Ambient Light Sensor Lens Layout for Adaptive Appliance Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ambient light detection units for household appliances struggle to accurately determine ambient brightness, leading to inadequate interior space illumination adjustments, which can result in user discomfort due to excessive brightness or insufficient illumination.
Innovation Solution
The proposed ambient light detection unit incorporates a sensor housing with a brightness sensor and an optical imaging element, such as a convex lens, to precisely focus ambient light onto the sensor, improving the accuracy of brightness determination. This unit is designed for household appliances, particularly refrigeration units, to dynamically adjust interior space illumination based on ambient conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a brightness sensor is placed inside a sensor housing without optical focusing elements, then the device structure is simple, but the accuracy of ambient brightness determination is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
An optical imaging element (lens) is introduced as an intermediary component between the ambient light and the brightness sensor. This lens focuses the ambient light onto the sensor, significantly improving measurement precision while adding only a single optical component to the device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a lens with curved surfaces (spheroidality) to focus ambient light onto the brightness sensor. The curved geometry of the lens enables effective light convergence, enhancing measurement accuracy without requiring complex multi-element optical systems.
2Illumination intensity
If interior space illumination is set to high brightness levels, then user visibility is improved, but user comfort deteriorates due to excessive brightness in dark environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a brightness sensor to continuously detect ambient light levels and provides feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit dynamically adjusts the interior illumination intensity, reducing brightness in dark environments to prevent user discomfort while maintaining visibility when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The interior illumination intensity is made dynamic rather than static. The lighting system automatically adapts its brightness level in response to changing ambient conditions, transitioning between high and low illumination states to balance visibility requirements with user comfort.
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 enhanced ambient light detection unit achieves more precise determination of ambient brightness, allowing for adaptive interior space illumination that optimally responds to varying ambient conditions, thereby enhancing user comfort and experience.
Implementation Method 1
The ambient light detection unit has at least one optical imaging element, in particular a lens, with which the ambient light that is incident on the sensor housing is focused toward the brightness sensor
Implementation Method 2
at least one brightness sensor that detects the brightness of the ambient light
Data Source
AI summary
An ambient light detection unit for a household appliance includes a sensor housing and a brightness sensor which is disposed in the sensor housing and detects the brightness of the ambient light in the environment. The ambient light detection unit has a lens with which the ambient light that is incident on the sensor housing is focused toward the brightness sensor. A household appliance is also provided.