Wall-Mounted Control Device Backlighting with Ambient Light Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wall-mounted control devices lack an efficient mechanism for automatically adjusting the brightness and color of their backlights in response to ambient light levels, leading to potential obtrusiveness and reduced readability.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an automatic dimming and color-adjusting backlight system using RGB LEDs, controlled by a light sensor that adjusts intensity and color based on ambient light conditions, allowing for optimal brightness and aesthetic appeal across varying light environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the backlight is set to high brightness, then readability is improved, but it becomes obtrusive and causes light bleed in dark environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic backlight adjustment by using an ambient light sensor to detect room light levels and automatically adjusting the backlight brightness accordingly. The system transitions from static high brightness to dynamically adapted brightness levels, reducing obtrusiveness in dark environments while maintaining readability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback control through an ambient light sensor that continuously monitors room lighting conditions and feeds this information back to the control system. This feedback loop enables automatic adjustment of backlight parameters to optimize readability while minimizing harmful effects in varying ambient light conditions.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single color backlight is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but it cannot provide optimal visual effect across different times of day
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the color parameter of the backlight by using RGB LED technology that can emit different colors (warm white, cool white, blue, red, green, yellow). The system automatically adjusts color temperature based on ambient light levels, providing warm colors for nighttime and cool colors for daytime, thereby achieving adaptability without significantly complicating manufacturing.
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 system ensures that the backlighting is optimally bright and aesthetically pleasing at all times, minimizing obtrusiveness and enhancing readability by dynamically adjusting brightness and color in response to ambient light levels.
Implementation Method 1
The controller adjusts the color and intensity of the plurality of LEDs based on ambient light levels
Implementation Method 2
The buttons may include backlighting via light emitting diodes (LEDs). This can be achieved via multicolor LEDs, such as Red-Green-Blue (RGB) LEDs
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, system, and method for an automatic dimming and color temperature adjusting backlight LEDs of wall mounted control device buttons. The control device comprises a light sensor, a memory, and a controller adapted to control an operation of an associated electrical load. The light sensor detects light levels in a space where the control device is installed and outputs light level readings. The memory stores a color temperature curve represented by a relationship between light level readings and color temperatures. In response to receiving a light level reading from the light sensor, the controller determines a color temperature level using the received light level reading and the color temperature curve, and drives the at least one LED at the determined color temperature level.