RF Controller for Lighting via Hand Shape Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Physical lighting control devices struggle to provide personalized control without compromising user experience, privacy, or reliability, as they often require additional sensors like fingerprint or Bluetooth technology.
Innovation Solution
A controller that uses radio frequency signals to identify users based on hand shape and size, allowing personalized control of controllable devices like lighting systems without the need for additional sensors, using microwave or millimeter-wave continuous-wave radar sensors embedded in the control device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional sensors like fingerprint or Bluetooth are added to provide personalized control, then personalization capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/optical sensors (fingerprint sensors, cameras) with radio frequency sensing technology. The controller uses RF signals to detect hand characteristics and identify users, substituting complex sensor systems with a simpler radio frequency-based detection mechanism that achieves personalization without additional hardware complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces radio frequency signals as an intermediary medium between the user and the control device. Instead of direct contact sensors or visual recognition, the RF signals mediate the interaction by carrying information about hand characteristics, enabling personalization through a non-intrusive intermediate channel
2Adaptability or versatility
If indoor camera is used to identify user, then personalization is improved, but privacy concerns worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes optical recognition systems (cameras) with radio frequency sensing. This replacement eliminates the need for visual capture and processing, thereby removing the privacy intrusion associated with camera-based identification while maintaining the ability to recognize and personalize for individual users
3Adaptability or versatility
If Bluetooth sensor is added to detect nearby devices, then personalization is improved, but reliability is worsened due to signal interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from wireless communication signals (Bluetooth) to radio frequency sensing parameters optimized for hand detection. By adjusting the frequency, modulation, and detection thresholds of the RF system, the patent achieves more reliable hand characteristic detection that is less susceptible to the interference and variability problems plaguing Bluetooth-based approaches
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 robust and personalized control of lighting devices with minimal impact on user experience, privacy, and reliability, allowing for seamless integration with both fixed and portable control devices, and supports complex interactions like scene cycling.
Implementation Method 1
determine, based on characteristics of a set of received radio frequency signals, a shape and/or size of a hand which is holding or touching the physical control device
Data Source
AI summary
A controller (5) for controlling a controllable device (31-33) is configured to determine one or more characteristics of a set of received radio frequency signals, detect interaction with a physical control device (36,37) by a user, determine, based on the characteristics of the set of received radio frequency signals, a shape of a hand (91) which is holding or touching the physical control device and/or a manner in which the user is using the physical control device, perform person identification based on the hand shape and/or based on the manner of using the physical control device, and control the controllable device based on the interaction in dependence on a result of the person identification.