JPH02213095A - Dimmer control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure the easy input of data related to dimmer control and enhance the dignity of a lighting effect by setting the existence or non-existence of a fade via the use or non-use of a part capable of manual operation setting for each scene. CONSTITUTION:When a part number free to be manually set for each scene depending upon the set data of a memory part 4 is inputted from a control part 2b, a channel/part conversion circuit 22 converts an input channel to a part number. This part number is supplied to a part existence judgement circuit 23. In addition, the circuit 23 outputs a signal 1 corresponding to the existence of a fade when the part is in use. Arithmetic operation is thereby made by a dimming level arithmetic circuit 21 via fade arithmetic circuits F1 to FM, and manual data input is prohibited even for the next scene to a level data buffer 24 and an end level data buffer 25. According to the aforesaid construction, operation becomes easy without any complicate system for inputting dimmer control data change and fade control is smoothly made over the scenes, thereby enhancing lighting effect dignity.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention is a dimming system suitable for controlling the dimming of a plurality of lighting loads installed on stages such as theaters and halls, or in studios. Regarding a control device.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY Generally, on stages, studios, etc., a plurality of lighting loads are used to perform lighting effects, and they are divided into groups of predetermined lighting loads (hereinafter referred to as channels).
Each dimming level is centrally controlled in a control room or the like. There are two types of dimming 11nl II devices that perform dimming control such as setting lighting levels for multiple lighting loads and switching lighting levels for each scene to be produced (hereinafter referred to as a scene). method is used.

One of these, the manual type, has one stage of multiple preset faders corresponding to the multiple lighting loads that each scene has, and multiple stages of preset faders with dimming levels set for each scene. Each stage of the preset faders is manually cross-faded to transition from the current scene to the next scene, and to effect a scene change.

With the manual type, cross-fade control is performed for an entire scene at once, and some groups of lighting loads are set to separately set dimming levels to improve lighting effects, that is, lighting performance. Partial group control is also being implemented.

As described above, although the manual type improves performance, operations such as setting the dimming level for each scene, switching scenes, and grouping preset faders are complicated.

In the other memory type, the dimming level preset for each scene is stored in a storage means during rehearsals, etc., and during the actual performance, the stored contents are sequentially read out and dimming is performed based on the reproduced dimming level data. With such a memory type control, the trouble of manually performing the ti fF- is reduced.
Although it has excellent f'P operability due to the reduced I, it lacks performance as it only reproduces the lighting effect based on the initially set dimming level data. For this reason, like the manual type, when changing from the current scene to the next scene, the lighting load is divided into multiple groups and a cross-fade is performed for each group to improve the performance. has also been proposed.

Figure 2 shows general dimming II, which will also be referred to in the examples described later.
6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the Ia'l device, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the conventional configuration of the calculation unit 5.0 This is realized by dimming level setting means such as a plurality of preset faders and numeric keys (not shown). The input operation unit 3 is used to set the dimming level for each scene, to divide multiple lighting loads into the channels, to set the affiliation of each channel to the part, and to start dimming for the fade operation in the scene. Level, end dimming level, fade time, etc. are input, and these data are stored in a storage unit 4 realized by storage means such as random access memory (RAM).
is stored once.

The control unit 2 reads out the dimming data stored in the storage unit 4 for each scene, and sets the starting level LS1 to the calculation unit 5. The end level LDi, identification data j=c) (PARTi, fade time Tj, and fade progress time tj) are output.

The calculation section 5 calculates a dimming level based on the dimming data inputted for each scene, and provides it to the dimming level output section 6. The dimming level output section 6 is controlled by the control section 2, converts the dimming level data from digital to analog, and provides dimming control signals to the dimmers 7a to 7z, respectively. The R light devices 7a to 7z energize the lighting loads 8a to 8z based on the input dimming control signal to perform lighting drive and perform lighting effects.

FIG. 7 shows the structure of data related to dimming control stored in a memory implemented by a random access memory (RAM), for example, in the memory M4.
8 is a plurality of scenes 1 to scene L in which lighting effects are performed.
For example, the light control data for scene 1 has the configuration shown on the left side of FIG. 7. The light control data for scene 1 consists of light control level for each channel, data on the number assignment relationship of each channel to the part, and data on the fade time set for each part.

FIG. 10 is a pen diagram illustrating the affiliation relationship between channels and parts for one scene.

In one scene, multiple lighting loads are divided into multiple channels C) 11 to CH5 etc. which are controlled to the same dimming level, and each channel is divided into multiple parts 1 to 5 whose fade times are respectively set. 4. For each part 1 to part 4 divided in this way, the dimming level of the lighting load is controlled according to the fade time set for each part. The affiliation relationship of each channel to the part is based on the second
The input operation unit 3 shown in the figure is inputted in advance during a rehearsal or the like, and is stored in the storage unit 4.

Figure 6! In contrast, the calculation circuit 5a includes a dimming level calculation circuit 11, a channel/part conversion circuit 12, and a plurality of fade calculation circuits FJ (j=1 to M). The M control circuit 2a includes a buffer memory 13,
The light control data stored in the storage unit 4 is once stored for each scene.

The control circuit 2a transfers the start level data and end level data of the fade operation to the start level data buffer 14.
and the end level data buffer 15, respectively, to the dimming level calculation circuit 11. The l1lf control circuit 2a also sends the channel/part data to the channel/vert conversion circuit 12, and calculates the fade time T for each part j.
j and the fade progress time tj are respectively sent to the fade calculation circuit FJ (J=1 to M). The fade calculation circuit FJ calculates the fade progress degree Nj = t j/TJ from the input fade time Tj and fade progress time tj.
is calculated, and the fade progress degree Nj is sent to the dimming level calculation circuit 11 via the data selector 16.

From the control circuit 2a, a channel/vert conversion circuit 12,
Channel number data Di corresponding to each channel number L (i=f to N) is sequentially input to the start level data buffer 14 and the end level data buffer 15. The channel/vert conversion circuit 12 converts the input channel number 1 into data corresponding to the part number to which the channel belongs based on channel/vert data given in advance, and sends it to the decoder 17 and the data selector 16.
Send to.

The decoder 17 provides a selection signal Sj (j=1 to M) to each fade calculation circuit Fj based on data corresponding to the input part number.

As a result, the fade calculation circuit Fj to which the high-level selection signal is input is selected, and the fade progress data Nk=tk is obtained only from the corresponding fade calculation circuit Fk.
/'Tk is sent to the data selector 16. Further, by giving the part number data Dk corresponding to the part number k from the channel/vert conversion circuit 12 to the data selector 16, the data selector 16 calculates the fade progress Nk corresponding to the selected part number k by calculating the dimming level. The signal is sent to the circuit 11.

Further, from the control section 2, a timing signal is given to the channel/vert 'Rta circuit 12, the start level data buffer 14, the end level data buffer 15, and a plurality of fade calculation circuits Fj, and the dimming is controlled by this timing signal. The level calculation circuit 11 has dimming data LD.
Send i, LSi, Nk=tk/Tk. The dimming level calculation circuit 11 calculates the dimming level LNi shown in the following equation (f) based on the inputted dimming data.

k LNi=LSi+(LDi-LSi)...(1)
k FIG. 8 is a flowchart regarding conventional data setting before the start of each scene. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 8, in step rs1, the control section 2 reads out the dimming data stored in the storage section 4 in advance into the buffer memory 13.

In steps r12 to n5, the Ciao/minor number i is set to 1.
While incrementing from to N, the channel/vert data is stored in the channel/vert conversion circuit 12, and the dimming start level data and end level data are stored in the start level data buffer 14 and end level data buffer 15, respectively.

In step Ω4, it is determined whether the data setting in step n3 has been performed for all channel numbers i=1 to N, and when this determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step n6.

In steps n6 to n9, the channel number j is sequentially incremented from j=1 while the bart JK
Fade time Tj set to Fade progress time tj
is initially set to O, and a flag Pj is set for each fade calculation circuit Fj to indicate that the corresponding bar j is in the middle of a fade operation. In step n8, it is determined whether the data setting in step n7 has been performed for all bits j=1 to M, and if this determination is affirmative, the program regarding this data setting ends.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a process performed every fixed time period Δ regarding dimming control. Here, - constant time Δt is
For example, Δt is approximately 10 to 100 [m seconds]. In steps m1 to m7, the bart number j is
The resetting operation of the "fade flag P" is performed for each bart j while incrementing from =1 to j=M.

That is, in step m2, it is determined whether the flag Pj set in the fade calculation circuit Fj corresponding to part number j is 1. If this judgment is affirmative,
Step m3. In m4, the fade progress time tj is set to (tJ+Δt), and it is determined whether the newly set fade progress time tj exceeds the fade time Tj. If this ¥4 rejection is affirmative, step m5
In this case, the flag Pj is set to 0.

Step m2. If the determination in m4 is negative, the process advances to step m6. In step m6, when the part number j becomes greater than or equal to the total number of parts M, the processing from step m8 onwards is performed.

In steps m8 to rn14, the dimming level is calculated for each channel i while incrementing the channel number i from i=1 to t=M. That is, in step m9, the channel/vert conversion circuit 12
The part number k to which channel i belongs is determined based on the channel/vert data stored in advance. In steps m10 and mll, it is determined whether or not the part number obtained in step m9 is =o, and the part number k
The flag P set in the fade calculation circuit Fk in response to
It is sequentially determined whether k=O.

If the judgments in steps mlO and mll are affirmative, the process proceeds to step m12, where the dimming level calculation circuit 11 calculates the input dimming start level LDi, end level LSi,
Based on the fade progress degree Nk=tk/Tk, the dimming level LNi for each channel i is calculated, and step m13
Proceed to.

If the determination in step mlO is affirmative, and if the determination in step m11 is affirmative, the dimming iM control for Bart k is not performed, and the channel/vert data of the channel/vert conversion circuit 12 is is set. That is, in step mll,
Barts that are determined not to have undergone a fade operation are assigned to Bart 0. In step m13, it is determined whether the incremented channel number i has become equal to or greater than the total number of channels N, and if this determination is affirmative,
This series of processing for each fixed time closing ends.

This processing at fixed time intervals is performed for a fixed time Δ in each scene.
will be executed repeatedly until the scene ends.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing temporal changes in spotlight level. This graph shows temporal changes in the dimming levels of channels CHI to CH3, for example, corresponding to the affiliation of each channel to Bart, with one scene shown in the pen diagram of FIG. 10 as the current scene.

For example, assume that lighting effects for one scene (current scene) are performed from time a1 to time a4.

At this time, channels Cl(1,
CH2 performs a fade-in operation and a fade-out operation, respectively, until a common time a2, and maintains the dimming level at time a2 from time a2 to time a4. on the other hand,
Channel CH3 belonging to Bart 2 undergoes a continuous fade-in operation from time a1 to time a4, and this fade operation continues beyond time a4 until the next scene's time a5.
It continues until

The dimming data required to perform such a fade operation on the channels CHI to CH3 is the starting level LSI to LS3. for each channel C1-11 to CH3 at one time a1. Channel CH at time a2
1, end level LDI of CH2, LD2. These data are the end level LD3 of channel CH3, the fade time bl of Bart 1, and the fade time b2 of Bart 2 at time a4. Especially regarding channel CH3,
1 time a4 to perform the fade operation of the next scene.
It is necessary that each data of each dimming level in a5 and the fade time b3 of the part to which channel CH3 is assigned in the next scene is stored in the memory M4 by the operation of the input operation section 3.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention As shown in Figure 11, for example, for channel CH3, where a fade operation is performed between the current scene and the next scene, the fade operation is a series of times a1 to a5. Even if there is, it is necessary to set the start level, end level, and fade time of the fade operation separately for the current scene and the next scene.In this way, the fade time for each channel is set for each scene. In the part control method in which dimming control is performed by assigning lights to multiple parts, the degree of freedom in dimming control increases and various effects can be achieved, but the amount of data that must be input in advance increases. , the disadvantage is that input operations are complicated.

In addition, as shown in Figure 11, when a fade operation is performed over the current scene and the next scene, the fade time and dimming level for each scene at time a4 front, which is the connection point of the fade operation, are Adjustments must be made to create a lighting effect with a series of fades for each channel; if this adjustment is insufficient, the fades between the current scene and the next scene may become discontinuous. Even if the fade operation is continuous, unnaturalness occurs in the fade operation, which tends to deteriorate the quality of the lighting effect.

Furthermore, in FIG. 11, consider the case where the time that is the boundary between the current scene and the next scene is changed from a4 to, for example, a3. For channel CH3, where a fade operation is performed across the current scene and the deception scene, the dimming level at the boundary time a3 of Gene's change t★ and the fade time of the associated part in the current scene and the next scene are set to the same values as before the change. It is necessary to correct each data from the boundary time a4.

In this way, especially when a fade operation is performed across multiple scenes, if the fade time or the scene boundary time changes, inputting correction data becomes complicated, and dimming becomes difficult. It was not possible to improve the operability of the control device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a dimming control device that allows easy input of data regarding dimming control and therefore has excellent operability.

! 1 [Means for Solving H] According to the present invention, a plurality of negative and dim lights are divided into a plurality of first groups that are controlled to the same dimming state, and the first group is
In a dimming control device that is classified to belong to at least one of a plurality of second groups, each of which has a fade time set, and controls the dimming state of a lighting load for each of the second groups according to a time series. , start level data and end level data for each first group in a fade operation, fade time data and fade progress time data for each second group, first identification data for each first group, and fade time data for each second group. a control means for outputting fade presence/absence data representing the presence/absence of a setting; and in response to the output from the control means, calculating fade progress data for each second group and determining whether a fade operation is in progress. Based on the first identification data from the plurality of fade calculation means and the control means, 211 separate data of the second group to which the first group belongs is outputted to designate one of the fade calculation means; a second group specifying means for outputting fade progress data from the fade calculation means; and setting the fade time data for the specified second group in response to outputs from the second group specifying means and the control means. If it is determined that the above settings have not been performed, second identification data of a predetermined specific second group is output instead of the second group, and if it is determined that the above settings have been performed, the second identification data of the specific second group is output instead of the second group. a determining means for outputting second identification data from the two group designating means; and based on fade progress data from the designated fade calculation means and start level data and end level data for each first group from the control means. , and a dimming level calculation means for calculating dimming level data.

Function: In the dimming control device of the present invention, the control means provides start level data and end level data for each first group in a fade operation, fade time data and fade progress time data for each second group, and data for each first group. First identification data and fade presence/absence data indicating whether fade time data for each second group are set are output.

The fade calculation means responds to the output from the control means,
The fade progress data for each second group is calculated, and it is determined whether a fade operation is in progress.

The second group designation means outputs second identification data of a second group to which the first group belongs based on the first identification data inputted from the control means, and designates one of the fade calculation means. Further, the determining means responds to the outputs of the second group specifying means and the control means, and when it is determined that the fade time data has not been set for the specified second group, the determining means Instead, second identification data of a predetermined specific second group is output, and when it is determined that the above setting is performed, second identification data from the second group designation means is output. In this way, the second group specifying means and the determining means cause the specified fade calculation means to output fade progress data.

The dimming level calculation means, based on the fade progress data from the fade calculation means designated by the second group designation means and the determination means and the start level data and end level data for each first group from the control means, Calculate dimming level data.

When the fade time data is not set for the second group designated by the second group designation means, the determination means outputs the first identification data of the predetermined specific second group, and Specify the fade calculation means corresponding to the identification data. Further, when the fade time data is set, the determining means outputs the second identification data specified by the second group specifying means. Therefore, when performing a fade operation by changing the fade time for each second group, it is only necessary to set the fade presence/absence data and the fade time data. If the fade time is used, the fade presence/absence data and the fade time data need not be set.

Furthermore, when the fade calculation means determines that the fade operation is in progress during the fade time setting operation for each second group described above, the fade time setting operation is not performed.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a dimming control device. Referring to FIG. 2, a plurality of lighting loads placed in a studio, a stage, etc., whose dimming states are controlled, are arranged in a plurality of first groups (hereinafter referred to as channels) that are controlled to the same dimming state. ) 8a to 8z, and dimmers 7a to 7Z are connected to these channels 8a to 8Z, respectively.
Controlled to the same dimming state. In particular, in this embodiment, the channels are divided so as to belong to at least one of a plurality of second groups (hereinafter referred to as parts), each of which has a fade time set, and the lighting load is adjusted for each part in chronological order. The dimming state is controlled by IQ.

In the dimmers 7a to 7Z that drive the lighting fixtures R8a to 8z to turn on by applying one power, the control unit 2 outputs the dimming data stored in the storage unit 4 in advance to the calculation unit 5, and outputs the dimming level. A unit 6 performs processing such as digital/analog conversion on the dimming level data, which is the calculation result from the computing unit 5, to convert it into a dimming level represented by an analog voltage level, and operates the dimmer. Output to 7a-7z.

The dimming data stored in the storage unit 4 is obtained by inputting the dimming data for each scene in advance, for example, during a rehearsal, using dimming level setting means such as a plurality of preset faders (not shown) and number keys of the input operation unit 3. .

FIG. 3 shows the structure of data related to dimming control stored in a memory realized by, for example, a random access memory (RAM) in the storage unit 4. 11 light data 28 is divided into a plurality of scenes 1 to scene Ll in which lighting effects are performed, and for example, the light control data for scene 1 has the configuration shown on the left side of FIG. 3. The light control data for scene 1 includes the light control level for each channel, data on the affiliation of each channel to the part, data on whether or not each part is used, and data on the fade time set for each part.

The part usage data indicates that the part is being used when the fade time is set, and in this case the part usage data is set to "1", and if the fade time is not set, the part is being used. At this time, the part use presence/absence data is set to "0".

FIG. 10 shows a pen diagram regarding the affiliation relationship between channels and parts for one scene.

Such a pen diagram can be illustrated from the affiliation relationship for each channel and part set for each scene in the dimming data 28 of FIG. 3.

For example, in the pen diagram shown in Figure 10, channel C
The configuration is such that HI/CH2 belongs to part 1, channel/CH3 to part 2, channel/CH4 to part 3, and CH+1/CH5 to part 4. Therefore, the affiliation relationship of each channel to the part for a certain scene is as shown in Table 1.

Table 1 As is clear from Table 1, each part for which the fade time is set is divided so that at least one channel belongs to each scene. It is assumed that the affiliation for the part is fixed throughout all scenes.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the dimming level and time set by the calculation performed in the calculation unit 5 shown in FIG. It is.

However, LNi: Dimming level of channel number i (0 to 10
0%) LSi: Start level of channel number i (0 to 100%) LDi: End level of channel number i (0 to 100%) tj: Fade progress time of part number j Tj: Second fade time of part number The calculation unit 5 shown in the figure calculates the start level data (LSi) and end level data (LD i ) for each channel i read from the storage unit 4, and the fade time data (TJ) and fade progress for each part j. Time data (tJ)
Based on the time S1 from the start time S1 of the fade operation in the dimming control to the end time S2 of the fade operation
Calculate the dimming level LNi to be output at motj. The calculation of the dimming level LNi using the first equation is as follows:
The fade operation is performed every positive Δ for a predetermined period of time from time 51 to S2, and the calculation result LNi is input to the dimming level output section 6, and is used in the dimming control device described above. Dimming control of multiple lighting loads is performed. For example, the calculation of the first formula is performed at a fixed time interval Δt=1
It is performed in 0 to 10100 (seconds).

Referring again to FIG. 1, the arithmetic circuit 5b of the arithmetic section 5 connected to the control circuit 2b of the 0M section 2, which will be described below regarding the arithmetic section 5 that calculates the first equation, is a dimming level arithmetic means. , a channel/part conversion circuit 22 which is a second group specifying means, fade calculation circuits F1 to FM which are fade calculation means, and a part use/non-use determination circuit 23 which is a determination means. Ru. Further, M'l1 means is constituted by including a control circuit 2b to which this arithmetic circuit 5b is connected and a storage section 4 in which Mahikari data is stored.

The dimming data outputted from the control circuit 2b is the start level data (LD i ) of the fade operation, and the end level data (LS i ) are sent via the line 11 to the start level data buffer 24 and the end level data buffer, respectively. Channel number data Di, which is first identification data, and part number data Dj, which is second identification data, are output to line 12.25, respectively. It is output via line 13 to channel/vert conversion circuit 22 .

Further, from the control circuit 2b, fade time data Tj and fade progress time data tj for each part number j are sent to lines l Fl, l F2 . . . , each fade calculation circuit Fl, F2 . ..., is output to FM. Furthermore, the control circuit 2b supplies part use/non-use data to the part use/non-use determination circuit 23 via the line 13 for determining whether a fade time is set for each part. The write operation of each data mentioned above is performed by the control circuit 2b.
This is done on the basis of a control signal provided via line 17 from .

The start level data (LDi> and 5 end level data (LS i ) given to the start level data buffer 24 and the end level data buffer 25 are based on the input control a
It is applied to the dimming level calculation section t82L in response to the l signal.

The channel/vert conversion circuit 22 outputs the part number data Dj inputted in advance via the line 13 to the line 14 in correspondence with the channel number data D1 inputted via the line 12. The part number data outputted to line 14 is input to the part usage/non-use determination circuit 23. The changed part number data Dk, which changes the number data, is input to the decoder 26 and the data selector 27. The decoder 26 receives a selection signal 31., which specifies one fade calculation circuit from the plurality of fade calculation circuits F1 to FM in response to input part number data Dk'. S2. . . . Outputs SM to designate one of the fade calculation circuits F1 to FM. The designated fade calculation circuit Fj outputs to the data selector 27 fade progress data (Nj=tj/Tj) calculated from the data Tj, tj regarding the fade operation inputted from the control circuit 2b.

On the other hand, by inputting the part number data Dk from the part use/non-use determination circuit 23 to the data selector 27 via the line 16, the part number input from the fade progress data Nj output from the fade calculation circuit Fj is Fade progress data Nk corresponding to data Dk
is output to the dimming level calculation circuit 21.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart regarding the dimming data setting operation immediately before the start of each scene in this embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, data is read from the control unit 4 in step a1, and part information is set for each channel in the channel/part conversion port n22 in step a2.

That is, the ii control circuit 2b reads the dimming data from the storage section 4 and temporarily writes it into the buffer data 13b built in the control circuit 2b, and also writes part information to the channel/part conversion circuit 22.

In steps a3 to a8, starting from channel number i = 1, the following movement f'F- is performed while sequentially incrementing channel number 1 until i = N. In step a4, the channel number i is It is determined whether the part to which the part belongs is being used, that is, whether a fade time is set for that part. When the part is being used, in step a5, the start level data LSi and end level data LDi are written into the start level data buffer 24 and end level data buffer 25, respectively, and then the process advances to step a6.

When the part is not being used, that is, when no fade time has been set for the part, the process proceeds to step a7, where it is determined whether the part is fading. If fading is in progress, the process proceeds to step a7 without performing the write operation in step a5; if not, in step a5, the start level data LSi and the end level data LDi are stored in the start level data buffer 24 and the end level data buffer 25, respectively. After the data is written, the process advances to step a6.

In this way, in steps a3 to a8,
While the channel number i is incremented, data regarding the fade operation corresponding to each channel number 1 is selectively input.

If it is determined in step a6 that the channel number i is equal to or greater than all channel numbers N, steps a9 to
Proceed to the process represented by step a15, step a9~
In step a15, the following processing is performed while sequentially incrementing part number j starting from part number j=1 until J=M.

In step a10, it is determined whether the part with part number j is being used, that is, whether a fade time has been set for the part with part number j. When a part is being used, the fade time Tj is set and the fade progress time tj=o is initialized in step all, and the process proceeds to step a14.

When the part is not being used, that is, when no fade time has been set for the part, the process proceeds to step a12, where it is determined whether the part is fading. If fading is in progress, the process proceeds to step 2 a14 without performing the settings in step all; if not, part number j is changed in step a13.

In this embodiment, the part number j is set to "0", and the part number j that is sequentially incremented in steps a9 to a15 is reserved. Then, in step all, the fade time Tj is set and the fade progress time tJ=o is initialized, and the process proceeds to step a14. When the part number j becomes greater than or equal to the total part number M in step a14, the process shown in FIG. The setting operation of the dimming data immediately before the start of the indicated scene ends.

As explained above, in this embodiment, step a in FIG.
As explained in steps 9 to a15, the initial setting of the fade time TJ and the fade progress time tj=0 set in the fade calculation circuit Fj is not performed if the fade operation of the corresponding part j is not completed. As a result, the dimming level calculation circuit 11 receives new start level data LSi, end level data LDi, and fade progress data N j = t J / T corresponding to the channel number i or part number j for which the fade operation has not been completed. j is not input, and therefore, the dimming level calculation circuit 11 calculates the dimming level at regular time intervals Δ even in the current scene based on the dimming data regarding the fade operation to be performed continuously from the previous scene. It can be carried out.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of processing performed every fixed time period Δ during dimming control. The process shown in FIG. 9 is repeated, for example, at constant time intervals Δt=10 to 10100 (seconds) from the start to the end of each scene. In steps m1 to m7, part number j=
Start from 1 and increment sequentially to part number j
It is determined whether the fade operation has been completed for each part up to =lIN.

That is, step m2. In m3, the flag Pj= set in the fade calculation circuit FJ corresponding to part number j
1, that is, for part number j, it is determined whether or not a fade operation is in progress, and fade progress time data tj+Δt is input from the control circuit 2b to the fade calculation circuit Fj corresponding to the part in progress. , the fade progress time tj is updated. Step m4. At m5, the updated fade progress time tj is sent in advance to the fade calculation circuit Fj i! It is determined whether the fade time Tj inputted from the III control circuit 2b has been exceeded or not, and for the part number j that has exceeded the fade time Tj, the flag of the fade calculation circuit Fj is set to Pj.
=0 and the process proceeds to step m6.

Step m2. If the judgment in m4 is negative, the fade progress times t and j are not updated and the flag PJ=0 is set, and the process proceeds to step m6. In this way, the fade time Tj set in advance for each part number j is For the elapsed part, the corresponding fade calculation circuit Fj
PJ=O is set in the flag. In step m6, when the part number j becomes greater than or equal to the total part number M, the process proceeds to steps m8 to m14.

In steps m8 to m14, the following processing is performed while starting from i=1 and sequentially incrementing the channel number until i=N.

In step m9, the control circuit 2b sends the channel number data Di to the channel/part conversion circuit 22, and the part number data D written in FIG.
The part number data corresponding to the address of the channel number data D1 is read from J, and the part number data is further changed by the part usage/non-use determination circuit 23. The changed part number data Dk is provided to a decoder 26 and a data selector 27 via a line 16.

In step mlO, it is determined whether the part number represented by the part number data Dk is equal to 0, and k
Only when ≠0, the processing after step nil is performed. That is, even if part number data Dk representing =o is input to the decoder 26, the decoder 26
is the fade calculation circuit F1~ by the selection signal 81~SM.
Do not specify any of F'M, conversely step 'rn 1
If the judgment of 0 is negative and the part number is ≠O,
The decoder 26 responds to the input part number Dk, for example, J1! The selection signals 81 to SM, in which only the selection signal Sk is at a high level, are input to the fade calculation circuits F1 to FM to designate the fade calculation circuit Fk.

In step bar +11, the specified fade calculation circuit F
It is determined whether the flag Pk in Pk is 0 or not. When flag Pk=O, that is, for part k where the fade operation in the current scene that is currently in progress has finished, the dimming level is not calculated, but the dimming level is calculated based on the output of the dimming level corresponding to the end level data. The circuit 21 holds. Also, let the value of part number data Dk corresponding to part number k in the channel/vert conversion circuit l 22 G,: be O,
In the loop from step m8 to step m15, when the same part number k is found in step m9, an affirmative judgment is made in step mlo, and step m
Proceed to step 14 as soon as possible.

If the judgment in step nil is negative, that is, the flag P of the fade calculation circuit Fk corresponding to part number k
If k=1, the process proceeds to step m12, where the dimming level calculation circuit 21 calculates the dimming level based on the input dimming data.

The dimming level data LNi, which is the result of the calculation, is outputted to the dimming level output section 6 shown in FIG. step m14
Then, it is determined whether the channel number i has reached 1M or more for all channels. If the determination in step m14 is affirmative, the processing program shown in FIG. 9 at every fixed time Δt is once terminated, and the above program is restarted after a fixed time Δt.

As described in detail, in the dimming control device of the present invention, by setting the fade presence/absence data, it becomes easy to determine whether or not to set the fade time for each second group. The fade movement ft can be easily controlled. In addition, when the fade operation means determines that a fade operation is in progress, data regarding the next fade operation is not input, so that the previously set fade time (1°C is the fade operation (%) It can be performed.

Therefore, in a lighting effect based on a lighting load, a new fade time is not set for a lighting load in which a fade operation is in progress, and the quality of the lighting effect can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows a dimming f! which is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall structure of the dimming control device, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of dimming data 28 used for dimming control. , Figure 1 is a graph showing the temporal change in dimming level, Figure 5I2I is a flowchart regarding the dimming data setting operation immediately before the start of each cycle in this embodiment, and Figure 6 is a block diagram of a typical conventional example. 7 is a diagram showing the structure of conventional dimming data 18 regarding dimming vI control, FIG. 8 is a flowchart regarding the conventional data setting operation immediately before the start of each scene, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a certain period of time regarding dimming control. FIG. 10 is a pen diagram showing the relationship between channels and parts for one scene, and FIG. 11 is a graph showing temporal changes in dimming level. 2... Control section, 5... Arithmetic section, 8 a to 8z...
Lighting load, 11.21... Dimming level calculation circuit, 12
．． 22...Channel/vert conversion circuit, 28...Dimming data, 23...Part usage determination circuit agent
Patent Attorney Stroke Number Keiichi's Miniature Drawing 7th Drawing Publication

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A plurality of lighting loads are divided into a plurality of first groups that are controlled to the same dimming state, and the first group is divided into at least one of the plurality of second groups, each of which has a fade time set. In a dimming control device that controls the dimming state of the lighting load for each of the second groups according to time series, starting level data and ending level data for each of the first groups in a fade operation. , a control means for outputting fade time data and fade progress time data for each second group, first identification data for each first group, and fade presence/absence data indicating whether or not the fade time data for each second group is set; a plurality of fade calculation means for calculating fade progress data for each second group in response to an output from the control means and determining whether a fade operation is in progress; and the first identification data from the control means. designates one of the fade calculation means by outputting the second identification data of the second group to which the first group belongs based on the second group, and outputs the fade progress data from the specified fade calculation means. In response to the outputs of the second group specifying means and the control means, if it is determined that the fade time data has not been set for the specified second group, the fade time data is replaced with the second group. determining means for outputting second identification data of a predetermined specific second group, and outputting second identification data from the second group specifying means when it is determined that the above setting is performed; dimmer level calculation means for calculating dimming level data based on the fade progress data from the fade calculation means and the start level data and end level data for each first group from the control means. A dimming control device.