WO2008129485A1

WO2008129485A1 - User interface for multiple light control dimensions

Info

Publication number: WO2008129485A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/051491
Authority: WO
Inventors: Elmo M. A. Diederiks; Bartel M. Van De Sluis
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N. V.
Priority date: 2007-04-24
Filing date: 2008-04-18
Publication date: 2008-10-30

Abstract

A user interface (210) for providing a lighting effect includes a selector (220) for being positioned at a position along a lighting range (230), where the position is associated with at least two or at least three light attributes. A controller (120) is configured to detect the selector position and control at least one light source (160) to provide light having the at least three light attributes. Changing position of the selector (220) to a new position changes the at least three light attributes which may, for example, be selected from a group that includes brightness, color, color temperature, diffuseness, directivity, beam width and the like. The lighting range includes a first region (320) where the at least three light attributes overlap and a second region (330) where two of the at least three light attributes overlap.

Description

USER INTERFACE FOR MULTIPLE LIGHT CONTROL DIMENSIONS

The present system relates to a user interface and an interaction system for controlling various characteristics of light by simultaneously changing at least two or three attributes of artificial light from at least one light source in response to manipulating a single control element such as a slider, knob, pointer and/or selectable dials.

Lighting systems allow control of various light attributes such intensity and color. This enables the lighting of a particular space, such as an office or a shop, to become more user- friendly. A well designed space is especially beneficial in environments that are relatively closed and/or windowless, such as shops, shopping malls, meeting rooms and cubicle offices. Conventional lighting systems allow control of light sources, such as dimming, switching on/off and color adjustments in order to provide an enriching experience and improve productivity, safety, efficiency and relaxation.

With the advent of controllable light sources, such as controllable and programmable light emitting diodes (LEDs) for example, complicated light effects may be produced. It is desirable to offer simple and intuitive user interfaces and to mask the system complexity from the user. In other words, it is desirable to make the control interfaces simple and easy to use. Controlling a lighting system in an easy and intuitive way, while masking the system complexity, is a challenge on its own. Solutions exist for different interaction paradigms of controlling (e.g., dimming) light sources to provide desired light effects.

For example, International Publication No. WO 03/096761 and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0253533, both to Lys, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, describe LED-based lighting systems wherein the light output is controlled by dimmers. The lighting systems in Lys further control parameters relating to the LED-based light source output such as light intensity, color and color temperature. Lys also proposes controlling temporal characteristics of light such as rate of color variation or strobing of one or more colors.

Further, light systems are becoming more advanced, flexible and integrated. This holds especially for professional domains like the retail domain, but new lights or light systems will also enter the home domain. This change is stimulated by the advent of LED lighting (or Solid State lighting). LEDs will soon be equally or more efficient than today's common light source, and LEDs are easily controllable to provide color of various attributes, such as different colored light. Generally, people would like to use colored light to create nice ambiences (in shops but also at home). What is needed is easily and intuitive control of such ambience light systems. Unfortunately, adding features to light systems (such as color, but also controllable beam width for instance) typically adds to the complexity of controlling such systems which is difficult even for professionals, let-alone for average users. Accordingly, a good interaction solution is required for such systems to become widespread.

Various lighting control systems have been proposed, such as disclosed in International Publication No. WO 2004/072840 and International Publication No. WO 2006/054263 both to Diederiks, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Another lighting control system is described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0139907 to Yen, which is also incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

What is lacking in conventional light control systems is a simple and intuitive user interface that allows selection of multiple sets of light features or attributes, and allows for easy control of selection of a desired illumination to produce a desired overall net lighting effect from artificial illumination produced by the light sources.

For example, one of the problems with conventional systems is a user must individually control each of a plurality of different light features to produce an overall desired light effect or ambience. Simply, adding additional lighting control features such as color or beam width adds to the complexity of controlling such systems. The user cannot easily influence the lighting atmosphere without separately adjusting and readjusting the light control features. For example, a storeowner or homeowner may like to use a combination of diffused light, colored light and dimmed light to create a specific ambience without separately adjusting the multiple light sources. Such tasks are not easily accomplished using conventional lighting controls.

One object of the present systems and methods is to overcome the disadvantages of conventional lighting control systems and user interfaces.

According to illustrative embodiments, a user interface for providing a lighting effect includes a selector for being positioned at a position of a plurality of positions of a lighting range, where the position is associated with at least two or three light attributes. A controller is configured to detect the selector position and control at least one light source to provide light having the at least two or three light attributes. Changing position of the selector to a new position changes the at least two or three light attributes which may, for example, be selected from a group that includes brightness, color, color temperature, diffuseness, directivity, beam width, distribution and the like. The lighting range includes a first region where the at least two or three light attributes overlap and a second region where two of the at least two or three light attributes overlap.

Further areas of applicability of the present systems and methods will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus, systems and methods of the present invention will become better understood from the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a lighting interactive system according to one embodiment;

Fig. 2 shows a user interface with associated system dimensions according to an illustrative embodiment;

Fig. 3 shows another user interface according to another illustrative embodiment;

Fig. 4 shows a block diagram of another lighting interactive system according to another embodiment; and

Fig. 5 shows yet another user interface with associated system dimensions according to another illustrative embodiment.

The following description of certain exemplary embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its applications, or uses. In the following detailed description of embodiments of the present systems and methods, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the described systems and methods may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the presently disclosed systems and methods, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural and logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present system.

The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present system is defined only by the appended claims. The leading digit(s) of the reference numbers in the figures herein typically correspond to the figure number, with the exception that identical components which appear in multiple figures are identified by the same reference numbers. Moreover, for the purpose of clarity, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present system.

The present user interface and control system provides an interaction mechanism to control a light source(s) or system. Users may control various characteristics or attributes of a light or a lighting system, such as by simultaneously or concurrently controlling at least two or three light attributes, by controlling only one dimension. This dimension may be controlled using one single control element.

Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of a block diagram of an interaction system 100 that includes a single user control or interface 110 operationally coupled to a controller 120. The controller 120 is also coupled to a memory 130 and is configured to receive user a control signal(s) 140 from the user interface 110 in response to user input or interaction with the user interface 110. The controller 120 is configured to simultaneously control various light attributes, via individual attribute controllers for example shown collectively as reference numeral 150 and also referred to as system dimension controls. Illustratively, the controller 120, via the system dimension controller 150, is configured to control at least two or three light attributes of light emanating from at least one controllable light source shown collectively as reference numeral 160.

The system dimensions controller 150 comprises brightness control, color temperature control and diffusiveness control, for example, to control brightness, color temperature, and diffusiveness of the light source(s) 160 and/or a controllable diffuser 170 via control signals 180. Illustratively, the at least one light source 160 comprises a main white light source, and colored LEDs such as red and blue LEDs or any other desired colored LED or LEDs that are controllable to change color, including mixing the colors to provide mixed colors as well as white light.

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are particularly well suited light sources to contra llab Iy provide light of varying attributes, as LEDs may easily be configured to provide light with changing colors, intensity, hue, saturation and other attributes, and typically have electronic drive circuitry for control and adjustment of the various light attributes. However, any controllable light source may be used that is capable of providing lights of various attributes, such as various intensity levels, different colors, hues, saturation and the like, such as incandescent, fluorescent, halogen, or high intensity discharge (HID) light and the like, which may have a ballast or drivers for control of the various light attributes.

It should be understood that the various components of the interactive lighting control system 100 may be interconnected through a bus, for example, or operationally coupled to each other by any type of link, including wired or wireless link(s), for example. Further, the processor 120 and memory 130 may be centralized or distributed among the various system components where, for example, each LED light source 160 may have its own controller or processor and memory.

Of course, as it would be apparent to one skilled in the art of communication in view of the present description, various elements may be included in the system or network components for communication, such as transmitters, receivers, or transceivers, antennas, modulators, demodulators, converters, duplexers, filters, multiplexers, etc. The communication or links among the various system components may be by any means, such as wired or wireless for example. The system elements may be separate or integrated together, such as with the processor. As is well-known, the processor executes instructions stored in the memory, for example, which may also store other data, such as predetermined or programmable settings related to system control.

In response to user input through the user interface 110, the controller simultaneously controls at least two or three light attributes of light emanating from the light source(s) 160, such as color, intensity, color temperature, diffuseness (e.g., focused versus diffused light), hue, saturation, directivity, beam width (e.g., wide versus narrow), distribution (e.g., focused versus distributed), and the like. Thus, it should be understood that although three attribute controllers 150 are shown in Fig. 1 to control brightness, color temperature and diffuseness, different controllers (such as only two controllers to control two different attributes) or further controllers may be provided to control different or further light attributes. The difference between diffuseness and distribution include that diffuseness typically refers to one light source of which the light may be diffused (spread out) to a certain extend. By contrast, distribution refers to multiple light sources that may be used to generate a lot of light in one area (from a small number of sources, for example), or light distributed over a large area (from a large number of light sources). It should also be understood that the present system may also use full color light sources (e.g., Red, Green, and Blue light sources; or Red, Green, Blue, and Amber light sources) to realize a color temperature effect, for example.

Of course, the controller may be configured to select and execute predetermined programs or light scripts stored in the memory 130 in response to user input to provide light having desired light attributes, where at least two or at least three light attributes are changed in response to a single user action, such as moving a selector or pointer 220 of the user interface 110, such as shown in Fig. 2.

Illustratively, motors may be provided under the control of the controller 120 to change direction of the light sources 160 and control the beam width, such as via the controllable diffuser 170, for example. Thus, the direction and width of the light emanating from the light source(s) 160 may be changed. It should also be understood that many controllable light sources may be provided which may be individually or collectively controlled in groups or sub-groups to provide a desired illumination, which may change in response to moving a selector 220 of the user interface 110 shown in Fig. 2, for example.

Fig. 2 shows one embodiment 210 of the user interface 110 shown in Fig. 1. The user interface 210 comprises a selector 220, which is movable, e.g., slideable between two positions, such as MIN or OFF to MAX. In the MIN or OFF position, the light sources may be turned OFF. Along the range 230 from OFF/MIN to MAX, each position or location of the selector 220 is associated with at least two or three light attributes. Thus, moving the single selector 220 simultaneously changes at least two or three light attributes. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the three light attributes are brightness, color temperature, and diffuseness. Of course, any other light attributes or combinations thereof may be used, such as color, hue, saturation, direction, etc. According, a single user action, such as moving the single selector 220 results in changing of at least two or three light attributes.

In Fig. 2, the selector 220 may operate as a slider by sliding along to positions indicating different overall light effects along the range 230 between MIN/OFF and MAX. However, this is just one example of a user interface, and other interfaces can be used such as a knob or dial, for example. Thus, it should be understood that the movable selector 220 may be any movable means, such as slideable switch or a rotary knob surrounded by at least one plate including indicators. The system 100 may also include one or more display device(s) for user input. A display may be provided to display the movable selector 220, i.e., to provide a 'soft' selector, for example, movable via a mouse or pointer in the case of a touch sensitive display. Thus, the movable selector 220 may also encompass displayed selectors, and/or touch sensitive screen or other surfaces used to simultaneously or concurrently change three light attributes upon moving a finger thereon, such as in touch sensitive strips or touch sensitive circular elements, e.g., capacitively coupled.

At least two or at least three light attributes may be changed in response to moving the selector 220, or moving the finger over a touch sensitive strip or circular element, for example, thus providing a simple user interface control element that allows the user to easily adjust the lighting ambience of a single light source or of an entire light system, to provide a desired ambience associated with the position of the selector 220.

Using conventional lighting control systems and interfaces, the user typically needs to take several actions to achieve a desired lighting atmosphere. For example, a user may dim secondary light sources, such as localized light sources like small table lamps, to get a warm and cozy ambience, while completely switching off the main light source. If a user wants to have more functional light, then typically more bright, cold and general lighting is used via several user actions, such as one action to increase brightness, another action to change color, and yet another action to turn more lights on. By contrast, the single user control 110, 210 is an interface which allows the user to control the various system dimensions, such as at least two or three light attributes, using a single action.

As shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, the three light attributes of brightness, color temperature and diffuseness, also referred to as the system dimensions 240, are transparent to the user. That is, the user simultaneously controls the three light attributes with one single action of positioning or moving the selector 220 to a desired position within the range 230 of the user interface 210. The user interface 210 is presented to the user as a single dimension that makes sense to the user, and is easy to use. For instance, indicators may be provided along or at ends of the range 230 (instead of MIN-MAX) such as, ambience-functional, cozy- working, or relaxing-activating. The user does not see the system dimensions 240 directly, but the user rather controls these system dimensions 240 through the single user control dimension 220. Of course, if desired, the system dimensions 240 may be visible to the user. Further, the user may select the length of each dimension, where in Fig. 2, all three dimension have the same length as the length of the range of the movable selector 220. In another embodiment of a user interface 310 shown in Fig. 3, the lighting range 230 may include a first region 320 where the three light attributes overlap, a second region 330 where two of the three light attributes overlap, and a third region 340 where only one of the three light attributes overlap the range 230. Of course, the user may change the overlapping regions as desired and adjust the length of each system dimension of light attribute in relation to the range as desired.

In Fig. 2, the selector 220 is movable, e.g., slideable along the range 230 of the user interface 210. The range may have a length labeled OFF or MIN and MAX at its ends. Other indicators may also be included along the range, such as "Ambience" and "Functional". Indicators may also be included in the system dimensions 240 in the case where it is transparent, i.e., visible to the user. For example, the brightness range may include the indicators OFF, Dimmed, Bright and MAX; the color temperature range may include the indicators Warm and Cold at its ends; while the diffuseness range may include the indicators Focussed and Diffuse at its ends.

The system dimensions 240 may be positioned elsewhere or not shown to the user at all, and may include other or further light attributes, such as color, hue, saturation, etc. A dimension controlling light direction or lighting angle may be added. For example, an "Ambience" light setting may also include having the light direction angled upwards, or light that oscillates or moves in a certain pattern or rhythm. A "Functional" setting may cause the light sources to be angled downward and/or light direction to remain unchanged. There also may be additional system dimensions such as a light position dimension. Such an embodiment may have the lights on a track or series of tracks where the individual light sources may move vertically and/or horizontally. The lights could follow a preset light position pattern based on a light script stored in memory 130. The script may be at least a partial function of the position of the selector 220 along the range 230. The user interface maps at least two or three dimensions or light attributes to the single selector 220, so that moving the selector 220 results in simultaneous change of all three light attributes, for example, at least along part of the range 230 of the user interface. Of course, individual selectors may also be provided along the range of each of the light attributes for fine tuning of the particular light attribute(s) as desired, by moving a particular light attribute selector along its associated range. Thus, for example, a user may move the main selector 220 along the main range 230 and simultaneously change all (three) light attributes associated with or mapped to the main selector 220. Next, the user may move an individual light attribute selector(s), such as moving the brightness selector along the brightness range to only change the brightness, without affecting the other attributes.

Further, all the various controllable attributes may be visible to the user for selection and mapping the desired attributes to the main selector 220. Thus, the user may select which light attributes will be associated with the main selector 220 and will change upon moving the main selector 220. In one mode, the non-selected attributes may be grayed out or invisible, for example.

Optionally, the selector 220 may be pressed or otherwise activated to activate the light sources to provide the selected illumination associated with the position of the selector 220. This allows the user to manually navigate through the range without changing the light attributes, which are changed when the selector 220 is activated, e.g., pressed.

Accordingly, the control system and user interface offer one control that not only controls the intensity of the light (a so-called dimmer), but also the color temperature and the diffuseness of the light. Thus, the light changes from dimmed, warm and focused to bright, cold and diffuse as the user controls the light using this control.

This control may be used to control a single lamp or a set of lamps. The light source(s) may be dimmed to output light of reduced intensity. The color temperature may be controlled, for instance, by dimming warm and cold colored lights sources in a single lamp or multiple lamps. Warm light may be accomplished by completely dimming the cold light source and ramping up the warm colored light source, and cold light may be accomplished by completely dimming the warm light source and ramping up the cold colored light source. The cold and warm light sources may, for instance, be warm white and cold white light sources, but may also be, for example, red and blue LEDs that are mixed with a main white light source. The diffuseness may be controlled by means of an electrical component that influences the beam width, such as controllable lenses and/or diffusers. The control system and user interface allow control of all three dimensions or light attributes using one single control, where the three dimensions may all be mapped on the single user control, and the controller properly controls the light sources to provide the desired light effects.

Note that the three different system dimensions that may be controlled (brightness, color temperature and diffuseness, for example) do not need to be controlled completely simultaneously and in parallel along the entire range 230. For example, the dimensions or light attributes do not completely overlap along the entire range 230, as shown in Fig. 3 which shows an alternative mapping of the three dimensions on the single user control or selector 220. The mapping shown in Fig. 3 does not result in complete parallel and simultaneous control along the entire range 230.

As described, in the embodiment of the user interface 310 shown in Fig. 3, the lighting range 230 includes three regions 320, 330, 340 with different overlapping dimensions or light attributes so that the three system dimensions 240 do not completely overlap over the entire range 230, and instead completely overlap over the regions 320. The brightness dimension or range has the same length as the main range 230. However, color temperature and the diffuseness dimensions are offset and have shorter ranges. As shown in Fig. 3, the color temperature and the diffuseness dimensions start some distance after the brightness dimension, where the color temperature ends prematurely, while the diffuseness dimension continues till the end of the main range 230. In operation, moving the selector 220 in the initial range 340 does not affect both the color temperature and diffuseness, while moving the selector 230 in the final range 330 does not affect only the color temperature.

Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of a block diagram of an interaction system 400 similar the one shown in Fig. 1, except that additional and different controllable sources 460 are controlled to provide a desired light effect. In particular, controllable sources 460 may include multi-functional light sources, warm and cold lights sources, as well as diffuse and focused light sources. They also may include controllable diffusers for changing the focus of the light effect and/or motors for changing the direction or angle of light under the control of the processor or controller 120. In response to user input via the user interface or control 110, such as positioning or moving the selector 220, the controller 120 provides control signals 180, via the individual system dimension controls 150 such as brightness, color temperature and diffuseness controllers, to control the controllable sources 460 to provide desired light effects.

In this embodiment, the brightness control 470 may send a control signal to the multi-functional light sources 475, the warm & cold light sources 485 as well as the diffused and focused light sources 495. The color temperature control 480 may send a control signal to the multi-functional light sources 475 as well as the warm and cold light sources 485. The diffuseness control 490 may send a control signal to the multifunctional light sources 475 as well as the diffused and focused light sources 495.

It should be understood that the lighting control system and user interface may also be implemented to control a light system, in addition to just light sources. In this case, the dimming may be accomplished by dimming all the light sources in that light system. The color temperature may be controlled, for instance, by selectively dimming warm and cold colored lights in that light system. For example, warm light may be accomplished by completely dimming the cold light sources and ramping up the warm colored light sources. Similarly, cold light may be accomplished by completely dimming the warm light sources and ramping up the cold colored light sources. Color temperature control may also be done by directly controlling light sources that are multi functional and have for instance a cold-warm control.

The diffuseness may be controlled by dimming light sources that already have a variety in diffuseness. For example, focused light may be accomplished by completely dimming the diffuse light sources and ramping up the focused light sources. Similarly, diffuse light may be accomplished by completely dimming the focused sources and ramping up the diffuse light sources. Diffuseness control may be done by directly controlling light sources that are multi functional and have for instance a controllable diffuser. The mapping of the dimensions typically becomes more complicated when multiple light sources with different characteristics need to be controlled. A possible mapping using different types of light sources to control diffuseness is shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 shows a user interface 510 where the four systems dimensions 240 are offset and overlap in various ways. The four systems dimensions 240 include brightness, color temperature, diffuseness and focus dimensions. In particular, in a first region 515, the brightness and focus dimensions overlap. In a second region 520, the brightness, color temperature and focus dimensions overlap. In a third region 530, all four dimensions overlap, i.e., the brightness, color temperature, diffuse and focus dimensions overlap. In a fourth region 540, the brightness, color temperature and diffuse dimensions overlap. Finally, in fifth region 550, the brightness and diffuse dimensions overlap.

The offset system dimensions in the user interface 510 affect the net lighting effect in different ways. For example, if the selector 220 is moved in the first region 515, then only the brightness and focus of the light changes, such as increasing brightness and focus as the selector 220 is moved to the right toward the second region 520. In this mode where the selector 220 is within the first region 515, the color temperature control may be turned off and the color temperature is set to a predefined color temperature according to a script located in the memory 130, for example.

Different control elements may be envisioned as single control element. The control element may be a slider such as the selector 220, or a rotary knob for instance, but it may also be touch sensitive strips or touch sensitive circular elements (like used on an iPod™). The control element may also be an on-screen interface: sliders, virtual rotary knobs, mouse pointer controlled scales or touch-screen based element.

Various modifications may also be provided as recognized by those skilled in the art in view of the description herein. The operation acts of the present methods are particularly suited to be carried out by a computer software program and/or scripts. The application data and other data are received by the controller or processor for configuring it to perform operation acts in accordance with the present systems and methods. Such software, application data as well as other data may of course be embodied in a computer-readable medium, such as an integrated chip, a peripheral device or memory, such as the memory or other memory coupled to the processor of the controller or light module.

The computer-readable medium and/or memory may be any recordable medium (e.g., RAM, ROM, removable memory, CD-ROM, hard drives, DVD, floppy disks or memory cards) or may be a transmission medium (e.g., a network comprising fiber-optics, the world- wide web, cables, and/or a wireless channel using, for example, time-division multiple access, code-division multiple access, or other wireless communication systems). Any medium known or developed that can store information suitable for use with a computer system may be used as the computer-readable medium and/or memory.

Additional memories may also be used. The computer-readable medium, the memory, and/or any other memories may be long-term, short-term, or a combination of long- and-short term memories. These memories configure the processor/controller to implement the methods, operational acts, and functions disclosed herein. The memories may be distributed or local and the processor, where additional processors may be provided, may be distributed or singular. The memories may be implemented as electrical, magnetic or optical memory, or any combination of these or other types of storage devices. Moreover, the term "memory" should be construed broadly enough to encompass any information able to be read from or written to an address in the addressable space accessed by a processor. With this definition, information on a network, such as the Internet, is still within memory, for instance, because the processor may retrieve the information from the network.

The processors and the memories may be any type of processor/controller and memory. The processor may be capable of performing the various described operations and executing instructions stored in the memory. The processor may be an application- specific or general-use integrated circuit(s). Further, the processor may be a dedicated processor for performing in accordance with the present system or may be a general-purpose processor wherein only one of many functions operates for performing in accordance with the present system. The processor may operate utilizing a program portion, multiple program segments, or may be a hardware device utilizing a dedicated or multi-purpose integrated circuit. Each of the above systems utilized for identifying the presence and identity of the user may be utilized in conjunction with further systems.

Of course, it is to be appreciated that any one of the above embodiments or processes may be combined with one or with one or more other embodiments or processes to provide even further improvements.

Finally, the above-discussion is intended to be merely illustrative of the present system and should not be construed as limiting the appended claims to any particular embodiment or group of embodiments. Thus, while the present system has been described in particular detail with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof, it should also be appreciated that numerous modifications and alternative embodiments may be devised by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the broader and intended spirit and scope of the present system as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative manner and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.

In interpreting the appended claims, it should be understood that: a) the word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of other elements or acts than those listed in a given claim; b) the word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements; c) any reference signs in the claims do not limit their scope; d) several "means" may be represented by the same or different item or hardware or software implemented structure or function; e) any of the disclosed elements may be comprised of hardware portions (e.g., including discrete and integrated electronic circuitry), software portions (e.g., computer programming), and any combination thereof; f) hardware portions may be comprised of one or both of analog and digital portions; g) any of the disclosed devices or portions thereof may be combined together or separated into further portions unless specifically stated otherwise; and h) no specific sequence of acts or steps is intended to be required unless specifically indicated.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A user interface (210) for providing a lighting effect comprising: a selector (220) for being positioned at a position of a plurality of positions of a lighting range (230), said position being associated with at least two light attributes; and a controller (120) configured to detect said position and control at least one light source (160) to provide light having said at least two light attributes.

2. The user interface (210) of claim 1, wherein a change of the position of the selector (220) to a new position changes said at least two light attributes.

3. The user interface (210) of claim 1, wherein the lighting range includes a first region (320) where three light attributes overlap and a second region (330) where two light attributes of the at least two light attributes overlap.

4. The user interface (210) of claim 1, wherein the at least two light attributes comprise at least two of brightness, color temperature, diffuseness, beam width and distribution.

5. The user interface (210) of claim 4, wherein the diffuseness is provided by at least one of a controllable diffuser (170) and selective control of focused and diffused light sources.

6. The user interface (210) of claim 1, further comprising a memory (130) operationally coupled to the controller (120) and configured to store a plurality of light scripts for providing the lighting effect when executed by the controller (120).

7. The user interface (210) of claim 1, wherein the selector (220) is configured to be positioned at a position of a plurality of positions of a lighting range (230), said position being associated with at least three light attributes; wherein the controller (120) is configured to detect said position and control said at least one light source (160) to provide light having said at least three light attributes, and wherein a change of the position of the selector (220) to a new position automatically changes said at least three light attributes.

8. A lighting interaction system (100) comprising: at least one light source (160); a user interface (110) having a selector (220) for being positioned at a position of a plurality of positions of a lighting range (230), said position being associated with at least two light attributes; and a controller (120) configured to detect said position and control the at least one light source (160) to provide light having said at least two light attributes.

9. The lighting interaction system (100) of claim 8, wherein the lighting range (230) includes a first region (320) where three light attributes overlap and a second region (330) where two of the at least two light attributes overlap.

10. The lighting interaction system (100) of claim 8, wherein the at least two light attributes comprise at least two of brightness, color temperature, diffuseness, beam width and distribution.

11. The lighting interaction system (100) of claim 10, wherein the diffuseness is provided by at least one of a controllable diffuser (170) and selective control of focused and diffused light sources.

12. The lighting interaction system (100) of claim 8, further comprising a memory (130) operationally coupled to the controller (120) and configured to store a plurality of light scripts for providing the light when executed by the controller (120).

13. A method of controlling at least one light source (160) comprising the acts of: positioning a selector (220) at a position of a plurality of positions of a lighting range (230), said position being associated with at least two light attributes; detecting said position; and controlling said at least one light source (160) to provide light having said at least two light attributes, wherein a change of the position of the selector (220) to a new position simultaneously changes said at least two light attributes.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the acts of: moving said selector (220) to said new position; and changing said at least two light attributes in response to the moving act.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the lighting range includes a first region where three light attributes overlap and a second region where two of the at least two light attributes overlap.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least two light attributes comprise at least two of brightness, color temperature, diffuseness, beam width and distribution.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the diffuseness is provided by at least one of a controllable diffuser and selective control of focused and diffused light sources.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the act of controlling a controllable diffuser to change the diffuseness.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the act of controlling at least one focused light source and at least one diffused light source to change the diffuseness.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising the act of executing a light script associated with the position to change said at least two light attributes.