Virtual Room Interface for Intuitive Lighting Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighting and device control systems in large homes or structures are user-unfriendly, requiring users to memorize which mechanical or button-centric controls operate specific light fixtures or devices, leading to frustration, especially in large rooms with multiple electrical and electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
A programmable multimedia controller supports a virtual room-based user interface, where users interact with substantially photo-realistic depictions of their physical environment on a touch-screen display to control devices, with dynamic updates reflecting user inputs and environmental changes, allowing intuitive control of light fixtures, audio/video devices, and other electrical devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional mechanical switches and button-centric controls are used to control multiple light fixtures and devices, then the system can provide basic control functionality, but the user interface becomes complex and difficult to operate, requiring users to memorize which control operates which device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the physical room environment displayed on the touchscreen, where visual representations of light fixtures and devices appear in their actual physical locations. Users interact with these visual copies by touching them directly, eliminating the need to memorize control mappings. This virtual copy approach transforms the abstract button-pressing task into an intuitive visual interaction that mirrors the physical space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional one-dimensional button interfaces to a two-dimensional visual map of the room. By displaying light fixtures and devices in their spatial context on the touchscreen, the system adds a spatial dimension to the control interface. This allows users to locate and control devices by visually scanning the room layout rather than searching through numbered buttons or memorized positions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple ganged switch panels are installed throughout a large room to control numerous light fixtures, then all devices can be controlled, but the installation cost and physical space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a single touchscreen controller that serves multiple functions: displaying the room layout, showing the status of all light fixtures and devices, and providing control interfaces for all devices. This universal controller replaces the need for multiple specialized switch panels distributed throughout the room, consolidating control functionality into one multi-functional interface that can adapt to control any device in the space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical switch panel system with an electronic touchscreen interface. Instead of physical switches mounted on walls throughout the room, users interact with a digital display that provides visual feedback and control capabilities. This substitution eliminates the need for extensive mechanical installation while providing enhanced functionality and user feedback.
3Extent of automation
If conventional electronic lighting control systems with button-centric interfaces are used, then lighting scenes and device control are possible, but the user experience remains frustrating as users must still memorize which buttons control which fixtures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements visual feedback by displaying the current state of light fixtures and devices directly in the virtual room representation. When a device is on, its visual representation shows this status; when off, it appears inactive. This immediate visual feedback eliminates the confusion of button-centric interfaces where users must remember which button controls which device. The system tells the user what is happening and allows direct interaction with the visual representation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy of each light fixture and device in its actual physical location within the displayed room. Users can see exactly which fixture corresponds to which visual representation based on its position in the room layout. This spatial copying maintains the relationship between physical and digital representations, making control intuitive and eliminating the need to memorize button-to-device mappings.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a virtual room-based user interface includes one or more virtual rooms. Each virtual room is rendered from one or more images captured of a corresponding physical room of a structure, and includes depictions of one or more light fixtures within the physical room, one or more furnishings within the physical room and one or more boundaries of the physical room. A user selects a particular depiction of a particular light fixture within a particular virtual room. In response, a state of the particular light fixture within the corresponding physical room is changed. Also, appearance of the particular virtual room is updated such that the depiction of the particular light fixture shows the particular light fixture with the changed state and the depictions of the one or more boundaries or the one or more furnishings show lighting effects resulting from the changed state.