Ambient Light Sensor to Adjust Display Brightness
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.
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.