Individually adjustable lighting system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lighting system comprising a control gear (2) for light sources (3), a control unit (1, 12) for controlling the control gear (2) and at least one biometric sensor (7, 11) for capturing a person's fingerprint, wherein the control unit (1, 12) is configured to assign an operating parameter or a first control command for controlling the control gear (2) to the fingerprint or a hash value generated from the fingerprint and to control the control gear (2) on the basis of the operating parameter or the control command.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting system in which personal settings and functions are retrieved and activated by means of a biometric sensor.

[0002] EP 3 166 370 A1 discloses a system in which a person is assigned a specific brightness of a luminaire, a specific dimming curve, a specific color temperature or a specific lighting scene concept and the person is identified by means of one or more of their fingerprints in order to retrieve or activate the settings and functions assigned to them.

[0003] WO 2010 / 079388 A1 discloses a lighting system in which persons are identified by means of their fingerprints and preferences for the lighting setting are determined for each person and transmitted to other lighting systems.

[0004] WO 2021 / 072366 A1 discloses a system comprising a medical chair and a lighting device, in which individual settings for the chair and the lighting can be retrieved by means of a fingerprint.

[0005] However, the collection of personal fingerprints can be problematic from a data protection perspective. Furthermore, many users prefer anonymity when using a lighting system to avoid unintentionally revealing information about their usage patterns.

[0006] The invention is based on the objective of providing a device and a method that reduce the problems described. In particular, the objective is to provide a lighting system with which individual settings and functions can be easily and anonymously accessed and activated in a repeatable manner.

[0007] This problem is solved by the features of independent claim 1. The invention is further developed by the features of the dependent claims.

[0008] According to the present invention, a lighting system comprises at least one control gear for light sources, a control unit for controlling the control gear, and a biometric sensor for capturing at least one fingerprint of a person. The control unit is configured to assign an operating parameter and / or a first control command for controlling the control gear to a hash value generated from the fingerprint and to control the control gear based on the operating parameter or the first control command. In particular, the control unit calculates the hash value from the anatomical features (input value) of the fingerprint captured by the biometric sensor using a cryptographic hash function (one-way function) and compares it with a stored hash value to which the operating parameter or the control command is assigned.Each of the different stored hash values ​​can be assigned individual operating parameters and / or control commands.

[0009] If only the hash value is stored, from which the input value (fingerprint) cannot be reconstructed, the system can only obtain anonymized, system-specific information which cannot be used or misused for other applications.

[0010] The control gear, which is controlled by the control unit, generates the currents and voltages necessary for the operation of the light source. The control gear can be, for example, an electronic ballast (ECG) for fluorescent lamps or a control gear for light-emitting diodes.

[0011] The operating parameter or first control command can be a parameter or command for setting a specific color temperature, a specific brightness, or for activating a specific lighting scene for a group of luminaires, controlling the light according to daylight or its progression, or for performing a dimming operation with a specific dimming curve. It is also possible to assign multiple operating parameters and / or control commands to a fingerprint, such as a specific color temperature in combination with a specific brightness or a specific dimming curve, and / or to assign one or more operating parameters and / or control commands to a combination of fingerprints. When a specific fingerprint is recognized, these multiple parameters and / or control commands can then be executed together.

[0012] The biometric sensor can be integrated into a switch or button associated with the control device, allowing it to capture the fingerprint immediately upon activation. The fingerprint sensor can also function as a button, with fingerprint recognition itself being interpreted as a button press. This enables parameter settings to be configured with a single action upon power-up. This eliminates the need for a separate power-up process, followed by individual identification to execute the desired control commands or parameters.Thus, it is possible to switch on the light with an individual dimming level or to dim it down with a specific time progression when the light is activated, whereas when activated with a finger to which no operating parameter / control command is assigned, the operating device is controlled according to a general operating parameter / control command.

[0013] The biometric sensor can be located on the switch cover of the (mechanical) switch or button, be part of the switch cover, or be itself designed as a touch-sensitive electronic button (touch sensor).

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the control unit is not a central control unit, but a local control unit, for example, for a single room or, in particular, a single device (light). Specifically, the control unit can be integrated into the switch or push button (e.g., a wall switch) or a light fixture (e.g., a wall / ceiling light), which also includes the operating gear. Alternatively, the lighting system can be a user-operated light fixture, such as a floor or desk lamp. The control device can be designed as a processor, a microprocessor, a controller, a microcontroller, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a combination of these.

[0015] Information is transmitted between the biometric sensor and the control unit and / or between the control unit and the operating device via wired or wireless connections. In a preferred embodiment, the lighting system incorporates a bus system for transmission according to the DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) or DALI-2 standard / protocol for building automation. At least the control command to the operating device can be transmitted via the bus system.

[0016] Additionally or alternatively, the control unit can be a DALI-2 "Application Controller" that assigns a virtual button to each stored or recognized hash value, and a specific function is assigned to each button. This function is then output to the control gear via the DALI bus for further processing in the form of a control command.

[0017] A hash value can additionally be assigned a specific control command or a specific device identifier for an external device related to the lighting system. Such a device could be a fan, a switchable power outlet, a tablet, or a personal computer. The control command or identifier is preferably transmitted wirelessly to the device via a transmitter (Bluetooth beacon), with the control unit determining the (second) control command for controlling the external device that is assigned to the hash value generated from the fingerprint.

[0018] The assignment can also depend on the first control signal, so that, for example, the second control command will lock or put the personal computer into sleep mode if the first control command is a "turn off lights" command, and will turn the personal computer on or start it up if the first control command is a "turn on lights" command. If several external devices are controllable, each stored hash value can be assigned to a specific device (device address) or a specific group of devices to which the control command / identifier is to be sent.

[0019] The lighting system may include a storage device in which at least the hash values ​​to be recorded, along with their associated operating parameters and / or control commands, are stored. The storage device may be part of the control unit or the biometric sensor. The mapping between the operating parameters and / or control commands and the hash values ​​is unambiguous.

[0020] The lighting system, in particular the control unit or biometric sensor, can have a wired or wireless communication interface for an input device through which operating parameters, control commands, and hash values ​​can be entered and / or modified. Alternatively or additionally, a storage device, such as a memory card, can be removed from the system for storing or modifying the data. The input device can be a PC, smartphone, or tablet with an application program (app) installed. This app allows a person to define individual operating parameters and / or control commands and enter their fingerprint, from which the input device calculates the hash value. Thus, no third party is involved in the input process, further increasing anonymity.

[0021] Alternatively or additionally, the lighting system itself can assign operating parameters and / or control commands to a hash value during operation or in a configuration mode. During operation, when a person performs an operation to set a specific lighting state (e.g., a certain brightness), the control unit captures and stores the hash value calculated from the fingerprint used, as well as the operating parameters and / or control commands required to achieve the desired lighting state. In this way, the control unit can set the specific lighting state (e.g., switch on at the specified brightness) upon subsequent fingerprint scans without requiring the person to repeat the setting operation (e.g., dimming operation).This allows each person to recall their last setting (lighting state), even if another person has made a different setting (lighting state) in the meantime.

[0022] Alternatively, the described data acquisition and storage can only occur when the lighting system is in a specific mode (configuration mode) to prevent unintentional changes and / or to limit the group of people authorized to make configurations. Configuration mode can be activated for a specific period of time by pressing a button, which may be accessible only through a small opening, similar to a reset button. In configuration mode, the control unit determines the operating parameter or control command as described and assigns it to the hash value generated from the fingerprint.

[0023] Alternatively, the control unit can automatically activate configuration mode if no operating parameter or control command has yet been assigned to the hash value generated from the fingerprint. This can occur automatically during fingerprint verification, as each fingerprint is initially checked for associated parameter or control command storage. If such a check is unsuccessful, it means that no parameter or control command has yet been assigned to the currently used fingerprint (hash value).

[0024] Alternatively or additionally, the control unit can be configured to determine the orientation of the fingerprint relative to the biometric sensor, the duration during which the biometric sensor captures the fingerprint, the time interval between two or more captured fingerprints, the number of fingerprints simultaneously captured by the biometric sensor, and / or the capture of a specific administrator's fingerprint. The control unit activates the configuration mode when the determined duration corresponds to a predefined time period or time window, the determined interval corresponds to a predefined interval, the determined number corresponds to a predefined number, and / or the captured fingerprint corresponds to the specific fingerprint. In general terms, the determined duration, the determined interval, the determined number, and / or the captured fingerprint are checked to determine whether a specific condition is met.Instead of a precise time duration, this could be, for example, a minimum duration or something similar. The same applies to the distance or any other verifiable condition.

[0025] The lighting system may include at least one additional control unit for controlling the operating device or another operating device of the lighting system. To avoid having to perform the configuration mode again by the additional control unit, the control unit may transmit the hash value generated from the fingerprint in configuration mode, along with the associated operating parameter or the first control command, to the additional control unit.

[0026] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1 in a schematic representation a first embodiment of a lighting system according to the present invention, Fig. 2 a second embodiment of a lighting system according to the present invention and Fig. 3 a third embodiment of a lighting system according to the present invention. Additionally, a drawing of a "minimal example" is shown, in which the button (4 and 5) is missing and only the fingerprint sensor is connected to control 1, to illustrate that the downstream button is optional and the function can be performed by the sensor.

[0027] Components with identical functions are marked with the same reference symbols in the figures. To avoid unnecessary repetition, a repeating description is omitted where it is superfluous.

[0028] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a simplified schematic representation of a lighting system according to the present invention, comprising as components a control device 1, a control gear 2 controllable by the control device 1, a light source 3 operable by the control gear 2, a push button 4 for switching on and off and dimming the light emitted by the light source 3, a biometric sensor 6 located on or integrated into the operating surface 5 of the push button 4 for capturing the fingerprint of a finger 7 operating the push button 4, a DALI bus 8 connecting the control device 1 and the control gear 2, and a power supply unit 9 for the DALI bus 8 or the devices connected to it.

[0029] The DALI bus 8 can be a DALI-2 bus and the control device 1 can be a so-called "Application Controller" that receives messages from sensors or other input devices connected to the DALI-2 bus and transmits commands to operating devices according to a received message.

[0030] When pressed, button 4 sends a switching signal to the control device 1, which transmits a corresponding control command to the operating gear 2 via the DALI bus 8. A short press (e.g., less than 500 ms) of button 4 switches the light on or off in general mode, depending on its current power-on state. A longer press (e.g., ≥500 ms) of button 4 starts a dimming process, which stops when button 4 is released or when a maximum or minimum dimming level is reached. Another long press of the button reverses the dimming direction.

[0031] The control device 1 receives the fingerprint or information about the anatomical features of the user from the biometric sensor 6 during operation of the button 4, calculates a hash value from this information using a cryptographic hash function and stores this value together with the dimming level / value set by the operator in an internal, preferably non-volatile, memory device (not shown) after a dimming operation.

[0032] When button 4 is briefly pressed while the light is off, the control device 1 determines whether the calculated hash value matches a stored hash value. If there is a match, in a custom mode, the dimming level associated with the calculated hash value is used for switching on the light instead of the dimming level intended for the general mode (e.g., maximum level 100%), and a corresponding control command is sent to the operating device 2. If there is no match, the light is switched on at the dimming level intended for the general mode. This allows a dimming level to be stored and changed for each finger, even by different users.

[0033] In the described example, a stored fingerprint or a hash value calculated from this fingerprint is assigned only a dimming level. However, it is also possible to assign further or other parameters, such as the color temperature of the light emitted by an LED module as a light source 3 and / or parameters relating to the temporal progression of the color temperature / brightness change. In principle, any adjustable parameter of a lighting system is suitable for being assigned to a fingerprint or its hash value. This also applies to multiple parameters. With several control gears 2 or luminaires, a specific group of luminaires, with potentially individual brightness and / or color temperature settings for each luminaire in the group, can be assigned to a fingerprint for lighting scene control.The lighting system can also include a variety of buttons and / or switches, each allowing individual settings to be adjusted. The buttons and switches can be located in different places or in one location, for example, on a touch-sensitive switch with a (touch) control panel.

[0034] When a button is pressed to adjust individual parameters and / or the button to recall / activate the setting, the fingerprint is captured by the biometric sensor 6. The control unit 1 saves the selected setting along with the captured fingerprint or activates the setting stored for the captured fingerprint.

[0035] The in Fig. 2 The lighting system shown also features the one in Fig. 1 The lighting system shown comprises a touch-sensitive switch (or push button) 10 with an integrated biometric sensor 11 and a second control device 12 for the operating gear 2. The switch 10 is used to switch and dim the light emitted by the light source 3 by means of a short or long press. The biometric sensor 11 detects the fingerprint when the switch 10 is pressed. The switching or dimming signal and the detected fingerprint are transmitted to the control device 12, which calculates the hash value, stores this value after a dimming operation together with the dimming level / value set by the user, and, in individual mode, sets the dimming level corresponding to the calculated hash value, or, in general mode, sets the dimming level for fingerprints not stored. The above applies analogously in the case of a push button.

[0036] Control device 12 sends the hash value calculated after a dimming operation initiated by actuating switch 10, along with the corresponding dimming level, via the DALI bus 8 to control device 1. Control device 1 stores the hash value together with the dimming level or replaces an old dimming level already stored in control device 1 with the new dimming level. Thus, the dimming level set by switch 10 can also be recalled by briefly pressing button 4 with the same finger. Similarly, control device 1 transmits newly set dimming levels via switch 4 to control device 12. This transmission can also occur wirelessly, particularly if control device 1 and control device 12 are not connected to the same bus system and may not be controlling the same operating device 2.

[0037] According to the examples described, the parameters and control commands to be stored for setting a specific brightness, color temperature, and / or lighting scene are determined by the control device 1 or 12 based on an operating operation of the button 4 or switch 10, which assigns the respective detected fingerprint to them. Alternatively or additionally, the determination and assignment can be carried out using an input device.

[0038] When implemented as a DALI-2 system with control devices 1 and 12 on a common bus, the subordinate control device is preferably designed as a sensor according to DALI Part 3xx. Part 301 is particularly suitable here.

[0039] The in Fig. 3 The lighting system shown also has an interface 13 for such an input device 14. The input device 14 is, for example, a tablet or smartphone and has a fingerprint sensor (not shown) and a program by which an operation of a button or switch symbolically displayed on the input device 14 can be carried out and / or parameters and control commands can be entered by a person or selected from a menu. The input device 14 wirelessly transmits the entered parameters and control commands, or those determined based on the operation, together with the fingerprint detected by the fingerprint sensor or the hash value calculated from the fingerprint, to the interface 13. The control device 1 connected to the interface 13 stores the data received from the interface 13 and controls the operating device 2 when the button 4 is pressed, based on the stored data.The input device 14 allows selection from a variety of different setting options, such as brightness, color temperature, and lighting scene, without requiring a physical switch or button for each of these settings. The lighting setting selected via the input device 14 is activated by briefly pressing button 4 with the corresponding finger.

[0040] It is also possible, alternatively or additionally to a parameter or control command, to assign an action or message to an external device related to the lighting system or the DALI bus 8 to a fingerprint or hash value, and to send a control signal to execute the action or the message to the external device via interface 13 or another transmitting device when the fingerprint is detected by the biometric sensor 6 or 11. In this way, the presence and / or position of a person can be displayed to the external device, for example.

[0041] In the Fig. 1 bis 3In the examples described, a control command or parameter (e.g., dimming level) assigned to a fingerprint is replaced by the respective new parameter or control command when a new setting is made (e.g., a dimming operation or setting a new dimming level using input device 14). However, it is also possible to save at least a certain number of the most recently set parameters, calculate an average value from the saved parameters, and assign this average value to the fingerprint.

[0042] This can be done for all or some of the adjustable parameter classes (dimming level, farm temperature).

[0043] Alternatively or additionally, at least one parameter or control command can be determined by machine learning. For this purpose, the control device 1, 12 records further information, such as the time, date and / or location of the setting made with the finger for at least this parameter class and, if applicable, the signals from other sensors (presence or brightness sensor), as training data in order to determine a statistical model.

Claims

1. Lighting system comprising a control gear (2) for light sources (3), a control unit (1, 12) for controlling the control gear (2), and at least one biometric sensor (7, 11) configured to capture at least one fingerprint of a person, characterized in that the control unit (1, 12) is configured to associate a hash value generated from the fingerprint with an operating parameter or a first control command for controlling the control gear (2) and to control the control gear (2) based on the operating parameter or the control command.

2. Lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the lighting system comprises a switch (10) or push button (4) in which the biometric sensor (6, 11) is integrated, the switch (10) or push button (4) being configured to capture the fingerprint when the switch (10) or push button (4) is actuated.

3. Lighting system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lighting system comprises a luminaire in which the control unit (1, 12) and the control gear (2) are integrated.

4. Lighting system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lighting system is a floor or desk lamp.

5. Lighting system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lighting system comprises a DALI bus (8), in particular a DALI-2 bus, to which at least the control gear (2) and the control unit (1, 12), which is in particular an application controller of a DALI-2 system, are connected, and wherein the control unit (1, 12) is configured to send the control command to the control gear (2) via the DALI bus (8) or the DALI-2 bus.

6. Lighting system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (1, 12) is configured to associate a second control command for controlling an external device (14) with the hash value generated from the fingerprint, and wherein the lighting system comprises a transmission device (13) for wirelessly transmitting the second control command to the external device (14).

7. Lighting system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (1, 12) is configured to determine the operating parameter or the first control command in a configuration mode and to associate it with the hash value generated from the fingerprint captured by the biometric sensor (6, 11) in the configuration mode.

8. Lighting system according to claim 7, wherein the control unit (1, 12) is configured to activate the configuration mode if no operating parameter or first control command is associated with the hash value generated from the fingerprint.

9. Lighting system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the control unit (1, 12) is configured to determine the orientation of the fingerprint relative to the biometric sensor (4, 11), the duration during which the biometric sensor (6, 11) captures the fingerprint, the time interval between two or more captured fingerprints, the number of fingerprints captured simultaneously by the biometric sensor (6, 11) and / or the detection of a specific fingerprint, and wherein the control unit (1, 12) is configured to activate the configuration mode if the determined duration, interval, number and / or detected fingerprint meets a predetermined condition.

10. Lighting system according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the lighting system comprises a further control unit (1, 12) for controlling the control gear (2) or another control gear of the lighting system, and wherein the control unit (1, 12) is configured to transmit the hash value generated from the fingerprint in the configuration mode together with the operating parameter or the first control command to the further control unit (1, 12).

Images