Touch-Triggered Home Appliance State Machines for Lighting Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of networked home appliances, such as luminaires, often lack the ability to control lighting settings without access to mobile computing devices, and there is a need to leverage communication capabilities for various tasks and applications beyond basic operation.
Innovation Solution
Implementing touch sensors on home appliances to detect specific touch events, which can initiate state machines on remote devices, allowing for control of lighting and other functions through predetermined profiles, using wireless communication protocols like ZigBee or coded light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If home appliances are controlled only through mobile computing devices, then lighting control functionality is achieved, but user convenience deteriorates when mobile devices are not available
Solution Approach 1:
The home appliance (luminaire) is equipped with multiple control interfaces: it can be controlled via mobile computing devices through wireless networks, and also directly through touch sensors integrated into its structure. This multi-functionality ensures that lighting control is available regardless of mobile device availability, resolving the contradiction between control convenience and control availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The luminaire includes integrated touch sensors that allow it to be controlled directly by user touch without requiring an external mobile computing device. This self-service capability enables the appliance to perform its primary function (lighting control) independently, improving ease of operation when mobile devices are not available.
2Adaptability or versatility
If home appliances perform only primary functions, then device simplicity is maintained, but functionality and versatility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The luminaire is designed to perform multiple functions beyond lighting control: it can detect touch events, communicate wirelessly with mobile devices and bridges, and initiate state machines on remote computing devices. This multi-functionality leverages the communication capabilities of the appliance to enable various applications (messaging, device activation) without requiring separate dedicated devices, thus improving versatility while managing complexity through integrated design.
3Ease of operation
If touch sensors are added to home appliances, then direct control capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensors are integrated directly into the structure of the luminaire, merging the sensing function with the existing appliance body. This integration approach allows the appliance to gain touch control capability without requiring separate external sensor modules, thereby improving ease of operation while minimizing the increase in device complexity through unified design.
Data Source
AI summary
Various inventive methods and apparatus disclosed herein relate to associating state machines with touch event profiles, and to initiating state machines in response to touch events detected at home appliances. In some embodiments, a touch event may be detected at a touch sensor associated with a home appliance (102, 102a). The home appliance may be operated to perform its primary function in response to the detected touch event. It may be determined whether the touch event satisfies a predetermined touch event profile. A state machine may be operated at a computing device (102a, 112, 330) remote from the home appliance in response to the determining.