LIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20150023019A1
• Filed: 10/08/2013
• Published: 01/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chia Ming Chen
• Original Assignee: Chia Ming Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Chia Ming
• Granted Patent: US 9,717,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/276
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/125 by using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Provided is a light-emitting device control system, comprising: a light source module that outputs a beam of light at a first surface location; a beam steering mechanism, the light source module coupled to the beam steering mechanism for directing the beam of light at the first surface location, wherein an illumination region is formed at the first surface location in response to the directed beam of light; a control module that detects a signal corresponding to a hand gesture, the control module positioned at a separate location than the light source module and the beam steering mechanism, and communicating with the light source module via a network; and a control spot generator that generates a control spot at a second surface location, the control module detecting a presence of a hand forming the hand gesture at the control spot, and wherein the beam steering mechanism moves the illumination region in response to the hand gesture at the control spot.

Claims

1. A light-emitting device control system, comprising:

a light source module that outputs a beam of light at a first surface location;

a beam steering mechanism, the light source module coupled to the beam steering mechanism for directing the beam of light at the first surface location, wherein an illumination region is formed at the first surface location in response to the directed beam of light;

a control module that detects a signal corresponding to a hand gesture, the control module positioned at a separate location than the light source module and the beam steering mechanism, and communicating with the light source module via a network; and

a control spot generator that generates a control spot at a second surface location, the control module detecting a presence of a hand forming the hand gesture at the control spot, and wherein the beam steering mechanism moves the illumination region in response to the hand gesture at the control spot.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first Wi-Fi transmitter/receiver in communication with the control module and a second Wi-Fi transmitter/receiver in communication with at least one of the light source module and the beam steering mechanism, the first and second Wi-Fi transmitter/receivers communicating with each other via the network.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a beam steering mechanism coupled to the control spot generator and the control module for moving the control spot and the field of view of the camera in the control module.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a two-dimension position sensitive detector (PSD) module in communication with the control module for determining a position of the hand gesture.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module comprises at least one of a tracking and control sensor that detects a presence of the hand forming the hand gesture at the control spot;

and a camera that tracks a motion of the hand gesture and recognizes the hand gesture.

6. The control system of claim 5, wherein the tracking and control sensor comprises a thermal imager having a linear or area focal plane array (FPA), and wherein the tracking and control system further comprises a scan mirror for the linear array.

7. The control system of claim 5, wherein the tracking and control sensor includes a lens that transmits both visible and thermal light, a thermal detector or array, and a visible FPA coupled to the thermal detector or array, the visible FPA positioned between the thermal detector or array and the lens.

8. The control system of claim 5, wherein the tracking and control sensor comprises a thermal sensor and a visible camera for capturing an image of a hand making the hand gesture and recognizing the hand gesture, and wherein the thermal sensor comprises a lens and a thermal detector or a detector focal plane array.

9. The control system of claim 5, wherein the tracking and control sensor comprises two identical thermal cameras separated by a distance.

10. The control system of claim 5, wherein the tracking and control sensor comprises two identical visible cameras separated by a distance.

11. The control system of claim 5, wherein the control module processes distance information related to the hand gesture and a background for separating the hand gesture image data from image data of the background.

12. The control system of claim 1, wherein the control module comprises a microphone that detects a voice signal, and wherein the beam steering mechanism moves the illumination region in response to the voice signal.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the control spot generator comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), each LED constructed and arranged to emit light at a different wavelength.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is positioned on a wall surface.

15. A light-emitting device control system, comprising:

a light source module that outputs a beam of light at a first surface location;

a beam steering mechanism, the light source module coupled to the beam steering mechanism for directing the beam of light at the first surface location, wherein an illumination region is formed at the first surface location in response to the directed beam of light; and

a mobile device that remotely controls the light source module and the beam steering module.

16. The control system of claim 15, wherein the mobile device includes a display that displays control panel, the control panel including an illumination spot position panel and a light level adjustment bar.

17. The control system of claim 16, wherein in the position panel, the illumination region is displayed, and can be moved to one or more different positions at the display.

18. The control system of claim 16, wherein the light adjustment bar allows the user to change the light level by sliding on the bar.

19. The control system of claim 15, wherein the mobile device includes a first Wi-Fi transmitter/receiver in communication with the control module and wherein a second Wi-Fi transmitter/receiver is in communication with at least one of the light source module and the beam steering mechanism, the first and second Wi-Fi transmitter/receivers communicating with each other via the network.

20. A method of controlling a light-emitting device, comprising:

outputting a beam of light at a first surface location;

generating a control spot at a second surface location that is different from the first surface location, the illumination region positioned at a first surface location;

determining a hand gesture at the control spot; and

moving the illumination region in response to the hand gesture in communication with the control spot at the second surface location.