Controlled Lamp Device Gesture Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional contactless lighting devices face issues with directional dependency, inaccuracy in movement detection, and the requirement for minimum speed, limiting the precision and effectiveness of gesture-controlled activation/deactivation.

Innovation Solution

A lighting device with a sensor unit and evaluation/control device that detects and evaluates gesture-like movements within a predetermined path, influencing control parameters such as lighting state and intensity based on the spatial extent, orientation, and temporal characteristics of the movement, allowing precise and multifunctional control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If passive infrared detection is used for contactless control, then the lighting device can be activated/deactivated without contact, but the detection accuracy becomes highly dependent on the direction of movement and spatial size of the heat-emitting object

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontactless controlVSAvoiddetection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The detection area is divided into multiple sub-areas with different sensitivity levels. The sensor unit comprises multiple sensors arranged to create zones with varying detection thresholds, allowing the system to distinguish between intentional gestures and accidental movements more accurately while maintaining contactless operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from directional-dependent detection to omnidirectional detection by arranging sensors in a spatial configuration that captures thermal radiation from multiple directions simultaneously. This eliminates the directional dependency issue while preserving contactless control functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If high-frequency Doppler radar-based solution is used, then contactless control is achieved, but a minimum movement speed is required for detection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontactless controlVSAvoidminimum movement speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the detection parameter from velocity-based (Doppler shift requiring minimum speed) to temperature-based detection. By measuring thermal radiation and temperature changes of objects in the detection area, the system can detect slow or stationary gestures without requiring a minimum movement speed, while maintaining contactless control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If simple movement detection is used, then the system remains simple, but the control precision and ability to prevent accidental activation is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidgesture detection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The evaluation device analyzes temporal patterns of temperature changes across multiple sensors and compares them against predefined gesture patterns. This feedback mechanism allows the system to distinguish between intentional gestures and accidental movements, improving control precision while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor unit and evaluation device are designed to detect multiple types of gestures (activation, deactivation, intensity adjustment) using the same thermal detection mechanism. This multi-functional approach improves gesture detection precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables precise and safe contactless control of lighting devices, preventing accidental activation/deactivation and allowing for customizable lighting modes through intuitive gesture recognition, enhancing user safety and convenience.

Implementation Method 1

Passive infrared detection suffers from a large dependence of the detection properties on the direction of movement of a heat-radiating object relative to the sensing direction of the sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation detection: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP3123833B1Controlled lamp device
Publication Date: 2020.09.23 STEINEL
  • EP3123833B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3123833B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a controlled lamp device (1) comprising a lamp housing (2) having a light exit opening (3), a sensor unit (4) for detecting a contactless manual intervention of an operator of the lamp device in an intervention region (5, 5-1, 5-2), and an evaluation and control device (6) for evaluating the intervention of the operator that is detected by the sensor unit (4) and for influencing a control parameter for the operation of the lamp device depending on a result of the evaluation. The sensor unit (4) is provided in and/or on the lamp housing (2) laterally adjacent to the light exit opening (3). The evaluation and control device (6) is configured such that the evaluation and control device influences the control parameters if the evaluation carried out by the evaluation and control device (6) shows that a predefined path in the intervention region (5, 5-1, 5-2) has been covered in a gesture-like manner during the intervention of the operator.