Adaptive Luminance Controller for Smooth LED Transitions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rapid luminance variations from illuminating units, such as LED lights, can cause unrestorable damage to human pupils due to frequent and extreme expansions and contractions of the pupils, as they struggle to adapt to sudden changes in light levels.

Innovation Solution

A luminance controller with an A/D converter and an adaptive luminance adjusting module that generates an output luminance control signal based on a formula combining current and previous ambient luminance signals, using a rounding function to smoothly adjust the illuminating unit's luminance, preventing abrupt changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the illuminating unit switches on rapidly to provide immediate illumination, then the lighting response speed is improved, but the pupil damage risk increases due to extreme luminance variation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting response speedVSAvoidpupil damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The luminance controller activates before the illuminating unit, gradually increasing luminance from an initial level to a target level over a predetermined period. This preliminary action prepares the human eyes for the upcoming light change, reducing pupil stress when the full illumination activates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts luminance levels during the transition period, continuously changing the output from initial to target luminance. This dynamic adjustment allows the lighting system to adapt to human eye adaptation capabilities while maintaining rapid overall response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Illumination intensity

If the luminance increases rapidly to meet lighting requirements, then the illumination effectiveness is improved, but the human eye adaptation capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination effectivenessVSAvoidhuman eye adaptation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The luminance controller implements periodic or continuous adjustment of luminance levels during the predetermined period. Instead of a single abrupt change, the system applies gradual increments or decrements, allowing human eyes to adapt progressively while achieving the required illumination level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The ambient luminance sensor continuously detects surrounding light levels and feeds this information to the luminance controller. The controller uses this feedback to adjust the illuminating unit's output, ensuring the luminance transition is appropriate for current environmental conditions and human eye adaptation state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If the pupil expands and contracts frequently to adapt to luminance changes, then the light adaptation response is improved, but the pupil suffers unrestorable damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight adaptation responseVSAvoidpupil health
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The luminance controller provides beforehand cushioning by gradually changing luminance levels before the full illumination activates. This cushioning effect reduces the abruptness of light transitions, protecting pupils from the stress of rapid expansion and contraction while still enabling effective light adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively prevents sudden increases in luminance, allowing pupils to adapt gradually, thereby protecting them from potential damage and ensuring a smoother transition between light levels.

Implementation Method 1

an ambient luminance sensor for detecting an ambient luminance of the luminance smoothening system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric Effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3772872B1Luminance smoothening system and luminance controller thereof
Publication Date: 2022.06.29 LEELEDS LIGHTING XIAMEN
  • EP3772872B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3772872B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3772872B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A luminance smoothening system includes an illuminating unit, an ambient luminance sensor and a luminance controller. The ambient luminance sensor detects an analog ambient luminance. The luminance controller includes an A/D converter and an adaptive luminance adjusting module. The A/D converter is electrically coupled to the ambient luminance sensor. The A/D converter receives the analog ambient luminance signal. The A/D converter transforms the analog ambient luminance signal to a digital ambient luminance signal. The adaptive luminance adjusting module is electrically coupled to the illuminating unit. The adaptive luminance adjusting module generates an output luminance control signal at a current stage based on a first adjusted ratio of the digital ambient luminance signal at the current stage and a second adjusted ratio of the output luminance control signal at a previous stage. The adaptive luminance adjusting module controls the illuminating unit using the output luminance control signal at the current stage.