LED Matrix User Interface for Intuitive Light System Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Advanced light systems with multiple full color and variable color temperature sources require complex control interfaces, making it difficult for average users to intuitively control and navigate the various settings, leading to inconvenient feedback and increased complexity in user interface devices.
Innovation Solution
A user interface device featuring a matrix of individually addressable full color solid state LEDs for both control and feedback, combined with a touch-sensitive input unit, providing programmable control functions and intuitive feedback through a display that mirrors the light system's output, including proximity and brightness sensors for optimized energy use and recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple full color light sources and variable color temperature light sources are used to create advanced ambience functions, then the light system's versatility and ambience creation capability are improved, but the control device complexity increases and becomes difficult for average users to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a matrix of LEDs in the display unit that replicates the light output characteristics of the controlled light sources. This visual copy allows users to intuitively understand and control the light system's behavior without needing to comprehend complex technical parameters, resolving the contradiction between versatility and control complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The display unit utilizes color-changing LEDs to visually represent different light settings and ambience modes. By mapping the light system's color and intensity states to the display unit's LED matrix, users can directly perceive and control ambience parameters through intuitive visual feedback, maintaining simplicity while enabling advanced functionality
2Adaptability or versatility
If a unique switch is provided for each ambience creation function, then the control precision and functionality are improved, but the space requirement and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface device integrates multiple control functions into a single unified device with a matrix display and touch-sensitive input. Instead of requiring separate switches for each function, the universal interface allows users to control multiple light sources, colors, and ambience modes through one device, improving ease of operation while maintaining full functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The display unit provides real-time visual feedback showing the current state of the light system. This feedback mechanism allows users to understand the effect of their control actions immediately, making the operation of advanced functions intuitive and eliminating the need for multiple specialized switches
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional control devices are used for advanced light systems, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the loss of information and user feedback quality worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit creates a visual copy of the light system's output characteristics using an LED matrix that replicates color and intensity patterns. This provides rich visual feedback information to users about the current light state, preventing information loss while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard LED technology
Solution Approach 2:
The display unit dynamically changes its LED matrix parameters (color, brightness, pattern) to reflect the real-time state of the controlled light system. This parameter mapping provides comprehensive visual feedback about light settings, ambience modes, and system status without requiring complex manufacturing processes
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 enables easy and intuitive control of light systems by providing direct feedback and feed-forward information, reducing user complexity and energy consumption while maintaining a user-friendly interface similar to conventional light switches, allowing for precise control of light settings and ambience creation.
Implementation Method 1
A user interface device featuring a matrix of individually addressable full color solid state LEDs
Implementation Method 2
combined with a touch-sensitive input unit
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
The invention relates to a user interface device for controlling an electrical consumer, in particular, a light system. Further, it relates to light system using such user interface device. Moreover it relates to a method for controlling such light system using a user interface device. To provide a user interface device, a light system and a method for controlling a consumer load providing feed forward or feedback information facilitating an easy and intuitive use of the user interface device when controlling a light system, a user interface device for controlling a connected light system (44) is proposed, comprising: a display unit (12) including a plurality of LEDs (13) in a matrix form, wherein each of the LEDs (13) of the matrix is addressable individually; an input unit (11) to receive a user input; a control unit (40) adapted to receive a signal (1a) based on the user input and to generate an information signal (1b) provided to the display unit (12) and to generate a control signal (1c) for controlling the connected consumer load (44).