NL2010728C2

NL2010728C2 - Luminaire.

Info

Publication number: NL2010728C2
Application number: NL2010728A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Philip Roland Ross; Kirstin Aalst
Original assignee: Aesthetic Interactions B V
Priority date: 2013-04-29
Filing date: 2013-04-29
Publication date: 2014-10-30

Description

Luminaire.

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a luminaire comprising a housing, said housing being provided with a plurality of light emitting elements and a plurality of touch sensitive sensors for controlling said plurality of light emitting elements based on a touch gesture of a user.

Such luminaire is for example known from the International patent application no. W02009/148300. The problem with the known luminaire devices is that they provide less versatility and control in the light being emitted.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved luminaire capable of a more versatile control of the properties of the light beam being generated and emitted.

To this end the luminaire according to the invention comprises a housing, said housing comprising at least a first light emission area part being provided with a plurality of light emitting elements and a light activation area part being provided with a plurality of touch sensitive sensors, wherein at least a first part of said plurality of light emitting elements being controlled based on said plurality of touch sensitive sensors being touched by a user, wherein a first group of said plurality of touch sensitive sensors are arranged in controlling a light color composition of said controlled part of said light emitting elements and wherein a second group of said plurality of touch sensitive sensors are arranged in controlling a light distribution and light intensity of said controlled part of said light emitting elements.

This allows for a so-called preview of the color composition of the light to be emitted. Subsequently, that particular ‘pre-prepared or previewed’ color composition composed using may be transferred by touch via the light activation area part of the device and displayed relatively quickly by means of the controllable light emitting elements. Further control or manipulation of the mixed light emitted from the emission side of the device can be achieved by a variety of touch gestures performed in the second part, the ‘light activation’ part, of the device. This has the effect or advantage of further enhancing the mix of light colors emitted from the device along with an enhancement of the color distribution and intensity. Multiple emitted colored light beams can be formed and distributed around the device.

Advantageously, this invention allows the user to pre-determine and preview the mixture of color to be displayed or emitted from the luminaire in the first instance and then allows a secondary mechanism for further enhancement of color and its distribution around the device.

In a first embodiment the touch sensitive sensors belonging to said first group of said plurality of touch sensitive sensors at least each correspond with one of the primary colors Red, Green, and Blue and in particular one of the touch sensitive sensors belonging to said first group of said plurality of touch sensitive sensors correspond with the color White.

In a further improved embodiment said housing comprises a further light emission area part, wherein the touch sensitive sensors belonging to said first group of said plurality of touch sensitive sensors are arranged in controlling said further light emission area part to emit said light color composition. Advantageously, this allows the user to pre-determine and preview the color composition to be displayed or emitted from the luminaire in the first instance, prior to controlling the light emitting elements in a second instance.

More in particular said first group of said plurality of touch sensitive sensors are located in said further light emission area part, wherein said further light emission area part is distinctively spaced apart from said light activation area part.

In an improved embodiment said further light emission area part is surrounded by said light activation area part.

In particular during use a gesturing touch of the user between said further light emission area part and said light activation area part controls a part of said plurality of light emitting elements corresponding with the part of said light activation area part being touched. This has the effect or advantage of further enhancing the mix of light colors emitted from the device along with an enhancement of the color distribution and intensity. Multiple emitted colored light beams can be formed and distributed around the device.

In a specific embodiment according to the invention said second group of touch sensitive sensors is arranged near a periphery of the housing, and more in particular said plurality of light emitting elements are arranged near a periphery of the housing.

In a particular embodiment said plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in an light emission ring in the housing

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing in which the preferred embodiments of the luminaire according to the invention are diagrammatically depicted. The invention, however, is by no means limited to these embodiments. In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows a luminaire according to the invention in perspective view;

Figures 2-8 different operational stages of the luminaire of Figure 1.

For the sake of clarity same parts in the drawings are depicted with corresponding reference numerals.

One example or embodiment of a luminaire according to the invention is depicted in the drawings. The luminaire 100 comprises a wall mounted housing 1. The housing 1 is equipped with an outer surface 1a, which outer surface part 1a is visible as it is exposed from the wall 10 against which the luminaire is mounted during use or operation. The outer surface 1a comprises a first surface part 2 being provided with one or more touch sensitive sensors 5, which - during operation - can be touched by the user. The touch sensitive sensors 5 are visibly marked with the letters R, G, B and W, corresponding to the three elementary (or primary) colors Red, Green, Blue and White. The luminaire device 100 also comprises a light emission surface part 6 on (or around) the outer periphery 1c of the housing 1a of the luminaire device 100, for emitting light radially on the wall 10 behind the luminaire (see arrows in Figure 1).

The luminaire in one example has a circular shape. The outer surface 1a is divided into two surface area parts. The first area part is the color mixing zone denoted with reference numeral 2 as already outlined in the previous paragraph. This is the inner circular surface area part 2 at the center or just off the center of the outer surface 1a of the luminaire 100. The surface area part (color mixing zone) 2 can be shaped as a lowered part of the outer surface 1a or otherwise the transition between the surface area 2 and the remaining area part 1b of the outer surface 1a of the luminaire can have a distinctive surrounding dip, gutter or line 3.

The other remaining area part 1b is the so-called light activation area 1b, which is an annulus surrounding the inner area part 2. The gutter, dip or visual line 3 represents a boundary between the first inner surface area part 2 and the other (or second) outer surface area part 1b. In the color mixing zone 2 R, G, B and W colors are available individually for mixing by a user (analogous to a color paint mixing palette). The color mixing zone 2 has four portions 5, which act as sources for, for example, three primary colors and white (R, G, B, W). In the example depicted in Figure 1, the color assigned to each portion (touch sensitive sensor 5) is indicated using a letter, e.g., the portion labeled ‘R’ represents the red color component. In the center of the color mixing zone 2 is a color preview area 4 that shows the current RGBW color mix.

In another embodiment the touch sensitive sensors 5 can be visibly marked with other color markings to allow for other combinations of color mix compositions. The touch sensitive sensors 5 can be marked W1, W2, etc. etc. each touch sensitive sensor 5 denoting another color variant White, which color variants differ in color temperature (cold White, warm White, etc.). Herewith it is possible to compose different color compositions based on the color White. The several sensors 5 denoted W1, W2, etc. etc. can also be combined with sensors R, G, B or even with sensors R1, R2, etc. (or G1, G2, etc. or B1, B2, etc.) allowing a more versatile or complex color mixing palette.

In a particular embodiment the color preview area 4 is provided with one light emitting element, for example a RGBW-LED, which can emit using the electronics the current RGBW color mix being created using the touch sensitive sensors 5 (RGBW). In another embodiment more light emitting elements can be present in the area 4, each light emitting element being used for one of the RGBW colors. The combined emission of light by the single R, G, B and W light emitting elements results in the desired RGBW color mix.

Creating a colored light pattern on the wall 10 can be done in two steps: Step 1 is mixing the desired color for a light beam on the wall 10 using the color mixing zone 2 and previewing it by means of the light emitting element (in the color preview area), which emits the pre-mixed color composition from the color preview area 4. And step 2 is to drag - using a (index) finger - the selected (pre-mixed) color from the color preview area 4 to the outer periphery 1c of the luminaire via the light activation zone 1b.

Figure 2 depicts such a color mixing action. Each of the four primary color mixing elements RGBW, indicated by the four color indication portions (touch sensitive sensors) 5 in the color mixing zone 2, can be admixed to the color preview area 4 in the following way: Sliding a finger from a color indication portion 5, for example the touch sensitive sensor 5 corresponding to the color Red in Figure 2, into the color preview zone 4, admixes an amount of the corresponding color (here Red) to the overall color of the color preview zone 4. In the Figure 2 example, this is indicated with R+ in the color preview area 4. The amount of color is, as it were, pulled or dragged into the color preview zone 4.

Repeating this action admixes a similar amount of this color again. Sliding a finger from a different color portion 5 (another touch sensitive sensor) into the color preview area 4, for example Blue, admixes an amount of this color, creating the composition color ‘purple’ for blue and red, for example. The light emitting element(s) present in the color preview area 4 will be properly adjusted by the luminaire electronics in the housing 1 and will emit instantaneously the color being mixed, here ‘purple’.

These changes in intensity are implemented by the underlying electronics which allows the current to change in each colored light source RGBW (light emitting elements present in the color preview area 4) as the user scrolls a finger from the desired portion 5 to the center 4.

After mixing amounts of color in the color preview zone 4, the user can place a finger in the color preview zone 4 and ‘drag-out’ or by touch gesturing urge the pre-mixed light composition from the preview zone 4 across the second surface area 1b towards the outer periphery 1c, so that the RG, RB, GB, RGB or RGBW mixture can be emitted at the part of the outer periphery 1c that corresponds to the direction the scroll of the finger from the palette zone 4. This gesture is indicated with an arrow in Figure 3. The emitted light beam is indicated with number 60a in Figure 3.

In this case, the entire emission side of the luminaire is arranged as a ring of light emitting elements (for example multiple LEDs) 6 arranged around the outer periphery 1c of the housing 1 of the luminaire. The light emission ring 6 consists of a large number of light emitting elements 6 mounted in the outer periphery 1c of the housing 1 and connected and controlled by the underlying electronics mounted in the housing 1. Light emitted from the activated light emitting elements within this light emission ring 6 is directed in such a way that radial light beams (here 60a) are visible on the wall 10 behind the luminaire.

Light is emitted because a part 6a of the LEDs in the light emission ring 6 is activated corresponding to the vicinity of the touched/activated area part of the light activation area 1b, followed by the light from the LEDs 6a being reflected from a reflecting component in the device. In this example, this is done such that light can be emitted or appears to emit from the side of the luminaire where the touch gesture ended.

In all of the examples described above, dragging out of the light from the palette (color preview area 4) is reversible, i.e. the light initially generated and dragged out can be retracted to the color mixing zone 2 and ‘switched off’.

According to the invention further functionality can be introduced in the luminaire to provide additional intensity control. A functionality is the feature of dimming the light being emitted. With this feature, scrolling a finger from the activated (or illuminating) part 6a of the light emission ring 6 towards the color mixing zone 2, said scrolling gesture being aligned but contrary to the direction of the emitted light beam 60a, dims the light beam. This scrolling gesture is indicated with the arrow in Figure 4. The portion of the radius (or distance length of the scrolling gesture in the direction of the color mixing zone 2) that the finger travels corresponds to the change in dimming level.

For example, when the finger is placed on the outside rim 1c in the light activated part 6a of the emission ring 6 and is subsequently moved halfway across the radius (as indicated in Figure 4), the distance travelled is 50% of the radius resulting in a 50 percent point decrease of intensity level.

When the light beam is not at full intensity, scrolling a finger towards the periphery 1c of the device, aligned to the direction of the emitted light beam 60a, intensifies the beam 60a (see Figure 5). Also here, the distance scrolled with the finger corresponds to the amount of intensification of the light beam 60a. For example, when the finger is placed halfway the radius from the color mixing zone 2 to the outside rim 1c, and is moved to the outside, and the distance travelled is 50% of the radius, this will result in a 50% increase of intensity level.

Other lighting parameters, such as beam width control could also be coupled to this action.

The distribution of the emitted color mixture can be further manipulated by touch gestures performed on the light activation area 1b. For example, the emitted mixed light (beam 60a) can now be redirected in a different radial direction by scrolling of the finger more or less concentrically in the light activation area 1b. The gesturing action is an example of how the light beam 60a can be re-distributed around the light emission ring 6 around the outer periphery 1c of the housing 1 of the device, such that another part 6a’ of the emission ring 6 of light emitting elements is being activated, whereas the original part 6a (as shown as activated in Figure 5) of the emission ring 6 is switched off. The path scrolled by the finger touch gesture can be non-concentric: the direction of the light may also be determined by the angle the finger makes with the center of the color mixing area 2. See Figure 6.

The luminaire 100 allows for creation of multiple colored light beams, in Figure 7 indicated with reference numerals 60a and 60b. The first light beam 60a is being emitted (originates from) by a first part 6a of the light emitting elements (light emission ring) 6, whereas the second light beam 60b originates from a second part 6b of the light emitting elements (light emission ring) 6. Likewise any further light beam can originate from another further distinct part of the light emitting elements (light emitting ring) 6 positioned near or around the other periphery 1c of the housing 1.

Hence the luminaire can as such emit multiple light beams 60a-60b-etc. simultaneously, which beams differ from each other in terms of color composition, orientation around the light emission ring 6 and in beam width. In this way there is great versatility in the variety of color mixtures and patterns that can be emitted and distributed from the luminaire. The process of creating an additional light the beam is similar to the process described for creating a first light beam.

In case two or more light beams overlap fully or partly as disclosed in Figure 8, the RGBW colors of both beams are mixed in the overlapping area 6c, which offers the user additional possibilities to create detailed color patterns. In such example the first light beam having the color R is denoted by reference numeral 60a and originates from the first activated part 6a+6c of the light emission ring 6, whereas the further, second light beam having the color B is denoted by reference numerals 60b and originates from the further, second activated part 6c+6b of the light emission ring 6. The overlapping area 6c of both activated parts 6a+6c and 6c+6b emits a mixed color R+B due to the mixing of the individual colors R and B of both primary light beams 60a and 60b. Hence the red color beam 60a has a beam part 60c having a mixed color R+B, and beam 60b has the similar overlapping beam 60c.

The invention may be implemented in luminaries having any creative or desirable designs. Alternatively, the color mixing zone may be as small or as large as desired. Light sources could be LEDs, but also OLEDs, colored incandescent bulbs, fluorescent tubes, halogen lights with color filters and more. In addition, the size of the luminaire can be changed depending upon the type of structure in which the device is likely to be installed. In an automotive applications, such devices could be relatively small and be installed on the interior ceiling or doors of the vehicle or integrated the device could be integrated into the ceiling or door panels to accentuate the versatility in the light distribution patterns attainable with this invention. Similarly, this invention may be suitably incorporated on walls of structures like cinemas, patient rooms in hospitals, theatres and hotels. The invention could also be applied in luxury structures like yachts or ocean liners.

The two sensing surfaces need to exhibit a minimal size to accommodate the size of touching fingers, hands or objects etc.

Claims

A lighting fixture comprising a housing, which housing comprises at least a first light emitting area part provided with a large number of light-emitting elements and a light activation area part provided with a large number of touch-sensitive sensors, wherein at least a first part of the large number of light-emitting elements is controllable are based on the large number of touch-sensitive sensors touched by a user, wherein a first group of the large number of touch-sensitive sensors are adapted to control a light color composition of the controlled part of the light-emitting elements and wherein a second group of the large number Touch-sensitive sensors are arranged for controlling a light distribution and light intensity of the controlled part of the light-emitting elements.

The lighting fixture according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensitive sensors belonging to the first group of the plurality of touch sensitive sensors at least each correspond to one of the primary colors red, green and blue.

3. Lighting fixture according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the touch-sensitive sensors that belongs to the first group of the large number of touch-sensitive sensors corresponds to at least one color white.

4. Lighting fixture according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing comprises a further light-emitting area part, wherein the touch-sensitive sensors belonging to the first group of the large number of touch-sensitive sensors are adapted to control the further light-emitting area part for of emitting the light color composition.

5. Lighting fixture according to claim 4, wherein the first group of the large number of touch-sensitive sensors are located in the further light-emitting area part.

The lighting fixture according to claim 5, wherein the further light emitting region portion is distinctively separated from the light activation region portion.

The lighting fixture according to claim 6, wherein the further light-emitting area portion is surrounded by the light activation area portion.

A lighting fixture according to any one of claims 4-7, wherein during use a contact gesture of the user between the further light emitting area part and the light activation area part controls a part of the large number of the light emitting elements corresponding to the touched part of the light activation area.

9. Lighting fixture according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second group of touch-sensitive sensors are arranged near a periphery of the housing.

10. Lighting fixture according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the large number of light-emitting elements are arranged near a perimeter of the housing.

The lighting fixture according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements are arranged in a light-emitting ring in the housing.