ADJUSTABLE-HEIGHT PENDANT LUMINAIRE

Abstract

An adjustable-height pendant luminaire is proposed which comprises the following: a luminaire head, a ceiling mounting unit from which the luminaire head is suspended by means of cables, a height adjustment unit arranged in the ceiling mounting unit, a sensor arrangement having at least one sensor arranged on the luminaire head, wherein the at least one sensor is configured as a near-field sensor designed to detect a hand of a user in the proximity of the sensor for the detecting of gestures as non-contact control commands, and a control unit in communicative connection with the sensor arrangement and the height adjustment unit. The control unit is configured to send a control command to the height adjustment unit for changing the vertical position of the luminaire head upward or downward.

Claims

1. An adjustable-height pendant luminaire, comprising: a luminaire head (10); a ceiling mounting unit (20) from which the luminaire head (10) is suspended by means of cables (22); a height adjustment unit (21) arranged in the ceiling mounting unit (20); a sensor arrangement (11) having at least one sensor (11a, 11b) arranged on the luminaire head (10), wherein the at least one sensor (11a, 11b) is configured as a near-field sensor designed to detect a hand of a user in the proximity of the sensor for the detecting of gestures as non-contact control commands; a control unit (23) in communicative connection with the sensor arrangement (11) and the height adjustment unit (21); wherein the control unit (23) is configured to send a control command to the height adjustment unit (21) for changing the vertical position of the luminaire head (10) upward or downward upon a first gesture being detected at the sensor arrangement (11) and, upon a second gesture being detected at the sensor arrangement (11), to send a control command to the height adjustment unit (21) for changing the vertical position of the luminaire head (10) downward or upward; and wherein the height adjustment unit (21) is configured to vertically change the position of the luminaire head (10) according to the control commands received from the control unit (23).

2. The pendant luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the luminaire head (10) comprises at least one light source (12a, 12b) which is in communicative connection with the control unit (23) and configured to change its brightness according to control commands received from the control unit (23).

3. The pendant luminaire according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit (23) is switchable between a first mode for vertically changing the position of the luminaire head (10) and a second mode for changing the brightness of the at least one light source (12a, 12b).

4. The pendant luminaire according to one of the preceding claims, particularly claim 3, wherein the control unit (23) is configured to switch from the second mode to the first mode when a third mode switching gesture is detected at the sensor arrangement (11).

5. The pendant luminaire according to one of the preceding claims, particularly claim 4, wherein the control unit (23) is configured to automatically switch from the first mode to the second mode after having been in the first mode for a predetermined period of time.

6. The pendant luminaire according to one of the preceding claims, particularly one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the control unit (23) is configured to send a control command for brightness change to the at least one light source (12a, 12b) when the first gesture and/or the second gesture is detected in the second mode.

7. The pendant luminaire according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor arrangement (11) comprises a first sensor (11a) and a second sensor (11b), and wherein the sensor arrangement (11) is configured to detect the first gesture when a hand of a user is detected at the first sensor (11a) for a predetermined minimum time, configured to detect the second gesture when a hand of a user is detected at the second sensor (11b) for a predetermined minimum time, and configured to detect the third gesture for mode switching when a hand of a user is simultaneously detected at the first sensor (11a) and the second sensor (11b) for a predetermined minimum time or for a shorter period than a predetermined minimum time.

8. The pendant luminaire according to claim 7, wherein the luminaire head (10) comprises a first light source (12a) and a second light source (12b), each of which is in communicative connection with the control unit (23) and configured to change its brightness according to control commands received from the control unit (23).

9. The pendant luminaire according to one of the preceding claims, particularly claim 8, wherein the control unit (23) is configured to change the brightness of the first light source (12a) when the first gesture is detected in the second mode and change the brightness of the second light source (12b) when the second gesture is detected in the second mode.

10. The pendant luminaire according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the luminaire head (10) has an upper side and a lower side, the first sensor (11a) and the first light source (12a) being arranged on the upper side of the luminaire head (10) and the second sensor (11b) and the second light source (12b) being arranged on the lower side of the luminaire head (10).

Description

[0042] The invention will also be described in the following in terms of further features and advantages, the same being clarified based on the figures.

[0043] Thereby shown:

[0044] FIG. 1 an exemplary embodiment of a pendant luminaire according to the present invention;

[0045] FIG. 2 the pendant luminaire from FIG. 1, with a user making a first gesture for the non-contact control of the pendant luminaire;

[0046] FIG. 3 the pendant luminaire from FIG. 1, with a user making a second gesture for the non-contact control of the pendant luminaire;

[0047] FIG. 4 the pendant luminaire from FIG. 1 during the upward change in the vertical position of the luminaire head;

[0048] FIG. 5 the pendant luminaire from FIG. 1 during the downward change in the vertical position of the luminaire head; and

[0049] FIG. 6 the pendant luminaire from FIG. 1 with a user making a third gesture for switching the mode of a pendant luminaire control unit.

[0050] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a pendant luminaire according to the present invention. The pendant luminaire comprises a luminaire head 10 which is suspended from a ceiling mounting unit 20 by means of cables 22. The luminaire head 10 comprises a first light source 12a and a second light source 12b, respectively arranged on the upper side/lower side of the luminaire head 10.

[0051] The first light source 12a and the second light source 12b each extend along the respective upper and lower side of the luminaire head 10 and are formed in the present exemplary embodiment by a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged next to each other along the horizontal direction of extension of the luminaire head 10. The light sources 12a, 12b are infinitely dimmable. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the luminaire head 10 is essentially cuboid. According to the invention, however, the shape of the luminaire head 10 is not limited to a cuboid shape. For example, the luminaire head 10 can equally be substantially flat or of ring shape.

[0052] The luminaire head 10 further comprises a sensor arrangement 11, which is formed by a first sensor 11a on the upper side of the luminaire head 10 and a second sensor 11b on the lower side of the luminaire head 10 in the present exemplary embodiment. The following will describe the configuration and design of the sensor arrangement 11 in greater detail.

[0053] The cables 22 serve to affix the luminaire head 10 to the ceiling mounting unit 20 and as the power supply of the luminaire head 10. The cables 22 lead to a height adjustment unit 21 that is fit into the ceiling mounting unit 20. The height adjustment unit 21 is thereby designed to change the length of the sections of cable 22 between the ceiling mounting unit 20 and the luminaire head 10 in order for the height, or vertical position of the luminaire head 10 respectively, to thereby be able to be adjusted. To adjust the height of the luminaire head 10, the height adjustment unit 21 can be electrically controlled; the height of the luminaire head 10 is likewise adjusted electrically. According to the invention, the mechanism used to that end is not subject to any particular limitation and can for example be formed by motor-driven drums onto which the cables 22 are wound or unwound.

[0054] A control unit 23 in communicative connection with the sensors 11a, 11b of the sensor arrangement 11, the light sources 12a, 12b and the height adjustment unit 21 is further arranged in the ceiling mounting unit 20. The communicative connections are depicted in FIG. 1 by dashed lines. The communicative connections can be wired—in the case of the height adjustment unit 21, by a cable in the ceiling mounting unit 20 and in the case of the luminaire head components, by for example cable 22—or be provided by wireless interfaces.

[0055] The sensors 11a, 11b of the sensor arrangement 11 are designed as near-field sensors and generate a detection signal as soon as an object is in the proximity of the sensors 11a, 11b. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the sensors 11a, 11b are formed by infrared sensors. In one variant of the exemplary embodiment, the sensors 11a, 11b are configured to detect infrared light emitted by infrared sources (not shown) in the sensor arrangement 11 and reflected by objects in the detection area. Alternatively, the sensor arrangement 11 can be designed without infrared sources. In this case, the sensors 11a, 11b respond to infrared radiation emitted from a heat source such as, for example, a hand within the detection area. Upon detection of an object in the proximity of the sensor, the sensors 11a, 11b send a detection signal to the control unit 23. The detection signal continues to be transmitted to the control unit 23 for as long as an object remains in the proximity of the sensor in the respective detection area of the sensors 11a, 11b.

[0056] The control unit 23 receives the detection signals of the sensors 11a, 11b and registers the duration of the detection signals as well as information as to which sensor 11a, 11b sent the detection signal. The control unit 23 can thus distinguish between different gestures made by intrusions into the detection areas of the sensor arrangement 11.

[0057] FIG. 2 shows the pendant luminaire from FIG. 1 with a user making a first gesture. The gesture is characterized by a user reaching a hand 30 into the detection area of the first sensor 11a. The control unit 23 registers the duration of the intrusion into the detection area of the first sensor 11a and, if the intrusion lasts longer than a predetermined minimum time, e.g. longer than a second or half a second, identifies the movement as a first gesture.

[0058] FIG. 3 shows the pendant luminaire from FIG. 1 with a user making a second gesture. The second gesture is characterized by a user moving a hand 30 within the detection area of the second sensor 11b. The control unit 23 registers the duration of the intrusion within the detection area of the second sensor 11a and, if the intrusion lasts longer than a predetermined minimum time, e.g. longer than a second or half a second, identifies the movement as a second gesture.

[0059] When the control unit 23 detects the first gesture, it sends a control signal to the height adjustment unit 21 which moves the luminaire head 10 upward in response to the control signal. This is depicted in FIG. 4, wherein the direction of movement of the luminaire head 10 is indicated by an arrow. Analogously, the detection of the second gesture results in a control signal being sent to the height adjustment unit 21 which, as shown in FIG. 5, triggers a downward movement of the luminaire head 10. The control unit 23 and the height adjustment unit 21 are thereby configured such that the upward or downward movement of the luminaire head 10 continues for as long as the hand 30 remains in the detection area of the first sensor 11a or the second sensor 11b respectively.

[0060] If the user moves his hand 30 along with the luminaire head 10 as the luminaire head 10 is moving, the luminaire head 10 follows the up or down movement of the user's hand 30 for as long as the hand 30 remains within the detection area of the sensor 11a/11b. Non-contact, intuitive height adjustment of the luminaire head 10 can thus be realized by gesture control.

[0061] According to one alternative exemplary embodiment, the associating of the gestures to the control commands is reversed. In this exemplary embodiment, the above-described detection of the first gesture in the detection area of the first sensor 11a effects the sending of a control command to the height adjustment unit 21 for vertically moving the luminaire head 10 downward. The detection of the second gesture in the detection area of the second sensor 11b effects the control unit 23 sending a control command to the height adjustment unit 21 for vertically moving the luminaire head 10 upward.

[0062] According to this embodiment, the luminaire head 10 moves away from the hand 30 of the user upon the first or second gesture being detected. When the user follows the movement of the luminaire head 10 with his hand 30, he can guide the luminaire head 10 with his hand 30 and push it ahead of his hand 30 without touching it. This represents an alternative, equally intuitive solution for the height adjustment of the luminaire head 10.

[0063] According to a further exemplary embodiment which can be combined with the previously described exemplary embodiments, the sensor arrangement 11 and the control unit 23 can be configured to detect a further third gesture. The third gesture is detected when the first sensor 11a and the second sensor 11b are simultaneously activated for a predetermined minimum time or for a shorter period than a predetermined minimum time. The third gesture is depicted in FIG. 6. A user simultaneously holds one respective hand 30 in the detection area of both the first and second sensors 11a, 11b. According to this embodiment, the control unit 23 can be switched between two modes when the third gesture is detected.

[0064] In a first mode, detection of the first or respectively second gesture effects the sending of a control command to the height adjustment unit 21 for moving the luminaire head 10 up or down, as described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0065] In a second mode, detection of the first or respectively second gesture effects the sending of a control command to the first light source 12a, or the second light source 12b respectively, for dimming the first light source 12a/second light source 12b. The brightness of the first light source 12a/second light source 12b continues to change for as long as the hand 30 of the user remains in the detection area of the first sensor 11a or second sensor 11b respectively.

[0066] In this exemplary embodiment, the control unit 23 is set in the second mode by default. The detection of the third gesture effects the switching of the control unit 23 into the first mode for a predetermined period of time of e.g. ten or five seconds. If the first or second gesture is detected during this time, the luminaire head 10 moves up or down. If no gesture is detected after the specified period of time, the control unit 23 automatically switches back into the second mode.

[0067] The sensor arrangement 11 and the control unit 23 can be used to detect further gestures. For example, a brief intrusion into the detection area of the first sensor 11a or second sensor 11b which lasts for a shorter period than the specified minimum time can register as a fourth or respectively fifth gesture. In the first mode, the luminaire head 10 can be moved to a respective preset vertical position upon detection of the fourth or fifth gesture. In the second mode, the first light source 12a/second light source 12b can be switched on and off upon detection of the fourth or respectively fifth gesture.

[0068] The fourth and fifth gestures can likewise be used in the first mode to start and stop the vertical movement of the luminaire head 10. In this case, upon detection of the fourth or fifth gesture, the control device 23 is configured to send a control command to the height adjustment unit 21 to continuously move the luminaire head 10 vertically up or down, if the luminaire head 10 was not moving prior to the gesture being detected.

[0069] Had the luminaire head 10 been moving prior to the gesture being detected, the control device 23 is further configured to send a control command to the height adjustment unit 21 to stop the vertical movement of the luminaire head 10 upon the detection of a specific gesture or detection of any given gesture.

[0070] Using the fourth and fifth gesture to adjust the height of the luminaire head 10 thus works as follows: If the luminaire head 10 is in a motionless state (and the first mode potentially activated as per the exemplary embodiment described with reference to FIG. 6), the user moves his hand 30 within the detection area of sensor 11a (fourth gesture) or 11b (fifth gesture) for a shorter period of time than a predetermined minimum time.

[0071] Depending on how the fourth and fifth gesture are associated with upward or downward movement, the control unit 23 is configured to send a control command to the height adjustment unit 21 for the continuous upward or downward vertical movement of the luminaire head 10 upon the detection of the fourth or fifth gesture. This control command is purely a start command for the movement of the luminaire head 10—the vertical movement does not stop when the user removes his hand 30 from the detection area of the sensor arrangement 11.

[0072] The movement of the luminaire head 10 does not end until a further gesture is detected at one of the sensors of the sensor arrangement 11.

[0073] This exemplary embodiment on the one hand enables the realizing of a particularly convenient height adjustment method since the user does not have to continuously keep his hand 30 in the detection area of sensor arrangement 11 during the height adjustment process. Additionally, the control unit 23 being configured to send a control command to stop the movement of the luminaire head 10 upon the detection of any arbitrary gesture increases the operating safety of the pendant luminaire since stopping the movement can in this case also be triggered by an obstacle intruding into the detection area of the sensor arrangement 11 during the vertical movement, with which the luminaire head 10 would have collided had it not stopped moving.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0074] 10 luminaire head [0075] 11 sensor arrangement [0076] 11a first (upper side) sensor [0077] 11b second (lower side) sensor [0078] 12a first (upper side) light source [0079] 12b second (lower side) light source [0080] 20 ceiling mounting unit [0081] 21 height adjustment unit [0082] 22 cable [0083] 23 control unit [0084] 30 hand