Emulating Ambient Light Sensing Using Imaging Sensors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of dedicated ambient light sensors in devices increases costs due to hardware requirements, and existing solutions do not efficiently emulate ambient light sensing without additional hardware.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves using an imaging sensor, such as a camera, to capture images and emulate ambient light sensing (ALS) and ambient color temperature sensing (ACS) functions by generating luminance and color temperature values from the captured images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a dedicated ambient light sensor is added to a device, then ambient light sensing capability is improved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging sensor, originally designed for capturing images, is made multi-functional by enabling it to also perform ambient light sensing and color temperature sensing. The same sensor hardware is used for both imaging and environmental sensing purposes, eliminating the need for separate dedicated sensors and reducing overall device complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple sensing functions (imaging, ambient light sensing, and color temperature sensing) into a single imaging sensor system. By merging these functions, the device reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby lowering cost and complexity while maintaining the required sensing capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If a discrete ambient light sensor is placed in specific locations, then sensing accuracy is improved, but device complexity and wiring requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging sensor serves dual purposes: capturing images and performing ambient light sensing. This eliminates the need for separate discrete sensors placed at specific locations, thereby reducing wiring requirements and device complexity while maintaining sensing accuracy through the same optical path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the imaging function and ambient light sensing function into a single integrated system. By combining these functions in one sensor, the patent eliminates the need for separate sensor placements and associated wiring, simplifying the device architecture.
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 allows devices to implement ALS power management and display adaptation without a discrete ALS sensor, reducing costs and improving performance while maintaining accurate ambient light emulation.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging sensor, such as a camera, to capture images and emulate ambient light sensing (ALS) and ambient color temperature sensing (ACS) functions by generating luminance and color temperature values from the captured images
Data Source
AI summary
Various techniques are provided to emulate an ambient light sensor and determine an ambient color temperature. A programmable logic device includes an image processing pipeline with hardware components configured to process an image frame received from an image capture device, ambient light sensing hardware coupled to the image processing pipeline and configured to generate an ambient light value from the image frame, and a memory configured to store the ambient light value for use by a host system processor. The host system processor may be configured to selectively adjust a brightness and/or display color settings based on the ambient light value. The programmable logic device may be configured to operate in accordance with a polling interval. User presence data comprising audio, video, and/or user input data may be collected and fused with the ambient light value for use by the host processor.