Abstract: A luminaire is provided that includes a head, a movement system, and a control system. The movement system rotates the luminaire head around an axis of rotation. The movement system includes a motor and a braking system. The motor rotates the head about the axis of rotation and the braking system can prevent rotation of the motor. The control system receives an Engage Brake command via a data link. The control system engages the braking system in response to the Engage Brake command by determining whether the motor is rotating, causing rotation of the motor to stop electrically when the motor is rotating, determining whether the motor has stopped rotating, engaging the braking system when the motor has stopped rotating, and removing power from the motor. When the motor is stopped, the control system may store in non-volatile memory a current absolute position of the luminaire head.

Abstract: Described is dynamic and coordinated control of the insertion and positioning of multiple prism effects systems installed in an automated luminaire. Positioning sensors allow the precise control of the relative orientation of two or more prism rotation systems.

Abstract: An automated luminaire and method are provided. The automated luminaire includes a stepper motor, a mechanism moved by the stepper motor, and a control system coupled to the stepper motor. The control system rotates the stepper motor, senses a current passing through a motor winding of the stepper motor, determines from a calculated characteristic of the sensed current that the mechanism has contacted an end stop, and in response, stores data relating to a current position of the stepper motor in a memory of the control system.

Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of follow spots is provided. Pan and tilt orientation of a mounting mechanism for a follow spot controller is sensed. Operator pan and tilt parameters based on the sensed pan and tilt of the mounting mechanism are sent to a first automated luminaire. Individual calculated pan and tilt parameters are sent to each of the other automated luminaires, based on the pan and tilt parameters of the first automated luminaire and a three-dimensional model of a surface of a performance area and individual locations and mounting orientations of each of the plurality of automated luminaires relative to the performance area.

Abstract: A coordinated effects system and automated luminaire are provided. The automated luminaire includes a light source, an optical device, a first prism system, a second prism system, and a control system. The light source is configured to emit a light beam. The optical device is configured to produce a first image in the light beam. The first and second prism systems include corresponding first and second pluralities of prisms and are configured to position selected ones of their respective prisms in the light beam or to remove all of their prisms from the light beam. The first prism system is configured to rotate the selected one of its prisms to produce a modified image from the image. The second prism system is configured to rotate the selected one of its prisms to produce an output image from the modified image. The control system is configured to control the first and second prism systems.

Abstract: A framing system, automated luminaire, and method are provided. The framing system includes a first prism system and a second prism system. The first prism system includes a first barrel prism and positions the first barrel prism in a light beam or to remove the first barrel prism from the light beam. The first prism system may rotate the first barrel prism. The second prism system includes a second barrel prism and is configured to position the second barrel prism in the light beam that passes through the first prism system or to remove the second barrel prism from the light beam. The second prism system may rotate the second barrel prism.

Abstract: An optical system and luminaire are provided. The luminaire includes a plurality of LED die sets, a plurality of light pipes corresponding to the LED die sets, and a plurality of light pipe holders corresponding to the light pipes. Each of the LED die sets includes a plurality of LED dies. The LED dies of at least one LED die set emit light beams of a plurality of colors that corresponds to the plurality of LED dies. The light pipe holders are configured to hold their light pipes in positions optically coupled to corresponding LED die sets. The light pipe corresponding to the at least one LED die set has an output face, an input face to receive a light beam, and a body extending from the input face to the output face. A cross-section of the body rotates along a central axis extending between the input face and the output face.

Abstract: An LED module and luminaire are provided. The luminaire includes a controller and an optical system with adjustable optical elements and an LED module with an LED circuit board electrically coupled to the controller. The LED circuit board includes an array of LEDs configured in two or more concentric zones, each zone including a plurality of LEDs. Intensity of the LEDs of a first zone is controlled independently of the LEDs of a second zone. The controller controls the intensity of at least the first zone based upon a configuration of the adjustable optical elements. The LED module can be removed from the luminaire without removing other elements of the optical system by electrically uncoupling the LED circuit board from the controller and mechanically uncoupling the LED module from the luminaire.

Abstract: An LED module and luminaire are provided. The LED module includes an LED circuit board having an array of LEDs powered by an electrical connector. The array of LEDs includes two or more pluralities of LEDs. The LEDs of a first plurality are rotated relative to the LEDs of a second plurality. The rotation amount is not an integer multiple of 90°. The LEDs of the first plurality are not rotated relative to each other, and the LEDs of the second plurality are not rotated relative to each other. The LED module can be removed from an optical system of the luminaire by electrically uncoupling the LED circuit board and mechanically uncoupling the LED module from the luminaire without removing other elements of the optical system from the luminaire.

Abstract: An LED module is provided that includes an LED circuit board having a substrate and an array of LEDs and an electrical connector mounted on the substrate. The LED module can be removed from an optical system of a luminaire by electrically uncoupling the LED circuit board from the luminaire and mechanically uncoupling the LED module from the luminaire without removing other elements of the optical system from the luminaire. A luminaire is provided that includes a controller and an optical system having an LED module. The LED module has an LED circuit board electrically coupled to the controller. The LED circuit board has a substrate and an array of LEDs mounted thereon. The LED module can be removed from the luminaire without removing other elements of the optical system by electrically uncoupling the LED circuit board from the controller and mechanically uncoupling the LED module from the luminaire.

Abstract: A luminaire and light source are provided. The light source includes first, second, and third arrays of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a beam combiner. The LEDs of the first, second, and third arrays of LEDs emit beams whose optical axes are substantially parallel. Each of the first and second arrays of LEDs produce light of two colors. The third array of LEDs produces light of a single color. Each of the arrays of LEDs includes a plurality of zones, each zone spatially separated from other zones. Each zone of the first and second arrays includes LEDs of two colors. The intensities of the LEDs of each zone are controlled independently from the LEDs of other zones. The beam combiner combines light beams from all three arrays of LEDs and produces an emitted beam of light and maintains the optical axes of the light beams as substantially parallel to each other in the emitted beam of light.

Abstract: Presented is a multiparameter automated luminaire comprised of a plurality of light engine modules, a plurality of which by design homogenize light emitted by its light sources more fully than at least one of the light engine modules, which is intentionally designed to noticeably not fully homogenize the light emitted by its light sources. In the preferred embodiment, the non homogenizing light engine module also includes light modulators optionally engagable to more fully homogenize the light output from that light engine module.

Abstract: A follow spot controller and method are provided that store first and second sets of individual pan and tilt parameters for each of a plurality of automated luminaires and calibrate a 3-D model of a surface of a performance area and location and mounting orientations of the automated luminaires relative to the performance area, based on the stored sets of individual pan and tilt parameters. A physical orientation of the follow spot controller is sensed and operator pan and tilt parameters are sent to one of the automated luminaires. The operator pan and tilt parameters are based on the physical orientation of the follow spot controller. Individual calculated pan and tilt parameters are sent to each of the other automated luminaires. The individual calculated pan and tilt parameters are based on the operator pan and tilt parameters and the 3-D model.

Abstract: A follow spot controller is provided that communicates with a lighting control desk and with a first automated luminaire. A physical orientation of the follow spot controller is sensed and used to replace pan and tilt control parameters received from the lighting control desk for the first luminaire. The modified control parameters are sent to the first luminaire. A three-dimensional model of a performance area and the locations and orientations of the first luminaire and additional automated luminaires relative to the performance area may be used to calculate individual pan and tilt parameters for the additional luminaires based on the first luminaire's replacement pan and tilt parameters.

Abstract: An automated luminaire and method are presented. The luminaire includes a light source, an ellipsoidal reflector, an optical device, and a controller. The ellipsoidal reflector produces an emitted light beam and moves along an optical axis. The optical device receives the emitted light beam and produces either a modified light beam or an unmodified light beam. The controller determines whether the optical device is producing the modified or unmodified light beam. If the optical device is producing the modified light beam, the controller automatically moves the ellipsoidal reflector to a selected position to reduce an effect on the optical device of a hotspot in the emitted light beam. The controller may move the ellipsoidal reflector to a selected position relative to the light source in response to determining that the optical device is producing the modified light beam.

Abstract: A color wheel for use in an automated luminaire includes a transparent substrate and a patterned dichroic filter coating on the transparent substrate. The pattern includes a first region and a second region. The first region includes unconnected coated dots, most of the coated dots having a substantially equal first size. The coated dots vary in density from a lower density at a first end of the first region to a higher density at a second end of the first region. The second region includes a contiguous dichroic filter coating that includes unconnected uncoated holes, most of the uncoated holes having a substantially equal second size. The uncoated holes vary in density from a higher density at a first end of the second region to a lower density at a second end of the second region. The first end of the second region abuts the second end of the first region.

Abstract: A luminaire includes a plurality of light modules that have a light source at one end, an exit aperture at the other end, and a light source cover. A first baffle forms sides of first shielding compartments that correspond to the light modules. A light shield that includes a plurality of shield apertures that correspond to the plurality of light modules. Each shield aperture fits around a corresponding light module. The light shield is mounted on a proximal end of the first baffle and the exit aperture of each light module is located in a corresponding first shielding compartment. The light shield is configured to reduce light spill from the first shielding compartments toward the proximal ends of the light modules. The luminaire also includes a plurality of output lenses that correspond to the plurality of first shielding compartments. The output lenses are coupled to a distal end of the first baffle and the edges of each lens are coated with a light absorbing coating.

Abstract: An automated luminaire and method are provided. The automated luminaire includes a stepper motor, a mechanism moved by the stepper motor, and a control system coupled to the stepper motor. The control system rotates the stepper motor, senses a current passing through a motor winding of the stepper motor, determines from a calculated characteristic of the sensed current that the mechanism has contacted an end stop, and in response, stores data relating to a current position of the stepper motor in a memory of the control system.

Abstract: An optical system and luminaire are provided. The luminaire includes a plurality of LED die sets, a plurality of light pipes corresponding to the LED die sets, and a plurality of light pipe holders corresponding to the light pipes. Each of the LED die sets includes a plurality of LED dies. The LED dies of at least one LED die set emit light beams of a plurality of colors that corresponds to the plurality of LED dies. The light pipe holders are configured to hold their light pipes in positions optically coupled to corresponding LED die sets. The light pipe corresponding to the at least one LED die set has an output face, an input face to receive a light beam, and a body extending from the input face to the output face. A cross-section of the body rotates along a central axis extending between the input face and the output face.

Abstract: A beam shaper module and an automated luminaire are provided. The beam shaper can be installed on or removed from an automated luminaire that produces a plurality of beams of light. The beam shaper module includes a housing, a beam shaper, one or more motors, and a control circuit. The housing detachably couples to a light emitting face of a head of the luminaire. The beam shaper includes an array of ribbed lenses, each lens extending across the beam shaper and receiving light from fewer than all of the light beams. The motor(s) rotate the beam shaper about an axis of rotation coincident with an optical axis of the luminaire. The control circuit receives power and control signals from the luminaire and, in response to the control signals, controls rotation of the beam shaper using the motor(s).