Touch-Controlled LED Bulb Mixing for Flexible Light Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting control methods for LED devices are inflexible, inconvenient, or overly complex, failing to accommodate the diverse form factors and user needs of modern LED bulbs and fixtures.
Innovation Solution
A lighting apparatus with a bulb shell containing a support structure, LED modules, and a touch sensor that adjusts light parameters like color temperature and color through a driver circuit in response to user touch events, allowing intuitive control without external switches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wall switches are used for lighting control, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to fixed switch positions and wiring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control function directly into the lighting device by integrating a touch sensor and driver circuit within the bulb structure. This eliminates the need for separate wall switches while providing both reliable operation and flexible control, as the lighting device itself becomes the control interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting device performs its own control function through integrated touch sensors and driver circuits. The bulb serves dual purposes: illumination and control interface, eliminating dependency on external switching devices and enabling users to control lighting directly at the light source.
2Ease of operation
If remote controls are used for lighting control, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the remote control functionality into the lighting device itself through integrated touch sensors. This eliminates the need for separate remote control devices while maintaining convenient operation, as the control interface is built directly into the bulb structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential control function from external remote controls and integrates it directly into the lighting device. By taking out only the necessary sensing and control elements and embedding them in the bulb, the system achieves convenience without the full complexity of separate remote control systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If smart lighting systems are used, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to network connectivity requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control system into simple local touch-sensitive controls and separate smart functionality. The touch sensor provides immediate, intuitive control without requiring network connectivity or software knowledge, while smart features can be added independently through the driver circuit without complicating basic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The driver circuit acts as an intermediary between simple touch inputs and complex lighting control functions. It translates basic touch events into various lighting modes and adjustments, providing versatile control through a simple interface without requiring users to understand or manage network connectivity.
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 adaptable, user-friendly control of LED lighting characteristics, balancing convenience, cost, and reliability by integrating touch-sensitive controls within the bulb design.
Implementation Method 1
The touch sensor is disposed on the support structure and configured to detect a user touch event
Implementation Method 2
The light source includes a plurality of LED modules mounted on the support structure. The plurality of LED modules are configured to emit light having controllable parameters including at least one of color temperature or color
Implementation Method 3
By combining different semiconductor materials or using phosphor coatings, LEDs can generate warm white, cool white, or even tunable color temperatures
Implementation Method 4
The driver circuit is operatively coupled to the touch sensor and the plurality of LED modules, the driver circuit configured to receive a signal indicative of the user touch event from the touch sensor and, in response thereto, generate control signals to adjust the mixing ratio among the plurality of LED modules
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An apparatus includes a bulb shell, a support structure, a light source, a touch sensor and a driver circuit. The support structure is disposed within the bulb shell. The light source includes a plurality of LED modules mounted on the support structure. The plurality of LED modules are configured to emit light having controllable parameters including at least one of color temperature or color by adjusting a mixing ratio among the plurality of LED modules. The touch sensor is disposed on the support structure and configured to detect a user touch event. The driver circuit is configured to receive a signal indicative of the user touch event from the touch sensor and, in response thereto, generate control signals to adjust the mixing ratio among the plurality of LED modules, thereby modifying at least one of the controllable parameters of the emitted light.