Overview of lighting network control system of Dongguan Yulan Grand Theater

Mr. Ma Limin, general manager of Guangzhou shiquande Lighting Co., Ltd., chief executive officer of China Office of Quande lighting, and pan Yunhui, senior engineer.

[Abstract] with the rapid development of digital, networked and intelligent lighting technology, intelligent control and humanized management of stage space positioning lighting have gradually become the focus of attention of professionals in the industry. Using advanced and reliable network high-speed transmission technology, the whole lighting control system will be built into a reliable and perfect network intelligent control system, which is the direction of joint efforts of professionals in the industry. In view of the fact that the international general agreement of lighting network application technology has not been officially issued, all manufacturers have applied their own network control protocol to design products, and its universality is still in the exploration stage. Therefore, the design of lighting network control system recently pays attention to the priority control of multiple control sources. The lighting network control system of Dongguan Yulan Grand Theater in 2005 is the design work under this background. This paper describes its application scheme, and share with you.

1、 Function orientation of theater lighting network system

The stage lighting signal transmission system with international mature Ethernet network is adopted to realize the integration of management, effectively reduce the operation cost, and provide the realization platform for the system upgrading and equipment upgrading in the future, so as to make its application function reach the international first-class level. The specific functions are as follows:

(1) Build a lighting network in the Grand Theater, and transfer all the programmed stage lighting, audience lighting and workplace lighting control systems, including the input and output signals of DMX, feedback signals, manual control, remote control, monitoring signals, video signals, setting functions, and upgrade functions, etc. on the Ethernet network.

(2) Uniform wiring and convenient maintenance. Super class 5 cable can transmit feedback signal, video signal, and other digital signals at the same time, with large data transmission capacity and high speed; the network hub is used to connect the cables, so the system upgrade is simple.

(3) Through the network to achieve resource sharing, the main and standby lamp control console synchronous real-time operation, to maximize the smooth progress of the performance; the use of LAN and Internet can carry out digital analog display and editing, saving installation, lighting, rehearsal time, effectively improving the use efficiency of the theater.

(4) The monitoring system is powerful. Different from the traditional analog or other digital detection systems, Ethernet can bear a huge amount of information, and the information transmitted is not only fast, but also rich in types: image, music, database, etc. Through the configuration of multi-level password protection function of users, managers with different permissions can carry out all-round remote detection, monitoring, modification and regulation.

(5) The network port distribution of the lighting control system can greatly meet the application needs of various theatres and the requirements of modern theater management, and reserve the needs of system expansion and equipment upgrading in the future.

(6) Meet the present, compatible with the future. The unification of DMX512 equipment and network lighting equipment, system upgrade, only need to replace the corresponding software, can real-time monitoring of all hardware facilities, more reasonable allocation of equipment utilization, provide hardware facilities drawings, remote or offline editing, complete design ideas, shorten the installation time, and improve the utilization rate of the theater.

2、 Network control system settings

Setting principle: the equipment configuration allocated according to the needs shall meet the performance function of the Grand Theater as the premise, so as to achieve scientific, advanced, practical, safe, pay attention to international standards, and conform to China's national conditions, which is convenient to use. The key equipment shall reach the international level and meet the CE standard; the pipeline selection and supporting construction shall conform to the relevant international and national industrial standards and specifications, so as to ensure the safety of the control system All lighting network control systems are equipped with double backup multi-level protection system, and the control signal has strict and effective real-time full tracking backup to ensure no loss.

(1) Design principles of lighting network system

① The lighting network control system of theater is the integration of new generation high-speed network and intelligent digital control equipment. The design of Ethernet and DMX512 network co-exist is adopted. This dual signal co-existence system not only meets the current requirements, but also leaves sufficient room for the future system upgrading, upgrading and new technology development.

② The dual signal co-existence network provides an information exchange platform for the Grand Theater, which covers the Grand Theater, multi-functional theater and theater administrative departments and other places. The system consists of two local area networks, each site network is relatively independent, and can be controlled as a whole, so it is convenient to connect with the Internet.

③ The construction of Ethernet network structure is standardized and modular, with multi-level and multi-level online protection function, and network backup is fully automated; the line design is forward-looking and compatible, which can fully meet the needs of system expansion and upgrading such as line extension and node increase in the future, and can easily implement the future ACN protocol;

④ The network backbone cables in each site are laid with multi-mode optical fiber. Four sets of lighting network switches are set up in the theater to form a ring topology structure, which provides a highly reliable information exchange and transmission platform for the theater network.

The reliability, advanced nature, practicability and economy of equipment selection are excellent.

The console adopts the international technology mature, superior and reliable console, with network learning function, supporting full tracking backup. The control node distribution and system design are advanced, reasonable and forward-looking, taking full account of the different requirements of the program, and adapt to the usage habits of lighting designers and operators at home and abroad.

⑦ The connectors and wires meet the international standards, which are safe, reliable and durable. The selection of transmission medium should be reasonable, and the performance parameters of each medium, the actual construction and the actual needs in the future are comprehensively considered.

(2) Design goal of lighting network system

① Information interoperability:

The lighting network equipment conforms to the international standard network transmission protocol TCP / IP protocol and light control protocol DMX512 (1990), which completely solves the problem of network data interoperability.

② Information interoperability:

The lighting network equipment designed are the lighting network console and network node produced by strand company and the network equipment in line with international standards produced by famous international companies, which thoroughly solves the problem of network data interoperability and truly realizes information sharing.

③ Reliability of information:

The equipment selected in the design has reliable performance and mature technology. Strand lighting network equipment has error proofing and error correction function, which makes the transmission data more secure and reliable, and ensures the safe and stable operation of the system. Shownet is a lighting network system with advanced technology and complete functions. It has a set of lighting network system management system and effective measures to prevent various network conflicts, effectively enhance the practicability and stability of the network. Through prediction and information feedback, the equipment fault can be detected in time, and measures can be taken quickly to repair the fault, so as to reduce or eliminate network interruption and equipment failure. Taking the measures of online backup of key equipment, even if there is a failure, the backup equipment can immediately take over the work, without interruption and affecting the normal operation of the work. Improve the quality of network operation, use new technology, adopt reasonable, effective and reliable transmission media and network operation equipment. The terminal equipment ensures the accuracy and fast efficiency of data transmission, and improves the utilization rate of network resources. By fully understanding the signal points required by stage lighting and reasonably arranging the lines, the maximum utilization rate of network signals can be fully improved.

④ Comprehensive system control:

Lighting network system can carry almost all lighting equipment, including stage conventional lights, digital mechanized lights, computer lights, color changer, effector and field lighting.

⑤ System control diversity:

Through the network system to achieve the lighting direct control, remote control, monitoring, multi person control and multi-point control. System scalability: Shownet can be easily upgraded and expanded at any time, convenient for remote diagnosis and equipment maintenance, and compatible with the future lighting network protocol (ACN protocol).

3、 Network system equipment configuration

(1) Lighting network structure

The lighting network is composed of the main network of the Grand Theater and the lighting control system network. The backbone network is responsible for the data transmission, system connection and sharing between the lighting network workstations. It mainly adopts advanced, stable and high-speed gigabit optical fiber Ethernet technology, which makes the resource sharing of lighting control system more scientific, reasonable and easy. Network system design, including backbone network design and single system network design, using optical fiber connection. Its three major advantages are: 1. Effective suppression of electromagnetic interference; 2. Long distance transmission of signals without attenuation; 3. Simultaneous transmission of signals from both directions of the loop to ensure the stability of the overall main system. The backbone lighting network equipment shall be the equipment conforming to the international standard TCP / IP communication transmission protocol and reliable performance; the network multi-level backup ensures high-speed, reliable and shared data transmission.

The lighting network switch of the Grand Theater is located in the central control room, dimmer room, stage equipment layer and on stage gate, which connects the whole lighting network system of the Grand Theater and is connected with the multi-functional theater lighting network switch.

In the design of the trunk line of the whole lighting network system of the Grand Theater, four sets of central lighting network equipment are connected in the form of double ring LAN. The main lighting network equipment and each set of lighting network equipment in the control room can work independently and redundancy with each other. The network switch has a three-layer structure. The fiber-optic transceiver interface realizes the stacking function and network management function, and supports the latest international standard IEEE 802.3af.

The specific locations of the Ethernet nodes of the Grand Theater include: the lighting control room of the Grand Theater, the right bridge of the stage, the left bridge of the stage, the side stage of the stage, the orchestra, the slap room, the dimmer room, the stage equipment layer, and the surface light bridge. There are 138 distribution points in the design of the theater network nodes.

① Fixed point control

The lighting and editing work is connected to the computer console through the lighting control stations in the control room, orchestra pit and auditorium to complete the lighting scheduling. The control room is mainly used for performance dimming. The lighting control stations beside the orchestra pit and in the auditorium are used not only to make and edit new lighting methods for performances, but also to be used by directors and lighting engineers when arranging programs.

② Multipoint control

The excellent characteristic of all digital network dimming system is that it has the function of multi-point control and field backup. According to the need, the multipoint control interface is set up for the lighting engineer to call at any time.

③ Multi person control

The function can be set to create a second, or even a third or fourth control input into the system as a branch of the console role. In the remote control mode, each console has its own independent input command and display, and the data of the control loop can be "partitioned" and recorded. This function allows a console to independently record the control loop on the main cue field, while at the same time, other lighting engineers can use their loops to segment and execute on the same cue field. With its own display and unique loop list, the loop of each console can be divided into any part of the whole system, so as to meet the needs of the program performance.

④ Wireless remote control

According to the transmission line can be connected to the portable wireless controller (such as: PDA dimming), to achieve remote control of the whole system. The portable wireless remote controller (PDA) can call out various functions on the console, which can save the light time and improve the practicability and flexibility of the whole system operation.

(2) Backbone optical network

The designed backbone network refers to the control and contact network of each network switch in the Grand Theater, such as the control room of the Grand Theater, dimmer room, equipment layer, etc. Due to the long line and large amount of data transmission, the backbone network adopts the Gigabit Ethernet system with single-mode fiber.

At present, many network system design concepts have been quite complete, each has a computer network system, backbone connection between systems, considering the transmission distance and signal quality and system expansion in the future, the signal source is converted into optical signal for transmission through optical fiber transceiver. Due to the use of Gigabit Ethernet technology based on multimode fiber, the overall network expansion and connection The connection is relatively simple. The backbone optical fiber network is fully compatible with the network system of the Grand Theater. In this way, the investment is saved and the resources are reasonably utilized, so that the whole system function is very perfect. As long as the optical fiber signal is directly connected to the network optical fiber transceiver of the Grand Theater, the computer network resources can be used to realize the network resource sharing in the Grand Theater. The light system, audio system, video system and computer system can all realize the file sharing and communication at the same time It is convenient for the system to upgrade the system and remote diagnosis and maintenance of equipment on the Internet.

(3) Lighting network control

System Ethernet / DMX lighting network, lighting network control system, refers to the network transmission and monitoring of light control information system. The whole control system strictly follows TCP / IP protocol and USITT DMX512 / 1990. The light control system is distributed in a star shape, and each signal is concentrated in its own light network switch. Ethernet nodes are distributed through the hub. The data transmission medium is class 5 Ethernet signal line. The DMX signal is provided by the sn110 network node in the network switch. Each sn110 has LCD display to provide information indication and two DMX interfaces. Each interface can use the network Network configuration software or browser to set. All sn110 settings can be completed from the central computer of the grand theater or any wireless scene remote controller. The power supply is directly provided from the network by the network cable (the latest international standard IEEE 802.3af). All portable network units can be directly connected and powered on by the network interface of plug-ins. Through the strand sn1xx node network node, the Ethernet control signal and the dmxsignal can be converted and reasonably distributed in each of the dmxsignal nodes of the Grand Theater. The lighting network configuration has a special network configuration software, which can configure and modify all information nodes in the network in a unified way. The network has Ethernet DMX control, wireless remote control, wired remote control, and can access the field light control system and environmental lighting control system.

The technology adopted in this design has fully introduced strand Shownet technology, one of the world's leading technologies, which was first developed and continuously improved by Schneider. Including the latest wireless network system, the latest published work power in the network wire, etc., to provide the flexibility of the control system, it completely integrates the lighting control system into the network system, and carries out seamless integration, systematically integrates and expands the lighting control technology, making the lighting network control more simple and easy, and using Shownet TCP / IP protocol and software bring the latest achievement of technological innovation to lighting control.

The lighting network control equipment in the grand theater can be controlled by the system, without any signal compatibility problem. The powerful strand Shownet configuration network configuration editing software is applied, and the system can be placed arbitrarily through the humanized interface. The data can also be updated from any specific area The node avoids the tedious operation from one node to another to update the system. The software can assign and assign all Ethernet location, information, IP, gateway, multipoint transmission, combination and branch network information to each node by setting. It can be said that strand Shownet is a major technical innovation of the traditional DMX512 and a qualitative leap of the lighting control system. It thoroughly solves the technical problems that can not be realized by a series of DMX512 networks, such as thousands of loop large-scale theatres or multi-functional theaters, loop distribution and multiple dimmers controlling the same group of dimming cabinets and CNC equipment.

In order to ensure the reliability and stability of the system operation, the UPS power supply is used in each central control room. The UPS products of APC company in the United States are used here. This UPS power supply is an on-line system, which can provide the load with stable frequency, stable voltage and uninterrupted high-quality pure sine wave AC. the system can effectively overcome the direct supply from the external power grid Common power quality problems caused by electricity, such as high voltage, low voltage, sudden change or sharp wave, clutter interference on power line, power supply interruption or instantaneous power failure, etc., can ensure the normal operation of network equipment and prevent data loss in computer and data processing system. UPS is specially designed for various micro-computer networks, small computer workstations and precision electronic instruments. Its operation is extremely reliable. It can also increase battery pack and extend backup power supply time to meet the special needs of long-term power supply in case of power failure.

(4) Network wiring

The design for network wiring, wiring and junction box process are very detailed, in all networks, the use of American amp company series lock connector, all network equipment production and erection are in line with international industrial standards. Among them, the outsourcing part selects the industry-leading products, such as "IMC", "3M", "3Com", etc., which can effectively enhance the high level and stability of the system. The strong current output part and signal transmission part of each circuit are included in the junction box. The weak current interface part adopts the international advanced production process, which eliminates the interference of other signals. The wire connector meets the International Electrical Certification, All wires are treated with flame retardant, and the connection between wires and connectors requires welding technology to completely eliminate the ignition phenomenon in connectors. The overall layout is based on the architectural structure and the layout standards of the theater. The overall layout shows the advanced nature and stability of the modern theater automation lighting control system.

The lighting network control of the Grand Theater follows the TCP / IP network protocol and USITT DMX512 / 1990. The overall control adopts the Ethernet system. The ultra-5 twisted pair is used to transmit TCP / IP, DMX512 and other digital signals. Each Ethernet interface is protected by metal connectors.

(5) System hardware and software

The dimmer is the hub center of the whole system. This design uses the strand 550i computer dimming console. There are three modes defined: main console, backup console and remote control console. The main console is the head of the whole network. After connecting the "shownettm" Ethernet network and Sn series websites, 2048 channels of dmxs output can be increased to 8192 channels (16 dmxs units); to control the backup console of the whole system, it is connected to the console with the network architecture, The full tracking backup mode is used to learn the main console, that is, the main and standby dimmers are processed in parallel. If the key is pressed on any dimmer, the other dimmer will learn immediately and output signals synchronously during the performance. Compared with the traditional hot backup mode of dual computers (that is, programming on the host, recording on the disk, and then going to the backup station, once there is a failure during the performance, it is necessary to call out the program from the backup station for emergency operation), which has greater time efficiency and security. The standby console can also be the sub console of the main console. In large-scale performances, it can be handled by division of labor. For example, the main console is controlled by traditional lights, the standby console is controlled by color changer, and function expansion can also be set.

In this design scheme, the strand 550i computer dimmer is used as the main dimmer and the other strand 550i computer dimmer is used as the auxiliary dimmer. After the two dimmers are connected to each other, they can backup each other, and another strand 550i or 300 computer dimmer can be selected as the complete tracking and backup table. Backup work is provided between two 550i consoles. When the backup 550i computer dimmer automatically confirms the "host" identity of the console fails, the backup 550i or 300 computer dimmer will automatically confirm the takeover until the other console is online and "login" is set to another "host" or "remote control" At this time, a fully functional control platform is ready, and the replacement of the network and the conversion of control rights are fully automated. In addition, the 550i console can also be set as a backup role to serve other console. The dimmer station and dimmer station learn from each other and are fully tracking backup to ensure stable and smooth signal output.

Through the network node, the lighting control station and monitoring interface can be set up in the auditorium of the Grand Theater, so as to realize the multi-point control, multi-person control, remote control and monitoring of the lighting in the Grand Theater. This highly flexible lighting control system with international advanced level fully embodies the modern management concept and new lighting operation management mode of stage lighting in the Grand Theater, which greatly saves the time for installation and lighting, and also brings revolutionary convenience to the voice and visual communication between the director and the lighting engineer in the scene during the programming. As the integration of new generation high-speed network and intelligent digital dimming equipment, the DMX512 and Ethernet dimming system is the most ideal stage lighting control system at present. It can not only transmit DMX512 signal, but also transmit Ethernet signal, which combines the advantages of both. Ethernet has the technical characteristics of 1gt bit / s data transmission rate, low bit error rate, high quality of data transmission, powerful communication means provided by resource sharing, remote information access, easy establishment, maintenance and expansion.

In terms of power output, power grid pollution prevention, etc., it provides the new research and development achievements of strand ec21 intelligent large-scale vertical cabinet. It is a more advanced intelligent dimming vertical cabinet developed on the basis of cd80sv silicon cabinet which is widely used in the world. The main body of the vertical cabinet itself is a complete network; it can take over the hand-held remote control; it has 99 backup fields; its biggest feature is that it can automatically analyze the harmonic of the power grid to adjust the optimal trigger angle position, ensure that the input voltage range of 90-240v, the output voltage error is less than 1V, and solve the uneven dimming and light flicker phenomenon caused by the unstable voltage in the performance; it has the advantages of high-speed, high-speed, high-speed, high-speed, high-speed, high-speed, high-speed, high-speed, high-speed The world's most advanced SST sine wave technology, not only through / dimming circuit can be interchanged, but also sine wave / dimming circuit can be interchanged; control reaction time can be as fast as 16 ms; three-phase cross connection and three-phase input correction can be allowed; with the function of priority configuration of dmxs, it can realize the complete connection of dmxs; the trigger accuracy is 16 bit 4000 level; the standard impulse withstand value is as high as 100000 IC; the full load status report; magnetic field The environmental anti-interference ability is also the strongest among the international counterparts (up to 635us / 230V).

In the lighting network digital dimming system, the application software is currently widely used on the scholastic dimmer, including genius Pro tracker, communique, networkerreporter, server, Shownet, configuration and other different software, and their functions in the whole network system are different.

① Genius Pro is the operating system (O / s) of the whole system or single machine, and all other functions are also around it. This software can handle 6000 optical path (channe), l8192 silicon channel (dimmer), 2000 field (cue), 1000 groups (Group), 2000 macro (macro), 600 × 99 effect step 30 effect performance 3000 time code (SMPTE), etc, It can also be installed in PC for offline editing or PC backup.

② Tracker is used for color changer or computer light control. In a broad sense, it is used to control all the equipment that starts to receive the signal of the DMX. Because of the new concept of property, it makes the operation more intuitive, which is incomparable with other similar products in the world.

③ Communication is the interface for the dimmer to connect with external signals, such as analog input trigger, smptemidi and macro trigger.

④ As a bridge of communication between single machine and network, at present, it runs stably at the speed of 1gt bit / s, which is at a higher level in the world.

⑤ Server is the centralized place of programming in all the console, that is, each console can achieve the purpose of resource sharing through the server

⑥ Shownet and configuration are responsible for the distribution of address codes of the whole system. Their powerful functions can combine any loop in a universal 512 loop with any loop in other segments to form a new segment. This is what other manufacturers can't do with their distribution tools.

⑦ The latest version of Shownet, Shownet pro, has upgraded its original processing capacity from 16 segments to 32 segments, that is, 32 × 512 = 16384 address codes. These 32 segments are hidden in the network connection belt called "netslot". Each path can be freely matched or defined as output / input, which can be embodied in any interface of any sn110 network node workstation.

⑧ Shownet and configuration software are the first developed and applied in the world by straude lighting company. It adopts the international general TCP / IP communication protocol, conforms to the international standard of future lighting network protocol (ACN protocol), and supports USITT DMX512 / 1990 protocol. The input / output, status and monitoring of all sn110 network node workstations can be set remotely by using PC Windows man-machine interface. This unique monitoring / control function in the international peers can be carried out at the same time, which brings the international leading technical means to the lighting monitoring management.

⑨ Reporter Pro software is used to check the picture interface of dimming cabinet system, monitor the working state of each channel of dimming cabinet in Windows XP interface, and design login password, At the same time, it can also report the following contents: short circuit status, over temperature, overload, load (Watts - W), record load deviation, no load / breaker disconnection, thyristor failure, silicon module error, truly effective monitoring Network information.

4、 Cable selection mode

Multiple lighting network switches are designed for the lighting data distribution system of the Grand Theater, which are respectively located in the lighting control room, dimming silicon room, stage door and equipment layer, which are convenient for monitoring, maintenance and operation. The light control room network switch is the center of each location, and the double ring connection method is used to connect the network switches of other places. The connection materials are 8-core (4 pairs) 125um optical fiber cable and super-5 cable. So that the distance between the center room of the Grand Theater and other network contacts can be well controlled in the range of 100 meters, which meets the transmission requirements between the Ethernet network contacts of super-5 cables.

This design of lighting control adopts the form of Ethernet carrying the form of the DMX network, which is safe, efficient and meets the needs, and lays a good foundation for the future theater lighting network system upgrading, upgrading, capacity expansion and new technology development.

5、 Contact label

All contacts shall be provided with labels, the contents of which shall be specified as follows:

(1) The font is clear and readable, and the font color and size are consistent.

(2) The label is permanent and fixed.

(3) It is indicated that the contact point of DMX512 is special for DMX512 system.

(4) The label indicates the number of the connection to the network hub.

(5) The label indicates the maximum distance of the network line to which the contact can be connected.

6、 Configuration of network equipment cabinet

(1) Cabinet configuration

* the corresponding interface of DMX512 contact in the equipment cabinet in the Grand Theater;

* the corresponding interface of RJ45 contact of Ethernet in the theater in the equipment cabinet;

* fiber optic hubs;

* Ethernet hub;

* DMX512 signal isolation distribution amplifier;

* Ethernet / DMX512 signal converter;

* UPS -- uninterruptible power supply.

* cabinet structure requirements

* standard 19 inch cabinet with lock at front and back door, height is multiple of u;

* there are isolation layers for different devices such as DMX, Ethernet and power supply;

* the cabinet has good ventilation and heat dissipation facilities;

* the cabinet shall be placed at a distance of 1 m in front of the cabinet and 0.9 m in the back;

* the built-in equipment shall be provided with labels, which are concise, accurate and easy to understand.

(2) Network cabinet function

* Ethernet / DMX512 signal conversion worker, the working voltage should be 220 V; the DMX512 signal isolation distribution amplifier should meet the DMX512 / 1990 standard; each set is equipped with 8 output interfaces, and the output is isolated; for future upgrading, about 20% redundancy is considered in quantity; about 25% redundancy is considered for jumper.

* 19 inch rack mounted optical fiber hub; output interface in front of cabinet. Ethernet hub also adopts 19 inch rack type installation, RJ45 interface is in front of the cabinet; 10 / 100Mbps automatic switching;

* the number of output interfaces of the hub is the actual number of output contacts, with a margin of about 25%;

* each cabinet is equipped with a standby network hub in working state;

* all cables returned to the hub are labeled to clearly indicate the specific location of the cable.

* cabinet power supply and UPS

* the cabinet power supply is equipped with a main switch (AC 220 V);

* the power supply power has been considered to be at least twice the total load of the cabinet;

* 50% redundancy has been considered for power output interface;

* the output interface cables are clearly marked with the specific location of the cable connection;

* each cabinet is equipped with independent UPS UPS UPS UPS, 19 inch rack mounted.

* the ups ensures that the power supply of all equipment in the cabinet can operate normally for at least 3 hours after the power is cut off, and about 50% of the surplus is considered.