Wearable Gesture Control for Electrical Loads Without Fixed Remotes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load control systems require users to manually operate remote controls or devices, limiting convenience and flexibility due to predefined interfaces and the need to track device locations, and do not allow for intuitive control of electrical loads without additional equipment.
Innovation Solution
A load control system that incorporates wearable control devices capable of detecting gestures, allowing users to control electrical loads through wearable technology such as armbands, rings, or glasses, which transmit digital messages to control-target devices for controlling lighting, HVAC, and other loads based on recognized gestures, enabling scene configurations and automation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If gesture recognition technology is used to enable convenient load control, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to requiring additional equipment such as cameras
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the user's mobile device (smartphone, tablet, or wearable) as an intermediary to perform gesture recognition and control functions. The mobile device captures images or motion data, processes gestures through its camera or sensors, and transmits control signals to load control devices. This eliminates the need for dedicated gesture recognition equipment in the environment while maintaining convenient gesture-based control operation.
2Device complexity
If traditional remote control devices are used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to predefined interfaces and limited control instructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control where the system adapts to user gestures in real-time rather than requiring predefined buttons or instructions. The gesture recognition system dynamically interprets various hand movements, arm motions, and body gestures to generate appropriate control commands, providing flexible and intuitive control without limiting the user to fixed interface options.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical button-pressing interface of traditional remote controls with gesture-based control using the mobile device's camera or sensors. Instead of physical buttons or predefined remote control instructions, the system captures visual or motion data of natural gestures and translates them into control signals, eliminating the need for mechanical interaction with a remote control device.
3Reliability
If users must track device locations for control, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases due to searching for control devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the mobile device to serve itself as the control interface, eliminating the need to search for separate control devices. The user's smartphone, tablet, or wearable is always on their person and can immediately capture gestures and transmit control signals without requiring location tracking or device retrieval. The system leverages the ubiquity of the mobile device to provide instant control capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A load control system may include control-target devices for controlling an amount of power provided to an electrical load. The control-target devices may be capable of controlling the amount of power provided to the electrical load based on control instructions. The control-target devices and/or the control-instructions may be determined based on a gesture performed by a user. The user may wear a wearable control device capable of measuring movements performed by the user and transmit digital messages that may be used to control an electrical load. The wearable control device may identify gestures performed by the user for controlling a control-target device and/or provide control instructions to the control-target device based on the identified gestures. A gesture may be associated with a scene that includes a configuration of one or more control devices in a load control system.