Alertness Lighting Pulses for Low-Light Work Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Environments such as control rooms, cockpits, and operating theaters often experience reduced lighting, leading to decreased user alertness due to natural or artificial dimming, which can impair focus and increase fatigue, as existing methods for enhancing alertness through light intensity or wavelength may not be sufficient.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system with one or more light sources emitting short pulses of 1ms to 50ms duration, accompanied by idle periods of at least 0.1s, to increase user alertness, which is unexpected as these pulses are not consciously perceivable but have a beneficial effect, and can be adjusted in frequency and intensity based on user feedback and environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If light intensity is increased to improve user alertness, then user alertness is improved, but energy consumption increases and the primary lighting function is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by emitting light in short pulses (1ms to 50ms duration) separated by idle periods (at least 0.1s). This pulsed illumination pattern maintains user alertness through repeated stimulation while consuming significantly less energy compared to continuous high-intensity lighting. The periodic nature allows the system to achieve alertness enhancement without sustained energy expenditure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs partial action by using brief light pulses that are sufficient to trigger alertness responses but insufficient to cause visual discomfort or disrupt the primary lighting function. The pulse duration (1ms to 50ms) is carefully calibrated to provide the minimum effective stimulus for alertness improvement without excessive energy consumption or interference with normal visual tasks.
2Reliability
If continuous bright light is used to maintain alertness, then user alertness is improved, but visual comfort deteriorates and primary lighting function is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
By using periodic light pulses with idle periods between them, the system avoids continuous bright illumination that would cause visual discomfort. The pulsed pattern provides alertness enhancement through intermittent stimulation while allowing the visual system to recover during idle periods, thereby maintaining visual comfort and not interfering with primary lighting functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the alertness-enhancing effect into specific time windows (the light pulses) rather than distributing it continuously. This allows the light to have a strong alertness effect during the pulse duration while being absent during idle periods, creating a localized temporal quality that avoids sustained visual stress.
3Reliability
If long duration light pulses are used to ensure perceivability, then user alertness is improved, but the subliminal effect is lost and user awareness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the duration of light pulses within the specific range of 1ms to 50ms. This parameter optimization ensures the pulses are long enough to trigger alertness responses but short enough to remain below the threshold of conscious perception. The precise control of pulse duration maintains the subliminal nature of the stimulus while achieving the desired alertness effect.
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 system effectively maintains user alertness with minimal energy consumption by using subliminal light pulses that are unobtrusive to primary lighting functions, improving focus and reducing fatigue without noticeable disruption, even in low-light conditions.
Implementation Method 1
one or more light sources arranged to emit light into an environment
Data Source
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AI summary
A lighting system for improving the alertness of a person comprising: one or more light sources (101) arranged to emit light into an environment, at least one of the one or more light sources being arranged with a primary function comprising providing illumination into the environment; and a controller (103) configured to cause at least one of the at least one light sources to provide a secondary function of emitting at least a first light pulse (503) having a duration of between 1ms and 50ms, wherein there is an idle period (505) lasting at least 0.1s on either side of the first light pulse.