system, comprising:
a memory;
a processor electrically coupled to the memory and configured to execute instructions received from the memory;
a mounting mechanism configured to mount a follow spot controller for motion in at least pan and tilt axes of movement; and
a communication interface electrically coupled to the processor, the communication interface configured to communicate with a plurality of automated luminaires,
wherein the processor is further configured to:
store in the memory first and second sets of individual pan and tilt parameters for each of the plurality of automated luminaires;
calibrate individual locations and mounting orientations of the plurality of automated luminaires relative to a surface of a performance area in a three-dimensional (3-D) model of (i) the surface of the performance area and (ii) the individual locations and mounting orientations of the plurality of automated luminaires relative to the performance area, where the individual locations and mounting orientations of the plurality of automated luminaires are calibrated based on the stored first and second sets of individual pan and tilt parameters;
sense a change in a physical orientation of the mounting mechanism in the at least pan and tilt axes of movement,
send operator pan and tilt parameters to a first automated luminaire of the plurality of automated luminaires via the communication interface, the operator pan and tilt parameters based on the sensed change in the physical orientation of the mounting mechanism in the at least pan and tilt axes of movement, and
send individual calculated pan and tilt parameters to each of the remainder of the plurality of automated luminaires via the communication interface, the individual calculated pan and tilt parameters based on (i) the operator pan and tilt parameters of the first automated luminaire and (ii) the 3-D model.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The follow spot control system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:
store in the memory first and second sets of individual focus or size parameters associated respectively with the first and second sets of pan and tilt parameters for each of the plurality of automated luminaires;
calibrate the 3-D model based on the stored first and second sets of individual focus or size parameters;
send an operator focus or size parameter to the first automated luminaire of the plurality of automated luminaires via the communication interface, the operator focus or size parameter based on the 3-D model and the sensed change in the physical orientation of the mounting mechanism in the at least pan and tilt axes of movement, and
send individual calculated focus or size parameters to each of the remainder of the plurality of automated luminaires via the communication interface, the individual calculated focus or size parameters based on (i) the operator pan and tilt parameters of the first automated luminaire and (ii) the 3-D model.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The follow spot control system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:
store a third set of individual pan and tilt parameters for each of the plurality of automated luminaires; and
calibrate the 3-D model based on the stored third set of individual pan and tilt parameters.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The follow spot control system of claim 1, wherein the first set of individual pan and tilt parameters are configured to point the plurality of automated luminaires at a common first calibration region of a performance area and the second set of individual pan and tilt parameters are configured to point the plurality of automated luminaires at a second calibration region of the performance area.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The follow spot control system of claim 4, wherein the performance area is a horizontal surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The follow spot control system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:
receive a height control signal; and
send height-adjusted pan and tilt parameters to the plurality of automated luminaires via the communication interface, the height-adjusted pan and tilt parameters based on a target point of the plurality of automated luminaires, the 3-D model, and a value of the height control signal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The follow spot control system of claim 1, further comprising a display screen, wherein the processor is configured to:
display a representation of the performance area on the display screen;
determine from the operator pan and tilt parameters and the 3-D model a target point on the performance area; and
display a trace cursor on the display screen, the trace cursor indicating a location of the target point in the representation of the performance area.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The follow spot control system of claim 7, wherein the representation of the performance area is a live video image of the performance area.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The follow spot control system of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to:
receive information relating to current pan and tilt values for the plurality of automated luminaires;
calculate from the received current pan and tilt values and the 3-D model a representative position on the performance area; and
display a position cursor on the display screen, indicating a location of the representative position in the representation of the performance area.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The follow spot control system of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to receive the information relating to current pan and tilt values from the plurality of automated luminaires via the communication interface.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The follow spot control system of claim 1, further comprising a display screen, wherein the processor is configured to:
display a representation of the performance area on the display screen;
store in the memory a preset target point on the performance area; and
display an icon on the display screen, the icon indicating a location of the stored preset target point in the representation of the performance area.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The follow spot control system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to:
receive a control input selecting the preset target point; and
send individual calculated pan and tilt parameters to each of the plurality of automated luminaires via the communication interface, where the individual calculated pan and tilt parameters are based on the selected preset target point and the 3-D model.

### Claim 13

A method of controlling a plurality of automated luminaires, comprising:
storing in a memory first and second sets of individual pan and tilt parameters for each of the plurality of automated luminaires;
calibrating a three-dimensional (3-D) model of (i) a surface of a performance area and (ii) locations and mounting orientations of the plurality of automated luminaires relative to the performance area, where the calibration is based on the stored first and second sets of individual pan and tilt parameters;
sensing a change in physical orientation of a mounting mechanism in at least pan and tilt axes of movement, the mounting mechanism configured to mount a follow spot controller,
sending operator pan and tilt parameters to a first automated luminaire of the plurality of automated luminaires, the operator pan and tilt parameters based on the sensed change in the physical orientation of the mounting mechanism, and
sending individual calculated pan and tilt parameters to each of the remainder of the plurality of automated luminaires, the individual calculated pan and tilt parameters based on (i) the operator pan and tilt parameters of the first automated luminaire and (ii) the 3-D model.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising:
storing in the memory first and second sets of individual focus or size parameters associated respectively with the first and second sets of pan and tilt parameters for each of the plurality of automated luminaires;
calibrating the 3-D model based on the stored first and second sets of individual focus or size parameters;
sending an operator focus or size parameter to the first automated luminaire of the plurality of automated luminaires, the operator focus or size parameter based on the sensed change in the physical orientation of the mounting mechanism and the 3-D model, and
sending individual calculated focus or size parameters to each of the remainder of the plurality of automated luminaires via a communication interface, the individual calculated focus or size parameters based on (i) the operator pan and tilt parameters of the first automated luminaire and (ii) the 3-D model.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising:
receiving a height control signal; and
sending height-adjusted pan and tilt parameters to the plurality of automated luminaires, the height-adjusted pan and tilt parameters based on a target point of the plurality of automated luminaires, the 3-D model, and a value of the height control signal.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising:
displaying a representation of the performance area on a display screen;
determining from the operator pan and tilt parameters and the 3-D model a target point on the performance area; and
displaying a trace cursor on the display screen, the trace cursor indicating a location of the target point in the representation of the performance area.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising:
receiving information relating to current pan and tilt values for the plurality of automated luminaires;
calculating from the received current pan and tilt values and the 3-D model a representative position on the performance area; and
displaying a position cursor on the display screen, indicating a location of the representative position in the representation of the performance area.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the information relating to current pan and tilt values is received from the plurality of automated luminaires.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising:
displaying a representation of the performance area on a display screen;
storing in the memory a preset target point on the performance area; and
displaying an icon on the display screen, the icon indicating a location of the stored preset target point in a representation of the performance area.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, further comprising:
receiving a control input selecting the preset target point; and
sending individual calculated pan and tilt parameters to each of the plurality of automated luminaires, where the individual calculated pan and tilt parameters are based on the selected preset target point and the 3-D model.