US-20260129737-A1 - DEVICE AND METHOD FOR LIGHTING CONTROL

US20260129737A1US 20260129737 A1US20260129737 A1US 20260129737A1US-20260129737-A1

Abstract

A device ( 102 ) for lighting automation includes at least one communication interface ( 122 , 124 ) corresponding to a plurality of lighting fixtures ( 130 , 132 ), wherein each of the lighting fixture is associated with a corresponding physical interface ( 122 , 124 ), the device is configured to detect a gesture ( 106 ) by a user ( 108 ), via a mobile device ( 104 ), to establish an association with a physical interface. The device ( 102 ) is further configured to detect a lighting fixture ( 130 , 132 ) controllable by the physical interface ( 122 , 124 ) and generate control signals ( 120 ) for the detected lighting fixture, via an orientation sensor, based on movements of the mobile device. The device ( 102 ) is also configured to operate the lighting fixture corresponding to the physical interface based on the generated control signals. The movements of the mobile device ( 104 ) are similar to the movements involved in the operation of the physical interface ( 122 , 124 ).

Inventors

Anoop Kumar
PARAS DAGAR
RAVINDER JANGRA
KARAN NASSA

Assignees

SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20230929
Priority Date: 20221129

Claims (15)

1 . A device for lighting automation, the device comprising at least one communication interface corresponding to a plurality of lighting fixtures, the plurality of lighting fixtures is associated with a corresponding plurality of physical interfaces, the device is configured to: establish an association between a physical interface among the plurality of physical interfaces and a mobile device based on a gesture provided by a user via the mobile device; detect a lighting fixture among the plurality of lighting fixtures controllable by the physical interface; generate control signals for the detected lighting fixture, via an orientation sensor of the mobile device, based on user movements; and operate the lighting fixture corresponding to the physical interface based on the generated control signals characterized in that movements of the mobile device are similar to movements involved in the operation of the physical interface.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of physical interfaces comprises one of a slider, and a toggle switch.
3 . The device of claim 1 , configured to detect a physical interface among the plurality of physical interfaces, when the mobile device is in a close proximity and prepare performing functionality of the physical interface upon detection.
4 . The device of claim 1 , configured to detect a physical interface among the plurality of physical interfaces, when the mobile device is pointed in the direction of the physical interface.
5 . The device of claim 1 , configured to detect a physical interface among the plurality of physical interfaces, by receiving information of an RFID tag fastened on the body of the physical interface via the mobile device.
6 . The device of claim 1 , configured to generate the control signals when the mobile device is moved in a pre-specified pattern by the user.
7 . The device of claim 6 , configured to generate the control signals when the pre-specified pattern of movement by the user comprises a physical movement similar to the movements involved in operating the physical interface associated with the mobile device.
8 . A method for lighting automation, performed by a device comprising at least one communication interface, a receiver circuitry and a lighting control unit, the method comprising: establishing an association of a mobile device with a physical interface among a plurality of physical interfaces corresponding to a plurality of lighting fixtures based on a gesture by a user obtained via the mobile device; detecting a lighting fixture among the plurality of lighting fixtures controllable by the physical interface; generating control signals for the detected lighting fixture, via an orientation sensor of the mobile device based on user movements; and operating the lighting fixture corresponding to the physical interface based on the generated control signals, characterized in that movements of the mobile device are similar to movements involved in the operation of the physical interface.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein establishing comprises detecting the physical interface comprising one of a slider switch, a toggle switch, and a dimmer switch.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein establishing the association comprises: disposing the mobile device in a close proximity with a physical interface; and enabling mobile device to configure itself to perform functionality of the physical interface.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein establishing the association comprises pointing the mobile device in the direction of the physical interface.
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein establishing the association comprises receiving information of an RFID tag fastened on the body of the physical interface via the mobile device.
13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the generating the control signal comprises receiving an input via one of sensor devices of the mobile device.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the input is generated by movements of the mobile device, wherein the movements of the mobile device comprise a pattern of movement of the mobile device performed by the user.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the input is generated by the pattern of movement of the mobile device, wherein the pattern of the mobile device comprises a physical movement similar to movement observed while operating the physical interface associated with the mobile device

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a technique of lighting control. Specifically, the invention relates to lighting control automation using a mobile device. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Lighting infrastructure in recent years is increasingly becoming smarter. With the integration of wireless control of LED lighting and deployment of various types of sensors such as, but not limited to, occupancy sensor and ambient light sensors, automation of lighting and its operation with optimized energy usage are made possible. Philips Hue is a consumer connected lighting solution. The Hue system typically comprises a central controller, named a bridge (or hub), wirelessly controllable lighting devices and user interfaces in various forms (light control devices, sensors and mobile device apps). The bridge is connected to the router of the user and communicates to the lighting devices. It can run schedules and home automation rules. In this way, it acts as the intelligence of the system. All user interfaces connect to the bridge in order to actuate the lights. In the Hue system, mobile device apps are typically used when the user is not close to a light control device. Mobile device apps may also be used to when it is not convenient to use a light control device, as disclosed in US 2016/0342297 A1. US 2016/0342297 A1 discloses that when the user places the smartphone near a control panel, the smartphone picks up functions from the control panel and temporarily impersonates the control panel in the eyes of the house automation system. The Hue system includes a range of physical accessories that could be used to control lighting, including the Hue dimmer switch, the Hue tap switch and the Hue smart button. The Hue smart button and other hue accessories can only accommodate a limited number of physical controls and have limited means for displaying to the user what behaviors have been assigned to the physical controls. Establishing association of a physical panel controls to control devices via a user mobile is disclosed in WO2013132416 A1. However, use of sensors extensively in the lighting network can make the infrastructure and installation a costly affair. Commissioning of the lighting infrastructure can be cumbersome with the increased number of light points and the need to integrate the luminaire with the sensors. An another technological trend that is accompanying the smart light networks is the sophistication in the mobile device. A number of sensors are already integrated with the mobile device configured to provide basic calling and messaging services. Mobile phones with inbuilt sensors are already used in commissioning and controlling the lighting network. Inputs to the mobile is provided via keyboards, touchscreens and such other means. Gestures and the movements of the mobile device are also used to generate control signals. However, there is a need to use the mobile phones in a more easy and natural way to operate the lighting network. Controlling light sources in response to detecting interaction with a light control device by a user is disclosed in WO2021136711 A1. However, user interaction with the light control device is independently defined and may not be intuitively related to the operation of physical interface of the light control device. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present specification relates to a technique of lighting control. Specifically, the invention relates to lighting control automation using a mobile device. In one aspect of the present specification, a device for lighting automation is disclosed. The device comprises at least one communication interface corresponding to a plurality of lighting fixtures. In one embodiment, the plurality of lighting fixtures comprises a corresponding luminaire. Each of the lighting fixture is associated with a corresponding physical interface. In one embodiment, the physical interface includes one of a slider switch and toggle switch. Although, only two types of switches are listed, the physical interface may also take other forms such as, but not limited to, a rotary switch and other forms of input devices, The device is configured to establish an association of a physical interface with a mobile device based on a gesture by a user carrying the mobile device. The association is established based on the gesture signals obtained via a mobile device. In one embodiment, the device is configured to detect the physical interface when the mobile device is in its close proximity. In another embodiment, the device is configured to detect the physical interface when the mobile device is pointing towards it. In yet another embodiment, the device is able to receive the information of the physical interface by reading RFID tag fastened on the body of the physical interface via mobile device. The device is further configured to establish an association between the physical interface and the mobile device based on this information. Fur