Gesture control in luminaires explained: Knapstein and Occhio
What is gesture control in luminaires?
With gesture control, a contactless sensor registers hand movements within a defined detection range and converts them into control commands. Depending on the gesture and duration of the movement, the luminaire is switched on or off, dimmed, or adjusted in colour temperature. The control electronics are integrated directly into the luminaire – no external dimmer, app, or control wiring is required.
Overview: gesture control by manufacturer
- Knapstein gesture control – RUNA and ZERA series: integrated Dynamic White control by gesture, optionally with master/follower system
- Occhio Touchless Control – Mito sospeso: contactless control with sensor box, Bluetooth (air box), or DALI
Knapstein gesture control
Selected Knapstein pendant luminaires feature integrated gesture control that enables switching on/off, dimming, and stepless colour temperature adjustment (Dynamic White) directly at the luminaire. An upstream wall dimmer is neither required nor permitted.
RUNA series (art. no. 51.486, 51.487, 51.489, 51.532)
In the RUNA series, the sensor is located at the centre of each of the two light strips – one for the upper light, one for the lower light. Both sides can be adjusted separately and independently in brightness and colour temperature. Entering the detection range is indicated by a brief flash of a function LED.
ZERA series (art. no. 51.517, 51.518): master/follower system
The ZERA pendant luminaires feature multiple reflectors and a master/follower system. The master reflector – marked at the factory with a red dot sticker – automatically transfers all settings to all follower reflectors (synchronisation function). The follower reflectors can then be adjusted individually and independently using their own gesture control.
Operation: Knapstein (RUNA and ZERA)
- Switching on and off: A simple swipe motion over the sensor switches the luminaire on or off.
- Dimming: Holding the hand above the sensor for longer dims the light source up or down. Important: dimming must always be completed to the maximum level (fully bright or fully dim) before the direction can be changed.
- Setting the colour temperature (Dynamic White): Briefly dim and remove hand from sensor → the luminaire flickers briefly (= colour change mode active). Within approx. 2 seconds, pass your hand over the sensor again and hold it until the desired colour temperature is reached. The colour temperature always changes fully in one direction first (fully warm or fully cool). If the sensor is not activated for 2 seconds, the luminaire flickers again and returns to dimming mode.
Occhio Touchless Control – Mito sospeso
The Occhio Mito sospeso is a two-light pendant luminaire with light emission upwards and downwards. Depending on the chosen control box, different operating and connectivity options are available. The core system is Touchless Control: a contactless sensor that processes hand movements within the detection range. Sensor signals are indicated by small symbols on the luminaire.
Sensor box (set box)
The sensor box is the basic control unit of the Mito sospeso without Bluetooth. In addition to standard gesture control, it also enables a PRESET mode in which brightness and colour temperature can be saved as fixed default values.
Operation via Touchless Control (sensor box and air box)
- Switching on and off: Swipe motion (move) in front of the sensor.
- Dimming: Hold hand in front of sensor – brightness is adjusted up or down.
- Up/down fading: Hold hand for longer → adjust the light ratio between upper and lower light. This function is exclusive to luminaires with bidirectional light emission such as the Mito sospeso.
- Color Tune: Hold hand → adjust colour temperature steplessly.
PRESET mode (sensor box only)
In PRESET mode, fixed default values for brightness and colour temperature can be saved:
- Unlock: Hold PRESET button for 10 seconds → luminaire flashes = unlocked.
- Light intensity: Hold up/down button → set brightness in 5 levels.
- Colour temperature: Hold Color Tune button → select colour temperature in 4 levels: 2,700 K / 3,000 K / 3,500 K / 4,000 K.
- Save: Switch luminaire on/off or wait 5 minutes → settings are saved automatically.
Air box (Bluetooth + Touchless Control)
The air box extends Touchless Control with Bluetooth connectivity. Via the Occhio air app (iOS/Android), luminaires can be set up, networks created, groups formed, and scenes saved. All Touchless Control gestures are retained; additional control gestures are also available in the app:
- Swipe: Switch on/off
- Swipe up/down: Light ratio upper/lower (up/down fading)
- Tap: Switch on/off
- Hold: Dimming
- Color Tune: Adjust colour temperature
- Magic Move: Extended gesture – only available for luminaires with bidirectional light emission, Color Tune, or Magic Move.
With the Occhio air sZnc function, multiple luminaires can be grouped together and controlled simultaneously with a single Touchless Control gesture – similar to the master/follower principle used by Knapstein.
DALI box
The DALI box integrates the Mito sospeso into professional DALI control systems. Each luminaire occupies two DALI addresses (one each for upper and lower light), with a maximum of 32 luminaires per DALI line. Functions: on/off, dimming, up/down control, and Color Tune. Up to 16 groups and 16 scenes are possible; bidirectional data exchange enables status monitoring of each individual luminaire.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Do I need a wall dimmer for either system?
No. Neither the Knapstein gesture control nor the Occhio Touchless Control requires or is compatible with an upstream wall dimmer. All light control is performed exclusively via the integrated sensor.
What is the difference between Knapstein and Occhio gesture control?
Knapstein gesture control is fully self-contained and requires no app or network. Occhio additionally offers Bluetooth connectivity, app control, group formation (air sZnc), and DALI integration via the air box – depending on the chosen control box.
Can I control multiple luminaires simultaneously?
Yes – with Knapstein via the master/follower system of the ZERA series, with Occhio via the Occhio air sZnc function (Bluetooth group control via app) or via DALI group addressing.
What does the flickering mean on Knapstein luminaires?
The flickering is a status signal: one flicker after dimming = colour change mode active. A second flicker after approx. 2 seconds without interaction = return to dimming mode.
What is up/down fading on the Occhio Mito?
Up/down fading is an exclusive function of the Mito sospeso: by holding the hand in front of the sensor for longer, the ratio between upper and lower light can be shifted steplessly – independently of the overall brightness.
Which colour temperatures can be set on Occhio?
In the PRESET mode of the sensor box, four fixed levels are available: 2,700 K (warm white), 3,000 K, 3,500 K, and 4,000 K (neutral white). Via Touchless Control, the colour temperature can be adjusted steplessly.
In summary:
Gesture control makes operating high-quality pendant luminaires intuitive and convenient – with no wall dimmer, wiring, or mandatory app. Knapstein offers a robust, self-contained solution for single and multi-reflector luminaires with master/follower synchronisation. Occhio complements contactless control with Bluetooth connectivity, app integration, and professional DALI support. At Leuchtenland.com, you will find a selection of Knapstein and Occhio luminaires with integrated gesture control.