COLOR SELECTION INPUT DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20100308755A1
• Filed: 01/21/2009
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips Lighting Holding BV (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Prins, Willemijn Elise Damai, Horstra, Nina Roelande, Van Liempd, Marieke Johanna Catharina, Hendriks, Abraham Franciscus Maria, Van Lier, Lotte, Trippelvizt, Judith Maria, Vinkenvleugel, Lucius Theodorus
• Granted Patent: US 10,104,743 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/363
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light

Abstract

The invention relates to color selection input, for example by means of color selection wheels or pads, particularly for a lighting system. An embodiment of the invention provides a color selection input device (10) comprising—hue selection means (12) representing selectable colors in terms of hue gradation along a direction thereof, —saturation selection means (14) representing a selectable saturation gradation along a direction thereof, wherein—the hue selection means (12) and the saturation selection means (14) are arranged such that they comprise an overlapping region (16) and the saturation selection means (14) are transparent and shaded from fully transparent to fully white for visualizing a hue and saturation selection in the overlapping region (16), and—means (18) for detecting the positions of the hue selection means (12) and the saturation selection means (14) and generating a color selection signal (19) depending on the detected positions. This may make navigating through the hue and saturation color space more convenient and intuitive for users.

Claims

1. A color selection input device comprising

hue selection means representing selectable colors in terms of hue gradation along a direction thereof,

saturation selection means representing a selectable saturation gradation along a direction thereof, wherein

the hue selection means and the saturation selection means are arranged such that they comprise a fixed overlapping region and the saturation selection means are transparent and shaded from fully transparent to fully white for visualizing a hue and saturation selection in the overlapping region, and

means for detecting the positions of the hue selection means and the saturation selection means and generating a color selection signal depending on the detected positions.

2. The input device of claim 1, further comprising brightness selection means representing a selectable brightness gradation along a direction thereof, wherein the brightness selection means are arranged such that they comprise together with the hue selection means and the saturation selection means the overlapping region and the brightness selection means are transparent and shaded from fully transparent to fully black for visualizing a hue, saturation and brightness selection in the overlapping region.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the hue selection means, the saturation selection means and/or the brightness selection means are implemented by means of a selection wheel.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein the saturation selection means or the brightness selection means are implemented by means of a selection bar.

5. The input device of any of claim 1, wherein the hue selection means and the saturation selection means are implemented by means of a selection wheel and both selection wheels are arranged side by side with an overlapping area comprising the overlapping region.

6. The input device of claim 5, wherein the brightness selection means are implemented by means of a selection wheel, which is arranged such that it partly covers the overlapping region.

7. The input device of any of claim 1, wherein the hue selection means and the saturation selection means are implemented by means of a selection wheel and one of the selection wheels has a smaller diameter than the other selection wheel and is arranged on the other selection wheel with an overlapping area comprising the overlapping region.

8. The input device of claim 1, wherein the hue selection means, the saturation selection means and/or the brightness selection means are implemented by mechanical rotation wheels.

9. The input device of claim 1, wherein the saturation selection means and/or the brightness selection means are implemented by mechanical selection bars.

10. The input device of claim 1, wherein the hue selection means, the saturation selection means and/or the brightness selection means are applied on a touch screen display.

11. A color selection input method comprising

providing hue selection means representing selectable colors in terms of hue gradation along a direction thereof,

providing saturation selection means representing a selectable saturation gradation along a direction thereof, wherein

arranging the hue selection means and the saturation selection means such that they comprise a fixed overlapping region and the saturation selection means are transparent and shaded from fully transparent to fully white for visualizing a hue and saturation selection in the overlapping region, and

detecting the positions of the hue selection means and the saturation selection means and generating a color selection signal depending on the detected positions.

12. A computer program enabled to carry out at least a part of the method according to claim 11 when executed by a computer.

13. A record carrier storing a computer program according to claim 12.