Multi-Level Button Backlighting for Ambient Light Readability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home automation systems face challenges in providing consistent backlighting for control device buttons, especially in varying ambient light conditions, which affects readability and contrast between selected and unselected buttons.
Innovation Solution
A keypad with multiple-level backlighting controlled by a circuit that adjusts LED illumination intensities based on ambient light levels, using active and inactive adjustment curves to ensure consistent and readable button illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If uniform backlighting intensity is applied to all buttons, then manufacturing is simple, but readability of selected buttons deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements different backlighting intensities for different buttons based on their selection state. The controller adjusts LED illumination intensity individually for each button, providing higher intensity for selected buttons and lower intensity for unselected buttons, thereby resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and selected button readability.
2Illumination intensity
If higher LED illumination intensity is used, then button readability improves, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial illumination by providing different LED illumination intensities for different buttons rather than uniformly high intensity across all buttons. The controller adjusts each button's backlighting intensity based on its selection state, providing sufficient illumination for readability while reducing overall power consumption by using lower intensity for unselected buttons.
3Adaptability or versatility
If ambient light detection is implemented, then backlighting adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an ambient light detector that provides feedback to the controller about ambient light conditions. The controller uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust LED illumination intensity, enabling the backlighting system to adapt to varying ambient light conditions while managing complexity through efficient use of the feedback signal.
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 solution provides consistent and readable backlighting for control device buttons across different ambient light conditions, ensuring that the selected button is easily identifiable while maintaining low power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) may be configured to illuminate at least a portion of a respective button of the plurality of buttons
Data Source
AI summary
A control device may have a plurality of buttons that may be backlit to multiple levels, such as first, second, and third adjacent buttons positioned in order, and first, second, and third LEDs positioned to illuminate a respective button. The control device may be configured to illuminate the first LED to a first LED illumination intensity to illuminate the respective button to a first surface illumination intensity; illuminate the third LED to a second LED illumination intensity to illuminate the respective button to a second surface illumination intensity; and illuminate the second LED to a third LED illumination intensity to illuminate the respective button to the second surface illumination intensity. The third LED illumination intensity may be less than the second LED illumination intensity, which may be less than the first LED illumination intensity, and the second surface illumination intensity may be less than the first surface illumination intensity.