Ambient Light Sensor for Adaptive Power Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing power demands in portable electronic devices due to enhanced functionality lead to reduced battery life, necessitating a solution to efficiently manage power consumption based on usage environments.
Innovation Solution
A sensor arrangement comprising a light sensor circuit and a controller circuit that detects ambient light conditions to determine indoor or outdoor locations, selectively enabling or disabling device features such as GPS and Wi-Fi connections to conserve power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If increased functionality is added to portable electronic devices, then device capability is improved, but battery lifetime deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the device functionality adaptive rather than static. The system dynamically adjusts which features are active based on real-time environmental conditions detected by sensors. For example, GPS, Wi-Fi, and camera features are selectively enabled or disabled based on whether the device detects indoor or outdoor lighting conditions, allowing the device to optimize power consumption while maintaining capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operational parameters based on environmental conditions. The controller circuit modifies power consumption parameters by adjusting the state of various device features (on/off, active/standby) according to detected light conditions. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing high functionality when appropriate while conserving battery power during extended operation periods.
2Reliability
If all device features are operated continuously, then functionality is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through environmental sensing and conditional feature activation. Instead of continuous operation, the system periodically detects environmental conditions (indoor/outdoor lighting) and adjusts feature operation accordingly. Features are activated only during periods when environmental conditions indicate they are needed, creating a rhythm of active and inactive states that reduces overall power consumption while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically adjusting its own power consumption based on environmental feedback. The sensor circuit continuously monitors lighting conditions and the controller circuit autonomously decides which features to activate or deactivate without user intervention. This self-regulating mechanism ensures functionality is maintained when needed while minimizing power consumption during extended use.
3Duration of action of moving object
If environmental sensing and conditional control circuits are added, then power optimization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the sensor and controller circuits to serve multiple functions. The ambient light sensor not only detects lighting conditions for feature control but also provides information about the device's operational environment. The controller circuit universally manages multiple device features (GPS, Wi-Fi, camera, display) through a single decision-making architecture, reducing the need for separate control mechanisms for each feature and thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
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
This approach effectively prolongs battery life by disabling unnecessary features in indoor environments and optimizing power usage based on location-specific light characteristics, thereby enhancing the operational duration of portable electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
The light sensor circuit provides a color output in response to the color temperature of light incident upon the light sensor circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A light sensor is used to detect ambient light conditions. According to an example embodiment, a light sensor (112) detects color temperature and, in some instances, intensity characteristics of ambient light (120, 130, 140) in an environment and uses these detected characteristics (116) to determine the location of the sensor relative to natural and artificial light sources. This location determination is used to selectively operate circuits in a device such as a hand-held telephone, computer device or personal data assistant (PDA).