U.S. patent application number 17/347211 was filed with the patent office on 2021-10-21 for interactive portable lighting system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Casper Sleep Inc.. Invention is credited to Defne Civelekoglu, John Cohen, Louis Giacalone, Christopher Sa Glaister, Jordan Lay, Steve Martisauskas, Josef Norgan, Shail Shah, Shyam Srinivasan.
Application Number | 20210325008 17/347211 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005652879 |
Filed Date | 2021-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210325008 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lay; Jordan ; et
al. |
October 21, 2021 |
Interactive Portable Lighting System
Abstract
An interactive lighting system includes a group of one or more
portable lamps designed to respond to user's spatial manipulation
of a lamp to control the system. The lamps can be wirelessly linked
to operate in unison, and each lamp could also include an ambient
light sensor, which helps the system to optimize illumination
characteristics and profile.
Inventors: |
Lay; Jordan; (Pacifica,
CA) ; Civelekoglu; Defne; (San Francisco, CA)
; Cohen; John; (San Francisco, CA) ; Giacalone;
Louis; (Staten Island, NY) ; Shah; Shail;
(Oakland, CA) ; Norgan; Josef; (San Francisco,
CA) ; Glaister; Christopher Sa; (Oakland, CA)
; Srinivasan; Shyam; (Oakland, CA) ; Martisauskas;
Steve; (San Francisco, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Casper Sleep Inc. |
New York |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005652879 |
Appl. No.: |
17/347211 |
Filed: |
June 14, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16241665 |
Jan 7, 2019 |
11039514 |
|
|
17347211 |
|
|
|
|
62730527 |
Sep 12, 2018 |
|
|
|
62614997 |
Jan 8, 2018 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02J 7/025 20130101;
F21V 15/01 20130101; F21V 23/0464 20130101; H05B 47/115 20200101;
H05B 47/11 20200101; F21L 4/08 20130101; H05B 47/19 20200101; F21V
23/0492 20130101; H05B 47/105 20200101; H05B 45/10 20200101; H02J
50/10 20160201; F21Y 2115/10 20160801; H05B 45/20 20200101; H02J
7/0068 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F21L 4/08 20060101
F21L004/08; F21V 23/04 20060101 F21V023/04; F21V 15/01 20060101
F21V015/01; H05B 45/20 20060101 H05B045/20; H05B 47/11 20060101
H05B047/11; H05B 47/19 20060101 H05B047/19; H05B 47/105 20060101
H05B047/105; H05B 47/115 20060101 H05B047/115; H05B 45/10 20060101
H05B045/10 |
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A handheld lamp comprising: a first light source configured to
illuminate in a first direction; a second light source configured
to illuminate in a second direction different from said first
direction; a sensor configured to produce a signal; a controller
coupled to said sensor and configured to control said first light
source and said second light source based on the signal from said
sensor; and a power source configured to provide power to said
first light source, said second light source, said sensor, and said
controller; a translucent shell enclosing an interior space,
wherein said power source, said first light source, said second
light source, said sensor, and said controller are located within
the interior space of said translucent shell; and wherein said
power source is positioned between said first and second light
sources and farther within said interior space from the cover than
said first and second light sources so as not to block an
illumination from said first light source and said second light
source.
22. The handheld lamp of claim 21, wherein said sensor is selected
from a group consisting of a spatial sensor and an ambient-light
sensor.
23. The handheld lamp of claim 21, wherein said controller
activates an at least one of said first light source and said
second light source.
24. The handheld lamp of claim 23, wherein said controller varies
an intensity of said first light source and an intensity of said
second light source.
25. The handheld lamp of claim 21, further comprising a wireless
communication interface.
26. The handheld lamp of claim 25, wherein said wireless
communication interface is used to program the handheld lamp via a
mobile device.
27. The handheld lamp of claim 21, wherein an angle between said
first direction and said second direction is at least ninety
degrees.
28. A handheld lamp comprising: a translucent housing enclosing an
interior space; a first light source located within the interior
space and configured to generate light in a first direction; a
second light source located within the interior space and
configured to generate light in a second direction different from
said first direction; a sensor located within the interior space; a
controller located within the interior space and coupled to said
sensor, said controller configured to control said first light
source and said second light source based on a signal from said
sensor; and a power source configured to provide power to said
first light source, said second light source, said sensor, and said
controller, wherein said power source is positioned within the
interior space between said first light source and said second
light source so as not to block an illumination from said first
light source and said second light source.
29. The handheld lamp of claim 28, wherein said sensor is selected
from a group consisting a spatial sensor and an ambient-light
sensor.
30. The handheld lamp of claim 28, wherein said controller
activates an at least one of said first light source and said
second light source.
31. The handheld lamp of claim 30, wherein said controller varies
an intensity of said first light source and an intensity of said
second light source.
32. The handheld lamp of claim 28, further comprising a wireless
communication interface.
33. The handheld lamp of claim 32, wherein said wireless
communication interface is used to program the handheld lamp via a
mobile device.
34. The handheld lamp of claim 28, wherein an angle between said
first direction and said second direction is at least ninety
degrees.
35. A handheld lamp comprising: a translucent housing enclosing an
interior space; a core structure located within the interior space
of said translucent housing; a first light source located within
the interior space; a second light source located within the
interior space; a controller located within the interior space and
configured to control said first light source and said second light
source; and a power source positioned within said core structure
and between said first and said second light sources so that said
power source does not block a first light beam generated by said
first light source and a second light beam generated by said second
light source.
36. The handheld lamp of claim 35, further comprising a diffuser
located within the interior space and configured to diffuse said
first light beam and said second light beam.
37. The handheld lamp of claim 35, further comprising a button
configured to activate at least one function of said handheld
lamp.
38. The handheld lamp of claim 35, wherein a direction of said
first light beam differs from a direction of said second light beam
by at least ninety degrees.
39. The handheld lamp of claim 35, wherein said first light source
and said second light source are mechanically coupled to said core
structure.
40. The handheld lamp of claim 35, wherein said power source is a
rechargeable battery.
Description
REFERENCE To PRIOR APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the following two
applications, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in
its entirety:
1) U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/614,997 filed on Jan.
8, 2018; and 2) U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/730,527
filed on Sep. 12, 2018.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present invention relates to an improved interactive
portable lighting system.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Lighting in a bedroom environment can prevent a person from
going to sleep. Thus, the process of going to sleep may be improved
by adjusting lighting in a dynamic manner.
[0004] Accordingly, there is a need for a lighting device or
devices to deliver soothing lighting during the bedtime
routine.
[0005] There is also a need for a lighting device or devices whose
tone and brightness are tuned for sleep. For example, as the
lighting device gets dimmer, tone of its emitted light gets warmer
(more yellow).
[0006] In addition, existing lighting devices are not designed to
be controlled by physical motion, such as by manual manipulation.
Thus, there is also a need for a lighting device or devices that
are easy to control and operate by hand manipulations.
[0007] There is also a need for a lighting device or devices that
operate on rechargeable batteries, where battery charging itself
could be contactless, such as by induction charging.
[0008] There is also a need for lighting devices that, when
operated as a group, match each other, i.e., synchronize, and
operate in unison.
[0009] There is also a need for a lighting device or devices that
can be integrated and can be made to communicate wirelessly with
other wireless products, including smart products.
[0010] These goals may be accomplished by a group of one or more
interactive mood lighting devices designed to put the perfect
soothing lighting for sleep at a user's fingertips and keep
disruptive light out of bedtime. This includes gestural (physical
motion) control of light and unification of all distributed
lights.
SUMMARY
[0011] The present invention involves a lighting system that may
have the following features:
[0012] (1) Guides people to sleep with lighting by: [0013] (a)
Dimming: [0014] (i) light slowly gets dimmer as the evening winds
down; [0015] (ii) enabling lamps(s) to dim to "off" over a set
duration; [0016] (b) Waking up: [0017] (i) light slowly gets
brighter to wake up a person; [0018] (ii) enabling lamps(s) to
reach full brightness on a set schedule; [0019] (c) Optimized
lighting, such as by having tone and brightness tuned for sleep.
For example, by having light get warmer in tone as it gets
dimmer.
[0020] (2) Providing a unique and wondrous user experience via:
[0021] (a) Gestural Controls: [0022] (i) turning on a light through
physical manipulation, such as by flipping it; [0023] (ii)
animating light through physical motion, where the light
intuitively responds to gestures (hand manipulations) like tilt,
flip, wiggle, rotate, etc.
[0024] (3) Provides for a Distributed/Unified light that is: [0025]
(a) battery powered with contact charging base, where the batteries
can last one week (or other duration) of regular use on a single
charge; [0026] (b) unified, such as by having wireless connectivity
so that the individual lights are in unison. For example, when
"on," all grouped lights match each other; [0027] (c) integrated
with other devices. For example, the lighting system of the present
invention communicates with other products and other smart devices
(e.g., Nest, Echo, Hue, etc.); [0028] (d) allows lights to be
controlled in real time, as well as being programmed, remotely,
such as via an app on a mobile device.
[0029] (4) Provides light on demand: [0030] (a) low impact wiggle
to turn-on light, making it portable and ready for nighttime
excursions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0031] The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals
refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the
separate views, together with the detailed description below, are
incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to
further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed
invention and explain various principles and advantages of those
embodiments.
[0032] FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) is a view of a lighting system in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates a mechanical assembly of the individual
lamps in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) in accordance with some embodiments of
the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an electrical system of the
individual lamps in accordance with some embodiments of the present
invention.
[0035] FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) depict state diagrams of device
operation and interactions in a group of two or more linked lamps
in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 5 depicts a float mode of device operation in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 6 discloses brightness adjustments in various
scenarios, including in synched dimming and paused modes, in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 7 illustrates how ambient light could be used in
controlling a lamp's brightness levels in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 8 discloses temporary unlinking and relinking of a lamp
in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention,
[0040] FIG. 9 discloses an event table for temporary unlinking and
relinking of a lamp in accordance with some embodiments of the
present invention.
[0041] FIGS. 10(a), 10(b), and 10(c) provide a state table
disclosing what happens to a temporarily unlinked device when
another operational event occurs in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0042] FIG. 11 illustrates operation of a wake-up feature in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 12 provides an event table disclosing what happens to a
device that is programmed to wake up when another control signal is
received in accordance with some embodiments of the present
invention.
[0044] FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b) provide a state table for a wake-up
feature in accordance with some embodiments of the present
invention.
[0045] FIG. 14 shows sample display screens appearing on a mobile
device when an app is used to program a wake-up feature in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
[0046] FIGS. 15(a) and 15(b) show behavior of a multi-lamp system
with programmed overlapping wake-up times in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0047] FIG. 16 shows sample display screens appearing on a mobile
device when an app is used to program illumination and dimming in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
[0048] FIG. 17 discloses system performance, light behavior, and
app indication when the battery is discharging in accordance with
some embodiments of the present invention.
[0049] FIG. 18 discloses system performance, light behavior, and
app indication when the battery is charging in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0050] FIGS. 19(a) and 19(b) show a state table disclosing what
happens to a device with a low battery when another control signal
is received in accordance with some embodiments of the present
invention.
[0051] FIG. 20 illustrates system behavior when a lamp's button is
pressed for a very long period, e.g., more than 6 seconds, while
the lamp is in various operating modes in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0052] FIG. 21 illustrates a state diagram of device operation and
interactions in a group of two or more linked lamps in accordance
with another embodiment of the present invention.
[0053] Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the
figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not
necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of
some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to
other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of
the present invention.
[0054] The apparatus and method components have been represented
where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing
only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the
embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the
disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description
herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0055] The following detailed description discloses some
embodiments of the interactive lighting system of the present
invention, including a group of one or more interactive mood lights
designed to put the perfect soothing lighting for sleep at a user's
fingertips and keep disruptive light out of bedtime. This includes
gestural (physical manipulation) control of light and unification
of all distributed lights (lamps).
[0056] FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) show a lighting system 100 in accordance
with some embodiments of the invention. The lighting system 100
includes a group of two lamps, 110(a) and 110(b), that can be
operated individually or in unison. Each of the lamps includes a
translucent shell 120 and two buttons 130, one on each end of the
lamp (the button on the lower end of each lamp is not shown). In
one embodiment, the translucent shell 120 is smooth,
scratch-resistant, matte, and milky. Each of the two buttons 130 on
any individual lamp is smooth, scratch-resistant, matte, and
opaque. In an alternative embodiment, the buttons 130 can be
replaced by known touch activated switches, such as capacitive or
optical sensors, or by voice activated sensors.
[0057] FIG. 1(b) shows the lighting system of FIG. 1(a) in
operation, where the lamps are providing illumination (lower half
of each lamp in FIG. 1(b) appears lit), with one of the lamps being
held and/or manipulated by a user. FIG. 1(b) also depicts a lamp
charger (charging base) 140, with a power cable 142, and a lamp
placed on it. In one embodiment, the charging base is shaped like a
hockey puck. While FIG. 1(b) depicts only one charging base, the
number of charging bases in the system is not limited. For example,
each lamp can have its own charging base.
[0058] MECHANICAL ASSEMBLY: FIG. 2 illustrates a mechanical
assembly of the individual lamps in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The
mechanical assembly includes a hollow translucent shell 120 having
an opening 230 at both ends. The shell can be made out of
polycarbonate or such other material as copolyester, and fabricated
by blow molding and/or computer numerical control ("CNC") process
known in the art. Other materials and manufacturing processes know
in the art could also be used. A tubular light-diffuser 232, which
is optional, is placed inside the shell 120. In one embodiment, the
diffuser 232 is a polycarbonate extrusion. A light emitting diode
("LED") assembly 234 is placed inside the diffuser 232. The LED
assembly 234 includes six printed circuit boards 236 ("LED PCBs" or
"LED boards"), with multiple LEDs on each LED board, installed
around a perimeter of a hollow extruded aluminum core 238. (FIG. 2
shows three LED boards from their front and three from the back.) A
rechargeable battery (not shown in the figure) is located inside
the center opening in the core.
[0059] End caps 240(a) and 240(b) fit within the two openings 230
in the shell 120 and are coupled to each end of the LED assembly
234. A button 242(a) and its associated button-PCB 244(a) for
sensing the button press are installed over the end cap 240(a), and
another button 242(b) and its associated button-PCB 244(b), are
installed over the end cap 240(b) at the other end of the lamp.
(Buttons 242(a) and 242(b) in FIG. 2 correspond to the two buttons
130, one on each end of each lamp, as disclosed above concerning
FIG. 1.) In one embodiment, in addition to sensing a button press,
one of the two button-PCBs also includes electronics for
controlling functionality of the lamp. In FIG. 2, the button-PCB
244(a) includes such electronics and is identified as a "Main PCB."
The electrical-contact rings on each end cap allow for recharging
the battery independent of the lamp's upside-down orientation. In
one embodiment, the charging rings receive power via spring loaded
pogo pins in the charging base 140. In an alternative embodiment,
charging could be accomplished by inductive coupling, without the
external contact rings. In addition, the buttons 242(a) and 242(b)
could be implemented as either capacitive or optical
contact-sensors, or as non-contact, e.g., voice activated,
sensors.
[0060] ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an
electrical system of an individual lamp in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 3 depicts a "Main PCB"
(Main Board) 244(a), a button PCB 244(b), and the six LED PCBs (LED
boards) 236(a)-(f), as well as their respective interconnections.
The LED board 236(a) includes an ambient light sensor ("ALS") 310,
is connected to the Main-PCB 244(a), and is also coupled to the
other five LED boards. As a result, the LED board 236(a) is called
the Primary LED Board, while each of the remaining five LED boards
is called a Slave LED Board.
[0061] The Main Board 244(a) includes a bottom-button switch 360
that is activated by the button 242(a). The switch 360 feeds one of
two inputs of a Dual-input Reset Controller block 362, which in
turn feeds a main processing and control 364 block. In one
embodiment, the main processing and control block 364 is
implemented in a Nordic Semiconductor NRF52 System on a Chip
("SoC"), which includes a 2.4 GHz Bluetooth.TM. radio. Antenna 366
is connected to the main processing and control block 364 and
allows the lamp to wirelessly communicate with other lamps and
other wireless products.
[0062] A memory block 368, which in one embodiment is an
Electrically Erasable Programable Read Only Memory ("EEPROM"), is
also interconnected with the block 364. Block 370 measures a change
in spatial orientation of the lamp in the x-y-z plane and is also
coupled to the main processor and control block 364. For example,
block 370 measures such changes in the lamp's spatial orientation
as movement and rotation of the lamp with respect to the "y" axis,
as well as changes with respect to other axes and planes. In one
embodiment, block 370 is a 9-axis internal measurement unit ("9 DOF
IMU"), also known in the art as a 9 degrees-of-freedom internal
measurement unit, that communicates with block 364 over a
bi-directional two-wire communication interface known as the
Inter-Integrated Circuit ("I.sup.2C") interface.
[0063] Device power comes from a rechargeable battery 372, which is
coupled to block 364 via a battery charger 374. Block 364 receives
power input from the battery and controls one or more power
supplies 376, which in turn are used to provide regulated power to
the different circuits inside the lamp. A charging connector 380 on
the Main Board 244(a) provides interconnection between the battery
charger 374 and an external charging base 382, illustrated as
reference number 140 in FIG. 1(b), in one vertical orientation. A
similar charging connector 384 on the Button Board 244(b) provides
interconnection between the battery charger 374 and the external
charging base 382 when the lamp is flipped upside-down.
[0064] Each of the six LED boards, 236(a)-(f), includes eight LEDs,
six white and two red. The white LEDs are used for illumination and
the red LEDs are primarily used for varying the overall tone of the
visible light projected outside the lamp. The LEDs can also be used
for indicating device status to the user, e.g., battery low/needs
charging, dimming function is paused, identifying the lamps when
grouping them in the app, etc. Such indications can be done by the
LEDs pulsing, steady on, etc. Each of the two Slave LED boards
236(c) and 236(e) and the Primary LED board 236(a) also includes 16
Channel LED Driver block, designated in FIG. 3 by reference
numerals 316, 318, and 314, respectively. The 16-Channel LED Driver
314 on the Primary LED Board can drive the LEDs on the Primary LED
Board 236(a) and on the Slave LED Board 236(b). The 16-Channel LED
Driver 316 can drive the LEDs on its Slave LED Board 236(c) and on
the Slave LED board 236(d). The 16-Channel LED Driver 318 can drive
the LEDs on its Slave LED Board 236(e) and on the Slave LED Board
236(f). The main processor and control block 364, on the Main Board
244(a), communicates with an ambient light sensor ("ALS") 310 on
the Primary LED Board 236(a) via an I.sup.2C interface. Block 364
also controls the LEDs on the six LED boards via a 4-interface to
the 16 Channel LED Driver 314 on the Primary LED board 236(a).
[0065] Physical interconnections between the different circuit
boards may be accomplished by flexible printed circuits.
[0066] While FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the electrical
system of the present invention, other configurations of the
electrical system, such as those disclosed in the U.S. provisional
applications 62/614,997 and 62/730,527, each of which has been
incorporated by reference in its entirety in the present
application, are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly,
other configurations, interconnections, interfaces, circuits, and
communication protocols, including wireless communications
protocols, can be used to implement the present invention.
[0067] As described above, the interactive portable lighting system
of the present invention includes a group of one or more lamps,
e.g., six lamps, where the lamps can be controlled individually or
together as a group. When the group is a single lamp, the lamp will
respond to manual manipulations, such as a user moving the lamp in
the x-y-z plane, as a standalone device. The manipulations could be
coupled with timing requirements, such that the same manipulation
will be interpreted differently based on its timing and/or sequence
of manipulations preceding it.
[0068] While the invention is not limited to the specific user
actions and device behaviors, the actions and behaviors listed
below are presented for the purpose of describing some embodiments
of the invented system.
[0069] User Actions:
[0070] "flip": turning a device upside down;
[0071] "wiggle": moving the device back and forth from the vertical
axis by a predetermined number of degrees (e.g., up to about 10
degrees)
[0072] "rotate": turning a device around a vertical axis;
[0073] "button press(es)": pressing the button on top of a device
(the device may be symmetrical, so whichever face is up is
considered the top). Different combinations of button presses,
which can vary in duration and sequence, can be used to control
various functions of the system;
[0074] In another embodiment, user actions may also include a
"lift" action, which corresponds to lifting a device off the
surface it has been sitting on.
[0075] Device Behaviors:
[0076] "dimming": starting at the brightest light level that fills
the device and slowly dimming down as the light vertically fills
less of the device (in one embodiment, the light also gets warmer
(yellow) in color as it gets dimmer);
[0077] "wake up": starting in any state, the light slowly fills
more of the device as is gets brighter (in one embodiment, the
light also gets cooler (bluer) in color as it gets brighter);
[0078] "float": at any given level of brightness, tilting the
device from vertical in any direction by a predetermined amount
(e.g., >10 degrees) causes the light inside to gravitate to the
side that is closer to the ground. (In an alternative embodiment,
tilting the device in any direction causes the light inside to
gravitate to the side that is farther from the ground).
[0079] "pulse": at any given state and brightness, the light dims
down and back up to indicate an event or action (e.g., charging,
linked to other lights, etc.)
[0080] "button presses" pressing a button on a device. The number
of button presses and their durations could be used alone and in
combination to provide system commands.
[0081] For example, starting in an "idle" state, in which all of
the white LEDs are "off" (i.e., no illumination) but the sensing
circuitry inside the lamp is active, when the system detects that
the lamp is being flipped, i.e., senses tilting of the lamp by more
than a predetermined number of degrees from vertical, for example,
more than 135 degrees, the lamp could turn on all of its white LEDs
to begin illuminating at full brightness. At the same time,
wiggling the lamp, instead of flipping it, could constitute a
command to turn "on" the illumination at a low level. When the
illumination is not at the full level, only some of the white LEDs
on the six LED boards will be "on." In one embodiment, a low-level
illumination could start with a white LED on each LED Board that is
closest to the ground being "on," and increase by sequentially
turning "on" the white LEDs that are farther away from the ground.
In another alternative embodiment, a low-level illumination could
start with a white LED on each LED board that is the farthest from
the ground being "on," and increase by sequentially turning "on"
the white LEDs that are closer toward the ground on each LED board.
In yet another embodiment, the illumination could start at a low
level with a white LED in the middle of each LED board ("middle
LED") being "on," and increase by sequentially turning on the white
LEDs that are located on either side of the middle LED on each LED
board.
[0082] If the user turns the lamp "on" at full brightness, all of
the white LEDs on the six LED boards are turned "on," the system
could initiate a timed dimming to decrease the illumination. When
the lamp is illuminating, rotating (turning) the lamp clockwise or
counterclockwise around the vertical ("y") axis could constitute a
command to increase or decrease the illumination, respectively. To
pause the illumination dimming, a user could press either button
242. Pressing the button again will un-pause the dimming. Whether
in the pause mode, in the dimming mode, or at any fixed
illumination level, if the user flips the lamp, the lamp will turn
"off" the illumination and revert back to the "idle" mode.
[0083] One embodiment enables the lamp to adjust, the tone of the
light seen by the user with a change in the brightness level. For
example, as the brightness of the lamp is decreased, the tone of
the light seen by the use is made warmer. This is accomplished by
selectively activating the red LEDs on the LED boards. For example,
assuming the vertical orientation shown in FIG. 1(a) and lamp on
the right side in FIG. 1(b) at full brightness, when all six white
LEDS on each LED board are turned "on," both red LEDs on each board
are turned "off." This will give the illumination a cool tone. At
33% of the full brightness level, for example, e.g., when two of
the six white LEDS on each LED Board are "on," one red LED on each
board gets turned "on" at a dim level. Mixing of the red and white
light coming from the lamp will make the light appear yellowish,
which will give the illumination a warm tone. Finally, when the
brightness level dims further, for example to around 16%, e.g.,
when only one of the six white LEDS on each LED Board is "on," one
both red LED on each board gets turned "on" brighter, creating an
even warmer tone. Such dynamic adjustment of tone improves the
process of going to sleep by delivering soothing lighting during a
bedtime routine.
[0084] In another embodiment, to control tone, both red LEDs on
each LED Board could be turned "on" at the same time. Physical
location of the red LEDs with respect to the white LEDs on each LED
Board could also dictate which red LED is turned "on" for tone
control. For example, in one embodiment, when the red LEDs are
located on opposite ends of an LED board, the red LED(s) at only
one end are turned on, i.e., the red LED(s) at both ends are not
turned on at the same time.
[0085] In addition to controlling the lamp's overall brightness
level by merely turning some LEDs fully "on" while keeping other
LEDs fully "off," the lamp's brightness level could further be
controlled by pulsing one or more LEDs at a specified duty cycle
and at a frequency that is sufficiently high for a human observer
not to perceive it as flicker. For example, due to an integrating
effect of the human eye, an LED pulsed at 30 Hz at a 50% duty cycle
will be perceived as being continuously "on" at a 1/2 brightness
level from the LED's maximum brightness. By controlling a duty
cycle of the individual LEDs, the lamp's overall perceived
brightness level and its tone level could be varied with a
virtually unlimited resolution.
[0086] In one embodiment, the lamp is designed to have a "Float"
mode, which provides the user with a unique experience. In the
Float mode, the lamp's processing and control circuitry dynamically
changes which LEDs are "on" depending on the lamp's spatial
orientation. For example, assume that the lamp is in vertical
orientation shown for both lamps in FIG. 1(a) as well as for the
lamp on the right in FIG. 1(b) and only the lower three of the six
LEDs on each LED Board are fully "on" (i.e., the lamp is at half
brightness with the light gravitated toward the ground). If the
user starts tilting or wiggling the lamp around the vertical ("y")
axis by more than a predetermined number of degrees (e.g., 10
degrees), the processing and control circuitry, while maintaining
the brightness level, will dynamically control the LEDs to maintain
the brightness level while making the light source in the lamp
appear to gravitate toward the ground. For example, if the user
tilts the lamp by 90 degrees and lays it on a side, the processing
and control circuitry, while maintaining the light level, will turn
"on" all of the LEDs on the LED boards that are closest to the
ground and turn "off" the LEDs that are on the LEDs boards that are
farther away from the ground. In one embodiment, when entering
Float, the lamp maintains light fill level, and can either maintain
tone or gently vary tone.
[0087] There could be various ways of entry and exit to and from
the Float mode. For example, in one embodiment, Float mode for a
lamp can be entered into from "off," when another grouped lamp is
tilted or wiggled by more than 10 degrees from vertical. Exiting
from the Float mode, for example, could be by: (a) tilting the lamp
from vertical by greater than a predetermined number of degrees,
e.g., 170; (b) flipping another grouped lamp to "off"; or (c)
tilting the lamp back to less than a predetermined number of
degrees, e.g., 10 degrees, from vertical.
[0088] In terms of behavior, on one embodiment, a lamp in Float
mode may also ignore rotation input, provide full pause and
temporary unlink functionality, etc.
[0089] An exemplary operation of the Float mode is disclosed in
FIG. 5. The Float mode is further described below, in the context
of a lamp operating in a lamp-group having two or more lamps.
[0090] In addition to responding to the user's manual
manipulations, the lamp could also be controlled remotely via a
wireless link from other devices, such as smart phones, laptops, or
other wireless devices. For example, a software application ("app")
on a smart phone could be used to program the lamp to turn the
brightness level "off," "on," or at some mid-level of brightness on
a specific schedule, which could be correlated with other events,
such as a wake-up alarm signal, an appointment alarm, bedtime
routine, etc. In addition, the app could be used to remotely
control the lamp in real time, such as turning on the illumination,
varying brightness, tone, or synchronizing it to surrounding
environment, such as ambient brightness, music, sound, etc.
[0091] As mentioned above, a lamp of the present invention can also
operate in a group of two or more lamps. In order for the lamp to
become a part of such a group, the radio interface of each lamp in
the group is activated, allowing the lamps to link to each other
wirelessly. For example, in one embodiment each lamp includes a
Bluetooth wireless interface. When two or more lamps are activated
(powered up), the Bluetooth interface in each lamp will detect the
other lamps and will link all of the detected lamps into a
group.
[0092] Device Interaction And State Diagrams:
[0093] FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) depict state diagrams of device
operation and interactions in a group of two or more linked lamps
in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. FIG.
4(a) shows a state diagram depicting synchronized dimming and FIG.
4(b) shows a state diagram depicting solo dimming.
Similarly-numbered states in the two figures represent the same
system-condition. The following is a description of the operations
and interactions in FIG. 4(a).
[0094] State_0 corresponds to a system state in which every lamp in
a group is in an "idle" mode, in which the lamps' electronics is
powered up (activated) but produces no illumination.
[0095] If a lamp is flipped by more than a predetermined number of
degrees, the system will go into State_1. In State_1, the flipped
lamp and all of the connected lamps in the lamp-group are turned
"on" to full brightness. In one embodiment, a flip is detected once
the lamp has been tilted from its initial position by, for example,
about 135 degrees,
[0096] From State 1, the system may move into State_2 (synchronized
dimming). In State_2, all of the lamps in a group dim in unison
(dim together as a group), starting at full brightness. While the
system is in State_2, rotating any lamp clockwise or
counterclockwise will increase or decrease the brightness level,
respectively, of all the lamps in the group in unison. The lights
will stop getting brighter at the brightest state even if the user
continues rotating the lamp clockwise. Similarly, in one
embodiment, the lights will stop dimming once the dimmest
brightness has been reached even if the counterclockwise (dimming)
rotation continues. In another embodiment, if the user keeps
rotating the lamp counterclockwise, the lights will dim to "off."
Once the rotation stops, all of the lamps in the group will
continue their synchronized dimming at the same rate. (See FIG. 6
for a more detailed illustration of brightness adjustments in
various scenarios, including in the synchronized dimming and paused
modes.) Left undisturbed for a period of time (e.g., 45 minutes),
the lamps could eventually dim to "off," effectively putting the
system back into State_0. Alternatively, the lamps could dim to the
dimmest setting and remain there for a specified period of time,
which could be programmed internally or via the app In one
embodiment, if the user chooses to control the lamp via an app, all
lamps will stop at some predetermined dim level after a particular
time period (e.g., one hour) of no movement of the lamp (no rotate,
etc.). In addition, if the system uses a motion detector (e.g., a
camera, an IR sensor, etc.) the lamps could stop at the dimmest
setting and turn "off" the illumination after there hasn't been any
movement in the room for a specified period of time, e.g., 10
minutes.
[0097] In another embodiment, an app could be used to program an
animation (dimming or waking up of brightness) of an individual
lamp. If a lamp is rotated in the middle of an animation, the
rotation could either be used to interrupt the animation or it
could be ignored until the animation is complete. Once the
animation has been completed, the rotation input will translate to
brightness adjustments.
[0098] When the system is in State_2, pressing the top button on
any lamp will stop all of the lamps in the group from dimming at
whatever level of brightness they are at and will move the system
into State_3 (synchronized pause). In one embodiment, the lights
may indicate to the user that they have been "paused" by pulsing a
predetermined number of times, e.g., once. In one embodiment, when
rotated while paused, the lights will not change. In an alternative
embodiment, rotating any light while in the "synchronized pause"
condition will cause them to pulse, to indicate to a user that they
are paused. Pressing the top button again on any light will
un-pause all of the lights in the group and will return the system
from State_3 back to State_2, to continue synchronized dimming at
the same rate. In another embodiment, rotating a light while
paused, may also un-pause it. In another embodiment, the
synchronized pause may time-out after a predetermined time, e.g.,
one hour, at which point all the lights in the group will return
the system from State_3 back to State_2, to continue the
synchronized dimming at the same rate. The lights may indicate that
they have been un-paused by pulsing a predetermined number of
times, e.g. once. If, while in State_2 (synchronized dimming) any
lamp in the group is flipped over, the system will move back to
State_0, putting all the lamps in the group into "idle." As
explained above, a flip is detected once the lamp has been tilted
from its initial position by, for example, about 135 degrees. While
in State_2, during tilting and until the 135 degree-point (or some
other predetermined float-mode exit point) has been reached, the
lamp circuitry senses lamp's orientation and dynamically controls
the LEDs to produce a floating behavior.
[0099] Following is a description of the operations and
interactions disclosed in FIG. 4(b). As explained above, State_0
corresponds to a system state in which every lamp in a group is in
an "idle" mode, in which the lamps' electronics is powered up
(activated) but produces no illumination.
[0100] If a lamp is wiggled, the system will go into State_4, where
the wiggled lamp will turn on at the dimmest, or at a very dim,
illumination level, while the other lamps in the group remain in
the "idle" mode. The dimmest, or very dim, illumination level may
be dimmer in a dark room than in a brighter room. This could be
achieved by using an ambient light sensor. It could also be
achieved by keeping track of tie and correlating brightness to time
of day. Unless the user manually increases the lamp's brightness as
explained below, the wiggled lamp will maintain the dim
illumination level (linger) for a set period of time, e.g. 10
minutes, and then will dim to zero illumination over a
predetermined duration, e.g., 2 to 5 minutes, placing the system
back into State_0. This feature is useful for allowing a person to
light his or her way around the home when the person wakes up in
the middle of the night, without being overstimulated by a bright
light, and then goes back to sleep a short time later (e.g., when
the person wakes up to go to the bathroom). (In an alternative
embodiment, dimming to zero illumination could be done in a matter
of seconds or even instantaneously.) The maintained
dim-illumination period and the follow-up process of dimming to
"off" can be considered a part of a system state designated in FIG.
4(b) as State_5, called "solo dimming mode."
[0101] While the system is in State_5 (solo dimming), the user can
make the lamp brighter, by rotating the lamp clockwise, or dimmer,
by rotating the lamp counterclockwise. (See FIG. 6 for a more
detailed illustration of brightness adjustments in various
scenarios, including solo dimming and paused modes.)
[0102] If, while in State_5 (solo dimming), the lamp is flipped
over, the system may move back into State_0, putting the flipped
lamp back in into "idle."
[0103] While the system is in State_5, pressing a button on the
lamp that is dimming will stop the dimming and will move the system
into State_6 (solo pause). In one embodiment, the lamp may indicate
that it is in the "solo pause" condition by pulsing a predetermined
number of times, e.g., once. In one embodiment, when rotated while
paused, the light will not change. In an alternative embodiment,
rotating the light while in the "solo pause" condition will cause
it to pulse, to indicate that it is paused. Pressing a button of
the paused lamp again will un-pause the lamp and will return the
system from State_6 back to State_5, to continue solo dimming at
the same rate. In another embodiment, rotating the light while in
solo pause, may also un-pause it. In another embodiment, the solo
pause may time out after a predetermined time, e.g., one hour, at
which point the light will return the system from State_6 back to
State_5, to continue solo dimming at the same, or some other
predetermined, rate. The light may indicate that it has been
un-paused by pulsing a predetermined number of times, e.g.
once.
[0104] As described above, lamp illumination maybe turned on by
either flipping the lamp or wiggling it. If the system also
includes an ambient light sensor (ALS), the sensed ambient light
could be used to determine the initial dimmest illumination level
at which a lamp might start, the speed at which the lamp(s) will
come on to full brightness as well as the speed at which it (they)
will dim back down. For example, when a user flips a lamp "on" in a
dark room (as sensed by the ALS), the lamp could get to its full
brightness slowly, to avoid jarring the user with bright light all
at once. When the user flips the same lamp in a well-lit room,
however, the lamp could get to its full brightness faster. As
another example, when a user wiggles the lamp in a dark room (as
sensed by the ALS). the lamp may turn on at a very dim level, such
as a level that in a well-lit room it might not be visible. When a
user wiggles the same lamp in a brighter room, however, the light
might come on at a level that is dim, but that is visible in a
bright room. FIG. 7 illustrates how ambient light could be used in
controlling the lamp's brightness levels. In another embodiment,
the amount of ambient light could also be used to control the
lamp's maximum brightness level.
[0105] ALS could also be used during the user's first-time unboxing
of the lamp, after purchase. In such a scenario, the ALS in the
lamp could sense a change in brightness when a box is opened,
causing the rest of the lamp's circuitry, such as brightness
control circuitry, to be activated. The lamp will animate to
indicate that it is ready to be used and to create a welcoming
experience for the user.
[0106] FIG. 8 discloses temporary unlinking and relinking of a lamp
in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. For
example, long pressing a lamp in a group of lamps that are in
synchronized dimming will unlink it from the group. The unlinked
light may be paused, turned off, dimmed, or brightened, without
affecting the dimming process of the rest of the group. The next
time the light is turned on, it could go back to being a part of
the same group. Long pressing a button on a lamp that has been
unlinked during the same session could also relink it to the group.
In relinking to the group, the light generated by the lamp will
gradually match the rest of the group. In another embodiment, the
light will match the rest of the group right away. An app or
factory setting could be used for permanent unlinking of an
individual lamp.
[0107] FIG. 9 discloses an exemplary event table for temporary
unlinking and relinking of a lamp in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0108] FIGS. 10(a), 10(b), and 10(c) provide a exemplary state
table disclosing what happens to a temporarily unlinked device when
another operational event occurs in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0109] A lamp could be programmed, via an app on a wireless device,
to wake a person up by turning on the lamp's brightness, alone or
in a group of lamps, at a specific time. In one embodiment, this
visual wake-up feature could be synchronized with an audio alarm
from an alarm clock or a cell phone. The wake-up feature could
operate as follows.
[0110] The programmed lamp(s) will turn on at some intermediate
brightness level a predetermined time (e.g., 15 minutes) before a
set time. The brightness level will gradually increase and,
depending on an embodiment, will reach a maximum level at some
predetermined time (e.g., 30 minutes) later or, if synchronized to
an audio alarm, at the same time when the audio alarm sounds. Once
the maximum brightness level has been reached, the level will be
maintained (linger) for some set time period (e.g., 10 minutes) and
will then dim to off over some set duration (e.g., 15 minutes).
[0111] For example, when only a single light is scheduled to wake
up, the lamp's illumination starts at some low level and begins to
increase, either by: (a) gradually turning "on" the illumination
sources, e.g., LEDs inside the lamp, to make the illumination
appear to move up (fill up) the lamp; (b) activating all of the
light sources inside the lamp simultaneously at a low duty cycle
and gradually increasing the illumination level by increasing the
duty cycle; or (c) a combination of (a) and (b).
[0112] For example, the lamp's illumination starts and begins
rising 30 minutes before the scheduled wake up time and reaches the
highest brightness (highest fill) level 30 minutes after the
wake-up time. This rising of the brightness level could be paused
and adjusted the same way that solo dimming can be paused or
adjusted (see discussion of State_5, above). If more than one lamp
has been scheduled to wake up together, they could both respond to
adjustments and pauses together, the same way that the synchronized
dimming can be adjusted and paused (see discussion of State_2,
above). When two or more lamps are waking up together, a user is
able to temporarily unlink them. If the lamp(s) is adjusted during
wake up, it/they could continue to brighten following the
adjustment. Once the highest brightness has been reached, the
light(s) will linger (continue illuminating) at the highest level
for a programmed amount of time. e.g., 5, 10, 15. or 30 minutes. If
the lamp(s) is rotated clockwise during linger at the maximum
brightness, to increase brightness level, the adjustment is
ignored. If the lamp(s) is rotated counterclockwise during linger
at the maximum to decrease brightness level, the adjustment may be
made, linger time may be reset, and the lamp(s) may continue to
brighten following the adjustment.
[0113] At the end of the linger period, the lamp(s) could start
dimming, and will dim down over a set duration. A lamp could be
flipped to "off," i.e., the illumination can be turned "off," at
any time. If more than one lamp was waking up together, flipping
any lamp to "off" would turn off the illumination of the whole
group. If the lamp(s) is adjusted during the dimming period, then
it/they will continue dimming following the adjustment.
[0114] FIG. 11 illustrates operation of a wake-up feature in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. Other
variations of brightness levels and timing sequences of the wake-up
feature are possible and are within the scope of the present
invention.
[0115] FIG. 12 provides an event table disclosing what happens to a
device that is programmed to wake up when another control signal is
received in accordance with some embodiments of the present
invention. The invented system is not limited to the events
described in the event table, and other or additional events are
within the scope of the present invention.
[0116] FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b) provide a state table for a wake-up
feature in accordance with some embodiments of the present
invention.
[0117] FIG. 14 shows sample display screens appearing on a mobile
device when an app is used to program a wake-up feature in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
[0118] FIGS. 15(a) and 15(b) show behavior of a multi-lamp system
with programmed overlapping wake-up times in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention. The invented system is not
limited to the behavior disclosed in the figures, and other or
additional system behaviors are within the scope of the present
invention.
[0119] FIG. 16 shows sample display screens appearing on a mobile
device when an app is used to program illumination and dimming in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The
display screen on the left of FIG. 16 shows that a group of one or
more bedroom lamps has been selected for dimming. The display
screen on the right of FIG. 16 shows the starting brightness has
been set at a "medium" level and the dimming duration has been set
for 30 minutes. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 16, all
setting changes apply to all lamps in the group, and all feedback
behavior appears on all the lamps in the group. When a new light is
linked to the group. it may match the rest of the group's settings.
Dimming duration adjusts the length of the dimming process and can
be set for various time periods, e.g., 15, 30, 45, 60, or 90
minutes long. In one embodiment, once the user has finished
changing the dimming duration, or a short period thereafter (e.g.,
1/2 second), all the lamps in the programmed group will pulse to
indicate confirmation of the setting change. While the brightness
level is being set via the app, the lamps in the group could either
be idle (powered up, but no illumination) or they could be
illuminating.
[0120] If brightness level is adjusted while the lamp(s) is idle,
the lamp(s) does not give any visual feedback. If brightness level
is adjusted via the app while the larnp(s) is "on" (illuminating),
the lamp(s) will jump to the new brightness yet stay at the same
fill level.
[0121] In another embodiment, if the brightness level is being set
while the lamps in the group are idle, the lamps will turn on the
illumination at the set brightness level. If no other interaction
happens over some predetermined time thereafter, e.g., 2 seconds,
the lamps will go back to idle. If, however, the setting is changed
again, via the app, within the 2 seconds, the lamps will jump to
their new brightness setting. If a lamp in the group is rotated
within the 2 seconds after the brightness level has been set, the
lights in the group will adjust to their brightness and will then
animate to idle a predetermined time (e.g., 2 seconds) after the
rotation is complete.
[0122] In one embodiment, if the brightness level is being set
while the lamps in the group are illuminating, the lamps will jump
to the new brightness and will remain illuminated at the same fill
level.
[0123] As mentioned above, each of the lamps of the present
invention include a rechargeable battery. Depending on the amount
of charge in the battery, during discharging and during charging,
the system performance, light behavior, and app indication may
differ.
[0124] FIG. 17 discloses system performance, light behavior, and
app indication when the battery is discharging in accordance with
some embodiments of the present invention.
[0125] FIG. 18 discloses system performance, light behavior, and
app indication when the battery is charging in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0126] FIGS. 19(a) and 19(b) provide a state table disclosing what
happens to a device with low battery when another control signal is
received in accordance with some embodiments of the present
invention. The invented system is not limited to the states
described in the state table in FIGS. 19(a) and 19(b), and other or
additional states are within the scope of the present
invention.
[0127] FIG. 20 illustrates system behavior when a lamp's button is
pressed for a very long, period, e.g., more than 6 seconds, while
the lamp is in various operating modes in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention. The invented system is not
limited to the behavior described in the FIG. 20, and other
behaviors are within the scope of the present invention.
[0128] FIG. 21 depict a state diagram of device operation and
interactions in a group of two or more linked lamps in accordance
with another embodiment of the present invention. In this
embodiment, "lift" (lifting a lamp off the surface it has been
sitting on) is used as one of the commands to control the
lamp(s).
[0129] Similar to State_0 in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), State_0 in FIG.
21 corresponds to a system state in which every lamp in a group is
in an "idle" mode, where the lamps' electronics is powered up
(activated) but produces no illumination.
[0130] When a user lifts any lamp that has no illumination, the
system goes into State_00, where the lifted lamp turns on at some
predetermined dim setting, for example the dimmest level, while the
other lamps in the group remain in the "idle" mode. The dimmest
setting may be dimmer when in a dark room than in a brighter room.
This could be achieved by using an ambient light sensor. It could
also be achieved by keeping track of time and correlating
brightness to time of day.
[0131] After entering State_00, if the lamp is flipped within a
predetermined period (e.g., within 2 second), the system will go
into State_11. In State_11, all the connected lamps in the group
are turned "on" to full brightness. In one embodiment, a flip is
detected once the lamp has been tilted from its initial position by
a predetermined amount, e.g., about 135 degrees. During tilting,
until the 135 degree-point (or some other predetermined float-mode
exit point) has been reached, the lamp circuitry senses lamp's
orientation and dynamically controls the LEDs to produce a floating
behavior.
[0132] From State_11, the system may move into State_22
(synchronized dimming). In State_22, starting at full brightness,
all the lamps in the group dim in unison (dim together as a group).
While the system is in State_22, rotating any lamp clockwise or
counterclockwise will increase or decrease the brightness level,
respectively, of all of the lamps in the group in unison. Once at
the brightest level, the lights will stop getting brighter even if
the user continues rotating the lamp clockwise. Similarly, in one
embodiment, the lights will stop dimming once the dimmest
brightness has been reached even if the counterclockwise (dimming)
rotation continues. In another embodiment, if the user keeps
rotating the lamp counterclockwise, the lights will dim to "off."
Once the rotation stops, all the lamps in the group will continue
their synchronized dimming at the same rate. Left undisturbed for a
period of time (e.g., 45 minutes), the lamps could eventually dim
to "off," effectively putting the system back into State_0. In the
alternative, the lamps could dim to the dimmest setting and remain
there for a specified period of time, which could be programmed
internally or via the app In one embodiment, if the user chooses to
control the lamp via an app, all lamps could stop at some
predetermined dim level after a particular time period (e.g., one
hour) of no movement of the lamp (no lift, no rotate, etc.). In
addition, if the system uses a motion detector (e.g., a camera, an
IR sensor, etc.) the lamps could stop at the dimmest setting and
turn "off" the illumination after there hasn't been any movement in
the room for a specified period of time, e.g., 10 minutes.
[0133] In another embodiment, an app could be used to program an
animation (dimming or waking up of brightness) of an individual
light. If a light is rotated in the middle of an animation, the
rotation could either be used to interrupt the animation or it
could be ignored until the animation is complete. Once the
animation has been completed, the rotation input will translate to
brightness adjustments.
[0134] In another embodiment, the system could enter State_22
(synchronized dimming) when flipping is detected even without the
lamp being lifted first. For example, flipping any lamp while it is
"off," could initiate synchronized dimming. At that point, all
linked lamps that were previously in the "off" state will turn "on"
at full brightness and start dimming together (in unison).
[0135] When the system is in State_22, pressing the top button on
any lamp will stop all the lamps in the group from dimming at
whatever level of brightness they are at and will move the system
into State_33 (synchronized pause). In one embodiment, the lights
may indicate to the user that they have been "paused" by pulsing a
predetermined number of times, e.g., once.
[0136] In one embodiment, when rotated while paused, the lights
will not change. In an alternative embodiment, rotating any light
while in the "synchronized pause" condition will cause them to
pulse, to indicate to a user that they are paused.
[0137] Pressing the top button again on any light could un-pause
all the lights in the group and return the system from State_33
back to State_22, to continue synchronized dimming at the same
rate.
[0138] In another embodiment, rotating a light while paused, may
also un-pause it.
[0139] In another embodiment, the synchronized pause may time-out
after a predetermined time, e.g., one hour, at which point all the
lights in the group will return the system from State_33 back to
State_22, to continue synchronized dimming at the same rate. The
lights may indicate that they have been un-paused by pulsing a
predetermined number of times, e.g. once.
[0140] If, after entering State_00 (i.e., turning on in a very dim
illumination after detecting a lift) the sensing and control
circuity detects that the lamp was placed back down, the system
could enter State_55 (solo dimming), in which the lamp that was
placed back down would linger for a set period of time at the
brightness level it had in State_00 and then, similar to the solo
dimming process disclosed in FIG. 4(b), dim to zero illumination
over a predetermined duration. While the system is in State_55,
rotating the lamp clockwise or counterclockwise will increase or
decrease the lamp's brightness level, respectively. Left
undisturbed for a period of time, the lamp's brightness will
eventually reach its dimmest level. In some embodiments, once the
lamp has reached its dimmest level, it could further go back to
zero brightness, which in FIG. 21 is shown as State_0. In another
embodiment, once the lamp has entered State_55, it will start
dimming down after a predetermined period of time, e.g., 10
minutes, has passed with no manipulation of the lamp or movement in
the room detected (no further lifting, tilting, pressing or
rotating of the lamp, and and/or no surrounding movement in the
room).
[0141] While the system is in State_55, however, pressing a button
on the lamp that is dimming or rising will stop the process and
will move the system into State_66 (solo pause). In one embodiment,
the light may indicate that it is in the "solo pause" condition by
pulsing a predetermined number of times, e.g., once. In one
embodiment, when rotated while paused, the light will not change.
In an alternative embodiment, rotating the light while in the "solo
pause" condition will cause it to pulse, to indicate that it is
paused. Pressing a button on the lamp again will un-pause the lamp
and return the system from State_66 back to State_55, to continue
changing brightness at the same rate. In another embodiment,
rotating the light while in solo pause, may also un-pause it. In
another embodiment, the solo pause may time out after a
predetermined time, e.g., one hour, at which point the light will
return the system from State_66 back to State_56, to continue
changing brightness at the same rate. The, light may indicate that
it has been un-paused by pulsing a predetermined number of times,
e.g. once.
[0142] While the system is in State_22, State_33, State_55, or
State_66, flipping the illuminating lamp will turn "off" its
illumination, placing the system back into State_0. While in
State_00 or State_55, tilting the lamp in any direction causes the
device to "float" (causes the light inside to gravitate towards the
side closer to the ground, for example, until the tilt angle is
past about the 135-degree point), When floating, the amount and
temperature (tone) of light may be maintained.
[0143] While the system is in State_22, flipping any illuminating
lamp in the lamp-group will turn off the illumination in all the
synchronized lamps (lamps in the lamp-group), placing the system
back into State_0.
[0144] While the system is in State_22 (synchronized dimming), long
pressing (e.g., 3 seconds) a button on any lamp in the group will
unlink the lamp from the group, at which point the unlinked lamp
will pulse a predetermined number of times (e.g., once) to indicate
that it has been unlinked (temporarily or permanently) and at which
point the unlinked lamp could be operated independently. For
example, the unlinked lamp can be paused, turned "off," dimmed, or
brightened without affecting the rest of the lamps in the group.
The unlinked lamp can go back to being a part of the same
lamp-group next time it is activated. The app could be also be used
for temporary or for permanent unlinking. Long pressing (e.g., 3
seconds) a button on a lamp that has been unlinked from a group
during the same session could relink it to the group. In one
embodiment, the relinked lamp will gradually match its illumination
with the rest for the group.
[0145] In addition to the operation described above, lamp buttons
could be used to provide other controls. For example, if a lamp is
wiggled while its brightness is "off," it will turn the brightness
"on" at a predetermined setting, such as a very low illumination
level. The level could be based on either the light level of
surrounding environment or on time of day.
[0146] As another example, pressing and holding a button for a long
time (e.g., 6 seconds) could be used as a command to power the lamp
"off." Pressing and holding the button again could be used as a
command to power the lamp back "on."
[0147] As another example, pressing both buttons on a lamp for a
predetermined period (e.g., 20 seconds) could be used as a command
to reset the lamp.
[0148] As another example, pressing one button on a lamp a
predetermined number of times (e.g., 6 times) while holding down
the other button could be used as a command to factory reset the
lamp, resetting any setting back to a default setting and unlinking
the lamp from any group it was previously a part of.
[0149] While the foregoing descriptions disclose specific values,
any other specific values may be used to achieve similar results.
Further, the various features of the foregoing embodiments may be
selected and combined to produce numerous variations of improved
systems.
[0150] In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have
been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art
appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made
without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in
the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to
be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and
all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope
of present teachings.
[0151] Moreover, in this document, relational terms such as first
and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to
distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action
without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such
relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms
"comprises," "comprising," "has", "having," "includes",
"including," "contains", "containing" or any other variation
thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that
a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has,
includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those
elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or
inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element
proceeded by "comprises . . . a", "has . . . a", "includes . . .
a", "contains . . . a" does not, without more constraints, preclude
the existence of additional identical elements in the process,
method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes,
contains the element. The terms "a" and "an" are defined as one or
more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms
"substantially", "essentially", "approximately", "about" or any
other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood
by one of ordinary skill in the art. The term "coupled" as used
herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly
and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is
"configured" in a certain way is configured in at least that way
but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.
[0152] The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the
reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure.
It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to
interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition,
in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various
features are grouped together in various embodiments for the
purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure
is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the
claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly
recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect,
inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single
disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby
incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim
standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.
* * * * *