Lighting device and method for operating the lighting device
First Claim
1. A method for operating a lighting device, the method comprisingproviding a lighting device configured to illuminate a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprising a first number of light-emitting elements, a second number of control elements for switching the light-emitting elements on or off and for controlling the brightness of the light-emitting elements, and a microcontroller comprising a detection unit, an interpretation unit, and a drive unit, wherein the second number of control elements is equal to the first number of light-emitting elements, wherein each light-emitting element of the first number light-emitting elements is paired with only one control element of the second number of control elements, wherein each of the control elements is directly adjacent to a corresponding light emitting element;
- moving of at least one hand of a user over two or more control elements,receiving at the detection unit a signal from the control elements, processing the signal at the interpretation unit to identify human hand gestures and generate drive commands, and driving the illumination of the light-emitting elements with the drive unit utilizing the drive commands,wherein(i) with a fast movement of the hand from a first light-emitting element over an adjacent second light-emitting element to a further adjacent third light-emitting element, the first light-emitting element darkens or is extinguished and the second light-emitting element brightens or lights up and subsequently the second light-emitting element darkens or is extinguished and the third light-emitting element brightens or lights up, wherein the fast movement is a movement of about 10 to 20 cm within 0.5 seconds, and(ii) with a regular movement of the hand from a first light-emitting element over an adjacent second light-emitting element to a further adjacent third light-emitting element, the first light-emitting element remains in its current state and the second light-emitting element brightens or lights up, and subsequently the third-light emitting element lights up, wherein the regular movement is a movement slower than the fast movement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a lighting device having a first number of light-emitting elements and having a second number of control elements, operating contactlessly, for controlling the light-emitting elements such as especially for switching the light-emitting elements on or off and/or for controlling their brightness, the second number being less than or equal to the first number, the light-emitting elements being controlled contactlessly by a movement of at least one hand of a user over two or more control elements. The invention also relates to a relevant method.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. A method for operating a lighting device, the method comprising
providing a lighting device configured to illuminate a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprising a first number of light-emitting elements, a second number of control elements for switching the light-emitting elements on or off and for controlling the brightness of the light-emitting elements, and a microcontroller comprising a detection unit, an interpretation unit, and a drive unit, wherein the second number of control elements is equal to the first number of light-emitting elements, wherein each light-emitting element of the first number light-emitting elements is paired with only one control element of the second number of control elements, wherein each of the control elements is directly adjacent to a corresponding light emitting element; -
moving of at least one hand of a user over two or more control elements, receiving at the detection unit a signal from the control elements, processing the signal at the interpretation unit to identify human hand gestures and generate drive commands, and driving the illumination of the light-emitting elements with the drive unit utilizing the drive commands, wherein (i) with a fast movement of the hand from a first light-emitting element over an adjacent second light-emitting element to a further adjacent third light-emitting element, the first light-emitting element darkens or is extinguished and the second light-emitting element brightens or lights up and subsequently the second light-emitting element darkens or is extinguished and the third light-emitting element brightens or lights up, wherein the fast movement is a movement of about 10 to 20 cm within 0.5 seconds, and (ii) with a regular movement of the hand from a first light-emitting element over an adjacent second light-emitting element to a further adjacent third light-emitting element, the first light-emitting element remains in its current state and the second light-emitting element brightens or lights up, and subsequently the third-light emitting element lights up, wherein the regular movement is a movement slower than the fast movement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification