Lighting Switch Interface Using Contact Duration and LED Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light switches are cumbersome and complex, requiring multiple buttons or contact surfaces for operating multiple light points, leading to increased production costs, complexity in installation, and reduced user-friendliness, especially when changing lighting ambiances.
Innovation Solution
A switch with a sensor, illuminating element, and electronic circuit that detects contact duration to select lighting functions, using an RGB LED for feedback, allowing for intuitive switching between light schemes without the need for multiple buttons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple buttons or contact surfaces are used to operate multiple light points, then the ability to control multiple light points is improved, but the device complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single contact surface is designed to perform multiple functions by detecting different contact durations. Short contacts (e.g., <500ms) control individual light points, while long contacts (e.g., >1s) activate pre-configured lighting schemes. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple buttons while maintaining full control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses contact duration as a variable parameter to differentiate between control modes. By measuring how long the user holds the contact surface, the system determines whether to execute individual light point control or scheme activation, thereby reducing physical interface complexity.
2Ease of operation
If each button is specifically labelled to identify light points, then the ease of operation is improved, but the production costs and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
An LED indicator provides visual feedback to users about the current lighting state and the effect of their actions. The LED changes color or illumination pattern to confirm which light point or scheme is being controlled, eliminating the need for physical labels while maintaining user guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically provides operational guidance through LED feedback without requiring external labels. The illuminating element serves the dual purpose of aesthetic lighting and operational indication, reducing manufacturing and installation requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple buttons are used to change lighting ambience, then the ability to control different ambiances is improved, but the number of user actions required increases
Solution Approach 1:
Lighting schemes are pre-configured to include multiple light points with specific intensity and color settings. When a user activates a scheme through a long contact, all associated light points are simultaneously adjusted according to the pre-planned configuration, eliminating the need for sequential manual adjustment of each light point.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of buttons are used to control many light points, then the completeness of control is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple control functions are merged into a single contact surface by using contact duration differentiation. The same physical interface handles both individual light point control and scheme activation, reducing the number of buttons from many to one while maintaining complete control functionality.
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
Enables faster and more intuitive control of lighting ambiances with reduced user actions, maintaining individual control over light circuits while simplifying the user interface and installation process.
Implementation Method 1
an LED (22), wherein the LED (22) can assume a plurality of colours, and wherein the LED (22) is configured to illuminate the illuminating element (20)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention comprises a switch suitable for forwarding at least two functions to a lighting system.