Touch-Duration Control for Sequential Light Source Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current light control systems require manual user control of individual light sources, which is inefficient and time-consuming, and prone to user errors in achieving desired lighting configurations.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows dynamic control of multiple light sources with a single input, using a touch interface to activate and adjust light levels, where a long touch gradually activates adjacent lights and a short touch turns off all lights or specific lights, enabling efficient and error-free lighting configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual user control of each individual light source is implemented, then precise control of each light source is achieved, but the system requires a large number of user inputs and significant time expenditure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges control of multiple individual light sources into a single group that can be controlled by one user input. When a user touches a capacitive touch lamp, the system identifies adjacent lamps and activates them collectively, reducing the number of separate control operations needed while maintaining individual lamp controllability through the group activation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements multi-functionality by enabling a single touch interface to perform multiple functions: activating individual lamps, activating groups of adjacent lamps, adjusting brightness levels, and providing different touch-duration-based control modes. This universal control mechanism eliminates the need for separate controls for each light source.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual control of each light source is required, then individual light source adjustment is possible, but user errors increase and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service by automatically identifying and activating adjacent light sources based on the user's touch input location. The control circuitry autonomously determines which lamps to activate and at what brightness levels, eliminating the need for users to manually configure each lamp and reducing configuration errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitive touch interface provides immediate feedback to the user about which lamps are activated and at what brightness level. The system monitors touch duration and provides corresponding lighting responses, allowing users to verify the system's understanding of their intent and correct any misinterpretations before finalizing the lighting configuration.
3Productivity
If a single input controls multiple light sources, then user input is reduced and time is saved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control circuitry intermediary that manages the complexity of coordinating multiple light sources. This intermediary component handles the logic for identifying adjacent lamps, determining activation sequences, and managing brightness transitions, shielding users from the underlying system complexity while enabling efficient single-input control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic control where the behavior of the lighting system adapts based on touch duration. Short touches activate lamps at lower brightness levels while long touches activate all adjacent lamps at full brightness. This dynamic response mechanism allows a single input to control multiple lamps with varying parameters without requiring complex user specifications.
Data Source
AI summary
Lighting control systems and methods for providing dynamic control of multiple light sources with a single input are disclosed herein. When a long touch is detected at a user interface element, a first light source is turned on. If the long touch persists for a predefined time period, a second light source (e.g., an adjacent light source) is also turned on. The luminosity of the first light source may be gradually increased from zero to 100% during the predefined time period. If the long touch persists beyond the predefined time period, the luminosity of the second light source may be gradually increased from zero until the long touch ends or a second longer predefined time period is reached.