Addressable Digital Lampshade for Camera-Guided Glare Control

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lampshades struggle to effectively control light distribution to minimize glare while allowing for flexible illumination adjustments, especially when controlling multiple lamps using mobile devices, which can be cumbersome and challenging due to manual orientation issues.

Innovation Solution

A method and system using addressable lampshades that communicate with a mobile device to generate spatiotemporally varying light patterns for identification and control, allowing users to adjust shading and illumination patterns through camera-based interactions, determining the relative position of the device to the lamp, and enabling precise light management without manual alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a single unshaded light bulb is used, then visibility in a small uncluttered room is improved, but glare is produced which reduces visibility

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidglare

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lampshade is divided into multiple independently controllable zones or segments that can be selectively adjusted to control light distribution in different directions, allowing glare to be blocked in specific directions while maintaining illumination in others

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lampshade employs dynamic adjustment mechanisms that allow real-time modification of light distribution patterns based on user needs and environmental conditions, enabling the system to adapt between providing strong illumination and blocking glare

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If shades or diffusers are used to block light from directly entering the viewer's eye, then glare is reduced, but the variety and flexibility of illumination patterns are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveglareVSAvoidillumination pattern variety

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The lampshade is divided into multiple independently controllable zones or segments that can be selectively adjusted to control light distribution in different directions, allowing glare to be blocked in specific directions while maintaining illumination in others

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lampshade employs dynamic adjustment mechanisms that allow real-time modification of light distribution patterns based on user needs and environmental conditions, enabling the system to adapt between providing strong illumination and blocking glare

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 3:

The system changes parameters such as opacity, transparency, and light distribution patterns dynamically to create various illumination effects while maintaining glare protection, allowing transformation between different lighting modes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If manual orientation and control of multiple lamps is required, then precise light control is achieved, but the ease of operation and user experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight control precisionVSAvoiduser experience

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that detect user position, gaze direction, or device orientation and automatically adjust lampshade shading patterns accordingly, eliminating the need for manual orientation while maintaining precise light control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The lampshade system performs self-adjustment based on detected user conditions or environmental factors, automatically optimizing light distribution without requiring active user intervention for orientation or positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables efficient and intuitive control of light distribution, reducing glare and enhancing illumination flexibility by automatically adjusting lampshade opacity based on device position, improving user experience and reducing manual intervention.

Implementation Method 1

The camera detects the resulting light through the camera and identifies the lamp of interest when targeted lamp exhibits the identification pattern

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight detection: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3779274B1Digital lampshade system and method

Publication Date: 2025.11.05 DRNC HOLDINGS INC

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AI summary

A method performed by a digital lampshade, the method comprising: in response to a first instruction from a mobile computing device, displaying a spatiotemporally varying position-determining light pattern; after displaying the spatiotemporally varying position-determining light pattern, receiving a second instruction from the mobile computing device to modify illumination at least in a direction specified in the illumination instruction; and modifying illumination by the digital lampshade according to the illumination instruction.