Lights for a lifetime..
Keeping baby safe and comfortable is a priority in any household with a newborn, and essential to everyone's well being. by leveraging intelligently designed technology we can help. As children grow and their needs change, the systems we use to keep them safe and comfortable change with them. An intelligent environmental system that also grows with a child, and meets his needs is the next logical step.
Today we use a baby monitor for newborns, then after a couple years it get’s put away until the next baby, or the next garage sale. Children need lights for play and nightlights for sleep. As children grow their environment should not be outgrown and replaced, but it should grow with them, this is my idea, Lights for a lifetime.
My idea includes a system designed to evolve with each step in a child's life, assisting parents to maintain a safe and loving environment for their child while they grow, and without needing to be replaced at every milestone, like today’s specialty items.
I propose a complete backward compatible lighting system that can be easily installed and does not require additional cables. Light fixtures are present in every room in every house, what better device to use for secure communications between every ‘smart’ device in the house.
My idea includes three separate lighting fixtures that can be connected together or function independently. All three fixtures have the same basic functionality but, because of their function, are physically different. Each fixture will contain sensors and basic electronics to perform their tasks, and will use C bulbs, but will also be backwards compatible. A control unit can be added for convenience as a replacement for the existing wall switch, or stand alone.
- Infant Night Light/baby monitor - Wall mounted or bedside device.
- Ceiling light fixture - Replaces existing fixtures.
- Lamp - Tabletop or floor.
This is the functionality I envision for each of these devices.
From the crib...
The infant night light should have a opaque dome that diffuses the light from the bulb. Large enough to fit a light bulb inside, the electronics will be in the base, and it will be designed either to sit on a night stand or mount on the wall near the crib. This device will have a built in baby monitor.
Infants wake easily with bright lights, the infant night light will have audio sensors that will react to sounds, when baby first starts to fuss the light can produce a low level (adjustable) light and soothing sounds to comfort baby and add visibility for parents, avoiding startling the baby with a bright light when a lamp or overhead light is turned on, and the problem of trying to navigate a dark room with only the light from the hallway. The night light will also send a notification that the baby is fussing, allowing the parents to intervene before the baby is fully awake. If baby is fully awake and crying, the light level can be programmed to raise automatically to an adjustable level. A voice command can be used in case more light is needed, assuring daddy can keep both hands on baby and doesn’t have to stumble around in the dark looking for a light switch. The dome should be touch sensitive for use in adjusting volume and lighting levels for the various programs.
Many baby monitors now have built in wi-fi for easy access from anywhere in the world, but really, how often are you going to leave your baby at home, asleep to run to the store, or fly to Sweden? We’ve all seen the news articles about hackers accessing internet connected baby monitors, is this type of security risk really necessary to monitor a baby while she sleeps? This type of technological overkill creates a home security risk, and just adds to the cost of the device, and what for, functionality that the majority of parents don’t even use. Bluetooth allows for streaming audio and video from a monitor, is encrypted, and transmits over a limited distance. The baby monitor built into the Infant night light will transmit over bluetooth, directly, or for more distance, across a mesh network created by the other devices installed in the home. Parents can use their ever-present cell phones as a monitoring device, and keep their children safe from internet predators.
As the child grows the programming of the device can be switched to be a night light, with a timer to turn itself off after a certain time, to help older children become accustomed to sleeping in the dark, while still being able to turn itself on if the child awakes from a bad dream, or with a voice command. The soft light can also be used for playtime, or reading without causing eye strain.
To the ceiling …. And beyond!
The ceiling light fixtures and the lamps will share the same functionality. The light fixture will replace existing ceiling fixtures, connecting directly to the existing power connection without any extra cabling needed. Existing light switches will need to be replaced, either with a pass-through connection and a cover, or a control unit that will serve as pass-through and draw power from the existing wiring. The lamp will simply plug into a wall outlet.
These fixtures will each have a specific serial number that can be entered into the app, this will allow for easy setup, each fixture can have a name designate so that it can be voice controlled with commands like ‘Turn off the light in the playroom’, all of the fixtures will be connected with a Bluetooth mesh network so that commands and data can be passed on to other nodes without needing to be in the specific room to issue a command. Each device will have the ability to control power to the socket, in order to be able to use regular bulbs, but should also be able to communicate directly with a smart bulb that has been inserted. The user will be able to specify the bulb type so that the fixture will be able to control it correctly, for example, control brightness on an incandescent bulb, but not a CFL. The fixtures will be programmable, specific times they can or cannot be used, or if the should turn on as ambient light diminishes. Light color and intensity should also be programmable.
Each of these three devices should have, light, temperature, and humidity sensors, microphones and speakers, and Bluetooth communications. These sensors and a small Micro Controller (MCU) can easily be included inside a light fixture not much bigger than those in use today, or inside a lamp. The microphone speaker combination can also be used as a communications device with defined endpoints.
The control units could be inserted into existing holes for light switches, providing physical touch control over the environmental lighting, showing sensor readings from the fixture (Temp, humidity, time) and the ability to fine tune light intensity, color, or programs. They would also have infrared sensors in order to tell when someone enters or exits the room. All of these features should be controllable via a central device or android/Ios application.
This system could become essential for control of other devices in the home. Today more and more appliances are built with Internet of Things (IoT) access in mind. Offering an existing network that provides consistent communications throughout the entire house can be a big selling point. Bluetooth provides encrypted communications, isolation, and eventually the ability to securely transmit data across the internet or download updates to devices through an access point or control device. No other home automation system replaces an existing device without an added physical or spatial requirement and could easily become a standard installation in new homes and an inexpensive renovation for existing homes.
A keys in hand solution would be installed in a new home, have a central control unit that is already programmed with the fixture addresses and locations, and be ready to access by the new home buyer. This system would provide control of all of the internal and external lighting of the home, could be used for tracking movement or intrusion detection, and provide a network for all other connected devices in the home so they can be controlled or accessed when appropriate.
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