Intelligent Lighting System
OwnerMark Hopperton, Michael Robert Hidockinventors
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Abstract
An intelligent lighting system provides synchronization for lighting units having light emitting diodes within a flexible, light transmissive structure in connection with receiving lighting commands from a remote DMX controller. The system includes lighting units, a microcontroller and a receiver for wirelessly receiving the commands from the DMX controller. A process is implemented to achieve lighting unit execution synchronization as a result of calculating more accurate delay times, by an iterative method, in connection with executing DMX commands.
Claims21
A lighting fixture comprising;
- a plurality of lighting units within a sleeve, said sleeve at being capable of allowing, at least some, light to pass therethrough;
- a processor within said sleeve;
- a communications receiver;
- an antenna connected to the processor;
- a memory connected to the processor;
- a timing unit connected to the processor;
- and
- a battery, being at least capable of powering the plurality of light sources.
A method for synchronizing lighting among a plurality of lighting units, comprising:
- a. wirelessly receiving from a transmitter, a command containing an internal clock time corresponding to the time of transmission, of the command, from the transmitter;
- b. designating the arrival time of the command as the time of receipt, of the command, at the lighting fixture;
- c. designating a calculated time differential as the difference between the time of arrival of the command and the time of transmission, from the transmitter, of the command;
- d. determining whether the calculated time differential is less than the current time differential;
- e. updating the current time differential with the value of the calculated time differential if the calculated time differential is less than the current time differential;
- and
- f. executing the command in connection with calculating an end of a window of time during which commands are to be received from the transmitter.
A lighting fixture comprising;
- a plurality of lighting units within a noodle, said noodle being capable of allowing, at least some, light to pass therethrough;
- a processor within said noodle;
- a communications receiver;
- an antenna connected to the processor;
- a memory connected to the processor;
- a timing unit connected to the processor;
- means for synchronizing the operation of the plurality of lighting units;
- and
- a battery, being at least capable of powering the plurality of light sources.
A computer-readable, non-transitory, programmable product, for use in conjunction with a DMX controller comprising code for causing a processor to do the following:
- receive from a transmitter, a command containing an internal clock time corresponding to the time of transmission, of the command, from the transmitter;
- designate the arrival time of the command as the time of receipt, of the command, at the lighting fixture;
- designate a calculated time differential as the difference between the time of arrival of the command and the time of transmission, from the transmitter, of the command;
- determine whether the calculated time differential is less than the current time differential;
- update the current time differential with the value of the calculated time differential if the calculated time differential is less than the current time differential;
- and
- execute the command in connection with calculating an end of a window of time during which commands are to be received from the transmitter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.