Electronically Controlled Stage Lighting System

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 creating and modifying light, along an optical axis train using a first optical element;   the creating and modifying comprising controlling characteristics of the light using a digitally controllable element based on a command for digital control of the light that will be created as part of the creating and modifying, responsively altering the light created by the digitally controllable element responsive to the command;   controlling modification of the light that has been altered by the digitally controllable element; and   receiving optical information associated with the digitally controllable element, and producing an output indicative thereof that is used as part of control of the digitally controllable element.   
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the creating and modifying comprises controlling a coloring of the light. 
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 2 , further comprising receiving light from a position to receive substantially exactly what the digitally controllable element will pass as light. 
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 3 , wherein the receiving comprises using a prism for directing light to be received. 
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 3 , further comprising using the optical information to reduce parallax within the system. 
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein the digitally controllable element includes a DMD. 
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein the controlling modification comprises using a relay lens within an optical train of the system. 
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 7 , further comprising reducing an amount of heat within the light within the relay lens. 
     
     
         9 . A lighting apparatus, comprising:
 a digital light source, creating light along an optical axis train, the digital light source being controllable to control modification of the light along the light axis train and including a digitally controllable element which controls the light based on a command for digital control of the light by the digitally controllable element, and responsively creating a modified light; and   a controller that controls the modification of the light by the digitally controllable element, the controller receiving optical information associated with the digitally controllable element, and producing an output indicative thereof that is used as part of control of the digitally controllable element.   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as in  claim 9 , wherein the lighting apparatus includes a color controlling device. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as in  claim 9 , further comprising a light receiver, which receives light from a position to receive a sample of substantially exactly what the digitally controllable element will create as light. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as in  claim 9 , wherein the light receiver comprises a prism. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as in  claim 9 , wherein the digitally controllable element includes a DMD. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as in  claim 9 , further comprising a relay lens within an optical train of the system. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as in  claim 14 , further comprising a cooler, reducing an amount of heat within the light within the relay lens. 
     
     
         16 . A lighting control apparatus, comprising:
 a controller that controls and output of a remote light source, that creates light, and controls a first optical element, controlling modification of the light;   and controls a digitally controllable element which is located along the optical axis train and that controls the light based on a command for digital control of the light passed by the digitally controllable element, and the controller that responsively alters the light received by the digitally controllable element responsive to the command; and   the controller that controls modification of the light that has been altered by the digitally controllable element, the controller receiving optical information associated with the digitally controllable element, and producing an output indicative thereof that is used as part of control of the digitally controllable element.   
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as in  claim 16 , further comprising a light receiver, which receives light from a position to receive a sample of substantially exactly what the digitally controllable element will pass as light. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as in  claim 16 , wherein the digitally controllable element is a DMD.