Lighting Device Selection via Relative Directional Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting control systems require precise mapping of user position and orientation to select lighting devices, leading to user frustration when this mapping is off, making the selection process incomprehensible and negatively impacting user experience.

Innovation Solution

A method that allows users to select a lighting device based on a first direction input, with feedback notification, and correct the selection using a second user input relative to the first device, such as a directional gesture or voice command, enabling intuitive selection even with incorrect positional mapping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If precise mapping of user position and orientation is used to select lighting devices, then selection accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases and user experience deteriorates when mapping is off

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveselection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides visual feedback by highlighting the selected lighting device on the user interface, allowing users to verify if the correct device is selected. This feedback mechanism enables users to detect selection errors and trigger corrective actions, resolving the contradiction by making the system's internal state observable without increasing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring users to precisely aim at the target device (which fails when mapping is off), the system inverts the approach by allowing users to select a device and then provide relative directional corrections. This inversion transforms an absolute positioning problem into a relative adjustment problem, reducing the precision requirements while maintaining selection accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Measurement precision

If precise mapping of user position and orientation is used to select lighting devices, then selection accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates when mapping is off

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveselection accuracyVSAvoiduser experience
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system inverts the selection paradigm from absolute pointing to relative correction. Users first select a lighting device (any device), then provide relative directional input to adjust the selection. This inversion makes the system robust to mapping errors and maintains ease of operation regardless of mapping accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides immediate visual feedback showing which device is currently selected and what directional correction is needed. This feedback loop guides users through the correction process, making it intuitive and easy to operate even when the initial selection is incorrect due to mapping errors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If relative direction mapping onto first lighting device is used, then adaptability improves, but measurement precision requirements change

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveselection flexibilityVSAvoiddirectional precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system inverts the reference frame for directional input. Instead of mapping directions relative to the user's absolute position, directions are mapped relative to the selected lighting device's position. This inversion allows flexible adaptability since users can correct selections without needing precise absolute positioning, while the system handles the coordinate transformation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the reference parameter for directional mapping from user-centric coordinates to device-centric coordinates. This parameter change enables the same directional input to work correctly regardless of the user's absolute position or mapping accuracy, providing adaptability while reducing precision requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3782439B1A method of selecting a controllable lighting device from a plurality of lighting devices
Publication Date: 2021.11.10 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV
  • EP3782439B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3782439B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3782439B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A method 600 of selecting a lighting device from a plurality of lighting devices 120, 122, 124 in a physical space 160 is disclosed. The method 600 comprises: obtaining 602 positions of the plurality of lighting devices 120, 122, 124 in the physical space 160, obtaining 604 a position of a user 130, receiving 606 a first user input from the user 130 indicative of a first direction originating from the position of the user 130, selecting 608 a first lighting device of the plurality of lighting devices 120, 122, 124 that is located in the first direction relative to the position of the user 130, providing 610 a notification to the user 130 that the first lighting device has been selected, receiving 612 a second user input from the user 130 indicative of a second direction originating from the position of the user 130, mapping 614 the second direction onto the selected first lighting device such that it originates from the position of the selected first lighting device, and selecting 616 a second lighting device of the plurality of lighting devices 120, 122, 124 that is located in the mapped second direction relative to the position of the selected first lighting device.