Sanitary Lighting Control via Luminous Flux and Color Curves

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting systems for sanitary rooms, such as bathrooms, fail to provide optimal lighting adjustments that cater to various activities and user preferences, particularly in smaller spaces, as they primarily control brightness without considering color temperature changes, leading to inadequate lighting for orientation, mood, standard, and work tasks.

Innovation Solution

A method for controlling sanitary room lighting that uses a user-adjustable actuator to modify both luminous flux and light color based on predefined functional curves, allowing continuous transitions between different lighting situations, ensuring optimized lighting for various activities by adjusting luminous flux and color temperature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If only luminous flux (brightness) is controlled without color temperature changes, then the control system remains simple, but the lighting quality is insufficient for various activities and user preferences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting qualityVSAvoidcontrol system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by simultaneously controlling two light parameters: luminous flux (brightness) and color temperature. The control system uses function curves to define the relationship between a single control value and these two parameters, enabling dynamic adjustment of lighting quality for different activities (orientation, mood, standard, work lighting) without requiring multiple independent controls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple discrete lighting situations are provided, then specific lighting needs are met, but the user interface becomes complex and requires multiple selections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting situationsVSAvoiduser interface
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality by using a single control element (actuator) that provides multi-functionality. This single control simultaneously adjusts both luminous flux and color temperature according to predetermined function curves, enabling the user to access multiple lighting situations (orientation, mood, standard, work lighting) through one unified interface rather than multiple discrete controls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dynamics by enabling continuous adjustment of lighting parameters through a single control value. Instead of discrete preset modes, the system dynamically transitions between different lighting situations as the control value changes, providing smooth transitions and flexible adaptation to user needs while maintaining a simple user interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If lighting is optimized for specific activities, then lighting quality improves, but the system requires complex configuration for each setting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactivity-specific lightingVSAvoidconfiguration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining function curves that establish the relationship between control values and lighting parameters (luminous flux and color temperature). These function curves are stored in the control system and automatically applied when the user adjusts the actuator, eliminating the need for complex real-time configuration while still providing optimized lighting for various activities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3836758B1Control method for a sanitary room illumination system and sanitary room illumination system
Publication Date: 2023.11.08 GEBERIT INT AG
  • EP3836758B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3836758B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3836758B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for controlling a lighting system (1) comprising a controller (2), at least one user-adjustable actuator (3) acting on the controller (2), wherein a user-defined setpoint (S) can be specified to the controller via the actuator (3), and at least one light source (4) which can be controlled by the controller (2) via the actuator (3) based on the setpoint (S) entered by the user, wherein a predetermined function curve (fLF) between light color (LF) and setpoint (S) and a predetermined function curve (fLS) between luminous flux (LS) and setpoint (S) are stored in the controller (2), wherein the function curves (fLF, fLS) are defined such that the light color (LF) and the luminous flux (LS) change when the setpoint (S) increases, and wherein, when the actuator (3) is actuated, said at least one light source (4) is controlled based on the predetermined function curves (fLF, fLS), such thatthat as the setpoint (S) increases, the light color (LF) and the luminous flux (LS) change.