Lighting Controller Using Charging Status for Context-Aware Motion Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting control systems fail to account for the context of a user's activities, such as charging their portable devices, leading to undesirable lighting changes during sleep or when a user is awake but not moving significantly.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that control lighting units based on the charging status of a portable device, adjusting light settings accordingly to provide context-aware lighting, including different settings when the device is connected or disconnected from a charger.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If motion detection is used to control lighting units, then lighting control is enabled when users are detected in the area, but unnecessary light changes occur during sleep or when users are not moving significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelighting controlVSAvoidunnecessary light changes

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a portable device as an intermediary to detect charging status, which serves as a mediator between the user's actual state (sleeping/awake) and the lighting control system. The charging status acts as a contextual signal that helps distinguish between intentional movement (needing light) and unintentional movement during sleep (not needing light).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of light intensity based on the charging status parameter. When the portable device is connected to a charger, the system assumes the user is awake and applies a first light setting (higher intensity). When disconnected, it assumes the user is sleeping and applies a second light setting (lower intensity), thus dynamically adjusting lighting parameters based on contextual information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If different light settings are applied based on user activities, then context-aware lighting control is achieved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontext-aware lighting controlVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the portable device perform multiple functions: it serves as both a charging device and a context indicator for the lighting system. The existing portable device infrastructure is leveraged to provide contextual information, eliminating the need for separate sensors or complex user input mechanisms, thus achieving multi-functionality without proportionally increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12414214B2Controller for controlling a lighting unit in an area and a method thereof

Publication Date: 2025.09.09 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV

AI summary

A method of controlling a lighting unit in an area is disclosed. The method comprises: obtaining a charging status of a portable device, the charging status indicating whether the portable device is connected to a charger, receive a motion signal indicative of a motion of a user in the area, controlling, if the motion has been detected and if the portable device is connected to the charger, the lighting unit according to a first light setting, and controlling, if the motion has been detected and if the portable device is not connected to the charger, the lighting unit according to a second light setting.