1. A method for operating independent wireless communications nodes to cooperate as a synchronized network, comprising the steps of:
transmitting a sync pulse from each node upon firing of an internal pulse coupled oscillator (PCO) having a state function;
incrementing the state function in response to external sync pulses received from other nodes; providing a state machine in each node to switch between synchronized and unsynchronized operation;
first determining if any external sync pulses are received from other nodes between firings of the internal PCO except for a predetermined period after each firing; and
first selecting a synchronized, master mode of operation in response to the first determining step in the absence of any external sync pulses being received from other nodes between firings of the internal PCO except for a predetermined period after each firing.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling R.F. component duty-cycling with the state machine and second selecting R.F. component duty-cycling in conjunction with the step of first selecting the master node of operation.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:
periodically deselecting R.F. component duty-cycling;
first repeating the step of first determining; and
second repeating the step of first selecting in response to the step of first repeating.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising third selecting an unsynchronized mode of operation in response to the step of first repeating in the presence of external sync pulses being received from other nodes between firings of the internal PCO except for a predetermined period after each firing.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
second determining if an external sync pulse from another node is received within a predetermined period before firing of the internal PCO;
fourth selecting a synchronized, slave mode of operation in response to the step of second determining;
third determining when an external sync pulse from another node is not received in the slave mode of operation; and
providing an internal sync pulse in the selected slave mode of operation from an internal phase-locked-loop in response to the step of third determining.
6. A method for operating a wireless communications node to cooperate in a synchronized network of wireless nodes, comprising the steps of:
running an internal pulse coupled oscillator (PCO) with a state function to periodic firing for allowing synchronization with one or more other nodes;
incrementing the state function in response to external sync pulses received from other nodes; providing a state machine in each node to switch between synchronized and unsynchronized operation;
first determining if an external sync pulse from another node is received within a predetermined period before firing of the internal PCO;
selecting a synchronized, slave mode of operation in response to the step of first determining;
second determining when an external sync pulse from another node is not received in the slave mode of operation; and
providing an internal sync pulse in the selected slave mode of operation from an internal phase-locked-loop in response to the step of second determining.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising controlling R.F. component duty-cycling with the state machine and selecting R.F. component duty-cycling, of the node in the selected slave mode of operation.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising deselecting R.F. component duty-cycling in the selected slave mode of operation in response to the step of second determining.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:
third determining if an external sync pulse from another node is received within a predetermined period before tiring of the internal PCO; and
reselecting R.F. component duty-cycling of the node in the selected slave mode of operation in response to the step of third determining.
10. The method of claim 6, further comprising switching to unsynchronized operation from the slave mode in response to the step of second determining when an external sync pulse is not received over a predetermined number of PCO firings.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A system, comprising:
a source of light producing light along an optical axis train;
a first optical element, located along said optical axis train and receiving said light from said source of light;
a digitally controllable element which is located along said optical axis train and optically downstream from said first optical element, and receives light which has been modified by said first optical element, said digitally controllable element receiving a command for digital control of the light passed by said digitally controllable element and responsively altering said light responsive to said command;
a second optical element, optically downstream of said digitally controllable element, receiving light from said digitally controllable element and said second optical element modifying the light that has been altered by said digitally controllable element; and
a camera device, associated with said second optical element, said camera device receiving information associated with said digitally controllable element.
2. A system as in claim 1, wherein said camera device is located in a position to receive substantially exactly what the digitally controllable element will pass as light.
3. A system as in claim 2, further comprising an optical part which obtains a part of an optical beam altered by said digitally controllable element, and directing said part to said camera.
4. A system as in claim 3, wherein said optical part includes a prism.
5. A system as in claim 3, wherein said optical part is located in a location that is in line with the spotlight and receives the same field of view as the spotlight.
6. A system as in claim 3, further comprising a structure using said optical part to reduce parallax within the system.
7. A system as in claim 1, wherein said digitally controllable element is a DMD.
8. A system as in claim 3, further comprising a zoom lens, optically along said optical train and optically downstream of said optical part.
9. A system as in claim 3, further comprising a relay lens within an optical train of the system.
10. A system as in claim 9, further comprising a cold mirror located in an area between portions of the relay lens, to reduce heat in a light beam.
11. A system as in claim 1, wherein said camera device is a CCD camera.
12. A system as in claim 1, wherein said source of light produces more than 5000 lumens of output light.
13. A system, comprising:
a source of light producing light of more than 5000 lumens of output light along an optical axis train;
a first optical element, located along said optical axis train and receiving said light from said source of light, said first optical element including at least one focusing element, and at least one light coloring element;
a digitally controllable element which is located along said optical axis train and optically downstream from said first optical element to receive focused light from said focusing element of said first optical element, said digitally controllable element which receives light which has been modified by said first optical element, said digitally controllable element receiving a command for digital control of the light passed by said digitally controllable element and responsively altering said light received by said digitally controllable element responsive to said command;
a second optical element, optically downstream of said digitally controllable element, receiving light from said digitally controllable element and said second optical element, and modifying the light that has been altered by said digitally controllable element; and
a camera device, receiving optical information associated with said digitally controllable element, and producing an output indicative thereof that is used as part of control of said digitally controllable element.
13. A system as in claim 12, wherein said camera device is located in a position to receive substantially exactly what the digitally controllable element will pass as light.
14. A system as in claim 13, further comprising an optical part which obtains a part of an optical beam altered by said digitally controllable element, and directing said part to said camera.
15. A system as in claim 14, wherein said optical part includes a prism.
16. A system as in claim 14, wherein said optical part is located in a location that is in line with the spotlight and receives a same field of view as the spotlight.
17. A system as in claim 16, further comprising a structure using said optical part to reduce parallax within the system.
18. A system as in claim 12, wherein said digitally controllable element is a DMD.
19. A system as in claim 16, wherein said second optical element includes a zoom lens, optically along said optical train and optically downstream of said optical part.
20. A system as in claim 16, wherein said second optical element includes a relay lens within an optical train of the system.
21. A system as in claim 20, further comprising a cold mirror located in an area between portions of the relay lens, to reduce heat in a light beam that is projected thereby.
22. A system as in claim 12, wherein said camera device is a CCD camera.
23. A method, comprising:
first controlling modification of a light beam of more than 5000 lumens of output light along an optical axis train using a first optical element;
second controlling characteristics of said light beam using a digitally controllable element which is located along said optical axis train and optically downstream from said first optical based on a command for digital control of the light passed by said digitally controllable element and responsively altering said light received by said digitally controllable element responsive to said command;
third controlling modification of the light that has been altered by said digitally controllable element; and
receiving optical information associated with said digitally controllable element, and producing an output indicative thereof that is used as part of control of said digitally controllable element.
24. A method as in claim 23, wherein said first controlling comprises controlling a coloring of the light.
25. A method as in claim 23, wherein said receiving comprises receiving light from a position to receive substantially exactly what the digitally controllable element will pass as light.
26. A method as in claim 23, wherein said receiving comprises using a prism for directing light to be received.
27. A method as in claim 23, further comprising using said optical information to reduce parallax within the system.
28. A method as in claim 23, wherein said digitally controllable element is a DMD.
29. A method as in claim 23, wherein said third controlling comprises using a relay lens within an optical train of the system.
30. A method as in claim 29, further comprising reducing an amount of heat within the light beam within said relay lens.
31. A system, comprising;
an optical part producing output light having an intensity greater than 5000 lm.;
a light coloring device, receiving the light and changing a color thereof;
a digital light altering device, receiving the light and digitally changing at least one shape within the;
a relay lens, optically downstream of both said light coloring device and said light shaping device, said relay lens including a first light part, a second light part, and a heat reducing element between said first and second light parts.
32. A system as in claim 31, further comprising a camera device, receiving optical information associated with said digital light altering device, and producing an output indicative thereof that is used as part of control of said digital light altering device.
33. A system as in claim 32, wherein said camera device is located in a position to receive substantially exactly what the digital light altering device will pass as light.
34. A system as in claim 32, further comprising an optical part which obtains a part of an optical beam altered by said digital light altering device, and directing said part to said camera.
35. A system as in claim 34, wherein said optical part includes a prism.
36. A system as in claim 34, wherein said optical part is located in a location that is in line with the spotlight and receives a same field of view as the spotlight.
37. A system as in claim 36, further comprising a structure using said optical part to reduce parallax within the system.
38. A system as in claim 31, wherein said digital light altering device is a DMD.
39. A system as in claim 31, further comprising a zoom lens, optically along said optical train and optically downstream of said digital light altering device.
40. A system as in claim 12, wherein said camera device is a CCD camera.