Abstract: A lift system comprises a drum that rotates about an axis, an elongate member that winds around the drum when the drum rotates in a first direction and that unwinds from the drum when the drum rotates in a second direction, a drive mechanism operable to rotate the drum, and a braking mechanism adapted to inhibit rotation of the drum. The braking mechanism includes a brake disk rotatable with the drum, a movable brake pad, and a ramp that guides movement of the movable brake pad. A method of operating the lift system comprises rotating the drum in a first direction to wind the elongate member onto the drum, rotating the drum in a second direction to unwind the elongate member from the drum, and moving the brake shoe along the ramp to thereby cause the movable brake pad to be compressed against the brake disk.

Abstract: A theatre raceway comprising an outlet assembly and a back shell. The outlet assembly includes an electrical component mounted to an outlet frame having wire stays for guiding an electrical wire (e.g., a communication wire or a power wire). The wire stays are spaced apart to facilitate access to the wires. The back shell is secured to the outlet assembly and covers the wire stays. In one embodiment, the raceway further comprises an alignment feature that aligns the back shell with the outlet assembly. For example, the alignment feature can comprises a tab on the outlet assembly and a recess on the back shell. The raceway can also include a fastener securing the back shell to the outlet assembly, wherein the fastener includes a head positioned in a recessed portion of the back shell.

Abstract: An LED light fixture comprising a plurality of LEDs mounted on a substrate, wherein the plurality of LEDs include a lime/mint light source accounting for at least 25% of the total lumen output, and a deep red light source accounting for at least 0.5% of total lumen output. The lime/mint light source preferably accounts for at least 50% of the total lumen output. The deep red light source preferably accounts for at least 1.0% of the total lumen output. The light fixture can also include other colors, such as 1% to 50% cyan, 1% to 20% red/red-orange, and 1% to 10% blue/indigo. In one embodiment, the fixture further includes a processor for calculating a color mix and driving the LEDs. Preferably, the processor is programmed to produce a color mix having a CCT in the range of 2700-6500K, a TM-30 (Rf) of at least 90, and a TLCI of at least 95.

Abstract: A light fixture including an array of LED light sources corresponding to a color channel of the light fixture, a driver circuit configured to drive the array of LED light sources, and a controller. The controller controls the operation of the light fixture to receive a direct drive signal related to a direct drive signal value for the array of LED light sources, determine an output of a reference light fixture based on the direct drive signal, determine a value for a color channel drive signal based on the output of the reference light fixture, and provide a control signal to the driver circuit to cause the driver circuit to apply the color channel drive signal having the value to the array of LED light sources. The value for the color channel drive signal results in an output of the light fixture that matches the output of the reference light fixture.

Abstract: A lighting fixture including a light source including an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a reflector including a input end adjacent the array of LEDs and an output end opposite the input end such that the light source emits light through the reflector from the input end through the output end. The reflector further includes a first, a second, a third, and a fourth sidewall that extend from the input end to the output end. The first and the second sidewalls each include an interior surface, the third and the fourth sidewalls each include an interior surface having a reflectivity that is more diffuse than the interior surfaces of the first and second sidewalls. A lens is adjacent the output end of the reflector.

Abstract: A lift assembly comprises a base, a drive mechanism, a flexible drive element extending from the drive mechanism along a fleet axis, and a sheave directing the drive element from the fleet axis to an output axis. The sheave is coupled to the base at a first sheave mount aligned with the fleet axis. The assembly can further include a second sheave mount aligned with the fleet axis and configured to be coupled to the sheave to allow the sheave to be de-coupled from the first sheave mount and coupled to the second sheave mount, resulting in substantially no change in a fleet angle of the fleet axis. Preferably, the sheave is positioned on a first side of the fleet axis when coupled to the first sheave mount, and the sheave is positioned on a second side of the fleet axis (e.g., opposite the first side) when coupled to the second sheave mount.

Abstract: A system for determining a position of a light fixture that projects a beam of light on to a stage to form a first beam pattern on the stage includes an observing device located at a predetermined position relative to the stage to observe the first beam pattern. The system also includes a controller in communication with the observing device. The controller is configured to capture from the observing device an image of the first beam pattern on the stage, determine a major dimension and a minor dimension of the first beam pattern from the image, and calculate a position of the light fixture based on the major dimension and the minor dimension.

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.

Abstract: A cyc light assembly comprising a base having a front opening, a lighting element supported by the base, a first reflector (e.g., a specular reflector) positioned on a rear side of the lighting element, and a lens positioned in the front opening. The lens includes a plurality of cylinder lens portions that preferably are substantially parallel to each other and substantially horizontally oriented. A diffuser can be positioned to cover the front opening. In one embodiment, a central axis of the lighting element intersects the first reflector (e.g., at a midsection). A recycling reflector can be positioned in front of the lens, and side reflectors can be positioned on opposing sides of the lighting element. Preferably, the side reflectors are substantially planar and are angled to diverge from each other toward the front direction and toward an upward direction, away from the lighting element.

Abstract: A lift system comprises a drum that rotates about an axis, an elongate member that winds around the drum when the drum rotates in a first direction and that unwinds from the drum when the drum rotates in a second direction, a drive mechanism operable to rotate the drum, and a braking mechanism adapted to inhibit rotation of the drum. The braking mechanism includes a brake disk rotatable with the drum, a movable brake pad, and a ramp that guides movement of the movable brake pad. A method of operating the lift system comprises rotating the drum in a first direction to wind the elongate member onto the drum, rotating the drum in a second direction to unwind the elongate member from the drum, and moving the brake shoe along the ramp to thereby cause the movable brake pad to be compressed against the brake disk.

Abstract: Moving light fixture and method for controlling the position of a moving light fixture. In one example, the moving light fixture includes a housing, light sources, a stepper motor, a magnetic position encoder, and an electronic controller. The stepper motor rotates the housing. The magnetic position encoder is configured to transmit a position signal indicating an angular position of the housing. The electronic controller determines the angular position of the housing based on the position signal. The electronic controller also determines a full step of the stepper motor based on the angular position of the housing, and a micro step of the stepper motor. The electronic controller also determines a current position of the moving light fixture based on the full step and the micro step. The electronic controller drives the stepper motor to move the moving light fixture from the current position to a target position.

Abstract: A light fixture panning apparatus including a base, a light fixture rotatably coupled to the base such that the light fixture rotates about an axis relative to the base, and a bearing that facilitates rotation of the light fixture relative to the base about the axis. The bearing includes a raceway and a rolling element that rolls along the raceway as the light fixture rotates about the axis relative to the base. The raceway is curved such that the raceway extends around at least a portion of the axis.

Abstract: A lift assembly includes an article to be lifted between a lowered position and a raised position, a drive element coupled to the article, a power mechanism coupled to the drive element, and a power transfer mechanism coupled between the power mechanism and the drive element. The power transfer mechanism includes control electronics having a first upward limit switch adapted to deactivate the power mechanism when the article is lifted to a first upward height, and a second upward limit switch adapted to deactivate the power mechanism when the article is lifted to a second upward height higher than the first upward height.

Abstract: A hoist system having a drum primarily self-contained within a batten, for raising and lowering lighting, sound equipment, curtains and the like in a performance environment. The hoist system may be adapted with safety mechanisms including an overload sensor and/or a slack line detector. The system may be provided in the form of a point hoist. 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. Additional features include various cable management systems and trim adjustment mechanisms for use with the hoist system.

Abstract: A breaker module comprises a breaker housing defining a bottom surface, a line side connector, a module mount adapted to engage a board mount, a platform protruding from the bottom surface between the line side connector and the module mount, and breaker connections recessed into the platform positioned between the line side connector and the module mount. The platform is dimensioned to mate into the well to facilitate coupling of the breaker connections to the board connections. In another aspect, the breaker module comprises a breaker housing defining a bottom surface, a line side connector, a module mount, a platform protruding from the bottom surface between the line side connector and the module mount, and breaker connections mounted on the platform. At least two of the breaker connections are recessed into the platform and do not protrude beyond the platform.

Abstract: A theatrical apparatus including a first light source, a second light source and a third light source, a computer memory, and a computer processor. Each of the first, second, and third light sources may have current positions; and each may be configured to be remotely operated by the computer processor executing computer operating software to have its current position changed, independent of the other light sources. Data indicating the current position of each of the first, second, and third light sources, including a position count value for each of the first, second, and third light sources, is stored in the computer memory by the computer processor executing the computer operating software. The computer processor may be programmed by the computer operating software to use the position count values prevent collisions between the light sources.

Abstract: A hoist system having a drum primarily self-contained within a batten, for raising and lowering lighting, sound equipment, curtains and the like in a performance environment. The hoist system may be adapted with safety mechanisms including an overload sensor and/or a slack line detector. The system may be provided in the form of a point hoist. 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.

Abstract: A lift system configured to lift an article (e.g., a batten). The lift system includes a first cable configured to be coupled to the article, a second cable configured to be coupled to the article, a drive mechanism coupled to the first cable and the second cable and operable to raise and lower the article, a first loft block including a first loft sheave to redirect the first cable from a first substantially horizontal axis to a first substantially vertical axis, and a guide member to direct the second cable along a second substantially horizontal axis. The lift system further includes a second loft block including a second loft sheave to redirect the second cable from the second substantially horizontal axis block to a second substantially vertical axis.

Abstract: Automatic transfer switch for switching an electrical load between two power sources. In one example, the automatic transfer switch includes four latching relays and an electronic controller. A first power source line connection is connected to an electrical load line connection via a first latching relay. A first power source neutral connection is connected to an electrical load neutral connection via a second latching relay. A second power source line connection is connected to the electrical load line connection via a third latching relay. A second power source neutral connection is connected to the electrical load neutral connection via a fourth latching relay. The electronic controller connects the second power source to the electrical load when a voltage of the first power source is less than a first threshold, and connects the first power source to the electrical load when the voltage is greater than a second threshold.