User interface device and method for controlling a connected consumer load, and light system using such user interface device

• US 8,692,786 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2009
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Diederiks, Elmo Marcus Attila, Mason, Jonathan, Van De Sluis, Bartel Marinus
• Primary Examiner(s): SHENG, TOM V
• Application Number:
  US12/994,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20110074672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/173, 315/312, 362/85
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

The invention relates to a user interface device for controlling an electrical consumer, in particular, a light system. Further, it relates to light system using such user interface device. Moreover it relates to a method for controlling such light system using a user interface device. To provide a user interface device, a light system and a method for controlling a consumer load providing feed forward or feed-back information facilitating an easy and intuitive use of the user interface device when controlling a light system, a user interface device for controlling a connected light system (44) is proposed, comprising: a display unit (12) including a plurality of LEDs (13) in a matrix form, wherein each of the LEDs (13) of the matrix is addressable individually; an input unit (11) to receive a user input; a control unit (40) adapted to receive a signal (1a) based on the user input and to generate an information signal (1b) provided to the display unit (12) and to generate a control signal (1c) for controlling the connected consumer load (44).

Claims

1. User interface device for controlling a connected consumer load, comprising:

a display unit including a plurality of LEDs in a matrix form, wherein each of the LEDs of the matrix is addressable individually;

an input unit to receive a user input;

a control unit adapted to receive a signal based on the user input and to generate an information signal provided to the display unit and to generate a control signal for controlling the connected consumer load, wherein the user interface device further comprises a cover layer over the input unit having a surface representing adjustable values which provides feed forward information to the user how to use the user interface device.

2. User interface device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the LEDs are used for providing at least one of feedback and feed forward information on the status of the connected consumer load, wherein the consumer load comprises a light system.

3. User interface device as claimed in claim 1, the consumer load comprising a light system and wherein the LEDs of the display unit have at least one of output light having a characteristic corresponding to the light output by the light system and are adapted to control elements of a control function to control the connected light system.

4. User interface device as claimed in claim 1, the consumer load comprising a light system and wherein when touching the input unit the corresponding control signal is directly sent to the light system, wherein the display unit receives a corresponding information signal.

5. User interface device as claimed in claim 1, the consumer load comprising a light system and wherein the surface further comprises a relief comprising:

at least one of a vertical dent and

a slot for inserting a paper indicating a feed forward information, wherein a color layer representing a scale for adjusting values of the light system is arranged in front of the display device.

6. User interface device as claimed in claim 1, the consumer load comprising a light system and wherein the display unit is adapted to display a scale representing adjustable values of at least one of the color temperature, brightness, on-time, saturation of the light system, and a background area having a characteristic corresponding to a value selected via a user input from the scale.

7. Light system having at least one of at least one full color light source and variable color temperature light source and having a user interface device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the consumer load comprising a light system.

8. User interface device for controlling a connected consumer load, comprising;

a display unit including a plurality of LEDs in a matrix form, wherein each of the LEDs of the matrix is addressable individually;

an input unit to receive a user input; and

a control unit adapted to receive a signal based on the user input and to generate an information signal provided to the display unit and to generate a control signal for controlling the connected consumer load comprising a light system, wherein a group of LEDs of the matrix represent an area, which is adapted to glow softly, when the light system is switched off, wherein the glowing area is displayed based on a least one of the surrounding brightness, depending on a detected person, and after receiving a user input to switch on the connected light system, the display unit is adapted to illuminate the LEDs of the matrix in a bright light indicating that the light is switched on.

9. User interface device for controlling a connected consumer load, comprising:

a display unit including a plurality of LEDs in a matrix form, wherein each of the LEDs of the matrix is addressable individual;

an input unit to receive a user input; and

a control unit adapted to receive a signal based on the user input and to generate an information signal provided to the display unit and to generate a control signal for controlling the connected consumer load comprising a light system, wherein the input unit is adapted to sense a moving of an object on the surface of the input unit, wherein the control unit is adapted to control a characteristic of the light system, depending on the moving object, wherein when controlling a dimming level of the light system to be minimal the light output by the display unit is minimal, wherein when controlling the dimming level of the light system to be maximal the light output by the display unit is maximal.

10. User interface device for controlling a connected consumer load, comprising:

a display unit including a plurality of LEDs in a matrix form, wherein each of the LEDs of the matrix is addressable individually;

an input unit to receive a user input; and

a control unit adapted to receive a signal based on the user input and to generate an information signal provided to the display unit and to generate a control signal for controlling the connected consumer load comprising alight system, wherein when moving an object on the input unit the level of the light of the LEDs of the display unit is directly adapted, wherein when releasing the input unit the corresponding control signal is sent to the light system corresponding the level of light of the LEDs.

11. User interface device for controlling a connected consumer load, comprising:

a display unit including a plurality of LEDs in a matrix form, wherein each of the LEDs of the matrix is addressable individually;

an input unit to receive a user input; and

a control unit adapted to receive a signal based on the user input and to generate an information signal provided to the display unit and to generate a control signal for controlling the connected consumer load comprising a light system, wherein the display unit is controlled to display at least one preset area, wherein the preset area represents a preset setting for the light system, wherein the at least one preset area on the display unit is displayed in a predetermined color representing the setting of the light system.

12. User interface device as claimed in 11, wherein when selecting a preset area, at least one of the selected area is enlarged in its size on the display unit or changes its color or brightness;

and the display unit is controlled by the control unit to display in the remaining area outside the preset areas a color corresponding to the color of the setting of the light system, when receiving a user input on a preset area on the display unit.

13. User interface device for controlling a connected consumer load, comprising:

a display unit including a plurality of LEDs in a matrix form, wherein each of the LEDs of the matrix is addressable individually;

a input unit to receive a user input; and

a control unit adapted to receive a signal based on the user input and to generate an information signal provided to the display unit and to generate a control signal for controlling the connected consumer load comprising a light system, wherein the display unit is adapted to display a colored scale and a background area, wherein when moving an object on the scale the background area color is amended to a color corresponding to the position of the object on the scale.

14. User interface device for controlling a connected consumer load, comprising:

a display unit including a plurality of LEDs in a matrix form, wherein each of the LEDs of the matrix is addressable individually;

an input unit to receive a user input; and

a control unit adapted to receive a signal based on the user input and to generate an information signal provided to the display unit and to generate a control signal for controlling the connected consumer load comprising a light system, providing an automatic or user controlled light setting, wherein the light of the light system and the light output by the display device are faded out slowly over a preset time, wherein the user interface device may include means for setting the time for fading out the lights and the display unit may be adapted to display a number of glowing dots, wherein the number of dots represents the remaining fading out time, wherein a user may increase the fading out time by pressing the input unit at a place representing a higher number of dots, wherein during expiration of time the number of dots is decreasing.

15. Method for controlling a light system including the steps of:

receiving a user input on an input unit;

determining the position of the user input;

generating a control signal for controlling the light system based on the position of the user input and the current control function;

generating an information signal corresponding to the control signal; and

outputting the information signal to a display device including a plurality of LEDs, wherein the user interface device further comprises a cover layer over the input unit having a surface representing adjustable values which provides feed forward information to the user how to use the user interface device.

16. A non-transitory computer program product for performing the method as claimed in claim 15 when executed on a computer.

17. Computer for executing a computer program as claimed in claim 16.