Gesture-Controlled Pendant Luminaire Height Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing adjustable-height pendant luminaires require manual operation, which can be cumbersome and risky, as excessive force may cause the luminaire to detach from the ceiling, and adjusting the height can lead to dirtiness and complexity.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable-height pendant luminaire with a sensor arrangement on the luminaire head that detects gestures to control a height adjustment unit, allowing non-contact vertical movement of the luminaire head via control commands, eliminating the need for mechanical mechanisms and reducing the risk of damage or dirtiness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If manual operation is used to adjust the luminaire height, then the structure remains simple, but the risk of detachment and damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidrisk of detachment

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical operation system with an automated control system. A motor-driven winch mechanism automatically adjusts the cable length to change luminaire height, eliminating the need for users to manually pull or push the luminaire head. This substitution of mechanical manual operation with automated mechanical control resolves the contradiction by maintaining structural simplicity while eliminating the risk of detachment associated with manual handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The luminaire head is equipped with a sensor that automatically detects when the luminaire needs height adjustment and initiates the adjustment process without user intervention. The system monitors its own state and autonomously performs the height adjustment by controlling the winch mechanism, thereby eliminating manual operation while maintaining structural simplicity and preventing detachment risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If manual operation is used to adjust the luminaire height, then no additional control devices are needed, but the luminaire head becomes dirtied

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol device quantityVSAvoiddirtiness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an automated sensor-controlled system. The sensor detects the need for adjustment and triggers the motor-driven winch to automatically change the cable length, eliminating the need for users to physically touch or handle the luminaire head. This substitution maintains simplicity by using only essential components (sensor, motor, winch) while completely preventing dirtiness caused by manual contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If manual operation is used to adjust the luminaire height, then the operation is intuitive, but excessive pulling force may cause damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation intuitivenessVSAvoidrisk of damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces intuitive but force-intensive manual operation with a controlled automated system. The motor-driven winch mechanism provides precise, controlled adjustment of cable length without requiring users to apply excessive pulling force. The automated control ensures smooth, gradual height adjustment while eliminating the risk of damage associated with forceful manual manipulation, maintaining ease of operation through automated response to sensor inputs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

The solution provides a convenient, intuitive, and safe method for adjusting the luminaire's height without manual contact, enhancing user experience and reducing the risk of damage or dirtiness, while allowing for precise control of the luminaire's position and brightness.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one sensor is configured as a near-field sensor designed to detect a user's hand in the proximity of the sensor in order to detect gestures as non-contact control commands

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNear-field sensor detection:

Data Source

PatentUS12098827B2Adjustable-height pendant luminaire

Publication Date: 2024.09.24 OCCHIO

AI summary

An adjustable-height pendant luminaire is proposed which comprises the following: a luminaire head, a ceiling mounting unit from which the luminaire head is suspended by means of cables, a height adjustment unit arranged in the ceiling mounting unit, a sensor arrangement having at least one sensor arranged on the luminaire head, wherein the at least one sensor is configured as a near-field sensor designed to detect a hand of a user in the proximity of the sensor for the detecting of gestures as non-contact control commands, and a control unit in communicative connection with the sensor arrangement and the height adjustment unit. The control unit is configured to send a control command to the height adjustment unit for changing the vertical position of the luminaire head upward or downward.