CN101223828A - Visual feedback for remote control of lighting devices - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a remote controlled lighting device (100) comprising a light emitting element (112), the lighting device being arranged to adjust a property of the light emitting element (112) in response to a control signal. Further, the invention relates to a remote controlled lighting system and a method of providing feedback to an operator of a remote controlled lighting device (100) in response to a control signal for adjusting a property of the lighting device. A remotely controlled lighting device (100) comprising a light emitting element (112) is provided, the lighting device being arranged to provide an adjustment of a first property of the light emitting element (112) and a temporary change of a second property of the light emitting element (112) in response to a control signal, and wherein the change of the second property is communicated as a feedback signal to an operator of the lighting device (100).

Description

Visual feedback for remote control of lighting equipment

The invention relates to a remotely controlled lighting device comprising a lighting element, wherein the lighting device is configured to adjust a property of the lighting element in response to a control signal. Additionally, the invention relates to remotely controlled lighting systems, a set of control electronics and a method of providing feedback to an operator of the remotely controlled lighting device in response to control signals for adjustment of properties of the lighting device.

The market for lighting equipment or systems is gradually shifting from manufacturing light bulbs to providing complete lighting solutions. This shift is supported by technological developments and trends such as the use of LEDs as an alternative to traditional light sources. These new technological developments, in their sequence, create new opportunities for the use of light sources. An important issue when providing lighting fixtures is how to design an intuitive and understandable interface through which the user can control the properties of the lighting fixture.

Light sources such as traditional light bulbs, CFLs, LED-based lamps and halogen lamps are increasingly being designed to be able to have remote control to control one or more of their attributes such as color, intensity, focal length, diffusion or programming status. When remote control is used, the operator can change the properties of the light source. The properties of the light source can also be changed according to a predetermined or programmed path. Changes caused by the operator or the intended path are sometimes barely visible, or not at all visible to the operator. For example, minor color shifts are barely noticeable, and changes in remote control programming may not be seen at all. In the past, in order to change the properties of the light source, small colored lights, such as LEDs, have been included in the light source to indicate to the operator when to send a remote control signal to the light source in order to change the properties of the light source. However, this has the disadvantage that only customized non-standard light sources can be used. The inclusion of a visual feedback device, such as an LED, in the light source itself is not practical because it is located very close to a potentially bright and glare light source or may be completely dimmed by the lampshade.

US2003/0107888 discloses a remotely controlled modular lighting system using directional wireless remote control for selective adjustment and programming of individual lighting modules. Individual lighting modules can be selected for adjustment by momentarily pointing the remote control at the lighting module to be adjusted. Subsequent adjustments can be made without aiming the light, allowing the operator's attention to be on the object being illuminated. For home or retail use, control functions may include light aiming, turning lights on or off and dimming. On the selected module, the LED lights up to indicate that the module is ready to receive remote control commands in all directions. In US2003/0107888 it has been described that a remotely controlled lighting system comprising a human perceivable response indicator means responsive to receiving a predetermined information signal from said wireless remote control. Lighting modules can also be controlled in groups or individually. Different lighting groups can be defined remotely, and light sources can be members of multiple groups.

The problem with the prior art is that there is not enough guidance provided to the operator in order to perceive the response provided by the indicator device.

The purpose of the present invention is to alleviate the problems of the prior art.

This object is achieved by the invention as set out in the appended independent claims.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a remotely controlled lighting device comprising a lighting element additionally arranged to provide adjustment of a first property of the lighting element and adjustment of a second property of the lighting element in response to a control signal. A temporary change, and wherein the change in the second property is communicated as a feedback signal to an operator of the lighting device.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a method of providing a feedback signal in response to a control signal for adjusting a first property of a light-emitting element, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a control signal to change the first property of the light-emitting element; temporarily changing the light emission a second property of the element, whereby a change in the second property is communicated as a feedback signal to a sender of the control signal; and adjusting the first property of the light emitting element according to the control signal.

The idea of the present invention is to use properties of lighting devices, such as luminosity (brightness), for providing visual (optical) feedback means and a method for indicating the reception and execution of remote control signals. The lighting device is provided with control electronics and a communication interface for receiving control signals. Further, the lighting device is configured to perform actions defined by the remote control signal. When a control signal is received, the luminaire provides a visual feedback signal to the operator by temporarily changing the properties of the luminaire to an extent that the operator can see. This change may be exaggerated to emphasize it to the operator. The control electronics then sets the control properties according to the control signal being received. Performing actions according to the above as a result of controlling properties of lighting devices, thereby allowing the operator to receive feedback whether a remote control-induced change in properties has occurred, and to visually locate lighting devices or light sources that have been affected. It should be understood that the order of the steps of sending the audible feedback signal and changing the property may be interchanged. Thus, these steps may be performed simultaneously or after/before each other.

In a first embodiment of the device according to the invention there is provided a remotely controlled lighting device, wherein the first and second properties of the light emitting element are the same property. This has the advantage of indicating to the operator which attribute is being changed by means of a feedback signal.

In a second embodiment of the device of the invention there is provided a remotely controlled lighting device wherein the first property of the light emitting element is different from the second property. This is advantageous in cases where the property to be changed is very difficult to perceive. Temporary changes in attributes serve as feedback signals.

Advantageously, the feedback signal is arranged as a change in colour, intensity, focus, diffuseness, direction, light pattern or modulation of the light source or a combination thereof. A change in direction of light emitted from the lighting device may suggest that another object or surface is temporarily illuminated by the light emitted from the lighting device. Light patterns are obtained by projecting different images onto surfaces or objects. In addition, the light pattern can also be obtained as a result of narrowing or widening the cone of light of the lighting device. A change in the modulation of the light source may eg imply different flashing (twinkling, blinking) frequencies, and not only discrete on/off sequences to be considered. Continuously changing (repeatedly decreasing and/or increasing) the properties of the light source may also provide a modulated feedback signal. The skilled person realizes that some or all of the above properties may be combined in order to effectuate a change for use as a feedback signal.

Preferably, the remotely controlled lighting device is arranged such that the feedback signal provided to the lighting device is different for different control signals. This leads to the possibility of tailoring the feedback signal to eg increase to produce an exaggerated increase in intensity, and conversely, eg to decrease to produce an exaggerated decrease in intensity.

In another embodiment, a remotely controlled lighting device is provided wherein the feedback signal is adjustable by an operator. In this way it is possible for the operator to adjust the feedback signal for easy perception.

In yet another embodiment, a remotely controlled lighting device is provided wherein the feedback signal is adjustable according to a programmed schedule. This embodiment has the advantage of allowing the feedback signal to be personalized. And, it enables remote control of lighting fixtures with different schemes at different times of the day. For example, during bright hours of the day, a transition in intensity may be inappropriate, while instead a color change is used as a feedback signal and at night a change in intensity is easily perceived (while a color change is not).

In still another embodiment of the invention there is provided a lighting system comprising at least two remotely controlled lighting devices according to the invention, wherein the visual feedback signal of one lighting device is different from the visual feedback signal of the other lighting device .

In yet another embodiment of the invention there is provided a set of control electronics, for example comprising controllers for controlling components such as TV, audio, heating equipment, said set comprising at least one remote control according to the invention lighting device. An advantage is that the controllers are standardized within the group, thereby simplifying the use of controlling the components contained in the group.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following description. Those skilled in the art will realize that different features of the invention can be combined to create embodiments other than those described below.

The invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings, provided by way of non-limiting examples, in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a remotely controlled lighting device according to the present invention; and

Fig. 2 shows a typical flowchart of the method according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows an example of a lighting device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The lighting device 100 comprises a light emitting element 112 , a first set of connections 110 , control electronics 108 , a second set of connections 106 , a connection element 104 and, possibly, a housing 118 . The lighting element 112 is connected to the control electronics 108 via the first set of wiring 110 . The control electronics are connected to the connection element via a second set of wires 106 . The connection element 104 is connected to a socket 102 that supplies power to the lighting device. An operator can change the properties of the lighting device by using a remote control (not shown). Control signals are sent from the remote control to the control electronics, which then executes the control protocol according to FIG. 2 .

In Fig. 2, a typical flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Expected, possibly minor changes in luminaire properties are temporarily exaggerated to indicate remote controlled (RC) changes to the operator. In Figure 2, the lighting device attribute being controlled is brightness. Steps 1-4 depicted in Figure 2 can be defined as follows. Initially, lighting devices may emit light of very low intensity, for example. In step 1, the operator changes the brightness of the lighting equipment, for example to "standard/normal" brightness, by using the remote control. In step 2, in order to change the brightness according to the operator's command, the control electronics receives the RC signal and interprets it. In step 3, the lighting device makes an exaggerated change in brightness, eg temporarily to a very bright light, and thus transmits a feedback signal to the operator. This temporary change is usually less than a minute and preferably from a fraction of a second to 15 seconds. In step 4, the lighting device is set to the brightness desired by the operator, ie the "normal" brightness mentioned in connection with step 2. Thus, the luminaire emits light at a "normal" brightness through the adjustment provided by the remote control, which is the brightness of the luminaire intended by the operator.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a property different from the property to be actually controlled is changed and fed back to the operator in step 4 . For example, instead of making exaggerated changes in brightness, temporary changes in light color are made, while the property to be controlled is still brightness. Those skilled in the art realize that the subject matter of this particular embodiment can be combined with the previously described embodiments.

In another example, an operator can select a lighting fixture from a plurality of lighting fixtures. An operator is selecting a lighting device and receives feedback from the lighting device for confirming the selection by a visual feedback signal originating from the light emitting elements of the lighting device itself. Then, when the operator has selected a lighting device, proceed as described above.

It should be noted that the visual feedback means may be incorporated into the audio feedback means. An audio feedback device is described in the unpublished patent application EP05106628.0, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples thereof, it is evident that many various alterations, modifications, etc. will become apparent to those skilled in the art. The examples described are therefore not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims (15)

1. remote controlled light devices (100) that comprises light-emitting component (112), this lighting apparatus (100) is provided to wherein the Iterim Change of described second attribute be sent to the operator of lighting apparatus (100) as feedback signal in response to from the control signal of the Long-distance Control Iterim Change with second attribute of the adjusting of first attribute that light-emitting component (112) is provided and light-emitting component (112).

2. according to the remote controlled light devices (100) of claim 1, wherein described first attribute of light-emitting component (112) is identical attribute with second attribute.

3. according to the remote controlled light devices (100) of claim 1, wherein described first attribute of light-emitting component (112) is different from second attribute.

4. according to any one remote controlled light devices (100) among the claim 1-3, wherein said feedback signal is set to the modulation of color, intensity, focal length, diffusance, direction, light pattern or light source or the change of its combination.

5. according to any one remote controlled light devices (100) among the claim 1-4, wherein said feedback signal is set to for lighting apparatus, and different control signals is different.

6. according to any one remote controlled light devices (100) among the claim 1-5, wherein said feedback signal is set to by described operator's scalable.

7. according to any one remote controlled light devices (100) among the claim 1-6, wherein said feedback signal is set to the dispatch list scalable according to programming.

8. according to any one remote controlled light devices (100) among the claim 1-7, wherein said feedback signal is set to combine with audible feedback signal.

9. Long-distance Control illuminator, wherein said Long-distance Control illuminator comprises at least two according to any one remote controlled light devices (100) among the claim 1-8.

10. according to the Long-distance Control illuminator of claim 9, the described feedback signal of one of them lighting apparatus is different from the described feedback signal of another lighting apparatus.

11. one group of control electronic equipment, wherein said one group of control electronic equipment comprises that at least one is according to any one remote controlled light devices (100) among the claim 1-8.

12. a control signal that is used for first attribute of response regulation light-emitting component (112) provides the method for feedback signal, the method comprising the steps of:

The described control signal of-reception changes first attribute of light-emitting component (112);

Second attribute of-Iterim Change light-emitting component (112) sends the change of second attribute to the transmitter of control signal thus as feedback signal; With

-regulate first attribute of light-emitting component (112) according to described control signal.

13. according to the method for claim 12, wherein transmitter is the operator, this method further comprises step:

-allow the operator to regulate feedback signal.

14., further comprise step according to the method for claim 12 or 13;

-regulate feedback signal according to the dispatch list of programming.

15., further comprise step according to any one method among the claim 12-14:

-at described transmitter, from a plurality of lighting apparatus, select a lighting apparatus, preferably before described light-emitting component receives first attribute that described control signal changes light-emitting component (112).

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