Intelligent dimming lighting

• US 10,178,738 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2016
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Display Corporation
• Original Assignee: Universal Display Corporation
• Inventors: Krall, Emory, Ma, Ruiqing, Hack, Michael, Billings, Eoin, Jackson, Duncan
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tung X
• Application Number:
  US15/180,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20160295666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 315312
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/60 Circuit arrangements for operating LEDs comprising organic material, e.g. for operating organic light-emitting diodes [OLED] or polymer light-emitting diodes [PLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/125 by using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Systems, devices, and techniques are provided for operating a display and/or an illumination source based upon the direction of a user'"'"'s gaze and/or a desired illumination level in a monitored area. One or more elements may be controlled with sensor input and application lighting preferences. For example, when a user receives a video call, light may be activated to illuminate their face. When the user is looking at the display, the display will be at the brightness necessary for the lighting conditions. When the user looks away from the screen, the screen may dim further and the lighting elements for the desk can brighten. Similarly, embodiments may adjust the lighting in a monitored location based upon lighting levels identified in other areas.

Claims

1. A luminaire comprising:

a communication module configured to receive a first signal from a first external device, the first signal indicating a direction of a gaze of a user, wherein the first external device is external to the luminaire;

at least one illumination source; and

a controller configured to control the illumination source based upon the first signal and based upon a second signal received from a second external device that is physically separate from the first external device and is external to the luminaire, wherein the second external device is a light sensor which is communicatively coupled to the communication module, and the second signal indicates that a level of illumination in an area exceeds a threshold value.

2. The luminaire of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to determine the gaze of the user.

3. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the illumination source comprises an organic light emitting device.

4. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the first external device is a mobile computing device.

5. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the communication module is in wireless communication with the first external device.

6. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the illumination source is color-tunable, and wherein the controller is configured to control the color of light emitted by the illumination source in response to the first signal.

7. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the at least one illumination source comprises a plurality of illumination sources.

8. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the illumination source is transparent, flexible, or both transparent and flexible.

9. A device comprising:

a gaze direction sensor configured to determine a gaze direction of a user; and

a controller configured to control at least one external illumination source based upon the gaze direction and based upon a signal received from an external device that is physically separate from and external to the device, wherein the external device is a light sensor which is communicatively coupled to the controller, and the signal indicates that a level of illumination in an area exceeds a threshold value;

wherein the external illumination source is physically separate from the device.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the device is a portable computing device.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the gaze direction sensor comprises a camera.

12. The device of claim 9 further comprising a wireless communication module configured to provide a control signal from the controller to the external illumination source.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the at least one external illumination source comprises a plurality of illumination sources.