User interface with adaptive extent of user control based on user presence information

• US 10,024,566 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2014
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Lighting Holding BV (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Shrubsole, Paul Anthony, Sinitsyn, Alexandre Georgievich
• Primary Examiner(s): CONNOLLY, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US14/784,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20160069585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0205 not using a model or a simulator of the controlled system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/125 by using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/135 by determining the type of light source being controlled electrical parameters of light source being controlled H05B47/14
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/14 by determining electrical parameters of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A control device (110) for controlling the environment in a region (102) within a structure (104) by means of controlling operation of a control system (120), which is adapted to adjust at least one property of the environment in the region (102), is disclosed. The control device comprises a user interface (112) adapted to selectively indicate to a user a range of available values representing at least one property of the environment in the region (102) that is adjustable by the control system (120) at least based on presence information of any persons being present within the region (102) such that the extent of control of the environment in the region (102) by means of the control device (120) that is thereby enabled the user is based at least partly on the presence information.

Claims

1. A control device comprising:

a user interface adapted to;

selectively indicate to a user a range of available values representing at least one property, of an environment in a region, that is adjustable; and

enable the user to control the represented at least one property, whereby the control device is provided with user input; and

at least one hardware processor adapted to adjust the at least one property by means of communicating a control signal corresponding to said user input;

wherein the user interface is adapted to selectively indicate to the user the range of available values representing the at least one property of the environment in the region that is adjustable at least based on presence information of any persons being present within the region such that the an extent of presentation of said range by said user interface to enable control of the property via selection of at least one of said values within said extent by the user is based at least partly on the presence information;

wherein the extent of the presentation of said range is greater the lower the number of persons being present within the region.

2. A control device according to claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to adapt the number and/or type of properties and/or the range of available values of the respective properties which are indicated to the user by the user interface at least based on the presence information.

3. A control device according to claim 1, wherein, on a condition that the user is located within the region, the extent of the presentation of said range is greater the lower the number of persons being present within a predefined distance from the user.

4. A control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one hardware processor is adapted to receive a signal from a presence information sensor indicative of the presence information, the presence information sensor being adapted to determine the presence information.

5. A control device according to claim 1, wherein the user interface is adapted to selectively indicate to the user said range further based on preferences of any persons being present within the region for properties of the environment in the region that are adjustable.

6. A control device according to claim 5, wherein the user interface is adapted to selectively indicate to the user said range further based on a comparison of preferences of the user for properties of the environment in the region that are adjustable with preferences of any other persons being present within the region for properties of the environment in the region that are adjustable.

7. A control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one hardware processor is adapted to estimate an effect on the environment in the region of a selection of a chosen value in the range;

wherein the user interface is further adapted to indicate to the user the effect estimated by the at least one hardware processor.

8. A control device according to claim 1, wherein the presence information includes identity information identifying at least the user within the region, and wherein the user interface is adapted to selectively indicate to the user said range further based on the identity information identifying the user.

9. A control device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a memory adapted to store data relating to the user'"'"'s usage of the control device;

wherein the user interface is adapted to selectively indicate to the user said range further based on at least some of the data stored in the memory.

11. A controller system comprising:

the control device according to claim 1; and

at least one system hardware processor of a control system, wherein the system hardware processor is adapted to adjust the at least one property of the environment.

12. A controller system according to claim 11, wherein the region is in a building, and wherein the control system includes a building management system including at least one second hardware processor configured to control and/or monitor mechanical and/or electrical equipment in the building.

13. A controller system according to claim 11, wherein the system hardware processor is adapted to control lighting, heating, cooling, humidity, sound level and/or air circulation in the region, wherein the at least one property of the environment in the region includes at least one lighting property, at least one thermal property, at least one acoustic property, humidity and/or at least one air circulation property.

10. A user interface for a control device, the user interface being adapted to:

selectively indicate to a user a range of available values representing at least one property, of an environment in a region, that is adjustable; and

enable the user to control the represented at least one property, whereby the control device is provided with user input, wherein the control device comprises at least one hardware processor that is adapted to adjust the at least one property by means of communicating a control signal corresponding to said user input;

wherein the user interface is adapted to selectively indicate to the user the range of available values representing the at least one property of the environment in the region that is adjustable at least based on presence information of any persons being present within the region such that an extent of presentation of said range by said user interface to enable control of the property via selection of at least one of said values within said extent by the user is based at least partly on the presence information;

wherein the extent of the presentation of said range is greater the lower the number of persons being present within the region.

14. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium and adapted to be executed by at least one hardware processor of a control device, the control device comprising a user interface adapted to selectively indicate to a user a range of available values representing at least one property, of an environment in a region, that is adjustable, and enable the user to control the represented at least one property, whereby the control device is provided with user input, the at least one hardware processor being adapted to adjust the at least one property by means of communicating a control signal corresponding to said user input, the at least one hardware processor being coupled to the user interface;

the computer program product comprising computer program code configured to, when executed by the processor, based at least on presence information of any persons being present within the region, cause the user interface to selectively indicate to the user the range of available values representing the at least one property, such that an extent of presentation of said range by said user interface to enable control of the property via selection of at least one of said values within said extent by the user is based at least partly on the presence information;

wherein the extent of the presentation of said range is greater the lower the number of persons being present within the region.