Systems and methods for controlling the position of a moving light fixture

A method of controlling a position of a moving light fixture, the moving light fixture including one or more light sources disposed within a housing, a motor operably coupled to the housing such that the motor rotates the housing about an axis of rotation, and an indexer configured to rotate in conjunction with the housing along the axis of rotation, the method comprising:

• receiving a target position for the moving light fixture,
• determining, with an electronic controller and based on a first signal from a magnetic position encoder, an angular position of the housing about the axis of rotation, the angular position having a first resolution,
• determining, with the electronic controller and based on a second signal from an optical sensor, a position of the indexer having a second resolution greater than the first resolution and corresponding to the angular position of the housing about the axis of rotation,
• determining, with the electronic controller, a current position of the housing based on the angular position of the housing about the axis of rotation and the position of the indexer, and
• driving, with the electronic controller, the motor to move the housing from the current position to the target position.

A moving light fixture comprising:

• a housing;
• one or more light sources disposed within the housing;
• a motor operably coupled to the housing such that the motor rotates the housing about an axis of rotation;
• an indexer configured to rotate in conjunction with the housing along the axis of rotation;
• a magnetic position encoder configured to transmit a first position signal indicating an angular position of the housing about the axis of rotation;
• an optical sensor configured to transmit a second position signal indicating a position of the indexer about the axis of rotation;
• and
• an electronic controller connected to the motor, the magnetic position encoder, and the optical sensor, the electronic controller configured to:
• receive a target position for the moving light fixture,
• determine the angular position of the housing about the axis of rotation based on the first position signal, the angular position of the housing having a first resolution,
• determine full step of the motor based on the angular position of the housing,
• determine a position of the indexer corresponding to the angular position of the housing and based on the second position signal, the position of the indexer having a second resolution greater than the first resolution,
• determine a micro step of the motor based on the position of the indexer,
• determine a current position of the housing based on the full step of the motor and the micro step of the motor, and
• drive the motor to move the housing from the current position to the target position.