# US 10,827,589 B2 · Multiple input touch dimmer lighting control

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,827,589 B2
- Document ID: US10827589B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/749,088
- Filed: 2016-08-01
- Published: 2018-08-09
- Granted: 2020-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2015-07-30
- Assignees: Brightgreen Pty Ltd.
- Applicants: Brightgreen Pty Ltd
- Inventors: David O'Driscoll; Moffat Nathan; Trent Carter
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10827589B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
- G05B 11/01: electric
- G05B 15/02: electric
- G06F 3/03547: {Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface}
- H05B 47/11: by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
- H05B 47/125: by using cameras
- H05B 47/19: via wireless transmission
- G05B 2219/13031: Use of touch screen
- G05B 2219/2613: Household appliance in general
- G05B 2219/2642: Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
- G05B 2219/2664: Audio light, animation, stage, theatre light
- G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
- G08B 13/19619: {Details of casing}
- G08B 13/19695: {Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves}
- H03K 17/96: Touch switches (specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08)
- H05B 47/13: by using passive infrared detectors
- Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M)
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

The invention relates to a touch panel device for a dimmer lighting control system and a method for controlling a light circuit. The device comprises a touch sensitive surface; a light sensor; a motion sensor and a processor operatively connected to the touch sensitive surface, the light sensor, the motion sensor for generating control signal. The processor is configured for modifying the control signal based on a learning from a stored historical data in a secondary device, accepting or rejecting a device operation using a user input.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A touch panel device for issuing a control signal to a dimmer lighting control system of a luminaire, the device comprising:
a touch sensitive surface configured for detecting one or more touch inputs;
a light sensor configured for detecting a level of ambient light;
a motion sensor configured for sensing a movement of a body in a space surrounding the device; and
a processor operatively connected to the touch sensitive surface, the light sensor, and the motion sensor, and wherein the processor is configured for generating the control signal based on the detected one or more touch inputs, the detected level of ambient light, and the sensed movement; wherein
the processor is further operatively and remotely connected to a secondary device through a wireless network, and wherein, the processor is further configured for:
transmitting an output data for storing in the secondary device as a historical data, wherein the output data is detected from the touch sensitive surface and at least one of the light sensor and the motion sensor;
learning from the stored historical data, wherein the learning is utilized for generation of a modified control signal; wherein based on the modified control signal and a user input, the processor is further configured for:
receiving the user input through the touch sensitive surface signifying an acceptance to confirm device operation based on the modified control signal or signifying a rejection to deny the device operation and forming a new operation for further modifying the control signal, and
transmitting for storing the information of the acceptance and the rejection in the secondary device as the historical data.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The touch panel device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a wireless communication module and an antenna operatively connected to the processor for communicating with a central hub for home automation.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The touch panel device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an image producing apparatus operatively connected to the processor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The touch panel device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch sensitive surface is configured for detecting the one or more touch inputs in a first direction and a second direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The touch panel device as claimed in claim 4, wherein, the control signal generated by the processor is based on a combination of the one or more touch inputs detected in the first direction and the second direction on the touch sensitive surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The touch panel device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a channel selection circuit for switching a controlling state of luminaire between an active and an inactive state.

### Claim 7

A method for controlling a light circuit, the method comprising:
detecting one or more of:
a touch input on a touch sensitive surface of a touch panel device;
a level of ambient light; and
a movement of a body sensed in a space surrounding the touch panel device;
generating a control signal based on one or more detection of the touch input, the level of ambient light and the sensed movement for controlling a total light output of the light circuit to achieve a desired light level in the sensing area;
transmitting an output data for storing in a secondary device as a historical data, wherein the output data is detected from the one or more detection of the touch input, the level of ambient light and the sensed movement from the touch panel device;
learning from the stored historical data, wherein the learning is utilized for generation of a modified control signal;
receiving a user input through the touch sensitive surface signifying an acceptance to confirm device operation based on the modified control signal or signifying a rejection to deny the device operation and forming a new operation for further modifying the control signal;
storing the information of the acceptance and the rejection in the secondary device as the historical data, wherein the method further comprises linking a plurality of like touch panel devices through the secondary device such that the linked touch panel devices control one or more light circuits as a single circuit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising detecting a time duration for which the touch input remains stationary on the touch sensitive surface.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising detecting a time difference between a previous tap and a current tap of the touch input on the touch sensitive surface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the desired light level is controlled automatically, by the control signal, in a manner such that the light circuit brightness adjustments are carried out at a frequency desirable to a user.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein a plurality of successive taps of at least one touch input switches a power state of the light circuit.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein holding the touch input on the touch sensitive surface for a set time duration executes a preconfigured operation.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising analysing the data generated by at least one sensor in the secondary device, a device log history or additional input characteristics based on likelihood of occurrence to incrementally learn and predict when to execute an operation.

### Claim 14 (depends on 7)

The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein a user is able to confirm or deny an autonomous operation such that the confirmation or denial is utilised to improve the accuracy of future predictions.