Light management filter and related software

Abstract

The present disclosure describers a novel combination of a physical filter within an electronic device combined with software to manage the high-energy visible blue light spectrum in accordance with factors including total device use and cumulative intake of blue light. The physical filter may be integrated within layers of the display construction including within the cover glass or polarizer. In preferred embodiments, the physical filter with the software application automatically adjusts the total coverage of blue light emissions relative to each other and the system.

Claims

1. A novel filter comprising: a thin film that reduces high energy visible blue light passing therethrough; and software that identifies a level of high energy visible light reduction provided by the thin film, wherein the software tracks a total time of device usage, and wherein the software adjusts a level of blue light coverage taking into account the level of visible light coverage and total time of device usage.

2. The novel filter according to claim 1, wherein the thin film comprises an optically clear adhesive.

3. The novel filter according to claim 1, wherein the high energy visible blue light has a wavelength of between about 380 nm and about 500 nm.

4. The novel filter according to claim 3, wherein the high energy visible light has a wavelength of between about 415 nm to about 455 nm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The drawings are schematic illustrations and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. The drawings are not necessarily to scale. Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a portion an embodiment of the disclosed filter.

(3) FIG. 2 is an illustration of the emission spectra for typical software only systems for the management of the high-energy visible blue light according to prior art.

(4) FIG. 3 is an illustration of the emission spectra for an embodiment of a disclosed physical filter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combination of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising”, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

(6) Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

(7) In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.

(8) New physical device filters for managing light in combination with software application systems for managing high-energy blue light as an intelligent system are discussed herein. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

(9) The present disclosure is to be recognized as an exemplification of the disclosure and is not intended to limit the disclosure to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below. The present disclosure will now be described by referencing the appended figures representing preferred embodiments. FIG. 1 depicts an exploded perspective view of the elements that may comprise an electronic device display, representative of the construction of an LCD (liquid crystal display) or OLED (organic light-emitting diode device) display (the “device”) according to various embodiments of the present invention. In preferred embodiments, a physical filter which provides the purpose of light filtration specific to the high-energy visible blue light spectrum (380 nm-500 nm), or specific to the harmful blue light spectrum (415 nm-455 nm), are included within the construction. FIG. 1 depicts the physical filter applied to the cover glass 103A, however the filter may be applied to other layers shown.

(10) The physical filter providing light management according to these light spectrums may come forms including a thin film, optically clear adhesive or other physical barrier providing light management of the high-energy visible light spectrum (the “physical filter”). In some embodiments, the physical filter may be applied within the display construction including application to the interior of the cover glass or the polarizer.

(11) As shown in FIG. 3, the physical filter applied to the device provides light management properties specific to the UV and high-energy visible blue light spectrum. This integrated barrier within the device provides protection from UV light (<380 nm), high-energy visible blue light (380 nm-500 nm) and may selectively filter the narrow harmful band of blue light (415 nm-455 nm).

(12) The software application provides recognition of the filtration provided by the physical filter in FIG. 3. The software application identifies the level of coverage to the high-energy visible blue light spectrum provided by the physical filter to the user. Additional coverage levels are identified by the software application in addition to that provided by the physical filter. The software provides tracking of the total time of device usage (“screen time”) and adjusts the level of blue light coverage in relation and automatically.

(13) As the user's screen time increases, the software system will adjust the level of blue light coverage. The automatic adjustment of blue light coverage may also take into account factors including the age of the user or preexisting medical conditions including Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), dry eye or other eye, sleep and health conditions. Additionally, the user has the ability to manually adjust the coverage levels.

(14) The electronic device hardware may utilize the front facing camera to detect the distance of the device from the user, ambient lighting in the space, and other potential factors, and as a result adjust the coverage levels.

(15) Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.