US6483245B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automatic brightness control using a variable time constant filter
Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Inc
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Filing: 2000-09-08
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Granted: 2002-11-19
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Expires: 2020-09-08
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus is provided to control the brightness of an emissive display. Specifically, the brightness is incremented and decremented as the ambient environment becomes brighter and darker, respectively. A timing feature is also implemented to control the sensitivity of the system. Specifically, the time between adjustments of the display brightness is at least partially dependent on the magnitude of the difference between the desired brightness based on the ambient lighting environment and that of the actual display brightness.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul F. L. Weindorf
- 👤 Gregory J. Milne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 04:48
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; B; B60; B60K; B60K2360/00; B60K2360/20; B60K2360/33; G09G2320/00; G09G2320/06; G09G2320/0606; G09G2320/0626; G09G2360/00; G09G2360/14; G09G2360/144; G09G3/04; G09G3/06; G09G3/20; G09G3/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A system for controlling brightness of an emissive display, comprising: (A) an ambient light sensor configured to output an ambient signal corresponding to a sensed ambient illumination level; (B) a display configured to receive an actual display brightness signal and to adjust an actual display brightness level based on said actual display brightness signal; and (C) a processor executing a stored program to: (1) receive said ambient light signals; (2) determine a desired display brightness level corresponding to said ambient light signal; and (3) output said actual display brightness signal to said display, wherein said actual display brightness level is adjusted at a rate of change, and wherein said rate of change increases as a magnitude of the difference between said desired display brightness level and said actual display brightness level decreases.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
132 words
A system for controlling brightness of an emissive display, comprising: (A) an ambient light sensor configured to output an ambient signal corresponding to a sensed ambient illumination level; (B) a display configured to receive an actual display brightness signal and to adjust an actual display brightness level based on said actual display brightness signal; and (C) a processor executing a stored program to: (1) receive said ambient light signals; (2) determine a desired display brightness level corresponding to said ambient light signal; and (3) output said actual display brightness signal to said display, wherein said actual display brightness level is adjusted at a rate of change, and wherein said rate of change increases as a magnitude of the difference between said desired display brightness level and said actual display brightness level decreases.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said actual display brightness level is less than desired display brightness level, and wherein said actual display brightness level is is incremented based on said actual display brightness signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said actual display brightness level is greater than said desired display brightness level, and wherein said actual display brightness level is decremented based on said actual display brightness signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said processor determines an update interval based at least in part on said magnitude of the difference between said desired display brightness level and said actual display brightness level, and wherein said rate of change is no less than said update time interval.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for controlling brightness of an emissive instrument display, comprising: (A) receiving a first signal indicating an actual display brightness level; (B) determining a second signal that is related to a desired display brightness level, wherein the desired display brightness level is at least partially dependent upon an ambient illumination level; (C) determining a brightness difference magnitude between said first and second signals; and (D) adjusting said actual display brightness level after expiration of an update time interval, wherein said update time interval is at least partially dependent upon said brightness difference magnitude.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for controlling brightness of an emissive instrument display, comprising: (A) receiving a first signal indicating an actual display brightness level; (B) determining a second signal that is related to a desired display brightness level, wherein the desired display brightness level is at least partially dependent upon an ambient illumination level; (C) determining a brightness difference magnitude between said first and second signals; and (D) adjusting said actual display brightness level after expiration of an update time interval, wherein said update time interval is at least partially dependent upon said brightness difference magnitude.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein said actual display brightness level is less than said desired display brightness level, step (D) further comprising incrementing said actual display brightness signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein said actual display brightness level is greater than said desired display brightness level, step (D) further comprising decrementing said actual display brightness level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein said update time interval decreases as said brightness magnitude difference decreases.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein said update time interval increases as said brightness magnitude difference increases.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein said update time interval equals said brightness magnitude difference multiplied by a predetermined time constant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein said first signal is received at an initial time T, and wherein said second signal is received at a second time T 1 , wherein T 1 is greater than T, and wherein step (D) further comprises: subtracting T from T 1 to determine a time difference variable; and adjusting said actual brightness level when said time difference variable is greater than said update time interval.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein said time constant is a first time constant if said actual display brightness level is greater than said desired display brightness level, and wherein said time constant is a second time constant if said actual display brightness level is less than said desired display brightness level, and wherein said first time constant is greater than said second time constant.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as recited in claim 5 , further comprising manually adjusting said actual brightness level.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein said desired brightness level is related to an ambient illumination condition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein actual brightness level is adjusted by one of increasing said actual brightness level and decreasing said actual brightness level, and wherein said actual brightness level is increased at a faster rate than it is decreased.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein said actual brightness level is adjusted in small increments so as to be unnoticeable to the human eye.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein said first signal is predetermined.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for controlling brightness of an emissive display, comprising: (A) determining a first signal indicating an actual display brightness level at a first time T 1 ; (B) determining a second signal substantially related to a desired display brightness level at a second time T 2 ; (C) determining a difference magnitude between said first and second signals; (D) determining a predetermined update time interval, wherein said update time interval is the product of said difference magnitude and a predetermined time constant; (E) adjusting said actual display brightness level when the difference between T 2 and T 1 is greater than said update time interval.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for controlling brightness of an emissive display, comprising: (A) determining a first signal indicating an actual display brightness level at a first time T 1 ; (B) determining a second signal substantially related to a desired display brightness level at a second time T 2 ; (C) determining a difference magnitude between said first and second signals; (D) determining a predetermined update time interval, wherein said update time interval is the product of said difference magnitude and a predetermined time constant; (E) adjusting said actual display brightness level when the difference between T 2 and T 1 is greater than said update time interval.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein step (E) further comprises incrementing said actual brightness level if said desired brightness level is greater than said actual brightness level.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein step (E) further comprises decrementing said actual brightness level if said desired brightness level is less than said actual brightness level.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein step (E) comprises one of incrementing and decrementing said actual brightness level, wherein said update time interval when said actual brightness level is incremented is less than said update time interval when said actual brightness level is decremented.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
101 words
A system for controlling brightness of an illuminated instrument panel, comprising: (A) means for receiving a first signal generally related to an actual brightness level; (B) means for receiving a second signal that is related to a desired brightness level, wherein the desired display brightness level is at least partially dependent upon an ambient illumination level; (C) means for determining a brightness difference magnitude between said first and second signals; and (D) means for adjusting said actual brightness level after expiration of a predetermined update time interval, wherein said update time interval is at least partially dependent upon said difference magnitude.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
101 words
A system for controlling brightness of an illuminated instrument panel, comprising: (A) means for receiving a first signal generally related to an actual brightness level; (B) means for receiving a second signal that is related to a desired brightness level, wherein the desired display brightness level is at least partially dependent upon an ambient illumination level; (C) means for determining a brightness difference magnitude between said first and second signals; and (D) means for adjusting said actual brightness level after expiration of a predetermined update time interval, wherein said update time interval is at least partially dependent upon said difference magnitude.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system as recited in claim 22 , further comprising means for incrementing said actual brightness level if said desired brightness level is greater than said actual brightness level.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system as recited in claim 22 , further comprising means for decrementing said actual brightness level if said desired brightness level is less than said actual brightness level.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system as recited in claim 22 , wherein said update time interval increases as said brightness difference magnitude increases, and wherein said update time interval decreases as said brightness difference magnitude decreases.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
132 words
A system for controlling brightness of an emissive display, comprising: (A) an ambient light sensor configured to output an ambient signal corresponding to a sensed ambient illumination level; (B) a display configured to receive an actual display brightness signal and to adjust an actual display brightness level based on said actual display brightness signal; and (C) a processor executing a stored program to: (1) receive said ambient light signals; (2) determine a desired display brightness level corresponding to said ambient light signal; and (3) output said actual display brightness signal to said display, wherein said actual display brightness level is adjusted at a rate of change, and wherein said rate of change decreases as a magnitude of the difference between said desired display brightness level and said actual display brightness level increases.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
132 words
A system for controlling brightness of an emissive display, comprising: (A) an ambient light sensor configured to output an ambient signal corresponding to a sensed ambient illumination level; (B) a display configured to receive an actual display brightness signal and to adjust an actual display brightness level based on said actual display brightness signal; and (C) a processor executing a stored program to: (1) receive said ambient light signals; (2) determine a desired display brightness level corresponding to said ambient light signal; and (3) output said actual display brightness signal to said display, wherein said actual display brightness level is adjusted at a rate of change, and wherein said rate of change decreases as a magnitude of the difference between said desired display brightness level and said actual display brightness level increases.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 26 , wherein said actual display brightness level is less than said desired display brightness level, and wherein said actual display brightness level is incremented based on said actual display brightness signal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 26 , wherein said actual display brightness level is greater than said desired display brightness level, and wherein said actual display brightness level is decremented based on said actual display brightness signal.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 26 , wherein said processor determines an update interval based at least in part on said magnitude of the difference between said desired display brightness level and said actual display brightness level, and wherein said rate of change is no less than said update time interval.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 26 , wherein said processor determines said actual display brightness signal based on said desired display brightness level along with a previous actual display brightness level.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said processor determines said actual display brightness signal based on said desired display brightness level along with a previous actual display brightness level.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-11-18 | 2006-05-20 | 2006-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-11-18 | 2010-05-20 | 2010-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-11-18 | 2014-05-20 | 2014-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |