GESTURE-BASED CONTROL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRICAL LOAD

• US 20170280534A1
• Filed: 05/11/2017
• Published: 09/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Dimberg, Chris, Harte, Matthew V., McDonald, Matthew Philip, Twaddell, Daniel L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,102,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/02 using mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/20 by varying inductance, e.g. by a movable armature
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/34 the beams of light being detected by photocells
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/08 Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 11/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches processes specially adapted for manufacture of rectilinearly movable switches having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboards, H01H13/88
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/14 Operating parts, e.g. turn knob
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/034 Bezel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/032 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/12 Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/16 Driving mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 : Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/02 : Switches operated by change of position, inclination or orientation of the switch itself in relation to gravitational field tilting mercury container H01H29/20; change of position due to change of liquid level H01H35/18
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/02 : Bases, casings, or covers accommodating more than one switch or a switch and another electrical component H02B1/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0207 : Adjustable mounting of casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0235 : specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/025 : Stands or organisers to facilitate location or operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/16 : Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off"
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/287 : wherein the operating part is made inaccessible or more difficult to access by a lid, cover or guard, e.g. lockable covers
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 : Fastening of cover or lid to box
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/96 : Touch switches specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 : Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 : Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 : Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/31 : Phase-control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 : Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 : in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 : by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 : by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 : following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 : by remote control
• 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 20/30 : Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 : Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/14 : Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers

Abstract

A control device may be configured to control one or more electrical loads in a load control system. The control device may be a wall-mounted device such as dimmer switch, a remote control device, or a retrofit remote control device. The control device may include a gesture-based user interface for applying advanced control over the one or more electrical loads. The types of control may include absolute and relative control, intensity and color control, preset, zone, or operational mode selection, etc. Feedback may be provided on the control device regarding a status of the one or more electrical loads or the control device.

Claims

1. A control device configured for use in a load control system to control one or more electrical loads external to the control device, the control device comprising:

an actuation portion defining a front surface that comprises a plurality of touch sensitive areas;

one or more light sources provided to illuminate the plurality of touch sensitive areas; and

a control circuit configured to;

control the one or more light sources to present a first user interface on the front surface of the actuation portion, the plurality of touch sensitive areas not illuminated in the first user interface;

determine that a user input has been received for activating a second user interface on the front surface of the actuation portion;

control the one or more light sources to present the second user interface on the front surface of the actuation portion, the plurality of touch sensitive areas illuminated in the second user interface; and

in response to an actuation of one of the plurality of touch sensitive areas via the second user interface, generate control data for controlling an amount of power delivered to the one or more electrical loads.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein each of the touch sensitive areas represents a preset associated with the one or more electrical loads, the preset includes at least one predetermined setting of the one or more electrical loads.

3. The control device of claim 2, wherein the preset includes a combination of multiple predetermined settings associated with the one or more electrical loads.

4. The control device of claim 2, wherein, in response to determining that the one of the touch sensitive areas has been actuated, the control circuit is configured to generate the control data to activate the preset represented by the one of the touch-responsive areas.

5. The control device of claim 2, wherein the touch sensitive areas are illuminated with different light intensities or light colors to distinguish the presets associated with those touch sensitive areas.

6. The control device of claim 2, wherein, in response to determining that the one of the touch sensitive areas has been actuated, the control circuit is further configured to uniquely illuminate the one of the touch sensitive areas to indicate that its associated preset has been actuated.

7. The control device of claim 1, wherein the touch sensitive areas correspond to respective operational modes of the control device, the operational modes are associated with controlling the one or more electrical loads, and the control circuit is configured to, in response to an actuation of one of the touch sensitive areas, generate the control data to cause the control device to enter the operational mode corresponding to the one of the touch sensitive areas.

8. The control device of claim 1, wherein the multiple electrical loads comprise a lighting load, and the plurality of touch sensitive areas are provided for adjusting a color temperature of the lighting load.

9. The control device of claim 1, wherein the user input for activating the second user interface is provided by hovering a finger over the front surface of the control device.

10. The control device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to, after a period of idle time in which no user input is detected through the second user interface, control the one or more light sources to present the first user interface on the front surface of the actuation portion.

11. The control device of claim 1, wherein the actuation portion is configured to detect an actuation via the first user interface, and the control circuit is configured to adjust an amount of power delivered to the one or more electrical loads in response to the actuation.

12. The control device of claim 1, further comprising a load control circuit adapted to be electrically coupled in series between an AC power source and the one or more electrical loads for controlling power delivered to the one or more electrical loads.

13. The control device of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to be mounted over a toggle actuator of a mechanical switch that controls whether power is delivered to the one or more electrical loads.

14. A control device configured for use in a load control system to control a lighting load external to the control device, the control device comprising:

a user input device that includes a touch sensitive surface;

a light bar configured to be illuminated by one or more light sources; and

a control circuit configured to;

control the one or more light sources to illuminate the light bar to present a color gradient indicating available color settings for the lighting load;

determine that an area of the touch sensitive surface adjacent to the color gradient has been actuated; and

generate control data to adjust a color of the lighting load based on a location of the actuation.

15. The control device of claim 14, wherein the user input device includes a substantially circular front surface and the light bar has a substantially circular shape extending along a perimeter of the front surface.

16. The control device of claim 14, wherein the light bar has a substantially linear shape.

17. The control device of claim 14, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the one or more light sources to illuminate the light bar to multiple colors each representing an available color setting for the lighting load.

18. The control device of claim 17, wherein the actuation portion is configured to detect an actuation applied to an area of the touch response surface adjacent to one of the multiple colors, and the control circuit is configured to, in response to the actuation, generate the control data to set the color of the lighting load to the one of the multiple colors.

19. The control device of claim 14, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the one or more light sources to illuminate the light bar to present a first color gradient, each color of the first color gradient represents a section of the color spectrum;

and wherein the actuation portion is configured to detect a multi-finger open motion applied to an area of the touch sensitive surface adjacent to a portion of the first color gradient, the control circuit configured to, in response to the actuation portion detecting the multi-finger open motion, control the one or more light sources to display a second color gradient on the light bar that represents a smaller range of the first color gradient.

20. The control device of claim 19, wherein the actuation portion is further configured to detect an actuation applied to an area of the touch sensitive surface along the second color gradient, and the control circuit is configured to, in response to the actuation portion detecting the actuation, generate the control data to set a color of the lighting load based on a location of the actuation along the second color gradient.

21. The control device of claim 20, wherein the actuation portion is further configured to detect a multi-finger pinch motion applied to an area of the touch sensitive surface adjacent to the second color gradient, and the control circuit is configured to, in response to the actuation portion detecting the multi-finger pinch motion, control the one or more light sources to display the first color gradient on the light bar.

22. The control device of claim 14, wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

determine that a user input has been received via the actuation portion for adjusting an intensity of the lighting load; and

control the one or more light sources to illuminate the light bar to provide feedback about the intensity of the lighting load in response to the user input.

23. A control device configured for use in a load control system to control a plurality of electrical loads external to the control device, the control device comprising:

a user input device configured to detect a user input;

a plurality of light sources configured to backlight at least a portion of the user input device to display multiple discrete points of illumination each representing a preset associated with the one or more electrical loads; and

a control circuit configured to;

illuminate one or more of the plurality of light sources to display the multiple discrete points of illumination;

determine that a discrete point of the multiple discrete points of illumination has been selected;

control the plurality of light sources to illuminated the selected discrete point in a manner distinguishable from the rest of the multiple discrete points of illumination; and

generate control data to control the plurality of electrical loads based on the preset associated with the selected discrete point.

24. The control device of claim 23, wherein the preset corresponds to at least one predetermined setting of the one or more electrical loads.

25. The control device of claim 24, wherein the preset corresponds to a combination of multiple predetermined settings associated with the one or more electrical loads.

26. The control device of claim 23, wherein the user input device comprises a rotary knob and the plurality of light sources forms a light bar that is substantially circular and extends along a perimeter of the rotary knob.

27. The control device of claim 26, wherein the user input device is configured to detect the selection of the preset associated with the one of the multiple segments based on a rotational movement of the rotary knob.

28. The control device of claim 27, wherein the control circuit is configured to:

determine that a first rotational movement of the user input device has been detected;

adjust the plurality of light sources to uniquely illuminate a first discrete point of the multiple discrete points of illumination to indicate that the preset represented by the first discrete point is ready to be activated;

determine that a second rotational movement of the user input device has been detected, the second rotational movement being consecutive to the first rotational movement; and

adjust the plurality of light sources to uniquely illuminate a second discrete point of the multiple discrete points of illumination instead of the first discrete point to indicate that the preset represented by the second discrete point is ready to be activated, the second discrete point being adjacent to the first discrete point.

29. The control device of claim 28, wherein the control circuit is configured to generate a control signal to activate the preset associated with the one of the multiple discrete points of illumination upon determining that no user input is received for a predetermined amount of time after the preset was selected.

30. The control device of claim 29, wherein at least one preset associated with the multiple discrete points of illumination is configured to maintain a current state of the one or more electrical loads.

31. The control device of claim 28, wherein the control circuit is configured to generate a control signal to activate the preset associated with the selected discrete point upon determining that a user input has been received via the user input device indicating a desire to activate the preset.

32. The control device of claim 31, wherein the user input device comprises a touch sensitive surface, and the user input is effectuated via a touch applied to the touch sensitive surface.

33. The control device of claim 31, wherein the user input device comprises an actuation portion and a base portion, the actuation portion configured to move along an axis substantially perpendicular to the base portion, the user input effectuated by pushing the actuation portion toward the base portion along the axis.

34. The control device of claim 23, wherein the plurality of light sources forms a light bar that is substantially linear, the light bar extending on a front surface of the user input device in either a vertical direction or a horizontal direction.

35. The control device of claim 34, wherein the user input device comprises a touch sensitive area adjacent to the one of the multiple discrete points of illumination, the selection of the preset associated with the one of the multiple discrete points of illumination is performed via a touch applied to the touch sensitive area, and the control circuit is configured to activate the preset associated with the one of the multiple discrete points of illumination in response to the touch.

36. The control device of claim 23, wherein the control circuit is configured to display the multiple discrete points of illumination on the user input device in response to the user input;

and wherein the user input comprises a point actuation or a gesture applied via the user input device.