Portable programming and control device for light beam projectors

Abstract

 A portable control and programming device for light beam projectors comprising means for memorizing lighting programs, and means for transmitting these programs to the light beam projector; said transmission means are arranged to transmit said programs associated with a remote command and control signal.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a control and programming device for projectors, in particular for light beam projectors used in the lighting of large environments, such as commercial centres.

[0002] Such projectors are known to be able to vary the characteristics of the projected light in accordance with a predetermined scheme also known as a scene, for example by projecting a certain colour sequence by varying the luminous flux. One of these projectors is fully described in Italian Patent 01287824 filed in the name of the same applicant.

[0003] The scenes to be projected, i.e. the sequence of commands which the projector has to execute, are generally memorized within a suitable memory circuit of the projector.

[0004] This operation is currently executed manually by connecting the projector to a portable processor by a suitable cable, and transmitting the data relative to the desired scene programming to the memory circuit of the projector. This manual programming of each projector has the drawback of requiring considerable time for its completion, in which respect the projector has to be accessed, the cable has to be connected, and the necessary data have to be transmitted.

[0005] In contrast, in large-sized complexes where tens or hundreds of projectors are present, a network of cables for connecting each projector to an operative control centre is prepared. Although this solution operates perfectly, it involves considerable system costs, in particular with regard to the construction of the connection network.

[0006] In this respect, in large complexes the control centre is usually located far from the position of the projectors.

[0007] The object of this invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the known art within the framework of a simple, rational and relatively low-cost solution.

[0008] Said object is attained by virtue of the characteristics defined in the claims.

[0009] Specifically, the invention provides a portable control and programming device for light beam projectors comprising means for memorizing a determined number of scenes (or sequences), and means for transmitting said scenes (or sequences) to a memory circuit of the projector. According to the invention, said transmission means are arranged to transmit said programs associated with a remote command and control signal.

[0010] In particular, said programs are modulated on a radio wave or preferably on infrared rays.

[0011] This provides the device of the invention with the advantage of simple and fast programming of the projectors independently of their physical location.

[0012] If the programs (or scenes) are modulated on infrared rays the invention also provides the advantage of not creating interference with other radio signals, so avoiding the use of special filters, the cost of which would increase the cost of the device.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the device concerned is of the bidirectional type. i.e. also able to acquire information concerning the projector, such as the number of hours of operation of the lamp with which the projector is provided, hence enabling better service and maintenance planning for the projectors.

[0014] The constructional and operational characteristics of the invention will be more apparent from the ensuing description of a preferred embodiment thereof given by way of non-limiting example and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device of the invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of the components of the device according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the transmission circuit used by the invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the reception circuit used by the invention.

[0015] Said figures show the device 1 for transmitting to a projector, not shown, a predefined sequence of commands to be executed.

[0016] The device 1 comprises an outer casing 2, on the outer surface of which a keypad 3 and a display 4 are present, and which houses internally a microcontroller 5, to which the data transmission means 6 and reception means 7 are connected.

[0017] The microcontroller 5, which in the illustrated embodiment is the model 78fl8 produced by NEC, is provided internally with a memory unit (or memorizing means) which enables memorization both of the data relative to the command sequence which the device 1 has to transmit to the projector, not shown, and the data transmitted by the projector to the device 1 relative to the projector operating state.

[0018] The data transmission means 6 are connected to the microcontroller 5, and comprise, as shown in Figure 3, a light-emitting diode 60 connected at one end to the electrical energy source V and having in series a transistor 61, of which the emitter is connected to earth, and the collector is connected to the microcontroller 5.

[0019] The data memorized in the memory of the microcontroller are transmitted by modulating these on an infrared signal of pulse type at a frequency preferably between 50 and 60 kHz. The signal modulated by the microcontroller is then fed to the transistor 61 the function of which is to amplify this signal and then make it available to the light-emitting diode.

[0020] Figure 4 shows the data reception means 7, which in the illustrated embodiment are the model SF51xx produced by Siemens.

[0021] Said reception means 7 comprise a section 70 for receiving an infrared signal, downstream of which a gain system 71 is provided to increase or decrease the sensitivity of the receiver to different environmental situations. In particular, said gain section 70 also comprises a band-pass filter able to allow only those excitation frequencies between 50 and 60 kHz to pass, and a demodulator, not shown, which demodulates the signal and makes it available to a transistor 72 connected to the microcontroller 5.

[0022] The microcontroller 5 and said transmission means 6 and reception means 7 are powered by an electrical energy source 8, which in the illustrated example is a battery housed in the casing 2 of the device 1.

[0023] It should also be noted that the projector which is to be controlled by the device 1 must be provided with suitable means for receiving the modulated signal, these being totally similar to the described means 7, and a microcontroller able to memorize the data transmitted by the device 1.

Claims

1. A portable control and programming device for light beam projectors comprising means for memorizing lighting programs, and means for transmitting these programs to the light beam projector, characterised in that said transmission means are arranged to transmit said programs associated with a remote command and control signal.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said programs are modulated on infrared rays.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said programs are modulated on a radio wave.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that said infrared rays have a modulated frequency between 50 and 60 kHz.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised by also comprising data reception means.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that said reception means comprise at least one reception section and at least one demodulation section for the received signal.

7. A device as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that said signal reception means are the model SFH51xx produced by Siemens.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said memorizing means comprise a microcontroller provided with a memory unit.

9. A device as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that said microcontroller is the model 78f18 produced by NEC.

Drawing