Lighting Control via Display Light Signals
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems lack the ability to seamlessly integrate with computing devices to adjust light levels based on user preferences or device activity, leading to inefficient lighting control.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system that includes a light fixture, a light sensor, and a control unit, where the light sensor detects a visible light signal from a computing device's display screen, allowing the control unit to adjust the light level of the light fixture based on information received from the computing device, such as user preferences or activity indicators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the lighting system uses ambient light sensors to adjust light levels, then the system can respond to changes in natural light, but it cannot adapt to user-specific preferences or device-specific requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a computing device as an intermediary carrier that transmits user preference information and target light level data to the lighting system. The display screen of the computing device emits visible light signals that encode this information, enabling the lighting system to receive and process user-specific requirements without direct human intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system implements a feedback mechanism where the photosensor detects light levels and the control unit adjusts the light fixtures accordingly. This closed-loop system continuously monitors the lighting environment and adapts the output based on detected conditions and received user preferences, ensuring the lighting remains optimized over time.
2Reliability
If the lighting system adjusts based on photosensor detection, then it can maintain target light levels, but it lacks the ability to communicate with computing devices for co-location determination
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a light level regulator based on photosensor input and as a communication interface for receiving data from computing devices. This universal controller handles both traditional lighting control tasks and new functions like co-location detection and user preference implementation.
Solution Approach 2:
The display screen acts as an intermediary communication channel between the computing device and the lighting system. By encoding information in visible light signals emitted from the screen, the system enables data transfer without requiring direct physical connection or additional specialized sensors.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system integrates computing device communication, then it can provide user-specific lighting control, but it increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The computing device itself serves as the source of control information by emitting encoded visible light signals from its display screen. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate input devices or complex communication interfaces, as the computing device's existing display functionality is leveraged for data transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The visible light emitted by the display screen serves as a simple intermediary medium for data transmission. This approach uses an existing physical property of display devices (light emission) to convey information, avoiding the need for specialized communication hardware and reducing overall system 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
Enables dynamic and user-specific lighting adjustments, improving lighting efficiency and user comfort by synchronizing light levels with computing device activity, whether the device is co-located with the lighting system or not.
Implementation Method 1
The light sensor may detect a visible light signal emitted by a source emitter of a computing device
Data Source
AI summary
A system may communicate between a display device and a lighting system using light generated by the display device and a light sensor in the lighting system. A computing device and a building control system may communication over a wireless link. The building control system may determine that the computing device is co-located with a fixture in the building control system based on whether communication over the wireless link between the computing device and the building control system is detected.