Apparatus and Method for Luminance Control

• US 20130334973A1
• Filed: 02/03/2012
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Wagenaar Cacciola, Giovanna
• Granted Patent: US 9,232,612 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/152
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A control unit for controlling luminance in a space, the control unit being configured to estimate a trajectory of a target relative to the space, and control the luminance in the space based on the estimated trajectory and on a function rate corresponding to an adaptability of the target eye to changes in luminance.

Claims

1. A control unit for controlling luminance in a space, said control unit being configured to:

estimate a trajectory of a target relative to said space, wherein said estimated trajectory runs from a first location with a first luminance level to a second location with a second luminance level, and

control said luminance in said space based on the estimated trajectory, on said first luminance level and said second luminance level, and on a function rate corresponding to an adaptability of the target eye to changes in luminance such that said luminance in said space changes gradually from said first luminance level towards said second luminance level along said trajectory.

3. A control unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for receiving information relevant to at least one physical condition of said target intended to be housed in said space, said physical condition preferably being indicative of the adaptability of the target eye to changes in luminance and/or an age of said target, and wherein said control unit is further being configured to control said luminance based on said information or to determine said function rate based on said information.

6. A control unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for receiving information relevant to said space, wherein said controller is further configured to estimate said trajectory based on said information.

7. A control unit as claimed in claim 6, further being configured to synchronize said luminance with respect to said trajectory.

8. A control unit as claimed in claim 7, further being configured to estimate said trajectory as a function of time for determining said function rate.

9. A control unit as claimed in claim 7, further being configured to control said luminance based on at least one previously estimated trajectory.

10. A control unit as claimed in claim 9, further being configured to control said luminance based on a spatial arrangement of at least one light source adapted to illuminate said space.

11. A control unit as claimed in claim 10, further being configured to control said luminance based on an estimated orientation of said target relative to said spatial arrangement of said at least one light source.

12. A control unit as claimed in claim 11, further being configured to individually control the luminous intensities of a plurality of light sources arranged along and/or in a vicinity of said trajectory.

13. A control unit as claimed in claim 12, further being configured to provide a control signal to each one of a plurality of light sources arranged along and/or in a vicinity of said trajectory or a single control signal to at least one of a plurality of light sources arranged along and/or in a vicinity of said trajectory, said single control signal instructing said at least one of the plurality of light sources to retransmit said single control signal to at least another light source such that, eventually, all light sources are reached by said single control signal.

14. A lighting control system for controlling a lighting function of at least one light source, comprising:

at least one transmitter for transmitting at least one probing signal within a transmitting range,

a plurality of receivers for receiving at least one return signal, said at least one return signal being a part of said at least one probing signal that is reflected against a target present within said transmitting range, and

a control unit as claimed in claim 1, said control unit being in communication with said plurality of receivers to estimate said trajectory.

16. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first luminance level is higher than said second luminance level and wherein said function rate corresponds an adaptability of the target eye to a darker environment.

17. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first luminance level is lower than said second luminance level and wherein said function rate corresponds an adaptability of the target eye to a light reflex.

18. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said function rate is based on an age of said target.

2. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

15. A method for controlling luminance in a space, comprising the steps of:

estimating a trajectory of a target relative to a space, wherein said estimated trajectory runs from a first location with a first luminance level to a second location with a second luminance level, and

controlling said luminance in said space based on the estimated trajectory, said first luminance level and said second luminance level, and on a function rate corresponding to an adaptability of the target eye to changes in luminance, such that said luminance in said space changes gradually from said first luminance level towards said second luminance level along said trajectory.