TOUCH-BASED LIGHTING CONTROL USING THERMAL IMAGING
In various embodiments, a lighting control apparatus ( 100 ) may include logic such as a controller ( 102, 202, 302, 502 ) and a thermal imaging sensor ( 108, 208, 308, 408 a - b, 508 ) operably coupled with the controller. The thermal imaging sensor may have at least one field of view ( 110, 210, 310, 410 a - b, 510 ) pointed at a surface ( 112, 212, 312, 412 a - b, 512, 612 ). The surface may exhibit various degrees of thermal conductivity. The controller may be configured to: receive a signal from the thermal imaging sensor, the signal being indicative of heat ( 114 ) captured by the surface and sensed by the thermal imaging sensor. Based on the signal received from the thermal imaging sensor, the controller may cause one or more light sources ( 104, 204, 304, 504 ) to emit light having one or more selected properties.
1 . An apparatus, comprising:
a controller; and
a thermal imaging sensor operably coupled with the controller and having at least one field of view pointed at a surface;
wherein the controller is configured to:
receive a signal from the thermal imaging sensor, the signal being indicative of a thermal imprint created on the surface by a user and sensed by the thermal imaging sensor;
identify, based on processing of the signal, one or more spatial or temporal aspects of the thermal imprint, the one or more spatial or temporal aspects comprising a shape of the thermal imprint; and
transmit one or more commands selected based on the one or more identified spatial or temporal aspects.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more spatial or temporal aspects comprise a heat gradient of the thermal imprint.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the one or more spatial or temporal aspects further comprise a temporal direction associated with the heat gradient.
4 . (canceled)
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more spatial or temporal aspects comprise a location of the thermal imprint within the field of view.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a light source, wherein the controller is further configured to operate the light source to illuminate the surface within the at least one field of view with a pattern of light to delineate between a plurality of regions of the surface within the field of view.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the one or more spatial or temporal aspects comprise a region of the plurality of regions in which the thermal imprint is sensed.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the surface is independent from the apparatus.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises a wall, ceiling, or floor of a room in which the apparatus is installed.
10 . A method comprising:
pointing a thermal imaging sensor at a thermally conductive surface;
sensing, at the thermal imaging sensor, a thermal imprint captured in the thermally conductive surface;
providing a signal indicative of one or more spatial or temporal aspects of the thermal imprint to a controller, the one or more spatial or temporal aspects comprising a shape of a thermal imprint; and
transmitting, by the controller, one or more commands selected based on the one or more identified spatial or temporal aspects.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the sensing comprises sensing a shape of the thermal imprint within a field of view of the thermal imaging sensor.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the sensing comprises sensing a location of the thermal imprint within a field of view of the thermal imaging sensor.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more spatial or temporal aspects comprise a heat gradient of the thermal imprint.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more spatial or temporal aspects further comprise a temporal direction associated with the heat gradient.
15 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising illuminating the thermally-conductive surface with a pattern of light to visually delineate between a plurality of regions of the thermally conductive surface, wherein the one or more spatial or temporal aspects comprise a region of the plurality of regions in which the thermal imprint is sensed.