LED Indicator Power Control via Motion and Light Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for power and energy savings in electronics and computer-related equipment, particularly for continuous or persistent LED displays and indicators, which consume significant energy and heat, and often remain unnecessary, such as in infrequently accessed server rooms, requiring efficient control methods that do not affect display characteristics and can be remotely managed.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of hardware and software systems that allow for the temporary disabling or dormancy of power or activity indicators using motion detectors, light sensors, and user-initiated controls, along with physical switches, to reduce energy consumption and costs, while maintaining essential system status indications, utilizing a combination of hardware and software controls to manage indicator operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If continuous or persistent LED indicators are used to display status information, then the display characteristics and status indication are maintained, but energy consumption and heat production increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic or on-demand activation of LED indicators based on motion detection or user interaction. Instead of continuous operation, indicators are activated periodically when motion is detected or when users need to view status information, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining necessary status indication functionality.
2Loss of energy
If motion detectors and sensors are added to enable remote control of indicators, then energy savings and cooling cost reductions are achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses motion detectors and sensors to automatically detect user presence and trigger indicator activation without requiring manual user input. The system serves itself by autonomously deciding when indicators should be active based on environmental sensing, reducing the need for complex user interfaces and control mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If physical switches are installed at each device to control indicators, then remote control capability is achieved, but ease of operation is reduced due to lack of physical access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical physical switches with electronic sensing systems including motion detectors, light sensors, and wireless communication capabilities. These electronic systems detect user presence and intentions without requiring physical contact, thereby maintaining ease of operation from a distance while eliminating the need for physical access to device controls.
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 achieves significant power savings, reducing energy consumption and thermal loads, with estimated savings of 0.6 watts per 24-port switch and up to 600 watts in larger networks, thereby lowering air conditioning requirements and overall costs.
Implementation Method 1
Exemplary control methods and systems in accordance with aspects of the present invention may include use of motion detectors
Implementation Method 2
light detectors (e.g., of room illumination, or other sensor or switch linked activation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to systems and methods for controlling indicators on a device to achieve power and energy conservation. The systems and methods include enabling one or more indicators on the device and further include triggering the disablement of one or more of the indicators on the device based upon a disabling event. Upon detecting an enabling event, the systems and methods include re-enabling one or more of the disabled indicators.