WO2009069070A1

WO2009069070A1 - Method and device for the programming of dynamic light scenarios

Info

Publication number: WO2009069070A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/054932
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kristina Sevo
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2007-11-28
Filing date: 2008-11-25
Publication date: 2009-06-04
Also published as: TW200939878A

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for programming dynamic light scenarios in order to controlatleast two light sources (52, 53, 54) of different colours wherein a dynamic sequence of light colour to be obtained is graphically input through a user interface (31) versus a time axis (32) wherein this dynamic sequence of lightcolour is then fractionedas a sequence of static individual scenarios wherein the individual scenarios are fractioned, respectively, in the colours of the light sources (52, 53, 54) intended to be controlled, wherein luminosity and lighting period values are associated to the various colours according to each individual scenario wherein a control sequence is generated for each scenario and wherein the controlsequences to obtain are converted, one after another, by a program allowing several colour sources (52, 53, 54) or groups of colour sources (52, 53, 54) to be controlled by a controlunit (4). Moreover, the invention concerns a device for programming dynamic light scenarios to control at least two light sources (52, 53, 53) of different colours, comprising an input module (1) that is coupled to a user interface (31) graphically generated by a calculation unit (2), characterized in that the user interface (31) is set so as to get a graphical input of a dynamic sequence of light colour to obtain, versus a time axis (32), graphically represented, and characterized in that a converter module is set to produce a control program according to the above mentioned method.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE PROGRAMMING OF DYNAMIC LIGHT SCENARIOS

The invention concerns a method for programming dynamic light scenarios in order to control at least two light sources of different colours. Moreover, the invention concerns a device for the programming of dynamic light scenarios in order to control at least two colour light sources, comprising an input module that is coupled to a user interface graphically generated by a calculation unit.

To control lighting devices, for example for scene lighting, lighting programs are produced which are transferred to devices that control the corresponding lamps. Then the lamp control devices execute the lighting controls that are in the lighting programs. Such lighting controls comprise, for example, the following indications: what lamps to activate with what light intensity (dimming) , during what period. A digital control protocol that is common in stage or show techniques is the DMX protocol (digital multiplex). The DMX- protocol is used to control dimmers, "intelligent" spotlights and effects devices. As a supplementary protocol control, the "Digital Addressable Lighting Interface" (DALI) is used. Each service device provided with a DALI-interface may be individually controlled by DALI abbreviated addresses.

The programming of dynamic light scenarios is done by inputting the important lighting parameters under the form of digital data such as a lamp to be controlled, dimming of the lamps and illumination period. For this purpose, individual static light scenes are defined under the form of tables on which the said parameters have been memorized. Then, the various control tables (the scenes) are lined up one after another, generating the light scenario.

The disadvantage in known systems is that the dynamic light scenarios production often appears discontinuous because of the alignment of static scenes. This is faded by crossfade sequences interposition; however the dynamic flow embodiment of a light sequence requests considerable efforts. One reason among others is that the result of a programming can only happen when all the individual static scenes and their alignment have been defined. The dynamic light scenarios realisation often happens to be a "disjointed work".

The invention intends to solve this problem. The scope of the invention is to achieve a method for programming dynamic light scenarios enabling a comfortable and coherent scenarios programming. According to the invention, this task will be solved by the features of claim 1.

According to an alternative of the invention, a method for programming dynamic light scenarios enabling a comfortable and coherent scenarios programming has been achieved. Due to the graphical input oriented toward results of the desired light colour sequence versus a time axis, the input of a full light scenario may be done in a working step, taking into account the colour dynamic effects.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the fractioning of the individual sequences happens in the red, green and blue colours. This fractioning corresponds to the screen colours standard addition model to enable the use of standard components, such as, for example, graphics boards. According to an embodiment of the invention, the control sequences of individual sequences are memorized in a table. These kinds of tables are used in the present DMX-concepts in order to enable a simplified transfer of the control sequences made in the DMX-protocol.

The control sequences are preferably linked together by crossfade functions enabling the dynamic transfer of the individual scenes to be realised.

Moreover, the object of the invention is to achieve a device for programming dynamic light scenarios in order to control at least two light sources with different colours, this device allowing a comfortable and coherent scenarios programming. According to the invention, this problem is solved by the features of the characterizing part of claim 5. The invention enables to obtain a device for programming dynamic light scenarios in order to control at least two light sources with different colours, this device allowing a comfortable and coherent scenarios programming. The user interface is preferably shown on a TFT-, LED- or OLED-screen.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the user interface is set so as to graphically preview the sequence of an input light scenario versus a graphical time axis in the form of a time sequence. This allows a checking of the programming results.

In another embodiment of the invention, the time axis may be scaled. This enables the interface to fit the respective light scenarios requirements.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the time segment of individual sequences in which the light colour sequence is fractioned can be set. Thus, the fractioning "resolution" can be set in order to determine the ratio between the needed calculation effort resulting from the number of individual scenes to process and the result from the dynamic light scenario.

Other alternatives and embodiments of the invention are indicated in the remaining dependant claims. An example of embodiment of the invention is shown on the figures and will be further described in the following. The figures show:

Fig. 1 : the schematic representation of a device for programming dynamic light scenarios;

Fig. 2: the detail representation of the user interface in Fig. 1. and Fig. 3: the representation of a control program for controlling light sources in a

DALI format.

The device chosen as example of embodiment for programming dynamic light scenarios is mainly constituted of a calculation unit 2 linked to an input module as well as a screen 3. A control module 4 is coupled to the calculation unit 2 to control three light panels 5.

The calculation unit is made so as to provide a user interface 31 on screen 3. The user interface 31 is made as a graphical surface and may be controlled through the input module 1. In the example of embodiment, the input module 1 comprises a computer mouse which can be used to control the control elements 331, 34.

The graphical user interface 31 comprises a time axis 32 represented by lined up rectangular stripes that are digitally labelled at a distance of 2 minutes and 30 seconds (2: 30). Near to the time axis is an RGB field 33 laterally arranged which is provided with a colour slider 331. Due to the colour slider 331, colour scenarios may be "painted" versus the time axis 32; any colour mix being able to be represented. To this purpose, the colour bar RGB may be set as a "discrete" colour palette as well as a colour sequence graduation. Such representation possibilities are known in the state-of-art from various image programs. Moreover, the user interface 31 comprises a preview control 34. The preview control 34 comprises several standard (graphic) symbols for forwarding, rewarding, going to the beginning, going to the end, making a pause, playing and stop, enabling an intuitive control of the graphically input light scenario preview. In the framework of such a preview, the time axis 32 forms the time sequence of the colour compositions represented respectively on this axis. The scenario preview usually lasts 20 minutes. A preview scaling is advantageously foreseen which allows an accelerated viewing of a light scenario.

In order to fraction the colour sequence that is graphically represented in the individual sequences for controlling the light panel 5, the calculation unity 2 comprises a converter module 21. The colour light dynamic sequence fractioning occurs through the converter module 21 In a sequence of static individual scenes which are respectively fractioned in the colours of the light sources 52, 53, 54 to be controlled. In the example of embodiment, light sources of red light (52), green light (53), and blue light (54) are arranged . These colours are associated to luminosity values and lighting periods by the converter module 21, after which a control sequence is generated for each scene. The generated control sequences are then transferred in a line, one after another, in a control program according to the DALI control protocol.

The DALI program thus generated is then transferred to the control module 4 which enables to control the light panel 5. To that end, the light panels 5 are provided with a DALI interface, which enables to individually control the said light panels by using abbreviated addresses. Due to a bidirectional data exchange, the control device 4 made with the DALI interface can query the light sources status, respectively set the status.

The programming of a dynamic light scenario will be briefly represented in the following: the user "paints" the desired colour sequence along the time axis 32 on screen 3. For example, the desired effect can be a lighting which will take a yellow colour during a certain period of time, then fades, is converted to a blue colour and at last, stays in the blue colour. Colours on screen are a mix of the three primary colours, red, green and blue. Each colour of the colour spectrum may be generated using percentages of the three said primary colours. The desired colours, yellow and blue, in the present example, are listed below as follow:

The period of the desired effects is defined by the length of the individual intervals represented on the screen. In the present example, the following periods of time have been detected:

The colour lighting is constituted of three light panels 5 with the colours red, green and blue. By mixing the individual lamp lights, it is possible to produce all kinds of light colours. The colours mapped on the screen may be converted in light colours in different ways. Relative and linear mapping is a possibility. It is the simplest way, but it does not guarantee that the result will be the same as the configuration of colours painted on screen. As the colours on screen are more intense than the light colours, the chosen mapping can not be identically realised. A high percentage of colours on screen is converted into a high level of lamp light; a colour intensity of 80% on screen generates thus a light intensity of 100%.

To control each individual lamp, respectively each lamp group individually, each ballast corresponding to the DALI-protocol is provided with a separated address that may be controlled. In the present example, the following addressing of the three lamps 52, 53, 54 has been chosen:

Figure 3 is a representation of the control sequence of the said above light scenario with a DALI-Syntax. First of all, the command (full power) is executed at the address 1 (red lamp 52); the same command is executed at the address 2 (green lamp 53), address 3 (blue lamp 54) is switched off. This status is maintained during five minutes. The crossfade from yellow to blue is then realised in an interval of twenty minutes. In a loop made for this purpose, the address 1 (red lamp 52) and address 2 (green lamp 53) power is successively decreased; the address 3 (blue lamp 54) power is quasi increased . At the end of the loop, the status is maintained during 5 minutes. Then, the light sequence is over.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Method for programming dynamic light scenarios in order to control at least two light sources (52, 53, 54) of different colours wherein a dynamic sequence of light colour to be obtained is graphically input through a user interface (31) versus a time axis (32), wherein this dynamic sequence of light colour is then fractioned as a sequence of static individual scenarios, wherein the individual scenarios are fractioned, respectively, in the colours of the light sources (52, 53, 54) to be controlled, wherein the luminosity values and the illumination periods are associated to the various colours according to each individual scenario, wherein a control sequence is generated for each scenario and wherein the control sequences to obtain are converted, one after another, by a program allowing several colour sources (52, 53,

54) or groups of colour sources (52, 53, 54) to be controlled by a command unit (4).

2. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the fractioning of the individual sequences is made in red, green, and blue colours.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control sequences of the individual sequences are memorized in a table.

4. Method according to one of the above mentioned claims, characterized in that the control sequences are linked together by crossfade functions.

5. Device for the programming of dynamic light scenarios in order to control at least two light sources (52, 53, 53) of different colours, comprising an input module (1) that is coupled to a user interface (31) graphically generated by a calculation unit

(2), characterized in that the user interface (31) is set so as to get a graphical input of a dynamic sequence of light colour to obtain, versus a time axis (32), graphically represented, and characterized in that a converter module is set to produce a control program according to the above mentioned method.

6. Device for light sources controlling, intended to obtain light scenarios, comprising an input module (1) that is coupled to a user interface (31) graphically generated by a calculation unit (2) according to claim 5, and a control module (4), which is intended to separately control at least two light sources (52, 53, 54), groups of light sources (52, 53, 54) of different colours, respectively.

7. Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the user interface (31) is represented on a TFT-, LED-, or OLED-screen (3).

8. Device according to one of the claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the user interface (31) is set so as to be able to preview the input light scenario sequence versus a graphical time axis (32) under the form of a time sequence.

9. Device according to one of the claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the time axis (32) may be scaled.

10. Device according one of the claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the time segments of the individual sequences, into which the input light colour sequence is fractioned, may be set.