FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method of controlling a lighting device of a lighting system, and to a computer program product for executing the method. The invention further relates to a controller for controlling a lighting device of a lighting system, and to a lighting system comprising the controller.

BACKGROUND

Home and professional environments may contain a large number of lighting devices for creation of ambient, atmosphere, accent or task lighting. These lighting devices may be controlled via a (wireless) network, for example by a smart device such as a smartphone, or via switches or control panels. Certain types of lighting devices, such as spotlights or table lamps, are directable by the user. A user may change the orientation manually by simply reorienting a lighting device, or the lighting device may be (re)oriented electronically, for instance by controlling a motor comprised in the lighting device.

US 2019/0159319 Al discloses that a desk lamp device is controlled based on its orientation and location, and that other lighting devices may be controlled based on the orientation and location of the desk lamp.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In present home and professional lighting systems, the environment wherein the lighting devices are installed is typically divided in different areas (e.g. rooms or parts of a room such as a kitchen, a living room, an office area, etc.). When lighting devices in such areas are controlled, they are controlled according to a light scene associated with that area (e.g. a cooking scene, a movie scene, an office scene, etc.). A light scene defines light settings for one or more lighting devices in the associated area. The inventor has realized that when a reorientable lighting device is installed in such a lighting system, it may occur that the lighting device can illuminate different areas, depending on its orientation. In current lighting systems, this would require the user to manually set the light output of the lighting device such that it provides a desired light effect. It is therefore an object to provide a lighting system wherein lighting devices with reorientable lighting devices are automatically controlled correctly.

According to a first aspect, the object is achieved by a method of controlling a reorientable lighting device of a lighting system located in an environment, wherein the reorientable lighting device comprises an orientation sensor, wherein the environment comprises a first area and a second area, wherein the method comprises: a. obtaining location information about the location of the reorientable lighting device relative to the first and second areas, b. obtaining an orientation signal from the orientation sensor, wherein the orientation signal is indicative of an orientation of the lighting device, c. determining if the lighting device is oriented towards the first area or the second area based on the location and the orientation of the lighting device, and d. if the lighting device is oriented towards the first area, controlling the lighting device according to a first light setting of a plurality of first light settings of a first light scene associated with the first area, and e. if the lighting device is oriented towards the second area, controlling the lighting device according to a second light setting of a plurality of second light settings of a second light scene associated with the second area.

A first light scene (a plurality of first light settings) is associated with the first area, and a second light scene (a plurality of second light settings) is associated with the second area. Based on the orientation of the lighting device and the location of the lighting device, it can be determined if the lighting device is oriented towards the first area or the second area. If the lighting device is oriented towards the first area, the lighting device is controlled according to a first light setting of the first light scene, and if it is oriented towards the second area, the lighting device is controlled according to a second light setting of the second light scene. Consequently, the lighting system is provided wherein a lighting device with a reorientable lighting device is automatically controlled correctly.

The light scenes may be predefined, user-defined or (dynamically) generated, for instance by a (central) lighting controller, and the method may comprise: receiving data indicative of the first and the second light scene. Additionally or alternatively, the first and second light scenes may for example be stored in a memory, and the method may comprise: obtaining the first and the second light scene from the memory.

The lighting system may comprise one or more first lighting devices located in the first area and one or more second lighting devices located in the second area, and the method may comprise: controlling the one or more first lighting devices, via the output interface, according to one or more respective first light settings of the plurality of first light settings of the first light scene, and controlling the one or more second lighting devices, via the output interface, according to one or more respective second light settings of the plurality of second light settings of the second light scene. If the lighting system contains more lighting devices than just the lighting device, these lighting devices are controlled according to the respective light scenes associated with the respective areas. This is beneficial, because reorientable lighting device is controlled such that it complements the ambience in the area it is oriented towards.

The method may further comprise: determining, based on the orientation signal, a reorientation of the lighting device from the first area to the second area, or vice versa, and controlling the lighting device accordingly. The reorientation of the lighting device may, for example, be done by a user (e.g. manually or electronically). Alternatively, the lighting device may be reoriented by a (central) lighting controller of the lighting system. The lighting controller may be configured to control a motor of the lighting device to reorient the lighting device.

The method may further comprise: if the lighting device is reoriented from the second area towards the first area, adjusting one or more light settings of the one or more second lighting devices based on the second light scene, and/or if the lighting device is reoriented from the first area towards the second area, adjusting one or more light settings of the one or more first lighting devices based on the first light scene. If the reorientable lighting device no longer illuminates a specific area because it has been reoriented, the (remaining) lighting devices in that area may no longer provide a correct light scene (ambience) in that area. It may therefore be beneficial to adjust the light settings of the light lighting devices of the area that is no longer illuminated by the reorientable lighting device.

The method may further comprise: obtaining one or more inputs indicative of an activation of the first light scene for lighting devices located in the first area and/or an activation of the second light scene for lighting devices located in the second area. The one or more inputs may, for example, be provided by a user via a user interface, by a (central) lighting controller, etc. The orientation of the lighting device may be determined when the first and/or second light scene is activated, and the lighting device may be controlled accordingly based thereon. The reorientable lighting device may comprise a plurality of reorientable lighting units, each comprising a respective orientation sensor, and the method may comprise: obtaining respective orientation signals from the respective orientation sensors, and performing steps c-e for each lighting unit.

The method may further comprise: if a first lighting unit and a second lighting unit of the plurality of reorientable lighting units are oriented towards the first area, control the first lighting unit according to a primary first light setting of the first light scene and control the second lighting unit according to a different secondary first light setting of the first light scene. The different lighting units are oriented towards the same area, they may be controlled according to different light settings of the light scene.

The method may further comprise: selecting a respective light setting from a plurality of light settings of the respective light scene based on the location of the lighting device relative to the first and/or the second area, and/or relative to other lighting devices located in the first and/or the second area. The location of light effects provided by lighting devices in an area may be relevant when the light scene is activated in that area. The light scene may, for example, define locations for light settings (and/or light effects) in an area. Taking the location of the lighting device relative to the area towards it is oriented and/or the location of the lighting device relative to other lighting devices in that area into account to determine which light setting (and therewith which light effect) the lighting device should provide is therefore beneficial.

The location information about the location of the lighting device relative to the first and second areas may be obtained by receiving, via a user interface, a user input indicative of the location of the lighting device relative to the first and second areas. Alternatively, the location information about the location of the lighting device relative to the first and second areas may be obtained (received) from a positioning system.

According to a second aspect, the object is achieved by a computer program product for a computing device, the computer program product comprising computer program code to perform any of the above-mentioned methods when the computer program product is run on a processing unit of the computing device.

According to a third aspect, the object is achieved by a controller for controlling a reorientable lighting device of a lighting system located in an environment, wherein the reorientable lighting device comprises an orientation sensor, wherein the environment comprises a first area and a second area, wherein the controller comprises: an output interface to control the lighting device, an input interface configured to: a. obtain location information about the location of the lighting device relative to the first and second areas, and b. obtain an orientation signal from the orientation sensor, wherein the orientation signal is indicative of an orientation of the lighting device, a processor configured to: c. determine if the lighting device is oriented towards the first area or the second area based on the location and the orientation of the lighting device, and d. if the lighting device is oriented towards the first area, control the lighting device, via the output interface, according to a first light setting of a plurality of first light settings of a first light scene associated with the first area, and e. if the lighting device is oriented towards the second area, control the lighting device, via the output interface, according to a second light setting of a plurality of second light settings of a second light scene associated with the second area.

According to a fourth aspect, the object is achieved by a lighting system comprising a reorientable lighting device comprising an orientation sensor, and the controller.

It should be understood that the computer program product, controller and the lighting system may have similar and/or identical embodiments and advantages as the above- mentioned methods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the disclosed systems, devices and methods will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of devices and methods, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows schematically an example of a lighting system comprising a controller for controlling a lighting device based on its orientation;

Figs. 2a and 2b show schematically examples of lighting systems wherein a lighting device comprises a plurality of reorientable lighting units;

Fig. 3a and 3b shows schematically examples of reorientable lighting devices; and

Fig. 4 shows schematically a method of controlling a lighting device of a lighting system based on its orientation. All the figures are schematic, not necessarily to scale, and generally only show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the invention, wherein other parts may be omitted or merely suggested.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 shows an example of a lighting system comprising a plurality of lighting devices 110, 112 located in a first area 150, a plurality of lighting devices 114, 116 located in a second area 160 and a lighting device 120 comprising a reorientable lighting unit. The lighting system further comprises a controller 102, which comprises an output interface 108, an input interface 104 and a processor 106. In Fig. 1, the controller 102 is shown as a separate device (e.g. a bridge, a (cloud server), a mobile device, a central lighting controller, etc.). In other examples, the controller 102 may be for example be comprised in a lighting device, such as lighting device 120.

The lighting device 120 is a reorientable lighting device 120. It may comprise a reorientable lighting unit (e.g. a spotlight). The lighting device 120 may be manually rotatable and/or the lighting device 120 may comprise a controllable motor for automatic control of the orientation. The lighting unit may, for example, be controlled by the processor 106 of the controller 102, by a central lighting control system (e.g. a bridge, a gateway, etc.), by another connected device, etc. The lighting device 120 may further comprise a communication unit (not shown) configured to receive lighting control commands (and, optionally, orientation control commands). The communication unit may comprise hardware for communicating via one or more wireless communication protocols, for example Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Li-Fi, 3G, 4G, 5G or ZigBee. A specific communication technology may be selected based on the system architecture of the lighting system. The lighting device 120 may be any type of lighting device comprising one or more (LED) light sources, and a processing unit for controlling the light output (e.g. hue, saturation and/or brightness) of the one or more light sources based on received control signals. The lighting device 120 may be arranged for providing general lighting, such as task lighting, ambient lighting, atmosphere lighting, accent lighting, indoor lighting, outdoor lighting, etc.

Figs. 3a and 3b illustrate examples of reorientable lighting devices 120a, 120b of the reorientable lighting device 120 of Fig. 1. In the example of Fig. 3a, the lighting device 120a comprise a base 304, a lighting unit 122 configured to be rotated about an axis 302. The lighting device 120a may be further tiltable. Fig. 3b shows an alternative reorientable lighting device 120b, wherein the lighting device 120b is placeable on a surface 306, and wherein a user may change the orientation of the lighting device 120b. The lighting device 120b may, for example, be a portable lighting device. Location information about the location of the portable lighting device 120b may be obtained when the lighting device 120b is to be controlled by the controller 102.

The reorientable lighting device 120 comprises an orientation sensor configured to detect an orientation of the lighting device 120, and to provide a signal to the controller 102 indicative of the orientation of the lighting device 120. The orientation sensor may comprise one or more sensors (such as one or more accelerometers, one or more gyroscopes, one or more magnetometers, one or more tilt sensors, etc.) in order to detect the orientation of the lighting device 120. The orientation of the lighting device 120 may be defined by the roll, pitch and yaw of the lighting device 120 around X, Y and Z axes. Such orientation sensors are known in the art and will therefore not be discussed in further detail.

The environment comprises (at least) a first area 150 and a second area 160. A first light scene is associated with the first area 150. This association may be stored in a memory of the lighting system, and be obtained by the processor 106, for instance via the input unit 104. The first light scene defines a plurality of light settings for one or more lighting devices 110, 112 located in the first area 150. A second light scene is associated with the second area 160. This association may be stored in the memory of the lighting system, and be obtained by the processor 106, for instance via the input unit 104. The second light scene defines a plurality of light settings for one or more lighting devices 114, 116 located in (or illuminating) the second area 160.

The controller 102 comprises an output interface 108 configured to control the lighting device 120. The processor 106 is configured to control the lighting device via the output interface 108. The output interface 108 may, for example, be a communication unit 108 (a transmitter) configured to communicate control signals to the lighting device 120. In examples wherein the controller 102 is located in the lighting device 120, the output interface 108 may be an output to a driver of the lighting device 120, an output to one or more light sources of the lighting device 120, etc.

The controller 102 further comprises an input interface 104. The input interface 104 may, for example, be (part of) a communication unit, and be configured to obtain information from other devices (e.g. from a central lighting controller, from a (remote) server, a mobile device, etc.). Alternatively, the input interface 104 may be an input to the processor 106 configured to obtain information from a memory comprised in the controller 102. The input interface 104 is configured to obtain location information about the location of the lighting device 120 relative to the first and second areas 150, 160. The location information may for example be obtained from an (indoor) positioning system (e.g. an RF-based positioning system, a VLC-based positioning system, etc.). Alternatively, the location information may be obtained from a memory storing information about the locations of lighting devices of the lighting system. These locations may be obtained from the (indoor) positioning system, or for example via a user interface, wherein the user may provide input indicative of the locations via the user interface, for instance by positioning a virtual representation (e.g. an icon) of the lighting device 120 on a map of the environment. Techniques for determining locations of lighting devices are known in the art, and will therefore not be discussed in detail.

The input interface 104 is further configured to obtain an orientation signal from the orientation sensor, wherein the orientation signal is indicative of an orientation of the lighting device 120. In examples wherein the controller 102 is comprised in a separate device, the input interface 104 (e.g. a receiver) may be configured to receive the orientation signal from the lighting device 120. In examples wherein the controller 102 is comprised in the lighting device 120, the input interface 104 may be an input to the processor 106 configured to receive the orientation signal from the orientation sensor directly. The processor 106 is configured to receive the indication of the orientation of the lighting device 120 from via the input interface 104.

The processor 106 is configured to determine if the lighting device 120 is oriented towards the first area 150 or the second area 160 based on the location and the orientation of the lighting device 120, and control the lighting device 120 according to a setting of a respective light scene associated with the respective area. In the example of Fig. 1, the processor 106 may obtain location information, via the input interface 104, indicative of that the lighting device 120 is located between the first area 150 and the second area 160. The processor 106 may further obtain, via the input interface 104, orientation information indicative of that the lighting device 120 is oriented towards the first area 150. Based thereon, the processor 106 may control the lighting device 120 according to a light setting of a light scene associated with the first area 150. The processor 106 may, for example, access a memory storing the first light scene and select the light setting for the lighting device 120. Alternatively, the processor 106 may, for example, request a central lighting controller to control the lighting device 120 based on the light scene associated with the first area 150. The processor 106 may be further configured to control the first lighting devices 110, 112, via the output interface 108, according to one or more respective first light settings of the plurality of first light settings of the first light scene, and to control the second lighting devices 114, 116, via the output interface 108, according to one or more respective second light settings of the plurality of second light settings of the second light scene.

A light scene may comprise a plurality of first light settings, which may be mapped onto one or more lighting devices, for instance based on the locations of the lighting devices, based on the types of the lighting devices, etc. The light settings may, for example, be predefined light settings (e.g. sunset light settings, evening light settings, energize light settings, etc.) or the light settings may be dynamically generated by a (central) lighting controller, or for example by the processor 106. The light settings may be generated based on, for example, media content (e.g. image content, video content, audio content, video game content, etc.). A certain light scene may be activated based on a user input received via a user interface, activated at a certain time of day, activated based on a sensor signal (e.g. a presence signal or a daylight level), etc. The light scenes may be stored as a lookup-table in a memory (which may be accessed by the processor 106), wherein each light scene is associated with a respective area. Each light scene may be stored as a number of light settings, each defining respective lighting control parameters (e.g. hue, color and saturation).

The processor 106 may be configured to determine, based on the orientation signal, a reorientation of the lighting device 120 from the first area 150 to the second area 160, or vice versa, and control the lighting device 120 accordingly. For instance, referring to Fig. 1, if the lighting device 120 is reoriented from the first area 150 towards the second area 160, the processor 106 may control the lighting device 120 according to a second light setting of the second light scene. Additionally, the processor 106 may be configured to compensate for the reorientation of the lighting device 120. If the lighting device 120 is reoriented from the second area 160 towards the first area 150, the processor 106 may adjust one or more light settings of the one or more second lighting devices 114, 116 based on the second light scene (and, if the lighting device 120 is reoriented from the first area 150 towards the second area 160, adjust one or more light settings of the one or more first lighting devices 110, 112 based on the first light scene). If, due to the reorientation of the lighting device 120, a respective light scene is affected above a threshold value (e.g. if the difference between an average color and/or intensity of the light settings mapped onto the lighting devices before the reorientation and an average color and/or intensity of the light settings mapped onto the scenes after the reorientation exceeds a threshold) the processor 106 may adjust the mapping of the light settings of the respective light scene onto the lighting devices located in that area, or adjust the light settings based on the light scene. For instance, referring to Fig. 1, if the lighting device 120 is reoriented from the first area 150 towards the second area 160, the lighting device is no longer controlled according to a light setting of the first light scene. Consequently, the ambience in the first area 150 is changed, which may result in an undesirable ambience. If, for example, before the reorientation of the lighting device 120, the primary first lighting device 110 was controlled according to a white light setting with a first color temperature, the secondary first lighting device 112 was controlled according to a white light setting with a second color temperature and the lighting device 120 was controlled according to a purple light setting, the “removal” of the purple light setting has an impact on the ambience in the first area. The processor 106 may therefore adjust the light scene to correct for this removal, for instance by changing the color of the primary and/or secondary first lighting device 110, 112 to the/a purple color, by mapping the purple color of the light scene to the primary and/or secondary first lighting device 110, 112, by taking an average of the initial colors and/or intensities (the white light setting with a first color temperature, the white light setting with a second color temperature and the purple color) and controlling the primary and/or secondary first lighting device 110, 112 such that their average color and/or intensity provides the average of the initial colors and/or intensities, etc.

The processor 106 may be further configured to obtain one or more inputs indicative of an activation of the first light scene for lighting devices 110, 112 located in the first area 150 and/or an activation of the second light scene for lighting devices 114, 116 located in the second area 160. The one or more inputs may, for example, be provided by a user via a user interface, by a (central) lighting controller at a certain time of day, by a connected sensor based on a sensor signal (e.g. a presence signal or a daylight level), etc. The processor 106 may be further configured to determine the orientation of the lighting device 120 when the first and/or second light scene is activated and control the lighting device 120 accordingly.

The reorientable lighting device 120 may comprise a plurality of reorientable lighting units, each comprising a respective orientation sensor. Examples thereof are illustrated in Figs. 2a and 2b. The lighting device 220 comprises a first reorientable lighting unit 222 and a second reorientable lighting unit 224. In the example of Fig. 2a, both reorientable lighting unit 222, 224 are oriented towards the first area 250, and the processor 106 may control them according to (different) light settings of the first light scene associated with the first area 250. The processor 106 may be further control the first lighting unit 222 according to a primary first light setting of the first light scene and control the second lighting unit 224 according to a different secondary first light setting of the first light scene. The user may rotate the lighting units 222, 224 to the second area 260, as shown in Fig. 2b, and the processor 106 may control them according to (different) light settings of the second light scene associated with the second area 260. Based on this reorientation, the processor 106 may be configured to adjust one or more light settings of the first lighting devices 210, 212 located in the first area 250 based on the first light scene to compensate for the reorientation of the lighting units 222, 224.

The processor 106 may be further configured to select a respective light setting for the lighting device 120 from a plurality of light settings of a respective light scene based on the location of the lighting device 120 relative to the first and/or the second area, and/or relative to other lighting devices located in the first and/or the second area. The location of the lighting device 120 relative to the first and/or the second area, and/or relative to other lighting devices located in the first and/or the second area may for example be obtained from an (indoor) positioning system (e.g. an RF-based positioning system, a VLC- based positioning system, etc.). Alternatively, the location information may be obtained from a memory storing information about the locations of lighting devices of the lighting system. These locations may be obtained from the (indoor) positioning system, or for example via a user interface, wherein the user may provide input indicative of the locations via the user interface, for instance by positioning a virtual representation (e.g. an icon) of the lighting device on a map of the environment. Techniques for determining locations of lighting devices are known in the art, and will therefore not be discussed in detail. The light scene may define locations for different light settings with respect to the respective area 150, 160. The light scene may for example be stored in a memory, and store associations between light settings and locations in the respective area 150, 160. The processor 106 may select a light setting based on the location of the lighting device 120, for instance by selecting a stored light setting associated with a stored location that corresponds to the location of the lighting device 120.

Fig. 4 shows schematically a method 400 of controlling a lighting device of a lighting system based on its orientation. The reorientable lighting device comprises an orientation sensor, and the environment comprises a first area and a second area, The method 400 comprises: a. obtaining 402 location information about the location of the reorientable lighting device relative to the first and second areas, b. obtaining 404 an orientation signal from the orientation sensor, wherein the orientation signal is indicative of an orientation of the lighting device, c. determining 406 if the lighting device is oriented towards the first area or the second area based on the location and the orientation of the lighting device, and d. if the lighting device is oriented towards the first area, controlling 408 the lighting device according to a first light setting of a plurality of first light settings of a first light scene associated with the first area, and e. if the lighting device is oriented towards the second area, controlling 410 the lighting device according to a second light setting of a plurality of second light settings of a second light scene associated with the second area.

The method 400 may be executed by computer program code of a computer program product when the computer program product is run on a processing unit of a computing device, such as the processor 106 of the lighting device 102.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb "comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer or processing unit. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Aspects of the invention may be implemented in a computer program product, which may be a collection of computer program instructions stored on a computer readable storage device which may be executed by a computer. The instructions of the present invention may be in any interpretable or executable code mechanism, including but not limited to scripts, interpretable programs, dynamic link libraries (DLLs) or Java classes. The instructions can be provided as complete executable programs, partial executable programs, as modifications to existing programs (e.g. updates) or extensions for existing programs (e.g. plugins). Moreover, parts of the processing of the present invention may be distributed over multiple computers or processors or even the ‘cloud’.

Storage media suitable for storing computer program instructions include all forms of nonvolatile memory, including but not limited to EPROM, EEPROM and flash memory devices, magnetic disks such as the internal and external hard disk drives, removable disks and CD-ROM disks. The computer program product may be distributed on such a storage medium, or may be offered for download through HTTP, FTP, email or through a server connected to a network such as the Internet.