Ambient Light User Presence Detection for Power and Noise Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Personal electronic devices often automatically turn off their displays or adjust cooling equipment based on inactivity, leading to unnecessary power consumption and noise, which can be inconvenient for users who require the screen to stay on or prefer reduced noise levels.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that detect ambient light changes using a light sensor and frequency analysis to determine user presence, controlling the device's operations accordingly, ensuring the display remains on when a user is present and optimizing cooling equipment noise levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the display is turned off after no input is made for a period of time, then power consumption is reduced, but the screen cannot stay turned on when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses ambient light sensors to continuously monitor the environment and detects frequency components characteristic of human presence (such as breathing and body movement). This feedback mechanism allows the device to automatically adjust display state based on detected user presence, resolving the contradiction between power saving and screen availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device autonomously determines user presence through ambient light frequency analysis without requiring manual input. The system self-adjusts its operation state based on the detected frequency components, enabling automatic power management while ensuring the screen remains on when a user is present.
2Temperature
If cooling equipment is automatically adjusted when a resource-intensive task is run, then thermal management is improved, but noise is produced that is annoying to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines thermal state monitoring with ambient light-based user presence detection. When a user is detected to be present, the system adjusts cooling operation to minimize noise while maintaining adequate thermal management. This feedback loop allows the device to balance thermal control requirements with user comfort regarding noise levels.
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
Effectively manages power consumption and noise by accurately determining user presence through ambient light analysis, ensuring the device remains active when needed and conserving power when not in use, while minimizing annoying noise from cooling equipment.
Implementation Method 1
a light sensor that detects ambient light around the device and outputs an illumination signal
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus and computer program product are disclosed. The method includes detecting ambient light around an electronic device, determining whether a user is present based on the ambient light, and controlling an operation of the electronic device. The apparatus includes a component that consumes electric power, a light sensor that detects ambient light, a frequency analyzing unit that specifies a frequency component, and a control unit that determines whether a user is present and controls an operation of the component. The computer program product includes code to perform detecting ambient light around an electronic device, determining whether a user is present based on the ambient light, and controlling an operation of the electronic device.