CONTROLLER FOR CONTROLLING LIGHTING UNITS OF A LIGHTING SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - Patent application

Abstract

A method 400 of controlling a lighting unit 110 of a lighting system 100a, 100b is disclosed. The lighting system 100a, 100b includes a lighting unit 110 and a lighting control device 120 including a user input element 122 for receiving continuous user input to vary the intensity of a light output of the lighting unit 110. The method 400 includes receiving 402 a signal indicative of the continuous user input, obtaining 404 one or more parameters, the one or more parameters including at least a current light setting of the lighting unit 110, the current light setting having an intensity level between a predetermined maximum intensity level and a predetermined minimum intensity level, and controlling the intensity of the light output of the lighting unit 110 over time while the continuous user input is provided, wherein the intensity of the light output is increased or decreased based on the one or more parameters.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for controlling a lighting unit of a lighting system, the lighting system comprising a lighting unit and a lighting control device comprising a user input element for receiving continuous user input for varying the intensity of the light output of the lighting unit.The present invention further relates to a computer program product for carrying out the method.The present invention further relates to a controller for controlling a lighting unit of a lighting system, the lighting system comprising a lighting unit and a lighting control device comprising a user input element for receiving continuous user input for varying the intensity of the light output of the lighting unit. [Background technology]

[0002] A smart lighting system allows a user to control lighting units in an environment, such as the user's home. Such a smart lighting system may include multiple lighting units and lighting control devices (such as a light switch and a smartphone) that are connected to the lighting units. One type of lighting control device has a limited number of user input elements. A light switch, for example, may only have a single button. This single button may be configured, for example, to allow a user to switch one or more lighting units on and off by pressing the button. Furthermore, such a button may be configured to receive a press-and-hold input, which may be associated with a dimming control command, and one or more lighting units may be dimmed while the user continuously presses and holds the button.

[0003] US 9113513 B1 discloses controlling the change in light intensity by a lighting system by receiving a desired dimming signal, sampling the signal, and varying an output drive signal that drives the lighting system by varying increments until the light intensity emitted by the lighting system substantially matches the desired light intensity indicated by the dimming signal. By pressing and holding the switch closed for a certain period of time, e.g., 1 second or more, the microcontroller enters a dimming mode in which it automatically dims the light-emitting element output by varying the PWM duty cycle from 100% to 1% over a set period of time, e.g., 3 seconds. By releasing the switch and repeating the press-and-hold action, the microcontroller may reverse the dimming direction and increase the light output by varying the PWM duty cycle from 1% to 100%. The PWM increment may be automatically changed based on the actual duty cycle or light level. For example, if the duty cycle is below about 2%, the PWM increment may be 1 bit, if the duty cycle is between about 2% and about 5%, the PWM increment may be 2 bits, and if the duty cycle is above about 5%, the PWM increment may be 4 bits. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In current systems, the press and hold input described above either increases the intensity of the light output of the lighting unit or decreases the intensity of the light output. The inventors have recognized that it would be desirable for such a single input element to be able to be used to both increase and decrease the intensity of the light output depending on the needs of the user. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and controller that allows for advanced dimming control by providing a single input. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention, the object is to provide a method for controlling a lighting unit of a lighting system comprising a lighting unit and a lighting control device comprising a user input element for receiving a continuous user input for varying an intensity of a light output of the lighting unit, the method comprising: Receiving a signal indicative of a continuous user input; obtaining one or more parameters, the one or more parameters including at least a current light setting of the lighting unit, the current light setting having a current intensity level between a predetermined maximum intensity level and a predetermined minimum intensity level; controlling an intensity of a light output of the lighting unit over time while continuous user input is provided, the intensity of the light output being increased or decreased based on one or more parameters; This is achieved by a method comprising:

[0006] The intensity of the light output of the lighting unit is controlled while the continuous user input is received. The continuous user input may be, for example, a press and hold user input provided by pressing and holding a button of the lighting control device. The light output is increased or decreased based on one or more parameters. Furthermore, the method may include determining whether to increase or decrease the intensity based on the one or more parameters. The one or more parameters include at least a current light setting of the lighting unit, the current light setting having a current intensity level between a predetermined maximum intensity level and a predetermined minimum intensity level. The predetermined maximum intensity may be, for example, 100% intensity, and the predetermined minimum intensity may be, for example, off. Thus, if the current intensity is between the maximum intensity and the minimum intensity of the lighting unit, the intensity of the light output of the lighting unit is increased or decreased over time based on the current intensity. For example, if the current intensity is high (e.g., 90% of the maximum intensity), the intensity may be decreased while the user is providing the continuous user input, and if the current intensity is low (e.g., 10% of the maximum intensity), the intensity may be increased while the user is providing the continuous user input. This is beneficial as such a single input element can be used to both increase and decrease the intensity of the light output depending on the (anticipated) needs of the user, thereby providing a high degree of dimming control by providing a single input.

[0007] The one or more parameters may further include a current time. The current time may be, for example, the current time, the day of the week, the month, the time / day of the year, the season, etc. Thus, the decision to increase or decrease may be further based on the current time. A user may, for example, want to increase the intensity early in the evening and decrease the intensity later in the night. This is beneficial as it allows for much more advanced dimming control by providing a single input.

[0008] The one or more parameters may further include a location of the lighting unit. The location may be, for example, a geographic location, a location in a building (e.g., a particular room or space), a location in a room or space (e.g., a ceiling, a floor, a corner, the middle of a room, etc.), a location relative to other devices or objects (e.g., a television, a table, etc.), etc. Thus, the decision to increase or decrease the intensity may be further based on the location of the lighting unit. A user may, for example, want to increase the intensity of a lighting unit located in the living room and decrease the intensity of a lighting unit located in the bedroom. This is beneficial as it allows for even more advanced dimming control by providing a single input.

[0009] The method may further include ceasing to increase or decrease the intensity when continuous user input is no longer provided. Thus, when the user no longer provides continuous input, the increase or decrease in intensity is stopped and the intensity is set to its current intensity level. This allows the user to select a desired intensity by simply no longer providing continuous user input.

[0010] The method may further include decreasing the intensity over time while the successive user input is provided if the intensity reaches a predetermined maximum intensity level while the successive user input is provided, and increasing the intensity over time while the successive user input is provided if the intensity reaches a predetermined minimum intensity level while the successive user input is provided. For example, if the intensity is increased and reaches a predetermined maximum intensity, the intensity may be decreased (as long as the successive user input is provided). This allows a user to cycle through dimming levels by providing successive user inputs. This is beneficial because it allows for a much greater degree of dimming control than by providing a single input.

[0011] The method further includes, upon failure to receive continuous user input, receiving a second signal indicative of a second successive user input received via the same user input element; if the intensity was decreased while the successive user input was provided, increasing the intensity over time while a second successive user input is provided; if the intensity was increased while the successive user input was provided, decreasing the intensity over time while a second successive user input is provided; This may include a switch that allows the user to stop providing continuous user input (e.g., by releasing the button) and then provide a second continuous user input (e.g., by pressing and holding the button again) to reverse the intensity change (from increasing to decreasing, or vice versa). This allows for even more sophisticated dimming control via a single input element.

[0012] The predetermined minimum and maximum intensity levels may be minimum and maximum intensity levels of the lighting unit. The predetermined maximum intensity may be, for example, 100% intensity and the predetermined minimum intensity may be, for example, off.

[0013] The predetermined minimum and maximum intensity levels may be based on a light intensity profile, which may for example be a dimming curve defining a number of dimming values ​​according to which the lighting unit may be controlled.

[0014] The method further comprises: entering a learning mode to learn an association between user input indicating a change in intensity of the light output of one or more lighting units over a period of time and one or more current parameters; Switching to control mode; performing the steps of any of the methods described above, the method further comprising determining whether to increase or decrease an intensity of the light output based on the learned association; In other words, user preferences related to the parameters (e.g., current light settings, time of day, location of the lighting unit, etc.) may be monitored during the monitoring period. These user preferences may be used to determine whether to increase or decrease the intensity of the light output. This is beneficial as the dimming control is tailored to the preferences of a particular user.

[0015] The lighting control device may be a light switch and the continuous user input may be received by actuating and holding a button on the light switch. The button may be, for example, a press button or a touch button. In another example, the lighting control device may be a personal device, such as a smartphone, and the continuous user input may be received by actuating and holding a touch-sensitive display of the personal device. In another example, the lighting control device may be an augmented reality device and the continuous user input may be a user's line of sight towards a lamp, detected, for example, by a camera included in the augmented reality device. In another example, the lighting control device may include an audio sensor and the continuous user input may be a continuous sound made by the user, detected by the audio sensor.

[0016] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the above object is achieved by a computer program product for a computing device comprising computer program code for performing any of the methods described above when the computer program product is executed on a processing unit of the computing device.

[0017] According to a third aspect of the invention, the object is to provide a controller for controlling a lighting unit of a lighting system comprising a lighting unit and a lighting control device including a user input element for receiving a continuous user input for varying an intensity of a light output of the lighting unit, the controller comprising: a communication unit for receiving signals indicative of successive user inputs; a processor configured to control the intensity of the light output of the lighting unit; the processor further comprises: Obtaining one or more parameters, the one or more parameters including at least a current light setting of the lighting unit, the current light setting having an intensity level between a maximum intensity level and a minimum intensity level of the lighting unit; and controlling an intensity of the light output of the lighting unit over time while continuous user input is provided, the intensity of the light output being increased or decreased based on one or more parameters; This is achieved by a controller configured to:

[0018] It will be appreciated that the computer program product and controller may have similar and / or identical embodiments and advantages as the methods described above. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] The above and additional objects, features and advantages of the disclosed systems, devices and methods will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of the devices and methods, with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1a] FIG. 1a illustrates diagrammatically an embodiment of a lighting system comprising a lighting unit, a lighting control device and a controller for controlling the lighting device. [Figure 1b] FIG. 1b illustrates diagrammatically an embodiment of a lighting system comprising a lighting unit and a lighting control device comprising a controller for controlling the lighting device. [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example of a lighting control device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a dimming curve. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 illustrates diagrammatically a method for controlling lighting units of a lighting system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] All figures are schematic, not necessarily to scale, and generally show only those parts necessary to clarify the invention, other parts may be omitted or merely suggested.

[0021] 1a and 1b show exemplary systems 100a, 100b including a controller 102 for controlling a lighting unit 110 based on a user input received from a user input element 122 of a lighting control device 120. The user input may be a continuous user input for varying the intensity of the light output of the lighting unit 110. In the example of FIG. 1a, the lighting control device 120 and the controller 102 are different devices. The controller 102 may be included in, for example, a smartphone, a bridge device, a central home / lighting control system, the lighting unit 110, a remote server (e.g., cloud), etc. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1b, the controller 102 may be included in the lighting control device 120. The controller 102 includes a communication unit 104 configured to receive a signal indicative of the user input from the lighting control device 120, and a processor 106 (e.g., a microcontroller, a circuit, a microchip, etc.).

[0022] The processor 106 is configured to obtain one or more parameters. These parameters may be contextual parameters that provide information about the context (e.g., environment) in which the lighting unit 110 is located. The one or more parameters may be received from an external device (e.g., via the communication unit 104), one or more sensors (which may be remotely located or included in the controller 102), etc. The one or more parameters include a current light setting of the lighting unit 120, which may be the light setting of the lighting unit 110 at the time the user input is received (e.g., the user activates a button). The current light setting may be determined in various ways, for example, by sending a status request message to the lighting unit 110, sending a status request message to a central control system (e.g., hub, bridge) connected to the lighting unit 110, accessing a memory that stores information about the last-sent command sent to the lighting unit 110, etc. The current light setting may have an intensity level between a predetermined maximum intensity level and a predetermined minimum intensity level. The current light setting may, for example, have an intensity level between 0% and 100% (e.g., 40%). The processor 106 is further configured to control the intensity of the light output of the one or more lighting units 110 over time while continuous user input is provided. The processor 106 may determine whether to increase or decrease the intensity of the light output of the one or more lighting units 110 based on one or more (contextual) parameters. For example, when a user activates and holds a user input element 122 of the lighting control device 120, the processor 106 may, for example, determine that the current intensity of the light output of the lighting unit 110 is 20% and receive one or more signals from the lighting control device 120 indicative of the continuous user input. Based on the 20% intensity level, the processor 106 may, for example, determine to increase the intensity of the light output of the lighting unit 110 while the user is providing continuous user input.If the user stops providing continuous input, the controller 102 may stop increasing the intensity and set the intensity to the last (current) intensity level.

[0023] The processor 106 may further be configured to determine whether to increase or decrease the intensity of the light output of the lighting unit 110 based on one or more current light intensities of the one or more additional lighting units. For example, if one or more additional lighting units have a current intensity different (e.g., higher) than the current intensity of the lighting unit 110 to be controlled, the processor 106 may be configured to determine to control the intensity over time while successive user inputs are received such that the intensity level of the lighting unit 110 increases or decreases toward the current intensity of the one or more additional lighting units. In another example, the processor may be configured to control a group of lighting units including the lighting unit 110 and one or more additional lighting units, and the processor 106 may determine to increase / decrease the intensity of the light output of individual lighting units of the group of lighting units based on the current intensities of the lighting units of the group of lighting units. The processor 106 may, for example, determine to increase the intensity of all lighting units of the group if their average intensity is low. The processor 106 may, for example, determine to increase the intensity of some lighting units of the group that have an intensity lower than the group's average intensity and decrease the intensity of some lighting units of the group that have an intensity higher than the group's average intensity to reach a common (e.g., average or target) intensity level. If a group of lighting units has the same current intensity, the processor 106 may determine to increase or decrease the intensity of the group synchronously based on their current intensities.

[0024] The lighting control device 120 may be any type of lighting control device (e.g., a light switch, a smartphone, smart glasses, a voice-controlled home assistant, etc.) that includes a user input element 122 configured to receive a continuous user input indicative of a dimming command. The lighting control device 120 may be a light switch, and the continuous user input may be received by activating and holding a button on the light switch. The button may be, for example, a press button or a touch button. Such a light switch 220a including a button 222a is shown in FIG. 2. In another example, the lighting control device 120 may be a personal device, such as a smartphone, and the continuous user input may be received by activating and holding a touch-sensitive display 122 of the personal device. In another example, the lighting control device 120 may be an augmented reality (AR) device, and the continuous user input may be a user's gaze towards a lamp, detected, for example, by a camera 112 included in the AR device. In another example, the lighting control device 120 may include an audio sensor 122 and the continuous user input may be a continuous sound made by the user that is detected by the audio sensor.

[0025] The controller 102 comprises a communication unit 104 configured to receive signals indicative of successive user inputs. In the example of Fig. 1a, where the lighting control device 120 and the controller 102 are comprised in separate devices, the communication unit 104 may be a receiver configured to receive (wireless) signals from the lighting control device 120. The receiver may be coupled to the processor 106 and communicate the received signals to the processor 106. In the example of Fig. 1b, where the controller 102 is comprised in the lighting control device 120, the communication unit 104 may for example be an input module of the processor 106 located between the user input element 122 and the processor 106.

[0026] In the example of Fig. 1a, where the lighting control device 120 and the controller 102 are included in separate devices, the communication unit 104 may include a transmitter for sending control commands to the lighting unit 110 for controlling the intensity of the light output of the lighting unit 110. In the example of Fig. 1b, where the controller 102 is included in the lighting control device 120, the processor 106 may (directly) control the intensity of the light output of the lighting unit 110.

[0027] The lighting unit 110 is configured to receive (wireless) signals (e.g., lighting control signals) from the controller 102. The (wireless) signals may be received directly from the controller 102 or via an intermediary device such as a bridge, hub, router, or other network device. The controller 102 may include a communication unit configured to communicate the lighting control signals via any wired or wireless communication protocol (e.g., Ethernet, DALI, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Li-Fi, Thread, ZigBee, etc.). The lighting unit 110 may be an LED bulb, an LED strip, a TLED, a light tile, etc. The lighting unit 110 may include a control unit, such as a microcontroller (not shown), for controlling the light output generated by the lighting unit based on the received lighting control command. The lighting control signals include lighting control instructions for controlling the light output, such as color, intensity, saturation, beam size, beam shape, etc., and the lighting unit may be controlled accordingly.

[0028] The processor 106 may be configured to access a memory configured to store a look-up table that includes associations between (current) intensity levels and instructions to increase or decrease the intensity. Table 1 shows an example of such a table. For example, if the intensity level is 30% when the user begins to press the button, the processor 106 may determine to increase the intensity (e.g., until the user no longer provides input (e.g., when the level is at 90%, or all the way to 100%). TIFF0007624969000001.tif47166

[0029] The processor 106 may further be configured to determine / obtain a current time, which may be a parameter used by the processor 106 to determine whether to increase or decrease the intensity of the light output of the lighting unit 110. The controller 102 may include an internal clock to provide the time to the processor 106. Alternatively, the processor 106 may receive the current time from an external clock (e.g., over a network via the communication unit 104). The current time may be, for example, a current time of day, a current day in a week, a month, a current time / day of a year, and / or a current season, etc. Table 2 shows an example in which both the current intensity and the current time are parameters used to determine whether to increase or decrease the intensity. For example, if the intensity level is 30% at the time the user begins pressing the button and the time is 20:00, the processor 106 may determine to increase the intensity (e.g., until the user no longer provides input (e.g., when the level is at 90% or all the way down to 100%)), but if the user provides the same input at a later time (e.g., 22:00) at the same intensity level (30%), the processor 106 may determine to decrease the intensity (e.g., until the user no longer provides input (e.g., when the level is at 10% or all the way down to 0%)). TIFF0007624969000002.tif75167

[0030] The processor 106 may further be configured to determine / obtain information regarding the location of the lighting unit 110, where the location may be a parameter used by the processor 106 to decide whether to increase or decrease the intensity of the light output of the lighting unit 110. The location of the lighting unit 110 may be obtained by the processor by accessing a memory storing information regarding the location of the lighting unit 110, receiving information regarding the location of the lighting unit 110 (via the communication unit 104) from an (indoor) positioning system, receiving information regarding the location of the lighting unit 110 (via the communication unit 104) from a central lighting control system (e.g., a bridge), etc. The location may be, for example, a geographical location, a location within a building (e.g., a particular room or space), a location within a room or space (e.g., a ceiling, a floor, a corner, the center of a room, etc.), a location relative to another device or object (e.g., a television, a table, etc.), etc. Table 3 shows an example where both the current intensity and the location are parameters used to decide whether to increase or decrease the intensity. For example, if the intensity level is 30% at the time the user begins pressing the button and the lighting unit 110 is located in the living room, the processor 106 may decide to increase the intensity (e.g., until the user no longer provides input (e.g., when the level is at 90% or all the way down to 100%)), but if the user provides the same input at the same intensity level (30%) for a lighting unit located in the bedroom, the processor 106 may decide to decrease the intensity (e.g., until the user no longer provides input (e.g., when the level is at 10% or all the way down to 0%)). TIFF0007624969000003.tif75169

[0031] In the examples of Tables 2 and 3, two parameters are mentioned. It should be understood that the processor 106 may be configured to take into account three or more parameters (e.g., current intensity, location, and current time) to determine whether to increase or decrease the intensity of the light output of the lighting unit 110. Examples of other parameters include, but are not limited to, current weather information (e.g., uncloudy or cloudy, which may be obtained from a weather application), temperature information (which may be obtained from a temperature sensor), occupancy information (e.g., single person or multiple people, which may be detected by a camera or other presence sensor), information indicative of the activity of a user operating the lighting control device 120 (which may be detected by a camera, a wearable device, etc.), the current light intensity of one or more further lighting units, etc. It should be understood that the above-mentioned look-up tables are merely examples for the processor 106 to determine whether to increase or decrease the intensity, and that a person skilled in the art may design alternatives (algorithms) for determining whether to increase or decrease the intensity based on one or more parameters without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

[0032] The processor 106 may further be configured to stop increasing or decreasing the intensity when continuous user input is no longer provided. In other words, when the user stops providing continuous input at a certain intensity (e.g., at 40%) (e.g., by releasing the button 222a of the light switch 220a), the processor 106 may set the intensity of the light output of the lighting unit 110 to that intensity (e.g., 40%).

[0033] The processor 106 may further be configured to begin decreasing the intensity over time while the successive user input is provided if the intensity reaches a predetermined maximum intensity level while the successive user input is provided. For example, if the intensity is being increased and reaches a predetermined maximum intensity, the processor 106 may begin decreasing the intensity. This allows a user to cycle through dimming levels by providing successive user input.

[0034] The processor 106 may further be configured to begin increasing the intensity over time while the successive user input is provided if the intensity reaches a predetermined minimum intensity level while the successive user input is provided. For example, if the intensity is being decreased and reaches a predetermined minimum intensity, the processor 106 may begin increasing the intensity. This allows a user to cycle through dimming levels by providing successive user input.

[0035] The increase or decrease in the intensity of the light output over time may be linear, exponential, etc. The increase or decrease in the intensity of the light output over time may be based on a light intensity profile. The light intensity profile may be, for example, a dimming curve defining a number of dimming values, according to which the lighting unit may be controlled. FIG. 3 shows an example of a light intensity profile. A user may, for example, provide a continuous user input u1 when the current intensity i is about 10%. Based on this, the processor 106 may determine to start increasing the intensity over time while the user is providing the continuous user input until the peak (maximum intensity) of the curve is reached. The processor 106 may then determine to decrease the intensity while the user is providing the continuous user input. In another example, a user may, for example, provide a continuous user input u2 when the current intensity i is about 90%. Based on this, the processor 106 may determine to start decreasing the intensity over time while the user is providing the continuous user input until the bottom (minimum intensity) of the curve is reached. The processor 106 may then determine to increase the intensity while the user is providing the continuous user input. In the example of Figure 3, the curve is symmetrical and repetitive, however the curve may be asymmetrical and may include different maxima, minima and slopes, and the lighting units 110 may be controlled accordingly over time while the user provides successive user inputs.

[0036] The user may stop providing the successive user input and provide a subsequent second successive user input within a predetermined period of time after the (first) successive user input. The processor 106 may be configured to receive a second signal indicative of the second successive user input received via the same user input element. The processor 106 may be further configured to increase the intensity over time while the second successive user input is provided if the intensity was decreased while the successive user input was provided. The processor 106 may be further configured to decrease the intensity over time while the second successive user input is provided if the intensity was increased while the successive user input was provided. For example, with reference to FIG. 3, the processor 106 may control the intensity of the light output of the lighting unit 110 according to a curve while the successive user input is received and control the intensity of the light output of the lighting unit 110 in the opposite direction of the curve while the second successive user input is received.

[0037] The predetermined minimum and maximum intensity levels may be minimum and maximum intensity levels that can be provided by the lighting unit 110. The predetermined maximum intensity may be, for example, 100% intensity, and the predetermined minimum intensity may be, for example, off. In another example, the predetermined minimum and maximum intensity levels may be based on a light intensity profile (e.g., the curve shown in FIG. 3). The light intensity profile may be, for example, a dimming curve defining multiple dimming values, according to which the lighting unit may be controlled. In another example, the predetermined minimum and maximum intensity levels may be minimum and maximum intensity levels of an active light scene. A light scene is a set of light settings for multiple lighting units, which may be controlled according to a set of rules (e.g., a set of colors, minimum and maximum intensity, etc.). These rules may indicate minimum and maximum intensity levels.

[0038] The processor 106 may further be configured to enter a learning mode to learn an association between user inputs indicating changes in intensity of the light output of one or more lighting units over a period of time and one or more current parameters. In other words, user preferences related to parameters (e.g., current light settings, time of day, location of lighting units, etc.) as well as lighting controls provided by the user related to increasing or decreasing intensity may be monitored during a monitoring / learning period. The processor 106 may use machine learning algorithms to learn these user preferences. Such algorithms are known in the art and will not be discussed in detail. The user preferences may then be used to determine whether to increase or decrease the intensity of the light output when the processor 106 is set to a control mode.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a method of controlling a lighting unit 110 of a lighting system 100a, 100b, the lighting system including the lighting unit 110 and a lighting control device 120 including a user input element 122 for receiving continuous user input for varying an intensity of a light output of the lighting unit 110, the method 400 including receiving 402 a signal indicative of the continuous user input; obtaining 404 one or more parameters, the one or more parameters including at least a current light setting of the lighting unit, the current light setting having an intensity level between a predetermined maximum intensity level and a predetermined minimum intensity level; and controlling 406 an intensity of the light output of the lighting unit over time while the continuous user input is provided, the intensity of the light output being increased or decreased based on the one or more parameters.

[0040] The method 400 may be performed by computer program code of a computer program product when the computer program product is executed on a processing unit of a computing device, such as the processor 106 of the controller 102 .

[0041] It should be noted that the above-described embodiments are illustrative rather than limiting of the invention, and that those skilled in the art can design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

[0042] In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be interpreted as limiting the claim. Use of the verb "comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer or processing unit. In a device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain means are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these means cannot be used to advantage.

[0043] Aspects of the invention may be embodied in a computer program product, which may be a collection of computer program instructions stored on a computer-readable storage device that may be executed by a computer. The instructions of the invention may be any interpretable or executable code mechanism, including, but not limited to, a script, an interpretable program, a dynamic link library (DLL), or a Java class. The instructions may be provided as a complete executable program, a partial executable program, a modification (e.g., an update) to an existing program, or an extension (e.g., a plug-in) to an existing program. Additionally, parts of the processing of the invention may be distributed across multiple computers or processors, or a "cloud."

[0044] Suitable storage media for storing computer program instructions include all forms of non-volatile memory, including, but not limited to, EPROM, EEPROM and flash memory devices, magnetic disks such as internal and external hard disk drives, removable disks and CD-ROM disks. The computer program may be distributed on such storage media or may be made available for downloading via HTTP, FTP, email or a server connected to a network such as the Internet.

Claims

1. 1. A method of controlling a lighting unit of a lighting system comprising the lighting unit and a lighting control device including a user input element for receiving continuous user input for varying an intensity of a light output of the lighting unit, the method comprising: receiving a signal indicative of the continuous user input; obtaining parameters, the parameters including at least a current light setting of the lighting unit and a current time, the current light setting having an intensity level between a predetermined maximum intensity level and a predetermined minimum intensity level; determining whether to increase or decrease an intensity based on one or more parameters including at least the current light setting of the lighting unit and the current time of day; controlling an intensity of a light output of the lighting unit over time while the continuous user input is provided, the intensity of the light output being increased or decreased based on the determination; A method comprising:

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameters include a position of the lighting unit.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the parameters comprise one or more current light intensities of one or more further lighting units.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising ceasing to increase or decrease the intensity once the continuous user input is no longer provided.

5. The method comprises: decreasing the intensity over time while the successive user input is provided if the intensity reaches the predetermined maximum intensity level while the successive user input is provided; increasing the intensity over time while the successive user input is provided if the intensity reaches the predetermined minimum intensity level while the successive user input is provided; The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising:

6. The method further comprises, upon the failure of the continuous user input, receiving a second signal indicative of a second successive user input received via the same user input element; if the intensity was decreased while the successive user inputs were provided, increasing the intensity over time while the second successive user inputs are provided; if the intensity was increased while the successive user inputs were provided, decreasing the intensity over time while the second successive user inputs are provided; The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising:

7. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined minimum and maximum intensity levels are minimum and maximum intensity levels of the lighting unit.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined minimum and maximum intensity levels are based on a light intensity profile.

9. The method comprises: entering a learning mode to learn an association between user input indicating a change in intensity of the light output of one or more lighting units over a period of time and one or more current parameters; Switching to control mode; 9. Carrying out the steps of the method of any one of claims 1 to 8, the method including deciding whether to increase or decrease the intensity of the light output based on the learned association; and The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising:

10. 10. The method of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the lighting control device is a light switch and the sequential user input is received by activating and holding a button on the light switch.

11. A computer program for a computing device comprising computer program code for performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 10, when the computer program is executed on a processing unit of the computing device.

12. 1. A controller for controlling a lighting unit of a lighting system comprising the lighting unit and a lighting control device including a user input element for receiving continuous user input for varying an intensity of a light output of the lighting unit, the controller comprising: a communication unit for receiving signals indicative of said successive user inputs; a processor configured to control an intensity of a light output of the lighting unit; wherein the processor comprises: obtaining parameters, the parameters including at least a current light setting of the lighting unit and a current time, the current light setting having an intensity level between a maximum intensity level and a minimum intensity level of the lighting unit; determining whether to increase or decrease intensity based on one or more parameters including at least the current light setting of the lighting unit and the current time of day; and controlling an intensity of a light output of the lighting unit over time while the continuous user input is provided, the intensity of the light output being increased or decreased based on the determination. The controller is configured as follows:

13. The controller of claim 12 , wherein the controller is included in the lighting control device.

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