User Interface For Lighting Systems

• US 20080315798A1
• Filed: 12/13/2006
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Diederiks, Elmo Marcus Attila, Van De Sluis, Bartel Marinus
• Application Number:
  US12/158,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20080315798A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/312
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/96 Touch switches specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light

Abstract

A user-friendly interface device (100) for interacting with complex, adjustable lighting systems includes a switch (110, 135) configured to provide control signals; and a controller (155) for controlling the lighting system (175) in response to the control signals. A first control signal is provided to change the mode of the lighting system (175), and a second control signal is provided to change light attributes associated with the mode. The interface device (100) may be handheld or wall-mounted. The controller may be configured for selecting the mode of operation, and for controlling the light within a mode of operation.

Claims

1. An interface device for controlling a lighting system to provide a light, the interface device comprising:

a switch configured to provide control signals; and

a controller for controlling said lighting system in response to said control signals;

wherein a first signal of said control signals is provided to change a mode of said lighting system, and a second signal of said control signals is provided to change light attributes associated with said mode.

2. The interface device of claim 1, wherein said switch is configured to be pressed or tapped to provide said first signal for toggling among said modes.

3. The interface device of claim 1, wherein said switch is configured to be at least one of rotated or slid to change provide said second signal for changing said light attributes.

4. The interface device of claim 1, wherein said modes include an intensity mode, a color mode and a preset mode.

5. The interface device of claim 1, wherein said color mode is for changing at least one of hue, saturation and a combination of said hue and said saturation of said light.

6. The interface device of claim 1, wherein said light attributes associated with an intensity mode include intensity of said light;

said light attributes associated with a color mode includes color of said light; and

said light attributes associated with a preset mode includes at least one of predetermined ones of said intensity, said color, beam direction of said light, beam width of said light.

7. The interface device of claim 1, wherein said modes include presets, a new one of said presets being stored in a memory of said interface device by holding or pressing said switch for a sustained period of time.

8. The interface device of claim 6, wherein said controller is configured to provide an indication when said new one of said presets is stored in said memory.

9. The interface device of claim 1, wherein said modes include presets, said controller being configured to store a new one of said presets when a setting of said lighting system remains unchanged for a predetermined period.

10. The interface device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to detect whether said interface device is mounted on a wall;

wherein a default wall preset associated with said interface device when mounted on said wall is different from a default remote preset when said interface device is not mounted on said wall.

11. The interface device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to detect whether said interface device is mounted on a wall;

wherein a default wall control mode associated with said interface device when mounted on said wall is different from a default remote control mode when said interface device is not mounted on said wall.

12. A method for controlling a lighting system comprising the acts of:

pressing a switch to change modes of said lighting system; and

providing a rotational or slideable movement of said switch or over said switch to change light attributes associated with said modes of light emanating from said lighting system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said modes include an intensity mode, a color mode and a preset mode.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said light attributes associated with an intensity mode includes intensity of said light;

said light attributes associated with a color mode includes color of said light; and

said light attributes associated with a preset mode includes at least one of predetermined ones of said intensity, said color, beam direction of said light, beam width of said light.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the act of storing a preset of said light attributes by holding or pressing said switch for a sustained period of time.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the act of providing an indication when a preset of said light attributes is stored.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising the act of storing a preset of said light attributes when said light attributes of light emanating from said lighting system remain unchanged for a predetermined period.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising the act of detecting whether an interface device for controlling said lighting system is mounted on a wall;

wherein a default wall preset associated with said interface device when mounted on said wall is different from a default remote preset when said interface device is not mounted on said wall.