Lighting Controller for Time-Based Image Color Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting systems fail to adapt color selection from images to suit different times of day, leading to inappropriate illumination and potential disruption of the circadian rhythm.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that selects a subset of colors from images based on the target time of day to generate light settings for lighting units, ensuring appropriate illumination and influencing the circadian rhythm as needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If colors are extracted from images without time-based filtering, then the color extraction process is simple and fast, but the selected colors may not be suitable for the current time of day and can disrupt circadian rhythm

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuitability of extracted colors for current timeVSAvoidcomplexity of color selection process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of color selection by introducing time of day as a filtering criterion. Colors are extracted from images and then filtered based on their temporal suitability (morning, evening, night), transforming the static color extraction process into a dynamic one that adapts to the current time, thereby improving reliability while managing complexity through structured parameter-based filtering

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If all extracted colors are used for light scene creation, then the light scene captures the full color palette of the image, but it cannot provide time-appropriate illumination and may negatively influence circadian rhythm

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime-appropriateness of illuminationVSAvoidnumber of colors used in light scene

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and separates colors based on their temporal suitability. By taking out only the colors that are appropriate for the current time of day from the full set of extracted colors, the system creates a filtered color palette that ensures time-appropriate illumination while reducing the quantity of colors used to only those necessary for the current context

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If color extraction is performed without time context, then the processing time is minimized, but the resulting light settings cannot be optimized for specific times of day

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of light scene generationVSAvoidaccuracy of time-specific color selection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary color extraction from images, then applies time-based filtering in a subsequent step. This preliminary action allows the system to maintain fast color extraction while adding time-context awareness afterward, ensuring both productivity through efficient extraction and reliability through time-specific filtering of the extracted colors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4091409B1A controller for generating light settings for a plurality of lighting units and a method thereof

Publication Date: 2025.08.27 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV

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AI summary

A method of generating light settings for a plurality of lighting units, the method comprising obtaining one or more images, extracting a plurality of colors from the one or more images, selecting a subset of colors from the plurality of colors, wherein the subset of colors is selected based on a target time of day, and generating one or more light settings for the plurality of lighting units based on the selected subset of colors, wherein, when the one or more light settings are activated, the plurality of lighting units are controlled according to the subset of colors.