Methods and Apparatus for Illumination Control
First Claim
1. A system comprising, in combination:
- (a) one or more I/O devices for accepting input from a human user, which input is indicative of a value for each control variable in a set of separate control variables;
(b) a computer for analyzing the input and outputting control signals to specify a set of separate setpoints; and
(c) a set of dimmers for adjusting the intensity or color of a set of luminaires according to the setpoints;
wherein the number of separate control variables is much less than the number of separate setpoints.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In exemplary embodiments of this invention, one or more I/O devices accept input from a human user. The input is indicative of a value for each control variable in a set of separate control variables. A computer analyzes the input and outputs control signals to specify a set of separate setpoints. Dimmers adjust the intensity or color of a set of luminaires according to the setpoints. The number of separate control variables is much less than the number of separate setpoints. Having a human control a small number of control variables, in order to control a much larger number of separate luminaire setpoints of luminaires, has at least two advantages: control is faster and control is more intuitive. In illustrative implementations, the luminaire setpoints that are being controlled are not functions of each other.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising, in combination:
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(a) one or more I/O devices for accepting input from a human user, which input is indicative of a value for each control variable in a set of separate control variables; (b) a computer for analyzing the input and outputting control signals to specify a set of separate setpoints; and (c) a set of dimmers for adjusting the intensity or color of a set of luminaires according to the setpoints; wherein the number of separate control variables is much less than the number of separate setpoints. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system comprising, in combination:
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(a) one or more I/O devices for accepting input from a human user, which input is indicative of a value for each of n separate control variables, n being greater than or equal to 1; and (b) one or more computers for mapping an n-dimensional point, which n-dimensional point represents the values of the n control variables, to a m-dimensional point, m being greater than n, which m-dimensional point represents values for each of m separate illumination variables; and (c) one or more dimmers for controlling luminaires in a room, to adjust setpoints for intensity or color of light emitted by the luminaires, such that the setpoints are a function of the values of the m illumination variables. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising, in combination:
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(a) one or more I/O devices accepting input from a human user, which input is indicative of a value for each of n separate control variables, n being greater than or equal to 1; (b) one or more computers mapping an n-dimensional point, which n-dimensional point represents the values of the n control variables, to a m-dimensional point, m being greater than n, which m-dimensional point represents values for each of m separate illumination variables; and (c) one or more dimmers controlling luminaires in a room, to adjust setpoints for intensity or color of light emitted by the luminaires, such that the setpoints are a function of the values of the m illumination variables. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification