LIGHT AND SOUND COLUMN

The invention relates to a device for simultaneously controlling sound equipment and lighting equipment intended for use during lessons in a gym, comprising a memory for storing sound data and lighting data, an operating unit for displaying at least a part of the stored sound data, from which a user can make a selection by entering operating commands, control means for sound equipment, control means for lighting equipment and a processor which is connected to the operating unit the memory and both control means, which processor is adapted to control sound equipment and lighting equipment for connecting by means of the respective control means on the basis of the operating commands, sound data and lighting data, wherein the lighting data comprise lighting information relating to the lighting equipment available, for instance the number and type of lamps and the setting parameters thereof, wherein the sound data comprise one or more lessons with music files, each with an associated lighting genre, and wherein the processor is further adapted to control the lighting equipment on the basis of a selected lesson and the lighting information present in the memory while taking into account the lighting genre associated with each music file.

The device according to the invention has been specially developed for application in gyms. Group lessons in gyms are practically always accompanied by music. A music CD specifically geared to the relevant lesson is often played using a CD player.

The invention has for its object to provide an alternative hereto. The device according to the invention provides the advantage that the music files of the selected lesson can be played in full with automatic accompaniment of a lighting program suitable for each music file. In a first preferred embodiment the processor is further adapted to generate in real time a lighting program comprising values for the setting parameters, and the lighting genre associated with a music file defines values permitted for the setting parameters. When a full lesson is played, a lighting program which makes optimal use of the lighting equipment available is dynamically generated for each music file. The resulting light and sound show enhances the enjoyment of the participants in the lesson.

In preference the setting parameters comprise light intensity and the permitted values comprise minimum and maximum values. The light intensity has a great influence on the perception of the participants and can now be optimally adapted to the lesson.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the setting parameters further comprise the frequency and the basis for changing the values generated for the setting parameters. The lighting program can thus be even better adapted to the content of the lesson. A time-controlled basis is for instance advantageous in warming up and cooling down, while a rhythm-controlled basis is advantageous in the more active part of a lesson, in which music with a faster rhythm is played. In a further preferred embodiment the device is provided with a Digital MultipleXed-controller (DMX) for controlling the lighting equipment. DMX is a frequently used standard protocol in lighting engineering, for which many components are available.

In yet another preferred embodiment the device is provided with a digital signal processor (often abbreviated to DSP) for controlling the sound equipment. DSP is a microprocessor specially designed for processing (continuous) digital signals. In a practical embodiment the device according to the invention further comprises a receiver for at least one microphone which is connected to the digital signal processor, wherein the digital signal processor is adapted to transmit audio signals coming from the receiver to the sound equipment. The instructor can then give explanation and instructions during the lesson without the music having to be stopped.

In a user-friendly embodiment of the device according to the invention the operating unit is a touchscreen.

In an elegant embodiment the device according to the invention has a housing in the form of a column. The invention will now be elucidated with reference to the accompanying drawings of several exemplary embodiments, to which the invention is not limited, in the figures:

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of a device according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a diagram of the coupling between the components of the device according to figure 1; and

Figure 3 shows a network of a plurality of devices according to figure 1 and a manager computer.

Figure 1 shows schematically a preferred embodiment of a device 10 according to the invention.

In the shown preferred embodiment device 10 is a column. Column 10 has a housing 11 which comprises an operating unit in the form of a touchscreen 12.

Column 10 also comprises a receiver 13 for a microphone (optionally as part of a headset) and an amplifier 14. Further provided are a processor 15 and a memory 16. These can form part of a personal computer 17. In addition, a printed circuit board 18 is provided with a controller which functions in accordance with a protocol for lighting engineering, such as Digital Multiplexed (DMX). There is further the printed circuit board 19 provided with a digital signal processor (often abbreviated to DSP), a microprocessor specially designed for processing (continuous) digital signals. Both printed circuit boards have their own power supply 25. Personal computer 17 also has its own power supply 27. Figure 2 shows schematically the coupling between the components of column 10. A user of column 10 enters operating commands by touching touchscreen 12. For the intended use in a gym the touchscreen will show a part of the sound data available in the form of complete lessons with music files. The user must him/herself choose the program corresponding to the lesson. This operating command is processed by processor 15 of personal computer 17.

The sound data (music files) associated with the chosen lesson scheme are retrieved from memory 16. The associated setting parameters for the sound equipment can be generated both statically and dynamically and are transmitted to DSP printed circuit board 19. This DSB printed circuit board 19 also receives audio signals from receiver 13. Additional audio sources 23 and 24 can optionally also be connected to DSP printed circuit board 19. Several non-limitative examples hereof are: an extra headset, an iPod or a discman.

DSP printed circuit board 19 then controls the sound equipment to be connected, such as loudspeakers 20. An output amplifier 21 is optionally connected between DSP printed circuit board 19 and loudspeakers 20.

The lighting data preferably comprise lighting information relating to the lighting equipment available, for instance the number and type of lamps and the functions thereof. On the basis of the selected sound data and this lighting information the processor generates a lighting program dynamically (in real time), comprising setting parameters for the lighting equipment. The lighting genre associated with the selected sound data is here taken into account.

The generation preferably takes place at random so that the control of the lighting equipment is always different for each music file from a selected lesson. The generated lighting program is transmitted to DMX printed circuit board 18. DMX printed circuit board 18 controls the lighting equipment, such as lamps 30, via the DMX controller.

In an alternative embodiment the lighting data comprise a number of statically generated (pre-programmed) lighting programs, comprising setting parameters for the lighting equipment, each parameter being associated with a lighting genre. On the basis of the selected music files the processor automatically selects a lighting program from memory 16 with the same lighting genre for control of the lighting equipment to be connected. The selected lighting program is retrieved from memory 16 and transmitted to DMX printed circuit board 18. DMX printed circuit board 18 controls the lighting equipment, such as lamps 30, via the DMX controller. Figure 3 shows a system 1 of a plurality of columns 10 according to the invention and a manager computer in the form of a personal computer 40, which are in mutual connection by means of a network. Manager computer 40 is provided with means 41 for reading a digital storage medium, such as a compact disc (CD), memory card and other (future) suitable, for instance optical storage media. In the described and shown preferred embodiment the means 41 comprise a CD medium.

Manager computer 40 can make connection via internet 50 to a private compact disc database (CDDB) 51 and to a public CDDB 52. The CDDBs comprise information about music CDs, such as title, number of tracks, duration of the tracks, title of the tracks etcetera. Manager computer 40 is adapted for data management and, for each music CD inserted into and read in medium 41 , automatically retrieves all information available on CDDB 51 and 52 that is associated with the music CD. If no information is available, it must be entered into manager computer 40 by the user. A lighting genre from an available list is then linked to the music CD. Several non-limitative examples of lighting genre are: disco, soul, rock, house, cooling down and warming up. Manager computer 40 merges the data from the music CD and the CD information into sound data, for instance in the form of group lessons with music files, and stores them for use in the network.

In the preferred embodiment however, columns 10 comprise lighting information relating to the lighting equipment available at the location. This lighting information must be entered once at the location, and for instance comprises the number and the type of the lamps available and the setting parameters thereof. The type is indicated per lighting device, for instance:

1. wall lighting;

2. room lighting; 3. stage lighting;

4. work lighting; and

5. special lighting.

A number of setting parameters are associated with each type of lamp. A lamp which can mix red, green and blue light has for instance three channels with the setting parameter for light intensity. A list of possible setting parameters for instance comprises:

1. light intensity;

2. light intensity red;

3. light intensity green;

4. light intensity blue; 5. rotation horizontal (pan);

6. rotation vertical (tilt);

7. gobo (transparency with a pattern)

8. colour disc.

According to the invention a number of lighting genres are defined, to which permitted values for the setting parameters are related. Several examples of such permitted values are:

1. minimum and maximum value;

2. frequency of change in the value;

3. time-controlled or rhythm-controlled change in value; 4. maximum extent of the change in value;

5. number of changes in value preceding a new value, without taking example 4 into account;

6. speed of transition of the change in value.

System 1 is adapted for the synchronization of columns 10 in the network.

The object of the synchronization is to update the sound data such that the most recent versions are installed on each column 10. The synchronization comprises the following steps:

STEP 1

One of the devices or the manager computer starts the synchronization by transmitting a broadcast over the network. The sender of the broadcast is designated below as client and all other connected devices, including the manager computer, if it is not the client, are designated below as server. The servers listen to this broadcast and give a response to the client that they are present. STEP 2

The client compiles a list with available servers and determines a sequence for processing each server. STEP 3

The client makes a connection to the first server found. STEP 4

Which versions of the sound data the server has is exchanged. STEP 5

The client compares the versions of the server to the versions the client itself has. STEP 6

The newest data are exchanged between the client and the server. These new data are processed on the server and the client. STEP 7

Steps 3, 4, 5 and 6 are then performed for each server present on the list in the sequence as determined in step 2. STEP 8

When all the servers have been processed, the same servers are synchronized once again in reverse order in order to ensure that the newest data reaches all servers. This means that steps 3, 4, 5 and 6 are performed for each server present on the list in the reverse order to that determined in step 2.

The synchronization can optionally also relate to the lighting data. "Sound data" in step 4 must then read "sound data and/or lighting data".

The synchronization steps are preferably fully implemented in software. The software is intended for installation on manager computer 40 and columns 10 in the network.

Each column 10 offers the user a choice from the sound data available in the memory. If an additional audio source is connected, the corresponding lighting genre must be determined. The lighting genre can optionally be determined automatically on the basis of the rhythm of the music. Alternatively, the lighting genre can be chosen by the user by means of the operating unit.

The available sound data are displayed on operating unit 12, for instance in the form of lessons with music files. After selection of sound data, for instance a lesson, this is played in full with automatic generation of a matching lighting program.

Column 10 is adapted to simultaneously control the connected sound equipment on the basis of the selected sound data and to control the connected lighting equipment on the basis of the generated lighting program.

It is noted for the sake of completeness that the invention is of course not limited to the described and shown preferred embodiments, but extends to any embodiment falling within the scope of protection as defined in the claims, as seen in the light of the foregoing description and accompanying drawings.