Patent Publication Number: US-11644192-B2

Title: Systems and methods for controlling light sources

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This disclosure claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/760,348, filed Nov. 13, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     INTRODUCTION 
     Currently, light control systems (e.g., light control systems of a vehicles) require manual user control of either each individual light source or all light sources together. For example, to control each light source located on a ceiling of a vehicle, the user has to individually turn on or off each light source to achieve a desired lighting configuration. Such systems are inefficient because they require a large number of user inputs at different locations to achieve a desired lighting configuration of each light source. Operating such a system requires a large time expenditure to achieve the desired lighting and introduces a possibility of user mistakes. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the present disclosure, systems and methods are provided that improve the operation of light control systems. The present disclosure describes a system that provides dynamic control of multiple light sources with a single input. For example, a vehicle may have any number of light sources (e.g., capacitive touch lamps). The illumination system describe herein allows a user to touch a single light source or a single user interface element to turn on one or more lights. If the illumination system determines that the touch is a long touch, the system will gradually increase the luminosity of that light from zero to 100%. If the long touch persists beyond a threshold time period (e.g., a time period needed for the lamp to reaches 100% luminosity), another light or lights that are adjacent to the first lamp will also become activated. For example, the light level of other lights may begin to gradually increase from zero to 100%. If the long touch persists past another threshold time period (e.g., a time period needed for all lamps adjacent to the first light to reach the 100% light level), a third layer of light may become activated. For example, the light level of the third layer of light may begin to gradually increase from zero to 100%. The process may continue until all lights are at 100% luminosity, or until the long touch ends. At any time, the user can terminate the long touch (e.g., by taking the finger off the capacitive touch lamp) to maintain the current light level of all lights indefinitely. After this, a short touch of any of the lights, or a short touch of light designated as the primary lamp, causes the system to turn off all the lamps that were activated. This technique can be applied to any system where multiple lights or lamps need to be controlled. For example, this technique can be used to control overhead lamps of a vehicle, lamps located in the instrument panel of the vehicle, door pocket lights, footwell lamps, and lamps in any other location. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure, in accordance with one or more various embodiments, is described in detail with reference to the following figures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict typical or example embodiments. These drawings are provided to facilitate an understanding of the concepts disclosed herein and should not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability of these concepts. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale. 
         FIG.  1 A  shows a time sequence of illustrations of illumination settings of six light sources, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  1 B  shows another time sequence of illustrations of illumination settings of six light sources, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  1 C  shows a side view of a vehicle that may include multiple light sources, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    shows a block diagram of components of a light control system, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  3    shows a flow chart for an exemplary method for operating a light control system, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure is directed to methods and systems for controlling multiple light sources. In some embodiments, an illumination system includes a first light source and a second light source. In some embodiments, the illumination system includes control circuitry. The control circuitry may detect a first long touch via a touch interface, and, in response, activate a first light source. If the touch persists, the control circuitry may gradually increase the light level of the first light source up to 100%. In some embodiments, if the touch persists after a certain period of time (e.g., after the first light source reaches 100% light level), the control circuitry may activate the second light source. 
     As referred to herein, the term “touch interface” refers to any kind of system or device capable of detecting touch or the presence of a body part. For example, touch interface may be a capacitive touch element. In another example, the touch interface may be a part of a larger touchscreen display. In yet another example, the touchscreen interface may include a push button or a switch. 
     As referred to herein, the terms “light” and “light source” refer to any kind of mechanism or device that can create illumination (e.g., by emission of photons). For example, a light source may refer to a light emitting diode (LED), incandescent lightbulb, compact fluorescent lamp, any other source of light, or any combination thereof. 
     As referred to herein, the term “short touch” refers to a touch that lasts for less than a threshold period of time (e.g., 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 seconds). In some embodiments, the threshold may be predefined. In some embodiments, the threshold may be user-selectable. 
     As referred to herein, the term “long touch” refers to a touch that lasts for more than a threshold period of time (e.g., 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 seconds). In some embodiments, the threshold may be predefined. In some embodiments, the threshold may be user-selectable. 
       FIG.  1 A  depicts a time sequence of illustrations of illumination settings  100  of six light sources at first time  102 , second time  104 , and third time  106 . Illumination settings  100  are depicted for six light sources, but any number of light sources may be included. 
       FIG.  1 A  depicts an illustrative scenario for turning on lights. At first time  102 , control circuitry of an illumination system may receive a touch input. For example, the user may touch with finger  101  the light capacitive light source  112 . In some embodiments, the touch input may include a user touching a button or an icon displayed on touchscreen display (not shown). In some embodiments, the touchscreen display may have an icon representing each light source of the illumination system. 
     If the touch input is a short touch, control circuitry may immediately activate light source  112  at 100% light level. In this case, adjacent light sources  114  and  116  remain unlit. In some embodiments, the user may provide separate short touch inputs to activate other light sources (e.g., light sources  114  and  116 ). 
     At second time  104 , control circuitry may determine that the touch input is a long touch. In this case, control circuitry may gradually increase the light level of the light source  112  over a first time period (e.g., 5 seconds.) In some embodiments, the control circuitry may gradually increase the light level of light source  112  as long as the long touch persists. For example, light source  112  may have the following light levels during the first time period (as depicted by Table 1): 
                                 TABLE 1                       Time   Light Level                          0 seconds    0%           1 second   25%           3 seconds   50%           4 seconds   75%           5 seconds   100%                         
In some embodiments, the light level may be proportional to the amount of time that has elapsed from the detection of the first long touch at first time  102 .
 
     In some embodiments, at third time  106 , after the conclusion of the first time period (e.g., 5 seconds after second time  104 ), light source  112  may be at the 100% level. If the long touch persists past that point, the control circuitry may activate light sources adjacent to light source  112  (e.g., light sources  114  and  116 ). In some embodiments, the control circuitry may activate light sources  114  and  116  at 0% light level and gradually increase their light level to 100% over a duration of a second time period (e.g., 5 seconds) as long as the long touch persists. Once the light sources  114  and  116  are at 100% luminosity, control circuitry may continue activating light sources adjacent to light sources  114  and  116  (but not adjacent to light source  112  because these light sources have already been activated). 
     In some embodiments, if the long touch ends, control circuitry will indefinitely maintain (e.g., until another touch input is received) the state of light sources that that existed at the time when the long touch ended. For example, if the long touch ends at time  104 , light source  112  may remain activated indefinitely, while light sources  114  and  116  may remain un-activated indefinitely. In another example, if the long touch ends at time  106 , light sources  112 ,  114 , and  116  may remain activated indefinitely. 
       FIG.  1 B  shows another time sequence of illustrations of illumination settings  120  of six light sources at fourth time  132 , and fifth time  134 . In some embodiments, system illumination settings  120  are shown for the same light sources depicted in  FIG.  1 A .  FIG.  1 B  provides an illustrative scenario for turning off lights. At fourth time  132 , light source  112  may be at 100% light level, while light sources  114  and  116  may be at 50% light level. 
     In some embodiments, at fifth time  134 , control circuitry may detect a short touch from the user (e.g., a user may touch light source  112 , or a representation of light source  112  on a touchscreen display). In some embodiments, in response to the touch, control circuitry may immediately turn off all light sources. In some embodiments, in response to the touch, control circuitry may also immediately turn off light sources adjacent to light source  112 . 
     For example, light source  112  may be designated as a master light source and light sources  114  and  116  may be designated as light sources subordinate to light source  112 . In this case, a short touch (or a long touch) of the master light source (e.g., light source  112 ) may result in the master light and all its subordinate lights (e.g., light sources  114  and  116 ) turning off. In another example, a short touch (or a long touch) of a subordinated light source (e.g., light source  114 ) may result only in light source  114  turning off, while other light sources maintain their original state before the touch. 
     In some embodiments, a short touch of any lit light source (e.g., light source  112 ) may result in only that light source turning off, while a long touch of a light source may result in all light sources turning off. Alternatively, a long touch of any lit light source (e.g., light source  112 ) may result only in that light source turning off, while a short touch of a light source may result in all light sources turning off. 
     In some embodiments, when the control circuitry detects a long touch (e.g., a user touch of light source  112 , or a user touch of a representation of light source  112  on a touchscreen display), the system may begin to gradually deactivate light source  112 . For example, the light level of light source  112  may decreased from 100% to 0% over a 5-second period. In some embodiments, if the long touch persists past the first time period and into a second period of time (e.g., time period needed to decrease the light level of light source  112  to 0%), the control circuitry may deactivate light sources adjacent to light source  112 . In some embodiments, control circuitry may gradually decrease the light level of light sources  114  and  116  from 50% to 0%, as long as the long touch persists. In some embodiments, in response to detecting a long touch, control circuitry gradually decreases the light level of light sources  114  and  116  from 50% to 0%. Once the light sources  114  and  116  are at 0% light level, and the long touch persists, control circuitry may also start to gradually decrease the light level of light source  112 . 
       FIG.  1 C  shows a side view of vehicle  140  that includes light sources depicted in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B . In some embodiments, the vehicle  140  may be a coupe, a sedan, a truck, a bus, or any other type vehicle. In some embodiments, light sources of system  100  may be located on ceiling  144  of vehicle  140 , in footwell  146  of vehicle  140 , in trunk space  142  of vehicle  140 , in any other part of vehicle  140 , or in any combination thereof. 
       FIG.  2    shows a block diagram of components of an illumination system  200  (e.g., an illumination system of vehicle  140  that may include light sources depicted in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B ), in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, illumination system  200  may include processor  206 . Processor  206  may comprise a hardware CPU for executing commands stored in memory  204  or software modules, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, illumination system  200  may be a part of a vehicle (e.g., vehicle  140  of  FIG.  1 C ). For example, light sources  218 ,  220 ,  222 , and  224  may be located on ceiling  144  of vehicle  140 . 
     In some embodiments, illumination system  200  may include memory  204 . In some embodiments, memory  204  may include hardware elements for non-transitory storage of commands or instructions, that, when executed by processor  206 , cause processor  206  to operate illumination system  200  in accordance with embodiments described above and below. 
     In some embodiments, processor  206  may be communicatively connected to user interface  202  (e.g., a touch interface). For example, interface  202  may be capable of receiving touch input from capacitive light sources  218 ,  220 ,  222 , and  224 . In some embodiments, interface  202  may be capable of receiving touch input from a touchscreen that displays icons indicative of light sources  218 ,  220 ,  222 , and  224 . 
     In some embodiments, processor  206  may be communicatively connected to light source control  208 . Light source control  208  may be able to turn on or off any of light sources  218 ,  220 ,  222 , and  224 . In some embodiments, light sources  218 ,  220 ,  222 , and  224  may include light sources  112 ,  114 , and  116  of  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B . In some embodiments, there may be any number of controllable light sources. In some embodiments, light source control  208  may be able to control the light level of light sources  218 ,  220 ,  222 , and  224 . For example, light source control  208  may able to provides varying amount of electrical power to each of light sources  218 ,  220 ,  222 , and  224  to achieve any percentage light level. 
     In some embodiments, light source control  208  may activate, deactivate and vary light levels of light sources  218 ,  220 ,  222 , and  224  based on instructions received from processor  206 . In some embodiments, processor  206  may instruct light source control  208  to activate, deactivate and vary light levels of light sources  218 ,  220 ,  222 , and  224  based on input received from user interface  202 , (e.g., as described with respect to  FIG.  1 A  and  FIG.  1 B ). 
       FIG.  3    is an illustrative flowchart of a process  300  for controlling a lighting system (e.g., system  200  of  FIG.  2   ), in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. Process  300  may be executed by a processor (e.g., by processor  206  of  FIG.  2   ). 
     At  302 , the processor may monitor a user interface. For, example, the processor may receive and analyzes signal received from user interface  202 . In some embodiments, the processor may process touch signals received directly from capacitive touch lights, or from another interface configured to control the light sources (e.g., a touchscreen display that displays representation of controllable light sources). In particular, the processor may monitor a user interface element associated with a first light source (e.g., light source  112  of  FIG.  1   ). In some embodiments, the user interface element may be a capacitive touch feature of the first light source. In some embodiments, the user interface element may be a visual representation of the first light source on a touchscreen display. 
     At  304 , the processor may check whether a touch (e.g., a long touch) is detected via the user interface element associated with a first light source. For example, the processor may determine whether the user has continuously touched a capacitive touch element of the first light source for more than 1 second. In another example, the processor may determine whether the user has continuously touched a visual representation of the first light for more than 1 second. If such a touch is not detected, process  300  may return to step  302  and continue monitoring the user interface. If the touch is detected, the processor proceeds to step  306 . 
     At  306 , the processor checks whether the first light source is already active (e.g., producing light). If the first light source is turned off, the processor interprets the touch as a command to turn on the first light source and proceeds to step  308 . If the first light source is turned on, the processor interprets the touch as a command to turn off the first light source and proceeds to step  316 . 
     At step  308 , the processor may activate the first light source. For example, the processor may send a request to provide power to the first light source to light source control  208  of  FIG.  2   , which may then provide an electric current to the first light source to enable the first light source to emit light. In some embodiments, the first light source is immediately turned on to 100% capacity. In some embodiments, the current provided to the first light source is increased gradually if the touch detected at step  304  persists (e.g., at rate shown in  FIG.  1    or at any other rate). 
     At  310 , the processor checks whether the touch detected at step  304  has persisted longer than a threshold time period (e.g., longer than 5 seconds). If so, process  300  proceeds to step  312 , where the processor activates a second light source (e.g., light source  114 , which is adjacent to the first light source). For example, the processor may send a request to provide power to the second light source to light source control  208  of  FIG.  2   , which may then provide an electric current to the second light source to enable the second light source to emit light. In some embodiments, the second light source is immediately turned on to 100% capacity. In some embodiments, the current provided to the second light source is increased gradually if the touch detected at step  304  persists beyond the threshold of step  310 . In some embodiments, when the touch stops, the processor maintains the current states of both the first light source and the second light source indefinitely (e.g., until another input is received via the user interface). 
     At  316 , the processor may check whether the first light source is designated as a master light. For example, this may be a setting set by the manufacturer or selected by a user during a setup of the light sources. If the first light source is a master light, process  300  proceeds to step  320 , otherwise, process  300  proceeds to step  318 . 
     At  318 , the processor may turn off the first light source. For example, the processor may send a request to cease provision of power to the first light source to light source control  208  of  FIG.  2   , which may then cease providing an electric current to the first light source to stop the first light source from emitting light. In some embodiments, the first light source is immediately turned to 0% capacity. In some embodiments, the current provided to the first light source is decreased gradually if the touch detected at step  304  persists. 
     At  320 , the processor may turn off the first light source and the second light source (e.g., because the second light source is subordinate to the first light source). For example, the processor may send a request to cease provision of power to the first and second light sources to light source control  208  of  FIG.  2   , which may then cease providing an electric current to the first and second light sources to stop them from emitting light. In some embodiments, the first and second light sources are immediately turned to 0% capacity. In some embodiments, the current provided to the first light source is decreased gradually if the touch detected at step  304  persists. Once the current provided to the first light source is reduced to 0%, and the touch continues to persist, the current provided to the second light source is also gradually reduced to 0%. 
     It will be understood that process  300  is merely illustrative and that various modification can be made within the scope of the disclosure. For example, in some embodiments, the second light source comprises multiple second light sources. As another example,  310  and  312  may be repeat for each of a third, fourth or higher number of light sources. For example, once the second light source is at full capacity, if the touch persists beyond a second higher threshold amount of time, a third light source is activated. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this disclosure, and various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The above-described embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation. The present disclosure also can take many forms other than those explicitly described herein. Accordingly, it is emphasized that this disclosure is not limited to the explicitly disclosed methods, systems, and apparatuses, but is intended to include variations to and modifications thereof, which are within the spirit of the following claims.