Display Brightness Control Using Stable Luminance Regions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automatic brightness control systems for electronic visual displays in security systems are inaccurate when ambient light is in-homogeneously distributed, leading to undesirable changes in display brightness.

Innovation Solution

A method that identifies a luminance-indicating area in the field of view of an image sensor, captures images, determines an ambient luminance value, and adjusts the display brightness accordingly, using a reference luminance value or table.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If ambient light sensors are used to automatically adjust display brightness, then the display brightness can be dynamically adjusted in response to ambient light changes, but the system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay brightness adjustmentVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The image sensor originally designed for security monitoring purposes is made to serve a dual function by also capturing ambient light information for display brightness adjustment. This eliminates the need for dedicated ambient light sensors and reduces system complexity while maintaining the brightness adaptation capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses its own existing image sensor to provide the ambient light measurement function, rather than relying on separate dedicated sensors. The image sensor essentially serves itself by providing data for both its primary security function and the secondary brightness control function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If total/average luminance value of the monitored space is used for brightness control, then the brightness can be adjusted based on overall light levels, but the accuracy deteriorates when light is in-homogeneously distributed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrightness controlVSAvoidbrightness control accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of treating the entire monitored space as a single measurement area, the system segments the field of view by identifying and selecting specific local regions with stable luminance characteristics. This segmentation allows accurate brightness measurement even when the overall light distribution is non-uniform

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from using a global average luminance value to using local luminance values from specifically selected regions. By focusing on local areas with stable lighting conditions, the system achieves more accurate brightness control that reflects the actual viewing environment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If ambient light sensors constantly monitor the monitored space, then the ambient light level can be continuously tracked, but the cost and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveambient light monitoringVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The image sensor performs dual functions: security monitoring and ambient light measurement. By reusing the same hardware component for both purposes, the system avoids the additional power consumption that would result from operating dedicated ambient light sensors continuously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges the ambient light monitoring function with the existing security monitoring function. Both functions share the same image sensor and processing pipeline, thereby consolidating resource usage and reducing overall power consumption while maintaining reliable ambient light tracking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 method provides more accurate and reliable brightness control by focusing on areas with stable average luminance levels, reducing the impact of localized artificial light.

Implementation Method 1

capturing at least one first image of the field of view by the image sensor; determining an ambient luminance value for the electronic visual display using the luminance-indicating area of the at least one first image

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric Effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS20250046230A1Method for adjusting brightness of an electronic visual display

Publication Date: 2025.02.06 RESIDEO LLC

AI summary

A method for adjusting brightness of an electronic visual display of an electronic device, comprising: identifying a luminance-indicating area in a field of view of an image sensor of the electronic device; capturing at least one first image of the field of view by the image sensor; determining an ambient luminance value for the electronic visual display using the luminance-indicating area of the at least one first image; and adjusting the brightness of the electronic visual display according to the determined ambient luminance value; wherein the step of identifying the luminance-indicating area in the field of view of the image sensor comprises: capturing a plurality of second images of the field of view by the image sensor, each second image being taken at a different time of a day, and analyzing the plurality of second images so as to identify an area of the field of view of the image sensor which has the most stable average luminance level.