Brightness control of a status indicator light
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for varying a luminance of a light, comprising:
- determining a target change in a signal, the signal setting the luminance of the light, the luminance of the light having a minimum luminance level and a maximum luminance level;
determining if the target change is less than a maximum allowed change for the signal;
if the determination that the target change is less than a maximum allowed change is positive, limiting a change in the signal to the target;
orif the determination that the target change is less than a maximum allowed change is negative, limiting the change in the signal to the maximum allowed change for the signal thereby limiting a rate of change in the luminance of the light;
determining a target luminance to be reached by the luminance of the light, wherein the target luminance level is determined at least in part based on a change in ambient light levels;
determining a minimum time to reach the target luminance;
setting a minimum number of timer ticks necessary to vary the luminance from an initial luminance to the target luminance; and
changing the luminance of the light from the initial luminance to the target luminance in a number of timer ticks at least equal to the minimum number of timer ticks.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for controlling the brightness and luminance of a light, such as an LED. The embodiment may vary the brightness and luminance of the LED in a variety of ways to achieve a variety of effects. The exemplary embodiment may vary the rate at which the LED'"'"'s luminance changes, such that an observer perceives the change in the LED'"'"'s brightness to be smooth and linear as a function of time, regardless of the ambient light level. Changes to the LED'"'"'s luminance may be time-constrained and/or constrained by a maximum or minimum rate of change.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method for varying a luminance of a light, comprising:
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determining a target change in a signal, the signal setting the luminance of the light, the luminance of the light having a minimum luminance level and a maximum luminance level; determining if the target change is less than a maximum allowed change for the signal; if the determination that the target change is less than a maximum allowed change is positive, limiting a change in the signal to the target;
orif the determination that the target change is less than a maximum allowed change is negative, limiting the change in the signal to the maximum allowed change for the signal thereby limiting a rate of change in the luminance of the light; determining a target luminance to be reached by the luminance of the light, wherein the target luminance level is determined at least in part based on a change in ambient light levels; determining a minimum time to reach the target luminance; setting a minimum number of timer ticks necessary to vary the luminance from an initial luminance to the target luminance; and changing the luminance of the light from the initial luminance to the target luminance in a number of timer ticks at least equal to the minimum number of timer ticks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for varying a luminance of a light, comprising:
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determining an initial luminance of the light; determining a change in ambient light levels using an ambient light sensor; determining a target luminance to be reached by the luminance of the light, wherein the target luminance level is determined at least in part based on the change in ambient light levels; determining a minimum time to reach the target luminance; setting a minimum number of timer ticks to vary the luminance from an initial luminance to the target luminance; and changing the luminance of the light from the initial luminance to the target luminance in a number of timer ticks at least equal to the minimum number of timer ticks. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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Specification