VOICE-ACTIVATED VEHICLE LIGHTING CONTROL HUB

• US 20180174581A1
• Filed: 12/19/2016
• Published: 06/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pilot Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pilot Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Calvin Shiening
• Application Number:
  US15/383,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20180174581A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/21 Manual control
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/02 Methods for producing synthetic speech; Speech synthesisers
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/78 Detection of presence or absence of voice signals switching of direction of transmission by voice frequency in two-way loud-speaking telephone systems H04M9/10
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/12 by detecting audible sound
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A voice-activated lighting control hub allows a vehicle operator to activate and adjust one or more lighting devices associated with the vehicle through verbal instructions. The voice-activating lighting control hub receives and interprets the verbal instructions, generates a control signal, and wirelessly transmits the control signal to a receiver associated with the lighting device in question. The voice-activated lighting control hub also provides spoken feedback to the vehicle operator through a speaker.

Claims

1. A voice-activated lighting control hub, comprising:

a voice acquisition unit comprising a microphone;

a speech recognition unit comprising a processor and a computer-readable memory storing instructions for execution by the processor;

a wireless communication unit; and

a power management unit configured to provide power to at least the speech recognition unit in a first low-power sleep mode and in a second operational mode,

wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

recognize an input;

exit the first low-power sleep mode and enter the second operational mode;

process, with the speech recognition unit, a spoken order received via the voice acquisition unit;

generate a signal responsive to the processed order, the signal corresponding to a command to change a status of a lighting device; and

transmit the signal via the wireless communication unit.

2. The voice-activated lighting control hub of claim 1, further comprising a user interface and a speaker, and wherein the input is received via the user interface, and further wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to cause the speaker to play a prompt in response to the input.

3. The voice-activated lighting control hub of claim 2, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to cause the speaker to describe a present status of a lighting device after transmission of the signal via the wireless communication unit.

4. The voice-activated lighting control hub of claim 1, wherein instructions further comprise identifying, based on the spoken order, a selected lighting device from among a plurality of lighting devices that are controllable using the voice-activated lighting control hub, and further wherein the command to change a status of a lighting device is a command to change a status of the selected lighting device.

5. The voice-activated lighting control hub of claim 4, wherein the status corresponds to one of a power state of the lighting device, a color of light generated by the lighting device, a flashing sequence of the lighting device, a position of the lighting device, and an orientation of the lighting device.

6. The voice-activated lighting control hub of claim 1, wherein the voice acquisition unit further comprises an analog-to-digital converter.

7. The voice-activated lighting control hub of claim 1, wherein the power management unit comprises a 12-volt adapter for connection of the voice-activated lighting control hub to a 12-volt power receptacle.

8. The voice-activated lighting control hub of claim 2, wherein the user interface comprises a touch key.

9. The voice-activated lighting control hub of claim 2, wherein the user interface comprises an LED indicator, and further wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

provide an indication, via the LED indicator, that the voice-activated lighting control hub is in the second operational mode.

10. A method of controlling a lighting device of a vehicle using a voice-activated lighting control hub, the method comprising:

prompting, via a speaker and based on a first signal from a processor, a user to provide a first input;

receiving, via a microphone, the first input from the user;

identifying a lighting device corresponding to the first input;

providing, via the speaker and based on a second signal from the processor, at least one option for the lighting device;

receiving, via the microphone, the option selection;

generating a control signal based on the option selection;

transmitting the control signal via a wireless transceiver; and

receiving, via the wireless transceiver, a confirmation signal in response to the control signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the prompting and the providing comprise playing a computer-generated voice via the speaker.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the identifying comprises identifying a selected lighting device from among a plurality of lighting devices controllable using the voice-activated lighting control hub.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one option corresponds to one or more of a power state of the lighting device, a color of light generated by the lighting device, a flashing sequence of the lighting device, a position of the lighting device, and an orientation of the lighting device.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

initiating a countdown timer after receipt of the confirmation signal; and

entering a low-power state if another input is not received via the microphone prior to expiration of the countdown timer.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving an initial input via a user interface; and

exiting a low-power state in response to the initial input.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the user interface comprises a touch key.

17. A voice-activated control system for a vehicle, comprising:

a hub comprising;

a processor;

a non-transitory computer-readable memory storing instructions for execution by the processor;

a voice acquisition unit comprising a microphone; and

a first wireless transceiver; and

a receiver comprising;

a microcontroller;

a second wireless transceiver; and

a lighting device interface,

wherein the instructions for execution by the processor, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

receive, via the voice acquisition unit, a verbal instruction to adjust a setting of a lighting device connected to the lighting device interface;

generate a control signal, based on the verbal instruction, for causing the setting of the lighting device to be adjusted; and

cause the first wireless transceiver to transmit the control signal to the second wireless transceiver.

18. The voice-activated control system of claim 17, wherein the hub further comprises a speaker, and wherein the instructions for execution by the processor, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

generate a second signal for causing the speaker to play a computer-generated voice that identifies at least one option for the lighting device.

19. The voice-activated control system of claim 18, wherein the at least one option corresponds to one or more of a power state of the lighting device, a color of light generated by the lighting device, a flashing sequence of the lighting device, a position of the lighting device, and an orientation of the lighting device.

20. The voice-activated control system of claim 17, wherein the microcontroller comprises a second processor and a second non-transitory computer-readable memory storing second instructions for execution by the second processor, wherein the second instructions, when executed by the second processor, cause the second processor to:

receive the control signal via the second wireless transceiver;

send, via the lighting device interface, a command signal based on the control signal; and

transmit a confirmation signal via the second wireless transceiver, wherein the confirmation signal comprises a present status of a lighting device connected to the lighting device interface.