Patents Assigned to Production Resource Group
  • Moving light housing with integrated handles
    Patent number: 8408760
    Abstract: A lamp assembly, that has a fixed base, and a yoke which is controlled to move relative to the base to cause a panning motion. The yoke holds a lamp head. The yoke has a bottom portion and a top portion. A lamp head, which includes a light source therein, is coupled to said bottom portion of the yoke. The lamp head moves to form a tilting motion, thereby allowing both pan and tilt. The yoke includes handles thereon, including a first handle on a bottom most portion of said yoke, and a second handle on a top most portion of said yoke. One embodiment has the handles integrated into the yoke, e.g., molded to or recessed into the yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventors: James M Bornhorst, Staci A. Mininger, Timothy W. Terleski
  • Clamp for an elongated lamp
    Patent number: 8407867
    Abstract: A clamp for an elongated tube style white such as a versa tube. The clamp has one fixed side that holds the versa tube's mounting structure therein. The other side of the clamp is movable, and pivots between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the lamp is held into place, and in the open position the lamp can be removed. A single screw that holds the clamp into the open or closed position is knurled and hence the device can be removed without any tools. The two sides of the clamp occupy different longitudinal positions so that they can be placed directly next to each other, and one opened without moving or disturbing the other since the two sides are in different longitudinal positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Chris Conti
  • Lighting control system with wireless network connection
    Patent number: 8408727
    Abstract: Wireless network used to control multiple lights, includes multiple different networks for different purposes, and interference prevention mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventor: Robin Lee
  • Test machine for an automated light
    Patent number: 8401931
    Abstract: A moving light tester includes plural sensors, each of which can test a function of the moving light. A conveyor can move the light between the sensors. Once tested, information about the test is used to characterize the light, to determine if it needs repair, or can be re rented. The information can also be used to create inventory lists, and bills for damage. The testing can include automated testing for gobos, colors, noise, heating and movement, or other tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventors: Robin Lee, Chris Conti
  • Software based touchscreen
    Patent number: 8390581
    Abstract: A software touchscreen displayed on start up for a LAN for an automated light. The software touchscreen is displayed by the software on initial startup, and later, after the initial startup, the same touchscreen is used for controlling the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventor: Charles Reese
  • Layered dimmer system
    Patent number: 8376589
    Abstract: A layered dimmer formed of different layers. The front layer may be a scattering layer, and the back layer may be a reflective layer. The light beam is scattered prior to reflecting, to avoid reflection back to form hotspots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventor: James Bornhorst
  • Multilayer control of gobo shape
    Patent number: 8350781
    Abstract: A control of gobos defend by records in the gobo. The gobos are formed by menued shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventor: Mark A Hunt
  • Programmable light beam shape altering device using separate programmable micromirrors for each primary color
    Patent number: 8314800
    Abstract: Three-digital micromirror devices (“DMD”) are used to alter the shape of light that is projected onto a stage. The DMDs each receive a primary color and selectively reflects some light of that color, thereby shaping the light that is projected onto the stage. The control for the alteration is controlled by an image. That image can be processed, thereby carrying out image processing effects on the shape of the light that is displayed. One preferred application follow the shape of the performer and illuminates the performer using a shape that adaptively follows the performer's image. This results in a shadowless follow spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Production Resource Group Inc.
    Inventor: William E. Hewlett
  • Modular winch for stage use
    Patent number: 8313090
    Abstract: A winch formed of modular components can be reconfigured between different operational configurations. A number of different lengths and devices can be attached to the winch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventor: James Kempf
  • Method and apparatus for making a high resolution light pattern generator on a transparent substrate
    Patent number: 8310751
    Abstract: A light pattern generator that can be used to form a gobo for use in a projection optical system. A transparent plate is coated with a stack that is absorptive and reflective. The stack is formed to be ablatable in the form of a pattern. The stack can have multiple different layers with multiple different characteristics, all of which are ablated by the laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Thomas Hough, James Bornhorst
  • Electronically controlled stage lighting system
    Patent number: 8300302
    Abstract: A lighting system operating using a digital mirror as its operative device. The digital mirror is used to shape the light which is a passed through advanced optical devices in order to produce an output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventors: William Hewlett, Ian Clarke, Nigel Evans, Richard Parker, Mark A. Hunt, Michael Hughes
  • Reduced size and reconfigurable winch
    Patent number: 8292268
    Abstract: A zero fleet winch that has a hollow drum and a motor and gear assembly mounted inside the drum. A roller assembly moves with the rotation to keep constant the angle where the cable goes on and off the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventor: James Kempf
  • Layered dimmer system
    Patent number: 8289605
    Abstract: A dimmer wheel which is formed to absorb large amounts of light and to disperse the light that is absorbed. The dimmer wheel has a bottom surface that is irregular, and a reflective material in that bottom surface to scatter the light. A light absorbing material also receives some of the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, L.L.C
    Inventor: James Bornhorst
  • Multiple focus point light
    Patent number: 8277084
    Abstract: A lamp unit with a relay lens that allows two different focus points. Two different optical altering elements are hence simultaneously in focus. The elements can be taken in and out of focus to allow different effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Hough, James Bornhorst
  • Gobo retaining spring system
    Patent number: 8262262
    Abstract: Gobo wheel assembly has multiple gobo devices on a rotatable wheel. A central sun gear can rotate all the gobos. The gobos can be inserted and released from the wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventor: Russell Mahaffey
  • Automated cable handling and cleaning system
    Patent number: 8250697
    Abstract: A cable processing system includes a conveyor that holds cables and conveys the cables in a specified direction. The operation stretches the cables and allows them to be packaged or otherwise coiled. The cable processing system may wash the cables as they pass thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventors: Robin Lee, Marc Palmer
  • Rover Wheel
    Publication number: 20120186893
    Abstract: A movable and steerable device that has a platform with four wheel assemblies, any of which are both drivable and steerable. Different driving and steering options can make the device move in different directions and orientations. The driving can be done by a drive motor, forming a drive loop of material, such as chain, and a steering motor, also forming a steering loop. The different loops are attached to different sprockets on the device, which have different sizes, and therefore the different loops do not interfere with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: Production Resource Group, L.L.C.
    Inventor: James Kempf
  • Load bank
    Patent number: 8228067
    Abstract: A load bank that is used to test electrical connections. The connections are attached to the load bank, so that the switches are loaded during the testing. The overheating or underheating, of either switches or loads can be tested, evaluated, and used to determine faults and errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Conti, Marc Palmer, Robin Lee
  • Light coloring system
    Patent number: 8220969
    Abstract: A rainbow wheel that colors light that is passed therethrough. The wheel can be formed using a photolithographic process. Another supermagenta wheel can be used to increase the number of colors that can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventor: James Bornhorst
  • File system for a stage lighting array system
    Patent number: 8219933
    Abstract: A file system for a stage lighting system that maintains the different files associated with the stage lighting system. Each of the files that can represent an effect are maintained within the system within a configuration file. The configuration file can be updated on each start of the system so that the system can maintain information indicative of current configuration files. A test mode can also be entered in which a pre-formed show can be tested against the current state of the configuration files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventor: Mark A. Hunt