WO2008050284A1

WO2008050284A1 - Method and circuit for controlling an operation of a device

Info

Publication number: WO2008050284A1
Application number: PCT/IB2007/054284
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alwin J. M. Rutjes; Jos Van Meurs; Louis A. Groenendal
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2006-10-27
Filing date: 2007-10-22
Publication date: 2008-05-02
Also published as: RU2460247C2; CN101548584A; JP2010507890A; EP2078448A1; RU2009120023A

Abstract

After a power interruption, a remote controllable device may determine (SlO) whether the power interruption was intended by a user or was not intended by a user. In particular, a user may use a (light) switch (SW) to switch the controllable device (CC, LD) off, or a power failure may cause a power supply interruption. Based on the determined cause of power interruption, a start setting for operating the controllable device (CC, LD) after the power interruption is selected (S 12, S 14, S 16). In an embodiment, the intention of the user is determined by verifying (S 102) whether a power supply to another controllable device was also just restored, or not.

Description

Method and circuit for controlling an operation of a device

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for operating a remote controllable device and to a control circuit for controlling an operation of a device. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and circuit for controlling the operation of a remote controllable lamp.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the prior art it is known to control the operation of a lamp using a remote control system, e.g. a wireless remote control system. Using a remote control system the lamp may be switched on and off, and usually it is further possible to control a light output level (dimming) of the lamp. Other operating parameter may as well be controlled depending on the features of the lamp. For example, a light color may be controlled.

A known control circuit for use in such a remote control system may be connected in an existing wired lamp system by connecting it between an original lamp socket and the lamp, for example. In such a configuration, no wires need to be added keeping the installation of the remote control system simple. In order to be able to switch on the lamp using the remote control system, the control circuit needs to be constantly supplied with power. Consequently, if the power supply is interrupted, the lamp and the control circuit are switched off. A power interruption may, or may not, be intended by a user. If the power interruption was due to a power failure, for example, the power interruption was unintentional. If a switch is present in the wiring to the control circuit and the lamp, the light may be switched off intentionally using the switch. However, in the latter case, the lamp cannot be switched on again through the remote control system. It is noted that, for safety reasons, it may be recommended to interrupt the power supply to the control circuit if the lamp is expected not to be switched on during a relatively long period of time.

After restoring the power supply to the control circuit and the lamp, an operating state desired by the user may be unknown and a predetermined setting, i.e. operating state, may be selected by the control circuit. In US 5212478 it is suggested, after a power failure, to first apply a full power setting and then gradually reducing to a dimmed power setting. In US 2005/0035717 it is suggested, after a power failure, to apply a prior lighting level. In the prior art it is not contemplated that the power interruption may have been intentional.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is desirable to provide a method and circuit for controlling operation of a remote controllable device, in particular a lamp, in which the device may be operated using a switch that interrupts the power supply to the lamp and control circuit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above object is achieved in a method according to claim 1 and in a control circuit according to claim 6.

According to the invention, after a power supply to the control circuit and the device is restored, it is determined whether the power interruption was intended by a user, or not. Based on the outcome, the control circuit selects an operating state, i.e. a setting, in which operating state the control circuit starts to operate the device after power-up. In particular, if the interruption was intended, the device is operated in a predetermined user operating state; and if the interruption was not intended, the device is operated in a predetermined reference operating state.

It is noted that a relatively short power interruption, for example shorter than 1 second or shorter than 100 milliseconds, may be disregarded by the method and circuit according to the present invention, as such short interruptions may occur sometimes.

In an embodiment, it is determined whether the power interruption was intended by a user, or not, by verifying whether a power supply interruption to another remote controllable device has ended substantially simultaneously. If the power supply interruption was ended substantially simultaneously, it is presumed that there was a power failure and it is determined that the interruption was not intended. If the power supply interruption was not ended substantially simultaneously, e.g. there was no power supply interruption or a power supply interruption condition still exists, it is presumed that a switch has been operated by a user and it is determined that the interruption was intended.

In another embodiment, it is verified whether power supplied to at least one another remote controllable device was not interrupted. If the power supplied to at least one another device was not interrupted, it is determined that the power supply interruption was intended; and if the power supplied to every other device was interrupted, it is determined that the interruption was not intended. Such an embodiment may be advantageous, for example, if a number of controllable devices is connected to a power supply through one single switch, whereas one or more other controllable devices are connected through another switch. If said single switch is operated in order to switch off the power, said one or more other devices are still supplied with power. After said single switch is operated again in order to switch on the power, each controllable device of the number of controllable devices may report a same power interruption, whereas the power interruption was intended. However, since said one or more other devices were still supplied with power, they may report that there was not a power interruption and therefore that the power interruption was intended.

In an embodiment, the predetermined user operating state and/or the predetermined reference operating state are user definable. In such an embodiment, an operating state selected by a user is received by the controllable device; and the received operating state is stored as at least one of the predetermined user operating state and the predetermined reference operating state.

In an embodiment, the controllable device is a lamp, of which a light output level is controllable. In such an embodiment, the predetermined user operating state may be a maximum light output level and the predetermined reference operating state may be an operating state that was most recently selected by a user. For example, when a user supplies a control input, thereby changing the operating state of the lamp, the user selected operating state may be stored as a new reference operating state.

External conditions such as a time of day and/or lighting conditions may be different between the moment that the power supply is interrupted and the moment that the power supply is restored. In order to take into account the external conditions, in an embodiment, the predetermined user operating state may comprise a number of user operating sub-states and the predetermined reference operating state may comprise a number of reference operating sub-states. In such an embodiment, the method may further comprise receiving an external conditions signal representing an external condition, the external condition being selected from a group comprising a time, a lighting condition and the presence of a person; selecting an user operating sub-state corresponding to the received external conditions signal and operating the device in the selected user operating sub-state; and selecting a reference operating sub-state corresponding to the received external conditions signal and operating the device in the selected reference operating sub-state. Thus, the operating state is not only dependent on the intention to interrupt the power supply, but is as well dependent on the external conditions when the power supply is restored.

For example, if a power failure occurs in the evening, the power supply to all lamps is interrupted. If the power failure ends at night, a person may have gone to sleep. In such a case, the controllable device, in particular a control circuit of the controllable device, may determine that (1) the power interruption was not intended, (2) it is dark in its vicinity, (3) it is night, and (4) no person is present in the vicinity, e.g. in the room. Based on the determined conditions, a corresponding operating sub-state is selected and the lamp may be kept off or switched on at a low light output level. In an aspect, the present invention provides a control circuit for performing the method of the present invention. In an embodiment, the control circuit is comprised in a network of control circuit in order to allow for communication amongst each other for determining whether a power supply interruption to another control circuit has ended substantially simultaneously. It is noted that, as apparent to those skilled in the art, the controllable devices should be connected to a same power supply, e.g. a mains power supply or a single battery operated power supply, or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Hereinafter, the present invention is elucidated with reference to non-limiting embodiments as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which: Fig. 1 schematically shows a lamp assembly comprising a control circuit according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a flow chart illustrating a method according to the present invention; Fig. 3 shows a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a part of the method as illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a network of controllable devices; and

Fig. 5 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a control circuit according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES

In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements. Fig. 1 shows a serial circuit comprising a power supply unit PSU, a switch SW, a control circuit CC and a lighting device LD, such as a lamp. Further, the control circuit CC is configured to receive a control CS from a remote control unit RCU. The lighting device LD may be any other controllable device coupled to the control circuit CC. Moreover, the control circuit CC may be incorporated in the controllable device.

In operation, the switch SW is switched conductive, thereby providing a connection between the power supply PSU and the control circuit CC. Thus, the power supply unit PSU may supply power to the control circuit CC and to the lighting device LD. The control circuit CC controls the operation of the lighting device LD. For example, the control circuit CC controls a light output level by controlling an amount of power supplied to the lighting device LD. Other aspects, such as a color temperature and/or a lighting direction of e.g. a spot light, may as well be controlled.

An operating state, i.e. a setting of the controlled parameter(s) of the lighting device operation, is determined in response to a desired operating state received from the remote control unit RCU through the control signal CS. It is noted that a connection between the remote control unit RCU and the control circuit CC may be wireless or by means of wires, directly or indirectly, e.g. via an intermediate control unit, or via any other suitable means.

The lighting device LD may be switched off using the remote control unit RCU. As a result, the control circuit CC will remain powered by the power supply unit PSU and consequently, the control circuit CC is enabled to receive a further control signal CS from the remote control unit RCU for switching the lighting device LD on.

The lighting device LD may also be switched off by switching the switch SW to a non-conducting state, thereby interrupting a power supply to the control circuit CC and the lighting device LD. Hence, a control signal CS supplied to the control circuit CC cannot switch the lighting device LD on due to the interrupted power supply. When the switch SW is switched conductive again, the power supply is restored and the control circuit CC is powered. Considering that a user deliberately operated the switch SW, it may be considered that it is the intention of the user that not only the control circuit CC is powered, but the lighting device LD as well. However, the power interruption may have been caused by a power failure, for example, meaning that the power interruption was not intended by a user. In such a case, it may be desirable to switch on the lighting device in another operating state compared to the above-mentioned case in which the power interruption was regarded as intentional.

Referring to Fig. 2 and according to the present invention, after an interruption of the power supply, it is to be determined whether the power interruption was intended by a user, or not, as indicated by step SlO. In particular in step SlO, a kind of power interruption is determined, e.g. whether the power interruption was caused by a switch being operated or was caused by a general power failure. Based on the outcome of the determination step SlO, in step S 12, it is determined whether the power interruption was intended by a user, or not. If the power interruption was intended, in step S 14, the control circuit CC selects a predetermined user operating state in accordance with which the control circuit CC then operates the lighting device LD. If the power interruption was not intended, in step S 16, the control circuit CC selects a predetermined reference operating state in accordance with which the control circuit CC then operates the lighting device LD. Referring to Fig. 3, in an embodiment of the step SlO and S 12 (Fig. 2), it may be determined whether the power interruption was intended, or not, by determining whether a power supply to at least one other control circuit was restored substantially simultaneously, assuming that said at least one other control circuit is not coupled to the power supply through the same switch. Referring to steps S 104 and S 106, if the power supply was restored to more than one control circuit substantially simultaneously, it is considered that there was a power failure, and therefore, that it was an unintentional interruption of the power supply. Referring to steps S 104 and S 108, if the power supply was restored to only one control circuit, it is considered that a switch was operated by a user, and therefore, that it was an intentional interruption of the power supply. As illustrated in Fig. 4, a first control circuit CC-I may be comprised in a network of control circuits. For example, the network may further comprise a second control circuit CC-2 and a network control unit NCU. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the first and the second control circuits CC-I, CC-2 are connected to the network control unit NCU. The network control unit NCU may receive an user input indicating a desired setting, such as a room lighting setting and may supply corresponding control signals to the respective control circuits CC-I, CC2. It is noted, that the connection between the control circuits CC-I, CC2 and the network control unit NCU may be a wired or a wireless connection.

If a power supply to the first control circuit CC-I is interrupted by a user by operating a corresponding switch, the network control unit NCU and the second control circuit CC-2 may still function correctly. When the power supply to the first control circuit CC-I is restored, the first control circuit CC-I may communicate with the network control unit NCU in order to determine whether the network control unit NCU and/or the second control circuit CC-2 have been switched off due to an interruption of the power supply, too. In such a case, the network control unit NCU may indicate that it was not switched off and consequently, the first control circuit CC-I determines that the power interruption was intentionally in accordance with the method described above in relation to Fig. 3.

If there had been a power failure, i.e. an unintentional power interruption, the network control unit NCU would have indicated that one or more control circuits and/or the network control unit NCU itself had been switched off and a power supply had just been restored. Then, the first control circuit CC-I would have determined that at least one other device, such as the control circuit CC-2 or the network control unit NCU, were switched on substantially simultaneously, and therefore that the power interruption had been unintentionally.

Fig. 5 schematically shows an embodiment of a control circuit CC according to the present invention. The control circuit CC comprises a control communications unit CCU at least for receiving a control signal CS from a remote control unit RCU as described above in relation to Fig. 1. Further, the control circuit CC comprises driver circuit unit DCU for generating a suitable output voltage, output current and/or device control signal for operating a device, such as a lighting device LD, corresponding to a selected operating state. The control communications unit CCU is coupled to the driver circuit unit DCU for supplying a user-selected operating state to the driver circuit unit DCU in accordance with a received control signal CS. The driver circuit unit DCU is further coupled to a memory unit MU. The memory unit MU may store at least two operating states, in particular a predetermined user operating state and a predetermined reference operating state. On power-up, i.e. after an interruption of the power supply, the driver circuit unit DCU may select one of the predetermined user operating state and the predetermined reference operating state, as is explained below in further detail.

The driver circuit unit DCU is further coupled to a system communications unit SCU for communicating with similar control circuits in a networked system, e.g. as described above in relation to Fig. 4. By communicating with similar control circuits, and the like, the driver circuit unit DCU may determine whether a power supply interruption was intended or was not intended by a user as described above.

In the illustrated embodiment, the driver circuit unit DCU is further coupled to a sensing unit SU. The sensing unit SU may be configured to determine an external condition, such as a time of day, a lighting condition in the vicinity, the presence of a person in its vicinity, and any other suitable condition. The driver circuit unit DCU may based on the determined external condition select a suitable sub-state of the predetermined user operating state or the predetermined reference operating state, provided that one or more of such sub- states is stored in the memory unit MU.

In operation, assuming that the sensing device comprises a clock device for supplying a time, the control circuit CC may start operating after a power interruption. In such a case, the system communications unit SCU may communicate with another control circuit comprised in a network with the present control circuit CC in order to determine whether a general power failure or a user operation had caused the power interruption. Upon determination of the cause of the power interruption based on the response from the system communications unit SCU, the driver circuit unit DCU may receive from the sensing unit SU a time of day. Then, based on the received time and the determined user intention, the driver circuit unit DCU retrieves from the memory unit a corresponding operating sub-state. The lighting device LD is then operated in accordance with the retrieved operating sub-state, until a user input is received by the control communications unit CCU indicating a user-desired operating state, overwriting the retrieved operating sub-state.

As an example, if a general power failure occurred in the evening, when the lighting device LD was on, and the power supply was restored at 3:00 AM, the driver circuit unit DCU would determine that the power interruption was unintentional. However, based on the time of day, the retrieved predetermined reference operating sub-state may be that the lighting device LD is kept off, or possibly at a very low light output level, as it may be expected that a user is asleep.

In a further embodiment, the predetermined user operating state and/or the predetermined reference operating state may be provided in the memory unit MU during manufacturing of the control circuit CC, or one or both may be user definable. For example, if the predetermined user operating state is user definable, a user may store in the memory unit MU the predetermined user operating state such that the control circuit CC will operate the lighting device LD after an intentional power supply interruption in accordance with the desired settings. If the predetermined user operating state is stored during manufacturing, the predetermined user operating state may be a maximum light output level, such that the lighting device LD may be controlled like an ordinary switched lamp. If the predetermined reference operating state is stored during manufacturing, the predetermined reference operating state may be a former light output level (i.e. a light output level equal to the light output level at the moment the power was interrupted), such that the lighting device LD is operated similarly as prior to the power interruption (power failure). Although detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, 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.

Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. The terms "a" or "an", as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily by means of wires.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Method for operating a remote controllable device (CC, LD), in particular a remote controllable lamp, the method comprising:

(a) after an interruption of a power supply to the remote controllable device, determining (SlO) whether the interruption was intended by a user or was not intended by a user;

(b) if the interruption was intended (S 12), operating the device in a predetermined user operating state (S 14);

(c) if the interruption was not intended (S 12), operating the device in a predetermined reference operating state (S 16).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the step (a) comprises:

(al) verifying (S 102) whether a power supply interruption to another remote controllable device has ended substantially simultaneously;

(a2) if the power supply interruption was ended substantially simultaneously (S 104), determining that the interruption was not intended (S 106); and

(a3) if the power supply interruption was not ended substantially simultaneously (S 104), determining that the interruption was intended (S 108).

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the step (a) comprises: (al) verifying whether power supplied to another remote controllable device was not interrupted;

(a2) if the power supplied to at least one another device was not interrupted, determining that the power supply interruption was intended; and

(a3) if the power supplied to every other device was interrupted, determining that the interruption was not intended.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises: receiving an operating state selected by a user; storing the received operating state as at least one of the predetermined user operating state and the predetermined reference operating state.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the device is a lamp (LD), a light output level of the lamp being remote controllable, and wherein the predetermined user operating state is a maximum light output level and the predetermined reference operating state is a operating state most recently selected by a user.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined user operating state comprises a number of user operating sub-states and the predetermined reference operating state comprises a number of reference operating sub-states, the step (a) further comprising receiving an external conditions signal representing an external condition, the external condition being selected from a group comprising a time, a lighting condition and the presence of a person; - the step (b) further comprising selecting an user operating sub-state corresponding to the received external conditions signal and operating the device in the selected user operating sub-state; and the step (c) further comprising selecting a reference operating sub-state corresponding to the received external conditions signal and operating the device in the selected reference operating sub-state.

7. Control circuit (CC) for controlling an operation of a device (LD), in particular for controlling an operation of a lamp, the control circuit comprising: a control communications device (CCU) for receiving an operating state selected by a user; a memory device (MU) for storing a predetermined user operating state and for storing a predetermined reference operating state; a driving circuit (DCU) coupled to the control communications device and coupled to the memory device for operating the device in accordance with an operating state selected from a group of operating states, the group comprising the operating state selected by a user, the predetermined user operating state and the predetermined reference operating state; the control circuit being configured for: after interruption of a power supply to the control circuit, determining whether the power interruption was intended by a user, or not, and operating the device in the predetermined user operating state, if the power interruption was intended, and operating the device in the predetermined reference operating state, if the power interruption was not intended.

8. Control circuit according to claim 7, wherein the control circuit comprises a system communications device (SCU) configured to communicate with another control device for verifying whether a power supply to the other control device has been restored substantially simultaneously.

9. Control circuit according to claim 8, wherein the control circuit is comprised in a network of control devices.

10. Control circuit according to claim 7, wherein the control communications device is coupled to the memory device for storing a received operating state as at least one of the predetermined user operating state and the predetermined reference operating state.

11. Control circuit according to claim 7, wherein the device is a lamp, a light output level of the lamp being controllable, and wherein the predetermined user operating state is a maximum light output level and the predetermined reference operating state is a operating state most recently selected by a user.

12. Control circuit according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined user operating state comprises a number of user operating sub-states and the predetermined reference operating state comprises a number of reference operating sub-states, the control circuit further comprising an external conditions device (SU) for supplying an external conditions signal to the driving circuit, the external conditions device being selected from a group of devices comprising a clock device and a lighting-conditions sensing device; the control circuit being configured for selecting an user operating sub-state corresponding to the external conditions signal and operating the device in the selected user operating sub-state; and selecting a reference operating sub-state corresponding to the received external conditions signal and operating the device in the selected reference operating sub-state.