Patents Assigned to Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11956868
    Abstract: A system for obtaining a multispectral image of a scene includes a first light source, a second light source, at least one imaging sensor, and a controller. The first light source emits light in a first wavelength range. The second light source emits light in a second wavelength range. The at least one imaging sensor senses light in the first wavelength range reflected off of the scene during a first illumination sensing period and senses light in the second wavelength range reflected off of the scene during a second illumination sensing period. The controller is electrically coupled to the at least one imaging sensor. The controller interprets signals received from the at least one imaging sensor as imaging data, stores the imaging data, and analyzes the imaging data with regard to multiple dimensions. The first illumination sensing period and the second illumination sensing period are discrete time periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam Bennette
  • Patent number: 11849519
    Abstract: A method for control of a light fixture, the method including energizing the light fixture to produce a first light output with a first chromaticity and a first spectral power distribution, receiving a user input representative of a desired adjustment of a lighting effect, generating a target spectrum based on the user input, and energizing the light fixture to produce a second light output with the first chromaticity and a second spectral power distribution. The second power distribution approximates the target spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Florac, Evan Gnam, Wendy Luedtke, James Uphoff
  • Patent number: 11835997
    Abstract: A system for determining a location of a lighting fixture in a venue includes a camera and a controller. The camera captures images of the lighting fixture. The controller is operatively coupled to the camera. The controller designates a first position of the camera, receives a first image of the lighting fixture from the camera in the first position, determines a first distance vector between the first position and the lighting fixture based on the first image, designates a second position of the camera, receives a second image of the lighting fixture from the camera in the second position, determines a second distance vector between the second position and the lighting fixture based on the second image, determines a vector relationship location to be a location nearest both the first distance vector and the second distance vector, and designates the vector relationship location as the location of the lighting fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Halberstadt, Josh Jordan, Zoe Wolter, Dennis Varian, Lowell Olcott
  • Patent number: 11805588
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing a lighting design for an event at a venue. One system includes a lighting fixture configured to project a light beam, an input device configured to receive a user input, and a controller including an electronic processor and a memory. The controller is configured to determine a path of the light beam, receive a first user input indicating a target of interest, and receive a second user input assigning a characteristic to the target of interest. The controller is configured to detect a collision between the path of the light beam and the target of interest, determine, in response to the collision, whether to project light onto the target of interest based on the characteristic, and control the lighting fixture to project the light beam on the target of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Mizerak, Ethan White, Matthew Halberstadt, Dan Duffy
  • Patent number: 11747478
    Abstract: A system for mapping a stage includes a lighting fixture, a scanner, and a controller. The lighting fixture includes a visible light source and an infrared light source. The lighting fixture at least partially illuminates the stage with structured infrared light. The scanner detects the structured infrared light on the stage. The controller is connected to the lighting fixture and the scanner. The controller turns on the visible light source in a visible light mode and turns on the infrared light source in an infrared light mode. The infrared light source illuminates at least a portion of the stage with the structured infrared light. The controller also directs the scanner to scan the structured infrared light on the portion of the stage, receives signals from the scanner as scan data, and translates the scan data into three-dimensional location data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Koen Buys, Dennis Varian
  • Patent number: 11743986
    Abstract: A luminaire including an input driven in a first polarity and a second polarity reversed from the first polarity, a first light source coupled to the input and adapted to generate visible light within a first wavelength range at a first intensity when the input is driven in the first polarity and adapted to generate visible light within the first wavelength range at a second intensity less than the first intensity when the input is driven in the second polarity, and a second light source coupled to the input and adapted to generate light within a second wavelength range, different than first wave length range, at a third intensity when the input is driven in the second polarity and adapted to generate light within the second wavelength range at a fourth intensity less than the third intensity when the input is driven in the first polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Bennette, David J. Cahalane, Andrew Slade
  • Patent number: 11546982
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining lighting fixture arrangement information (e.g., position and/or orientation). A lighting beam from the lighting fixture is directed among three discrete locations on a reference surface (e.g., by a controller). The fixture's position is determined using perspective inversion based on angular changes of the lighting fixture and coordinate data of the discrete locations (e.g., determined using a camera and a reference point on the surface). Distances from the fixture to the three discrete locations are estimated based on perspective inversion. The position of the lighting fixture is trilateralized based on the distances. Spherical coordinates of the fixture's orientation relative to the reference surface are determined, and yaw, pitch, and roll of the fixture are extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Josh Jordan, Christopher Mizerak, Chelsea Sanders, Koen Buys
  • Patent number: 11511978
    Abstract: A lift assembly including an article to be lifted between a lowered position and a raised position, a flexible drive element coupled to the article and defining a longitudinal axis, a power mechanism coupled to the flexible drive element, a drum powered by the power mechanism and dimensioned to facilitate winding of the flexible drive element onto the drum, and a cable keeper providing a force on the flexible drive element to bias the flexible drive element toward the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald A. Hoffend, III, William R. Florac, Michael Lichter, Edwin W. Bolz
  • Patent number: 11464088
    Abstract: A light fixture including a substrate and a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the substrate. The plurality of light emitting diodes includes a first light emitting diode having a peak wavelength within a range of 600 nanometers and 630 nanometers, and a full width at half maximum value of at least 140 nanometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Evan Gnam, Wendy Luedtke, William R. Florac, Isabel Coff, David J. Cahalane
  • Patent number: 11455771
    Abstract: A method of surveying a venue includes scanning at least a portion of the venue using an unmanned aerial vehicle having at least one scanner, converting scan data gathered by the at least one scanner into three-dimensional location data, displaying the three-dimensional location data as a three-dimensional model, analyzing the three-dimensional model, and designating portions of the three-dimensional model with semantic mapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Koen Buys, Joshua Jordan, Timothy P. Nolan
  • Patent number: 11436792
    Abstract: Systems for mapping a stage include a lighting fixture, a scanner, and a controller. The lighting fixture is configured to at least partially illuminate the stage with structured light. The scanner is configured to detect the structured light on the stage. The controller is connected to the lighting fixture and the scanner. The controller is configured to control the lighting fixture to illuminate a portion of the stage with the structured light, control the scanner to scan the structured light on the portion of the stage, receive a signal from the scanner as scan data, and translate the scan data into three-dimensional location data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Koen Buys
  • Patent number: 11438978
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for determining and displaying operational parameters of a light fixture that includes narrow band emitters. A controller includes stored information related to spectral power distributions of each of a plurality light wavebands generated by a plurality of narrow band emitters (e.g., LEDs). Based on the spectral power distributions, the controller is configured to determine an output spectrum of the light fixture and/or an output spectrum of individual wavebands. The controller is configured to generate an output display that includes the determined operational parameters associated with the light fixture and a mechanism for manipulating the outputs of the light fixture's wavebands. Using the mechanism, a user can manipulate the operational parameters of the light fixture and observe from the output display a substantially real-time representation of the operational parameters of the light fixture based on the user manipulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Electronics Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Bennette, Anders Ekvall
  • Patent number: 11404610
    Abstract: A light fixture includes a first phosphor-converted light-emitting diode (“PCLED”) emitting light in a first PCLED wavelength range having first PCLED upper and lower bounds, a first direct light-emitting diode (“DLED”) emitting light in a first DLED wavelength range having first DLED upper and lower bounds, a second PCLED emitting light in a second PCLED wavelength range having second PCLED upper and lower bounds, and a second DLED emitting light in a second DLED wavelength range having second DLED upper and lower bounds. The first PCLED upper bound has a higher wavelength value than the first DLED upper bound. The first PCLED lower bound has a lower wavelength value than the first DLED lower bound. The second PCLED upper bound has a higher wavelength value than the second DLED upper bound. The second PCLED lower bound has a lower wavelength value than the second DLED lower bound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Wood, David J. Cahalane
  • Patent number: 11319198
    Abstract: A hoist system having a drum primarily self-contained within a batten, for raising and lowering lighting, sound equipment, curtains and the like, often in a performance environment. The compact system is highly scalable to a variety of spaces and applications, including school and public theaters and concert halls, as well as some homes, private business, etc. The hoist system may be adapted with safety mechanisms including an overspeed detector, which may comprise a centrifugal detection mechanism coupled to an elongate member of the system; dampening means; a compact mechanism for trimming or adjusting an operative length of elongate member; stabilizing pipe shaft bearings; elongate member diverter pulley mechanisms load balancing termination points. Additional features include various alternative combination hoist implementations and orientations, and alternative incorporated attachment mechanisms for use with the hoist system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Hoffend, Donald A. Hoffend, III
  • Patent number: 11320117
    Abstract: A light fixture includes a housing, a light source, and a zoom mechanism. The light source is supported within the housing and emits light. The zoom mechanism selectively varies a beam angle of the light emitted from the light fixture and includes a lens and a movable element. The lens is fixed relative to the light source. The movable element is movable relative to the lens between a first position and a second position. The lens reflects a portion of the light emitted by the light source via internal reflection when the movable element is in the first position. The movable element is closer to at least a portion of the lens when the movable element is in the second position to at least partially frustrate the internal reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: David Kinzer
  • Patent number: D950124
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Goossens, Jon Rasche, Charles Xu, Zack Zlevor
  • Patent number: D950140
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Goossens, Jon Rasche, Charles Xu, Zack Zlevor
  • Patent number: D965211
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Goossens, Jon Rasche, Charles Xu, Zack Zlevor
  • Patent number: D992788
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunya Nimityongskul, Jon Rasche, Zack Zlevor
  • Patent number: D1015615
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Stephan, Zack Zlevor, Jon Rasche