GB2370794A - Music-activated lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

A music-activated lighting system 1 comprises at least one array of lights 2, the or each array including seven different coloured lights 2A to 2G equal to or approximating to the seven main visible colours of the spectrum. A sensor 3 senses at least one group of seven musical notes from a source of music and turns on a different one of the coloured lights for each of the musical notes sensed by the sensor. Sensor 3 may have a microphone 4, a pre-amplifier 5 and seven filters 6A to 6G. Provision may be made for sharp and flat notes by activating both lights corresponding to the musical notes either side of the sharp or flat note. The brightness of the light and intensity of the colour may be varied in response to the volume and pitch of the note respectively.

Description

Title: Music-activated lighting system The present invention relates to a music-activated lighting system.

Music-activated lighting systems are known in which lights are flashed in accordance with the rhythm of the music or to a pre-programmed sequence.

The invention seeks to provide a music-activated lighting system in which lights are illuminated by musical notes.

According to the present invention there is provided a music-activated lighting system comprising at least one array of lights, the or each array including seven different coloured lights equal to or approximating to the seven primary colours, and a sensor to sense at least one group of seven musical notes from a source of music and to turn on a different one of said coloured lights for each of said musical notes sensed by said sensor.

Preferably said seven notes represent the primary musical notes C to B.

Preferably the note C illuminates a red light, note D illuminates an orange light, note E illuminates a yellow light, note F illuminates a green light, note G illuminates a blue light, note A illuminates an indigo light, and note B illuminates a violet light.

The sensor may sense musical notes between the primary notes such as sharps and flats, and the sensor may turn on both lights relating to the primary notes either side of the sharp or flat.

The sensor may also sense the volume of the source of music and vary the brightness of the lights according to the volume.

The primary notes C to B may be the middle C to B octave. The sensor may also sense notes C to B in different octaves and the lights illuminated may have different intensity of colours to those illuminated by the middle C octave.

The sensor may include a series of filters which sense the different notes and each activate a separate switch to illuminate a light.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing showing a schematic circuit diagram.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a music-activated lighting system 1. The system has one array 2 of seven different coloured lights 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G equal to or approximating to the seven primary colours, namely red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

A sensor 3 is provided to sense one group of seven musical notes from a source of music and to turn on a different one of said coloured lights for each of said musical notes sensed by said sensor. Sensor 3 includes a microphone 4, a pre-amplifier 5, and seven frequency filter switches 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E, 6F, 6G. Each filter switch 6A to 6G is respectively connected to coloured light 2A to 2G.

Each filter switch 6A to 6G is adapted to sense respectively one note from the primary musical notes C to B in the middle C octave.

In use, the microphone 4 picks up sound from a source of music and the output is amplified by pre-amplifier 5. Any one filter switch is activated by one of the notes C to B picked up by the microphone. Thus the note C illuminates a red light, note D illuminates an orange light, note E illuminates a yellow light, note F illuminates a green light, note G illuminates a blue light, note A illuminates an indigo light, and note B illuminates a violet light.

The array 2 of lights gives an interesting visual picture of the music being played. It is thought that there is a relationship between the seven colours and the notes C to B as shown which also enhances the enjoyment of the music as well as creating a visual picture.

The invention described in the drawing is fairly simple, but it could be much more sophisticated.

For example the sensor may sense musical notes between the primary notes such as sharps and flats and turn on both lights relating to the primary notes either side of the sharp or flat. For example if the sensor sensed a C# (or indeed a half semitone either side of it) it would turn on both the red light 2A relating to note C and the orange light 2B relating to note D. If desired both lights 2A, 2B could be put on at a reduced intensity.

The sensor may also sense the volume of the source of music and vary the brightness of the lights according to the volume.

The primary notes C to B may be the middle C to B octave. The sensor may also sense notes C to B in different octaves, and the lights illuminated may have different intensity of colours to those illuminated by the middle C octave. For example the lower octaves could illuminate lights with a deeper colour shade and higher octaves could illuminate lights with a lighter colour shade.

More than one array of seven lights could be provided, e. g. one array for each octave.

Sounds with more than one note, e. g. a chord, may illuminate more than one light at a time.

The coloured lights may be generated by shining a white light through a coloured filter. The filter may be formed from a colour tinted plastic sheet or through a stained glass filter.

The lights may be focused on a white back drop or even onto a musician. Alternatively the lights could be viewed directly, e. g. in the form of a lighting board. The lights could be static or moving (e. g. revolving). The lights could be generated by lasers such as moving lasers. The lights could be focused apart or together, and may be blended to create other colours.

Instead of a microphone, the sensor may be connected via a hard wire to a source of music, e. g. directly to a sound mixer or the output of an electric instrument.

The music-activated lighting system may have applications for use with live music, theatre, discos, dance halls, and home hi-fi systems or even displays like musical Christmas lights. It may also have applications for signage for point of sale, display and exhibition purposes. The system may also have application in providing therapy, relaxation or otherwise, e. g. to deaf or ill people.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (9)

1. CLAIMS 1. A music-activated lighting system comprising at least one array of lights, the or each array including seven different coloured lights equal to or approximating to the seven primary colours of the spectrum, and a sensor to sense at least one group of seven musical notes from a source of music and to turn on a different one of said coloured lights for each of said musical notes sensed by said sensor.
2. 2. A music-activated lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the seven notes represent the primary musical notes C to B.
3. 3. A music-activated lighting system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the note C illuminates a red light, note D illuminates an orange light, note E illuminates a yellow light, note F illuminates a green light, note G illuminates a blue light, note A illuminates an indigo light, and note B illuminates a violet light.
4. 4. A music-activated lighting system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the sensor may sense musical notes between the primary notes such as sharps and flats, and the sensor may turn on both lights relating to the primary notes either side of the sharp or flat.
5. 5. A music-activated lighting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the sensor senses the volume of the source of music and vary the brightness of the lights according to volume.
6. 6. A music-activated lighting system according to claim 2, wherein the primary notes C to B may be the middle C to B octave.
7. 7. A music-activated lighting system according to claim 6, wherein the sensor senses notes C to B in different octaves and the lights illuminated have different intensity of colours to those illuminated by the middle C octave.
8. 8. A music-activated lighting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the sensor includes a series of filters which sense the different notes and each activate a separate switch to illuminate a light.
9. 9. A music-activated lighting system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.