Gesture-based control techniques for lighting systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016286625-A1
Application number	US-201514670635-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 27, 2015
Priority date	Mar 27, 2015
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Techniques and architecture are disclosed for gesture-based control techniques for lighting systems. In some cases, the lighting system may include a camera and/or other suitable componentry to interpret gestures made by a user for controlling light output. In some such cases, the gesture performed and/or the location of the gesture may determine how the light output is controlled. In some cases, the gestures may be performed by moving a mobile computing device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or dedicated light controller device. In some such cases, sensors included in or otherwise operatively coupled to the computing device (gravitational sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopic sensors, etc.) may be used to detect the movement of the device and the related gestures. The gestures may be used to navigate a user interface that allows a user to control light output by adjusting different attributes of the light output, such as light intensity and color.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A computing device comprising:
a processor configured to determine a gesture made by the computing device, the gesture determination based on motion of the computing device; and a communication module configured to transmit a control signal to a luminaire including at least one solid-state light source configured to output light, wherein the control signal is based on the gesture determined by the processor and is capable of controlling the light output.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the gesture determination is based on input from at least one of:
a gravitational sensor operatively coupled to the computing device and configured to measure gravitational forces acting upon the computing device; an accelerometer operatively coupled to the computing device and configured to measure acceleration of the computing device; and a gyroscopic sensor operatively coupled to the computing device and configured to measure rotation of the computing device.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the gesture is a pitch gesture performed by angularly lifting and lowering the computing device to provide a continuous range of pitch angles and the control signal is based on the pitch angle.

4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the pitch angle is determined using at least a gravitational sensor operatively coupled to the computing device and configured to measure gravitational forces acting upon the computing device.

5 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the processor is configured to perform at least one correction when determining the pitch angle to increase the accuracy of the pitch gesture.

6 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface including at least two light control modes, each mode configured to adjust a unique attribute of the light output in response to user input.

7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein only a single mode can be active for controlling the light output at a given time and a fling gesture performed by moving the computing device by translation in a direction can be used to switch the active mode based on the fling direction.

8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the fling direction is determined using at least an accelerometer operatively coupled to the computing device and configured to measure acceleration of the computing device.

9 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to perform at least one correction when determining the fling direction to increase the accuracy of the fling gesture.

10 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the unique attribute of the light output has at least two selectable options and a tilt gesture performed by rotating the device in a direction about a main axis of the device can be used to cause at least one of applying the selected option and reverting to the previously selected option based on the tilt direction.

11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the tilt direction is determined using at least a gyroscopic sensor operatively coupled to the computing device and configured to measure rotation of the computing device.

12 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to perform at least one correction when determining the tilt direction to increase the accuracy of the tilt gesture.

13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the control signal is capable of controlling at least one of light intensity and light color.

14 . A lighting system comprising the computing device of claim 1 and the luminaire.

15 . A method of controlling light output from a luminaire, the luminaire including at least one solid-state light source configured to output the light, the method comprising:
receiving a control signal based on a gesture performed by moving a computing device, the luminaire communicatively coupled to the computing device via a wireless communication link; and adjusting the light output based on the control signal.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein adjusting the light output includes adjusting at least one of the light intensity and light color.

17 . A non-transitory computer program product encoded with instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes a process to be carried out, the process comprising:
in response to user input, invoke a gesture mode configured to allow a user to control light output from a luminaire including at least one solid-state light source configured to output the light, wherein the gesture mode includes one or more light control modes, each light control mode capable of adjusting a unique attribute of the light output; and navigate the gesture mode based on gestures made by moving a computing device operatively coupled to the one or more processors.

18 . The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein a pitch gesture performed by angularly lifting and lowering the computing device to provide a continuous range of pitch angles can be used to adjust the light output based on the pitch angle.

19 . The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein a fling gesture performed by moving the computing device by translation in a direction can be used to switch between the light control modes based on the fling direction.

20 . The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the unique attribute of the light output has at least two selectable options and a tilt gesture performed by rotating the device in a direction about a main axis of the device can be used to cause at least one of applying the selected option and reverting to the previously selected option based on the tilt direction.

Assignees

• Olsen Joseph Allen
• Spaulding Jeremy
• Anthony Mervyn
• Sarkisian Alan
• Osram Sylvania Inc

Inventors

• Olsen Joseph Allen
• Spaulding Jeremy
• Anthony Mervyn
• Sarkisian Alan

Classifications

• H05B45/60 Primary

  Circuit arrangements for operating LEDs comprising organic material, e.g. for operating organic light-emitting diodes [OLED] or polymer light-emitting diodes [PLED] · CPC title

• H05B45/20

  Controlling the colour of the light · CPC title

• H05B47/105

  in response to determined parameters · CPC title

• G06F3/017 Primary

  Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883) · CPC title

• G06F2203/012

  Walk-in-place systems for allowing a user to walk in a virtual environment while constraining him to a given position in the physical environment · CPC title