Systems and methods of power device lighting
Aspects and embodiments described herein provide power devices with tactile sensors to activate light emitting elements that illuminate power device interfaces, facilitating engagement of the interfaces with external loads and their connectors and the manipulation of control panels and their interfaces. A housing houses at least a portion of the power device and can include a tactile sensor to detect a presence of an object proximate to the power device. When an object is detected, the controller and the tactile sensor activate at least one light emitting element to illuminate a least a portion of the housing that includes an interface.
1. An uninterruptible power supply, comprising:
an input configured to receive input power;
a backup power source configured to provide backup power;
a housing including an interface, a plurality of light emitting elements, and an array of tactile sensors, the array of tactile sensors configured to detect a presence of an object proximate to the uninterruptible power supply, a first tactile sensor of the array configured to activate a first light emitting element, a second tactile sensor of the array configured to activate a second light emitting element; and
a controller configured to provide output power derived from at least one of the input power and the backup power at an output, and to activate the plurality of light emitting elements to illuminate the interface.
2. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1 , wherein the array of tactile sensors is configured to detect a capacitance value, and wherein the controller is configured to activate the light emitting element based on the capacitance value.
3. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1 , wherein the array of tactile sensors is configured to detect a resistance value, and wherein the controller is configured to activate the light emitting element based on the resistance value.
4. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1 , wherein the array of tactile sensors is configured to detect the presence of the object based on contact by the object with the uninterruptible power supply.
5. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light emitting elements is configured to illuminate at least one of a power strip, a socket, a universal serial bus, a plug interface, an outlet, a connector, a jack, a display, a control panel, and a user interface.
6. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of interfaces, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements is configured to illuminate at least one of the plurality of interfaces.
7. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1 , wherein a conductive surface of the uninterruptible power supply includes the array of tactile sensors.
8. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1 , wherein the array of tactile sensors includes at least one of a touch sensor, a capacitance touch sensor, a resistance touch sensor, and a proximity sensor.
9. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1 , wherein the array of tactile sensors includes a proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of the object within six inches of the uninterruptible power supply.
10. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1 , wherein the output includes an output interface configured to connect with at least one load.
11. A method of illuminating a housing of an uninterruptible power supply, the uninterruptible power supply having an input configured to receive input power, a backup power source configured to provide backup power, a controller, and the housing, the housing including at least one interface, the method comprising:
providing output power derived from at least one of the input power and the backup power at a first interface of the housing;
sensing a presence of an object proximate to the housing with an array of tactile sensors;
activating, by the controller, responsive to sensing the presence of the object with a first tactile sensor of the array, a first light emitting element to illuminate a second interface of the housing; and
activating, by the controller, responsive to sensing the presence of the object with a second tactile sensor of the array, a second light emitting element to illuminate a third interface of the housing.
12. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
determining a capacitance value of the housing of the uninterruptible power supply; and
activating one of the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element based on an evaluation of the capacitance value and a threshold capacitance value.
13. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
determining a first capacitance value of the housing of the uninterruptible power supply at a first time;
determining a second capacitance value of the housing at a second time; and
activating one of the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element when a difference between the first capacitance value and the second capacitance value is greater than a threshold amount.
14. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
identifying a change in capacitance of the housing of the uninterruptible power supply; and
activating one of the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element based on a magnitude of the change.
15. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
sensing the presence of the object based on a capacitance value of the housing of the uninterruptible power supply and a threshold capacitance value.
16. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
determining a resistance value of the housing of the uninterruptible power supply; and
activating one of the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element based on an evaluation of the resistance value and a threshold resistance value.
17. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
illuminating a portion of the uninterruptible power supply that includes at least one of a power strip, a socket, a universal serial bus, a plug interface, an outlet, a connector, a jack, a display, a control panel, and a user interface.
18. An uninterruptible power supply comprising:
an input configured to receive input power;
a backup power source configured to provide backup power;
a housing including an interface;
control circuitry configured to provide output power derived from at least one of the input power and the backup power at an output; and
an array of tactile sensors and a plurality of light emitting elements, a first tactile sensor of the array and the control circuitry configured to activate a first light emitting element, a second tactile sensor of the array and the control circuitry configured to activate a second light emitting element.
19. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 18 , wherein the array of tactile sensors is configured to detect at least one of a capacitance value of the housing, a resistance value of the housing, and a proximity distance between the object and the uninterruptible power supply.