Patent Application
20200260557
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of controlling light output, and more specifically, embodiments relate to devices, systems and methods for modulating output brightness levels of a system based on ambient light input.
Modulating output brightness levels of a system based on ambient light input is a technically challenging endeavor, as multiple considerations must be accounted for. In particular, maintaining aesthetic uniformity is challenging, especially in view of light feedback (e.g., from reflections, internal structures).
Controllable lighting is desirable, and lighting devices having adjustable light output adapted for control in accordance with modulating output brightness levels of a system based on ambient light input are particularly useful where calibration is important.
In a modular system of light output devices (e.g., LED light panels), one or more panel modules can include a light sensor for the purposes of modulating output brightness level of the system based on ambient light input. The light sensor is a photoelectric device which is adapted to measure one or more light characteristics, such as luminous intensity (e.g., Candela), an amount of visible light (e.g., Lumen), an amount of visible light that falls on a surface (e.g., Lux), and can include photoresistors (such as a light-dependent resistor), photodiodes, and phototransistors, among others.
To maximize aesthetic uniformity between modules, the light sensor is placed behind optical elements within the panel, hidden from direct view by an observer (e.g., for aesthetic purposes such that the modular lighting appears to the observers as a fully lit object). This introduces light feedback from the lighting elements (e.g., LEDs) in the panel that must be factored out to obtain accurate readings that reflect true ambient light levels in a room coming from other light sources. Having the light sensor obstructed yields technical challenges from a sensory perspective and a specific approach for calibration is described in various embodiments that allows for a practical implementation of lighting devices where the sensor is placed behind the optical elements within the panel.
Further, if the internal lighting elements (e.g., LEDs) are in transition, either in terms of output brightness or in terms of output colour, this can further complicate absolute readings from an ambient light sensor. Accordingly, there are technical challenges in respect of obtaining accurate readings from the light sensor, and these challenges can impede the usefulness of the light sensor in relation to practical applications, such as generating accurate control signals for the adjustment of light output.
As described in various embodiments, compensation mechanisms are provided that aid in reducing or eliminating effects of light feedback.
In an embodiment, there is provided a controller circuit adapted for controlling a light output of a lighting device, the controller circuit including: one or more internal light sensors configured to generate one or more internal light sensor readings at different output colours in a constant ambient brightness setting, the one or more internal light sensor readings recorded as one or more calibration values. The controller circuit can include a printed circuit board (useful for mass manufacturing), a configured field-programmable gate array (e.g., for flexibility in deployment), and an application-specific integrated circuit, among others (e.g., for deployment in larger volumes). The application-specific integrated circuit embodiment can be provided, for example, as a system-on-chip (SoC).
A processor is configured to: determine one or more time periods where a light output of the lighting device is known and stable; obtain a measurement from a light sensor of the one or more internal light sensors; determine a calibration value of the one or more calibration values corresponding to the measurement from the light sensor; scale the calibration value with a current user brightness setting value; subtract the calibration value from the measurement to provide an adjusted ambient brightness value; and generate signals adapted for controlling the light output of the lighting device based at least on the adjusted ambient light value.
The processor can include a hardware processor, such as a computer processor that operates in conjunction with computer memory and/or data storage. The processor can be adapted for interoperation with network interfaces (e.g., input/output pins, message buses, interrupt handlers). Control signals can include signals transmitted across analog signals, or digital signals, and control can be established through the variation of electrical characteristics, such as modifying the voltage experienced at a node across a message bus. The processor can also be adapted to encapsulate the control signal in the form of data packets for transmission to a lighting device, for example, encapsulated for transmission on protocols such as ZigBee™, Bluetooth™, WiFi (e.g., 802.11x), among others.
In another embodiment, the controller circuit includes a processor configured to: based on a user input value, determine a type of lighting output state desired by a user; based on the user input value, determine a brightness level desired, including at least a minimum and a maximum value; track an adjusted ambient brightness level observed by a sensor, the tracking including tracking a minimum and a maximum brightness level; determine an offset for output brightness determined at least by an ambient light level at a time proximate to a time when the user has established a brightness level; and generate signals adapted for controlling the light output of the lighting device to adjust an output brightness of the lighting device along a lighting curve, adjusted based on the offset.
The system of some embodiments is configured to interoperate and control lighting provided by one or more lighting devices of an electronically coupled set of modular lighting display elements. The electronically coupled set of modular lighting display elements include lighting modules that are adapted to generate one or more effects by operating in concert based on synchronized control signals, which, for example, can propagate through one or more lighting controller devices.
Each of the lighting modules can include lighting panels (e.g., substantially planar lighting panels) which may otherwise encounter issues relating to light feedback, and include one or more internal light sensors that are operable to provide compensation and control as described in various embodiments herein.
Corresponding methods, apparatuses and non-transitory computer readable media (e.g., computer program products in the form of machine interpretable instructions that can be executed by a processor such that the processor performs a corresponding method) are contemplated.
In the figures, embodiments are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood that the description and figures are only for the purpose of illustration and as an aid to understanding.
Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures, wherein in the figures:
As described in various embodiments, compensation mechanisms are provided that aid in reducing or eliminating effects of light feedback.
Modulating output brightness levels of a system based on ambient light input is a technically challenging endeavor, as multiple considerations must be accounted for. To maximize aesthetic uniformity between modules, in some embodiments, the light sensor is placed behind optical elements within the panel, hidden from direct view by an observer (e.g., for aesthetic purposes such that the modular lighting appears to the observers as a fully lit object).
This introduces light feedback from the lighting elements (e.g., LEDs) in the panel that must be factored out to obtain accurate readings that reflect true ambient light levels in a room coming from other light sources.
Having the light sensor obstructed yields technical challenges from a sensory perspective and a specific approach for calibration is described in various embodiments that allows for a practical implementation of lighting devices where the sensor is placed behind the optical elements within the panel. Further, if the internal LEDs are in transition, either in terms of output brightness or in terms of output colour, this can further complicate absolute readings from an ambient light sensor. Accordingly, there are technical challenges in respect of obtaining accurate readings from the light sensor, and these challenges can impede the usefulness of the light sensor in relation to practical applications, such as generating accurate control signals for the adjustment of light output.
The system 100 of
The electronically coupled set of modular lighting display elements include lighting modules that are adapted to generate one or more effects by operating in concert based on synchronized control signals, which, for example, can propagate through one or more lighting controller devices.
Each of the lighting modules can include lighting panels (e.g., substantially planar lighting panels) which may otherwise encounter issues relating to light feedback, and include one or more internal light sensors that are operable to provide compensation and control as described in various embodiments herein.
A controller mechanism 102 is provided that can reside within lighting panels, or within an external coupled controller. The controller mechanism 102 is in electronic communication with lighting devices, and provides control signals to control lighting output characteristics of the lighting devices. The controller mechanism 102 can be a controller circuit, such as a controller circuit board, in some embodiments, and may include a processor 104, electronic memory 106, and input/output interfaces 108. The processor 104 can be, for example, a field programmable gate array, a processor element on a printed circuit board, among others. The electronic memory 106 can include read only memory, random access memory, among others, and may store machine-readable instructions thereon for execution by processor 104. The input/output interfaces 108 includes electronic interfaces and/or network interfaces, which are utilized for data communications, such as control signals transferred to lighting output controllers that control lighting characteristics of the light provided by the lighting devices.
The system 100 can include one or more internal light sensors 110 configured to generate one or more internal light sensor readings at different output colours in a constant ambient brightness setting, the one or more internal light sensor readings recorded as one or more calibration values. In a variation, the light sensors can include non-internal light sensors, such as light sensors that are placed at external positions to a particular lighting device (e.g., a network coupled light sensor) or light sensors that are internal to other lighting devices or other lighting systems. For example, in a smart home setup, there can be multiple lighting systems that may or may not be connected to another, each being coupled to light sensors that may be internal to the lighting devices themselves (e.g., in the luminaire) or external, and the light sensors may be positioned such that the lighting systems provide distributed lighting/illumination across the home, and sensed light from the light sensors can be used, for example, to maintain a constant illumination level despite variations in ambient lighting as time passes or due to the presence of external factors, such as cloud movement.
Accordingly, while some embodiments described are in relation to internal light sensors, some variant embodiments are contemplated where light sensors may include internal light sensors, external light sensors, and light sensors that are internal other lighting systems that are distributed across a premise (e.g., a home).
The lighting devices have elements therein that provide controllable lighting that can be adjustable, for example, through modifying lighting output characteristics. For example, a lighting element may include multiple LEDs which operate in conjunction to provide lighting of various colours (e.g., 3 LEDs that operate together in conjunction with a microcontroller orchestrating operation). The output from the LEDs can be modified, for example, by varying aspects of power flow to each of the LEDs, or activating structural aspects (e.g., actuating filters), among others, which can modify how lighting is produced in aggregate.
The lighting elements described in embodiments herein are adjustable at least in respect of brightness, and in other embodiments, are adjustable in terms of colour. As the lighting elements adjust, in some embodiments, the lighting elements transition between colours by smoothly interpolating intermediate colours by, for example, shifting values gradually from an initial state to a target state. The approaches described herein are directed to the use of lighting sensors in conjunction with controllable lighting elements to automatically adjust the lighting output.
If the internal lighting elements of the lighting devices are in transition (e.g., LEDs are shifting from bright red to dimmed green), either in terms of output brightness or in terms of output colour, this can further complicate absolute readings from an ambient light sensor. In order to factor these items out, the system 100 is configured to apply the following process using processor 104.
Variations are contemplated, and steps may be conducted in various orders and different, alternate, and modified steps are possible.
As shown in
The panels 202A and 202B can be connected through a connecting circuit coupler 208, which can, in some embodiments, electrically interconnect panels 202A and 202B such that power and/or data can be transferred amongst one another.
A set steps are shown at
Variations are contemplated, and steps may be conducted in various orders and different, alternate, and modified steps are possible.
The method 400 is summarized (there may be different, alternate, modified steps) as:
This method is shown in
At
Variations are contemplated, and steps may be conducted in various orders and different, alternate, and modified steps are possible.
The method 600 includes, for example:
The processor 702 can include application specific instruction set processors, a computer central processing unit, among others, and can be adapted to process ambient light signals and to generate control signals (e.g., analog or digital signals) for controlling and/or adjusting lighting outputs. Memory 704 can include computer memory, such as random access memory, read only memory, embedded firmware, among others, and can be configured for coupling to processor 702 to store intermediate instructions and/or stored values.
I/O interface 706 can include, for example, input/output ports and/or pins of the computing device 700 for use in receiving sensory inputs or communicating control signals, for example, in the form of analog signals or digital signals, such as data packets. The I/O interface 706 can be coupled with a network interface 708 which can be configured for electronic communications with a network, such as an ad-hoc network of coupled lighting devices, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN). The network can provide signals, for example, from a coupled user mobile device.
The term “connected” or “coupled to” may include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements).
Although the embodiments have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the scope. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification.
As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
As can be understood, the examples described above and illustrated are intended to be exemplary only.
This application is a non-provisional of, and claims all benefit including priority to, U.S. Application No. 62/803,976, entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADJUSTING LIGHT OUTPUT”, filed Feb. 11, 2019, incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62803976 | Feb 2019 | US |
