Ambient Light Sensor to Adjust Display Brightness

• US 20080291015A1
• Filed: 05/25/2007
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Original Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Inventors: Charles, Steven T.
• Application Number:
  US11/753,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20080291015A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/372 Details of monitor hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation

Abstract

A system for automatically adjusting the display intensity and/or illumination of surgical console controls and indicators. The invention includes a light sensor to detect the level of ambient light as well as a microprocessor with settings for ambient light threshold level and dimming amount.

Claims

1. A surgical system comprising:

a) a console;

b) at least one illuminated control associated with the console;

c) a light sensor having an output, the light sensor being connected to the console;

d) a microprocessor connected to the light sensor and the console;

the microprocessor capable of storing a plurality of settings and adjusting an intensity of the control illumination based upon a comparison of the output from the light sensor and the stored settings.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is capable of continuously adjusting the intensity of the control illumination.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the settings are factory presets.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein one of the factory preset settings comprise at least a threshold ambient light level.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the preset threshold settings comprise at least a plurality of threshold ambient light settings.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein one of the factory preset settings comprise at least a dimming amount.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein one of the factory preset settings comprise at least a dimming rate.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the settings are user defined.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein one of the user defined settings comprise at least a threshold ambient light level.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the user defined settings comprise at least a plurality of threshold ambient light settings.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein one of the user defined settings comprise at least a dimming amount.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein one of the user defined settings comprise at least a dimming rate.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the light sensor comprises a photodiode.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the light sensor comprises a domed shaped optical lens.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the light sensor comprises a photoelectric cell.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the light sensor comprises a domed shaped optical lens.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the light sensor comprises a photovoltaic cell.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the light sensor comprises a domed shaped optical lens.

19. A method for continuously controlling an intensity of a surgical console control illumination comprising the steps of:

a) providing a console having a microprocessor and at least one illuminated control;

b) measuring an intensity of ambient light using a light sensor, the light sensor being in communication with the microprocessor;

c) using the microprocessor to compare the intensity of ambient light to a threshold setting;

d) adjusting the intensity of the control illumination based on the comparison of the intensity of the ambient light to the threshold setting.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein increased intensity adjustments in the control illumination are made in a different increment than decreased intensity adjustments in the control illumination.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the threshold setting comprises a factory preset setting.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the threshold setting comprises a plurality of threshold settings.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the threshold setting comprises a user defined setting.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the adjustment of the intensity of the control illumination intensity is made at a user defined rate.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the adjustment of the intensity of the control illumination intensity is made at a factory preset rate.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein the adjustment of the intensity of the control illumination is made continuously.

27. The method of claim 19 wherein the threshold setting includes at least a dimming amount.

28. The method of claim 19 wherein the threshold setting includes at least a dimming rate.

29. The method of claim 19 wherein the threshold setting includes at least a threshold ambient light.

30. The method of claim 19 wherein the threshold setting includes at least a plurality of threshold ambient light settings.