Lighting Control for Visual Notification of Hidden Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hidden sensing technologies, such as radiofrequency sensing, are used in home and office applications without user awareness, raising privacy concerns as users are unaware of the sensing activities.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system apparatus with integrated sensing capabilities provides visual feedback to notify users of sensing activities through a notification mode selection unit that controls multiple lights based on sensing activity information, allowing users to be aware of hidden sensing without additional devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If hidden sensing technologies are embedded in lighting systems, then user privacy is protected and sensing is less intrusive, but users are unaware of the sensing activities occurring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the lighting system provide visual notifications to users about sensing activities. The control unit receives sensing activity information and controls lights to provide visual feedback that informs users when sensing is occurring, thus resolving the contradiction between hidden sensing and user awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the lighting system as an intermediary to communicate sensing status to users. Instead of direct notification devices, the lights serve as mediators that convey information about sensing activities through visual signals, maintaining the hidden nature of sensors while informing users.
2Loss of information
If additional notification devices are added to inform users of sensing activities, then user awareness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by using the lighting system for dual purposes: providing illumination and notifying users about sensing activities. The existing lights are controlled to provide visual feedback, eliminating the need for separate notification devices and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the notification function with the lighting system. The control unit integrates sensing activity information with light control, combining what would traditionally be separate functions (sensing and notification) into a unified system that uses existing components.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention refers to an apparatus (140) for controlling a lighting system (100) comprising a plurality of lights (110, 120, 130), wherein the lighting system is adapted to perform a hidden sensing, like radiofrequency sensing, in a sensing region (150). The apparatus comprises a sensing activity information providing unit (141) adapted to provide sensing activity information indicative of a hidden sensing activity of the lighting system (100), a notification mode selection unit (142) adapted to select a notification mode for notifying a person of the hidden sensing activity, wherein the selection is based on the provided sensing activity information and wherein each notification mode refers to a visual feedback, and a lighting system controlling unit (143) adapted to control at least two lights of the lighting system based on the selected notification mode to provide the visual feedback. The invention allows to notify a user of a hidden sensing.