AN AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE AND SYSTEM HAVING A MEANS FOR REGULATING VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A LIGHT EMITTER

Abstract

A system is provided, including: an aerosol-generating device arranged to interact with a tobacco stick and/or comprising a charging device associated with an aerosol-generating device, in which the aerosol-generating device and/or the charging device include at least one light emitter, a controller to adjust at least one visual characteristic of light emitted by the at least one light emitter based on a local time retrieved from a timer, and a communication interface to exchange data with a mobile terminal, the data including instructions for adjusting the at least one visual characteristic; and the mobile terminal to display a user interface for inputting the instructions, in which the instructions include a time setting, and in which the user interface includes a first user interface element for inputting the time setting.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A system, comprising: an aerosol-generating device arranged to interact with a tobacco stick and/or comprising a charging device associated with an aerosol-generating device, wherein the aerosol-generating device and/or the charging device comprise: at least one light emitter, a control module configured to adjust at least one visual characteristic of light emitted by the at least one light emitter based on a local time retrieved from a timer, and a communication interface configured to exchange data with a mobile terminal, the data comprising instructions for adjusting the at least one visual characteristic; and the mobile terminal, wherein the mobile terminal is configured to display a user interface for inputting the instructions, wherein the instructions comprise a time setting, and wherein the user interface includes a first user interface element for inputting the time setting.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the first user interface element comprises a first interactive element and a second interactive element arranged to enable a user to define a first period of time and a second period of time by moving the first interactive element and the second interactive element relative to each other, and wherein the first period of time is associated with a first visual characteristic and the second period of time is associated with a second visual characteristic.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the first user interface element further comprises a circular element, and wherein the first interactive element and the second interactive element are configured to be moveable relative to each other along a circular path about the center of the circular element.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein the time setting comprises an event associated with a time of day, and wherein the time of day is obtained from a calendar application based on the event.

20. The system according to claim 16, wherein the control module is further configured to adjust the at least one visual characteristic of the at least one light emitter when the local time retrieved from the timer corresponds to the time setting.

21. The system according to claim 16, wherein the control module is further configured to adjust at least one visual characteristic of light emitted by the at least one light emitter based on a measured light intensity value, and wherein adjusting the at least one visual characteristic of the light emitted by the at least one light emitter based on a measured light intensity value comprises adjusting the at least one visual characteristic of the at least one light emitter when the light intensity value is above or below a predetermined threshold value.

22. The system according to claim 16, wherein the control module is further configured to adjust at least one visual characteristic of light emitted by the at least one light emitter based on a measured light intensity value, and wherein adjusting at least one visual characteristic of light emitted by the at least one light emitter comprises adjusting a brightness characteristic of the at least one light emitter.

23. A method of adjusting at least one visual characteristic of light emitted by at least one light emitter of an aerosol-generating device arranged to interact with a tobacco stick and/or at least one light emitter of a charging device associated with an aerosol-generating device, the method comprising: adjusting, by a control module, at least one visual characteristic of light emitted by the at least one light emitter based on a local time retrieved from a timer; exchanging data with a mobile terminal via a communication interface, the data comprising instructions for adjusting the at least one visual characteristic; and displaying, by the mobile terminal, a user interface for inputting the instructions, wherein the instructions comprise a time setting, and wherein the user interface includes a first user interface element for inputting the time setting.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the exchanging data with a mobile terminal comprises receiving the instructions from the mobile terminal.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the instructions comprise a visual characteristic setting for adjusting the at least one visual characteristic, and wherein the user interface includes a second user interface element for inputting the visual characteristic setting.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the visual characteristic setting is a brightness setting, and wherein the second user interface element is a slider.

27. The method according to claim 23, wherein the time setting comprises an event associated with a time of day associated with an event, and wherein the method further comprises obtaining the time of day from a calendar application based on the event.

28. The method according to claim 23, further comprising adjusting, by the control module, the at least one visual characteristic of light emitted by the at least one light emitter based on a measured light intensity value, wherein the adjusting the at least one visual characteristic of the light emitted by the at least one light emitter based on a measured light intensity value comprises adjusting the at least one visual characteristic of the at least one light emitter when the light intensity value is above or below a predetermined threshold value.

29. A nontransitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, perform the method according to claim 23.

30. A method of controlling a visual characteristic of at least one light emitter of an aerosol-generating device arranged to interact with a tobacco stick or at least one light emitter of a charging device associated with an aerosol-generating device, the method comprising adjusting at least one visual characteristic of light emitted by the at least one light emitter when a local time output by a timer corresponds to a time setting received from a mobile terminal.

Description

[0122] Examples will now be further described with reference to the figures in which:

[0123] FIG. 1 shows a system comprising a device and a mobile terminal;

[0124] FIG. 2A shows an aerosol-generating device;

[0125] FIG. 2B shows an aerosol-generating device;

[0126] FIG. 3 shows a charging device associated with an aerosol-generating device;

[0127] FIG. 4A shows a user interface;

[0128] FIG. 4B shows a user interface;

[0129] FIG. 5 shows a user interface;

[0130] FIG. 6 shows a user interface; and

[0131] FIG. 7 shows a method of adjusting at least one visual characteristic of light emitted by the at least one light emitter unit of an aerosol-generating device and/or a charging device associated with an aerosol-generating device.

[0132] FIG. 1 illustrates a system comprising a device 105 and a mobile terminal 140. The device 105 and the mobile terminal 140 are configured to communicate with each other via their respective communication interfaces 135 and 145. Specifically, the device 105 and the mobile terminal 140 may exchange data via their respective communication interfaces 135 and 145. The communication interfaces 135 and 145 may be wireless communication interfaces, such as a Bluetooth communication interface.

[0133] The mobile terminal 140 is a computing device, for example a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a personal digital assistant. The mobile terminal 140 comprises the communication interface 145, a control module 150, storage means 155, processing module 165 comprising one or more processors and a display 170. The display 170 is configured to display a user interface for inputting instructions 155 for adjusting at least one visual characteristic of light emitted by at least one light emitter unit 110 of the device 105. Once a user has input the instructions into the user interface displayed by the display 170, the instructions may be stored by storage means 155.

[0134] The instructions 160 may comprise one or more of a time setting and a visual characteristic setting. The visual characteristic setting corresponds to the at least one visual characteristic of the light emitted by the at least one light emitter unit 110. The time setting corresponds to one or more times at which at least one visual characteristic of light emitted by the at least one light emitter unit 110 is to be adjusted. The one or more times of the time setting may be a time of day, such as a time on the 12-hour or 24-hour clock.

[0135] For example, a user may input into the user interface 8:30 AM and 9:15 PM (or 08:30 and 21:15 using the 24-hour clock) as a time setting meaning that at least one visual characteristic of light emitted by the at least one light emitter unit 110 is to be adjusted at 8:30am and at 9:15pm.

[0136] Alternatively or in addition, a user may input an event such as “sunrise” or “sunset” into the user interface as a time setting meaning that at least one visual characteristic of light emitted by the at least one light emitter unit 110 is to be adjusted at sunrise and at sunset. The control module 150 may compute a time of day corresponding to the event at the location of the device based on the event and time information received from a calendar application, such as an earth calendar application.

[0137] In addition, an event input into the user interface may include a calendar event. Calendar events may comprise event obtained from a calendar application installed on the mobile terminal 140. For example, a user may select as a time setting an appointment or event stored by the calendar application. The control module 150 may compute a time of day based on the event and time information corresponding to the selected appointment or event received from the calendar application.

[0138] The device 105 comprises the at least one light emitter unit 110, a timer 115, a control module 120, storage means 125, a light sensor 130 and the communication interface 135. The device 105 receives the instructions 160 from the mobile terminal 140 via the communication interface 135. The instructions 160 may be stored by the storage means 125. The control module 120 is configured to adjust at least one visual characteristic of the light emitted by the at least one light emitter unit 110 based on the received instructions 160.

[0139] The at least one light emitter unit 110 comprises one or more light emitters, for example light emitting diodes. The at least one light emitter unit may additionally or alternatively be a display screen. Adjusting the at least one visual characteristic of the light emitted by the at least one light emitter unit 110 comprises at least one of adjusting a brightness characteristic of the at least one light emitter unit, adjusting a color of light emitted by the at least one light emitter unit 110 and changing a flashing pattern of light emitted by the at least one light emitter unit 110. A brightness characteristic of the at least one light emitter unit 110 may be the brightness of light emitted by the at least one light emitter unit 110. When the light emitter unit 110 comprises a plurality of light emitters, adjusting the at least one visual characteristic of the light emitted by the at least one light emitter unit 110 may additionally or alternatively comprise changing a pattern of light displayed by the plurality of light emitters.

[0140] The control module 120 may adjust the at least one visual characteristic of the at least one light emitter unit 110 based a local time retrieved from a timer 115. The control module 120 may periodically retrieve the local time from the timer 115 and compare the retrieved local time to the time setting in the received instructions. When the control module 120 determines that the local time is the same as a time of the time setting, the control module 120 adjusts at least one visual characteristic of light emitted by the at least one light emitter unit 110. Each time of the time setting may be associated with a visual characteristic setting. Accordingly, when the control module 120 determines that the local time is the same as a time of the time setting, the control module 120 adjusts the at least one visual characteristic in accordance with the visual characteristic setting associated with the time of the time setting.

[0141] For example, continuing the example above, the user has input a time setting having two clock times of 8:30 AM and 9:15 PM (or 08:30 and 21:15 using the 24-hour clock). The clock time of 8:30 AM may be associated with a first visual characteristic setting, such as increasing the brightness of the at least one light emitter unit 110. The clock time of 9:15 PM may be associated with a second visual characteristic setting, such as decreasing the brightness of the at least one light emitter unit 110.

[0142] When the control module 120 detects that the local time retrieved from the timer 115 is 8:30 AM, the control module 120 increases the brightness of the at least one light emitter unit 110. When the control module 120 detects that the local time retrieved from the timer 115 is 9:15 PM, the control module 120 decreases the brightness of the at least one light emitter unit 110.

[0143] In addition or alternatively, the control module 120 may adjust the at least one visual characteristic of the at least one light emitter unit 110 based on a light intensity value measured by a light sensor 130. For example, the light sensor 130 is configured to measure a light intensity, specifically an ambient light intensity of the environment in which the device 105 is located. The light sensor 130 is configured to provide a value of the measured light intensity to the control module 120. The control module 120 determines whether the light intensity value received from the light sensor 130 is above or below a predetermined light intensity threshold value.

[0144] The predetermined light intensity threshold value may be stored in the storage means 125. The predetermined light intensity threshold may be stored as part of a control program installed on the device 105 during manufacturing or the initial configuration of the device 105. Alternatively or in addition, the predetermined light intensity threshold value may be received from the mobile terminal 140, for example as part of instructions 160. When the received instructions 160 comprise predetermined light intensity threshold value, the predetermined light intensity threshold value may be input by a user through the user interface displayed on the display 170.

[0145] The control module 120 may adjust the visual characteristic in response to receiving a single measured light intensity value. Alternatively, the control module may compute, based on a plurality of received measured light intensity values, an average light intensity measured by the light sensor over a predetermined period of time (such as a number of minutes) and the control module may adjust the visual characteristic based on the computed average light intensity.

[0146] When the control module 120 determines that the measured light intensity value is above or below the predetermined threshold value, the control module 120 adjusts at least one visual characteristic of the light emitted by the at least one light emitter unit 110. For example, when the control module 120 determines that the measured light intensity value is above the predetermined threshold value, the control module 120 may increase the brightness of the at least one light emitter unit 110 so that the at least one light emitter unit 110 remains visible when the ambient light is bright. When the control module 120 determines that the measured light intensity value is below the predetermined threshold value, the control module 120 may decrease the brightness of the at least one light emitter unit 110 so that the at least one light emitter unit 110 remains visible when the ambient light is low.

[0147] The device 105 may additionally provide usage information relating to usage of the device 105 to the mobile terminal 140. Specifically, the device 105 may send the usage information to the mobile terminal 140 via the communication interface 135. Usage information may include information relating to usage of the device 105. For example, usage information may include information relating to the times of day that the device is switched on, switched off or otherwise operated by the user. The storage means 155 of the mobile terminal 140 may store the usage information.

[0148] The processing module 165 may process the received usage information to generate instructions for adjusting at least one visual characteristic of the light emitter unit 110 of the device 105. In addition or alternatively, the processing module 165 may process at least one of one or more time settings and one or more visual characteristic settings to generate instructions for adjusting at least one visual characteristic of the light emitter unit 110 of the device 105.

[0149] Specifically, the processing module may generate instructions for adjusting at least one visual characteristic of the light emitter unit 110 of the device 105 using any suitable algorithm stored by storage means 155. For example, the instructions may be generated by inputting at least one of one or more time settings, one or more visual characteristic settings and usage information into a trained classifier.

[0150] Accordingly, the processing module 165 may compute a time setting, and optionally a visual characteristic setting, based on at least one of the usage information, the one or more time settings and the one or more visual characteristic settings. For example, if the device 105 is operated by the user at 6 AM every day, the processing module 165 may cause instructions to be generated that increase the brightness of light emitted by the at least one light emitter unit at 5:55 AM every day so that the status of the device 105 is clearly visible to the user when the user usually operates the device 105.

[0151] The generated instructions may be stored by storage means 155 and sent to device 105 alternatively to or as a part of the instructions 160 received from the user interface.

[0152] The device 105 may be an aerosol-generating device, such as the aerosol-generating device 200A illustrated in FIG. 2A or the aerosol-generating device 200B illustrated in FIG. 2B. The device 105 may be a charging device for receiving an aerosol-generating device, such as the charging device 300 illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0153] As illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 3, the aerosol-generating device 200A, the aerosol-generating device 200B and the charging device 300 may each comprise the at least one light emitter unit 110, the timer 115, the control module 120, the storage means 125, the light sensor 130 and the communication interface 135 discussed above in relation to FIG. 1. However the mobile terminal 140 may additionally or alternatively include a light sensor for measuring the light intensity value. The aerosol-generating device 200A is configured to receive an aerosol-generating article 220.

[0154] As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the aerosol-generating device 200A further comprises a cavity 210 for receiving the aerosol-generating article 220. The aerosol-generating article 220 may comprise an aerosol forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article 220 may be a solid, such as a tobacco stick. The aerosol-generating device 200A further comprises a heating element 230. The heating element 230 is configured to heat the aerosol forming substrate to form an aerosol.

[0155] As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the aerosol-generating device 200B is configured to receive a cartridge 280. In particular, the aerosol-generating device 200B further comprises a cavity 270 for receiving the cartridge 280. The cartridge 280 may comprise an aerosol forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate of the cartridge 280 may be a liquid. The aerosol-generating device 200B further comprises a heating element 290. The heating element 290 is configured to heat the aerosol forming substrate to form an aerosol.

[0156] Preferably, the aerosol-generating device 200A and the aerosol-generating device 200B each comprise a power supply configured to supply power to the respective heating elements 230 and 290. The power supply preferably comprises a power source 240. Preferably, the power source 240 is a battery, such as a lithium ion battery. As an alternative, the power source 240 may be another form of charge storage device such as a capacitor. The power source 240 may require recharging. For example, the power source 240 may have sufficient capacity to allow for the continuous generation of aerosol for a period of around six minutes or for a period that is a multiple of six minutes. In another example, the power source 240 may have sufficient capacity to allow for a predetermined number of puffs or discrete activations of the heater assembly. The aerosol-generating device 200A and the aerosol-generating device 200B may each comprise a power contact 250 for recharging the power supply 240.

[0157] The power supply may comprise control electronics. The control electronics may comprise a microcontroller. The microcontroller is preferably a programmable microcontroller. The electric circuitry may comprise further electronic components. The electric circuitry may be configured to regulate a supply of power to the heater assembly. Power may be supplied to the heater assembly continuously following activation of the system or may be supplied intermittently, such as on a puff-by-puff basis. The power may be supplied to the heater assembly in the form of pulses of electrical current.

[0158] The power source 240 may be recharged using a charging device, such as the charging device 300 illustrated in FIG. 3. The charging device 300 further comprises a cavity 310 that is configured to receive an aerosol-generating device, such as aerosol-generating device 200A and aerosol-generating device 200B. Within the cavity 310 there may be a power contact 320 configured to contact with a corresponding power contact of the aerosol-generating device. Specifically, when the aerosol-generating device 200A or the aerosol-generating device 200B is received within the cavity 310, the power contact 250 contacts with the power contact 330 so that the charging device 300 can charge the rechargeable power source 240 of the aerosol-generating device 200A or the aerosol-generating device 200B.

[0159] In addition, the charging device 300 and the aerosol-generating device 200A or 200B may be configured to exchange data with each other. For example, the charging device 300 and the aerosol-generating device 200A or 200B may be configured to exchange data with each other wirelessly. For example, the charging device 300 and the aerosol-generating device 200A or 200B may exchange data via their respective communication modules 135.

[0160] Additionally or alternatively, the charging device 300 may each comprise a data contact interface 330 for communicating with the aerosol-generating device 200A and the aerosol-generating device 200B. Referring back to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the aerosol-generating device 200A and the aerosol-generating device 200B are illustrated as comprising data contact interface 260. When the aerosol-generating device 200A or the aerosol-generating device 200B is received within the cavity 310, the data contact interface 330 contacts with the data contact interface 260 and data may be exchanged. For example, the aerosol-generating device 200A or 200B may communicate data, such as the usage data, to the charging device 300 via the data contact interfaces 260 and 330.

[0161] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a user interface 400 displayed on the display 170 of mobile terminal 140 for inputting instructions for adjusting the at least one visual characteristic. The user interface 400 comprises a first user interface element 410 for inputting the time setting. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the first user interface element 410 comprises a time picker for inputting a 24-hour clock time. The time picker comprises scrollable lists of distinct values, each of which has a single selected value appearing in a contrasting text at the center of the first user interface element 410. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the time picker comprises a first scrollable list of 24 values representing hours and a second scrollable list of 60 values representing minutes. However, it will be appreciated that the time picker may enable the inputting of a 12-hour clock time. It will also be appreciated that the time picker may enable the inputting of both a date and a time.

[0162] The user interface 400 further comprises a second user interface element 420 for inputting a visual characteristic setting. As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the visual characteristic setting is a brightness level setting of the at least one light emitter unit 110. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the second user interface element 420A comprises two buttons 430A and 430B indicating a percentage that corresponds to a brightness level of the at least one light emitter unit 110. A brightness level of 100 percent (button 430A) indicates the maximum brightness of the light emitter unit. A brightness level of 50 percent (button 430B) indicates a brightness level of 50 percent of the maximum brightness of the light emitter unit. The user may select a button 430 in order to set the desired brightness of the at least one light emitter unit 110.

[0163] Although the second user interface element 420A is illustrated two buttons 430A and 430B, it is to be understood that the second user interface element 420A may comprise any number of buttons. For example, the second user interface element 420A may comprise four buttons so that the user may select a brightness corresponding to 25 percent, 50 percent, 75 percent or 100 percent of the maximum brightness.

[0164] As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the second user interface element 420B is a wheel-type user interface element that enables the user to vary the percentage in a continuous way from 0% to 100%. The second user interface element 420B comprises a circular element 440 that displays percentage values around the circumference of the second and 440 and an interactive element 450. The user may interact with the interactive element 452 slight the interactive element 450 around the circular element 440 in order to select a desired percentage brightness. Additionally or alternatively, the user interface 400 may comprise a second user interface element that is a slider, thereby enabling the user to vary the brightness level in a continuous way from 0 percent of the maximum to 100 percent.

[0165] Accordingly, the user is able to schedule a time of day when the user wishes a reduction or an increase in brightness level of the at least one light emitter unit 110. For example, the user may schedule brightness of the at least one light emitter unit 110 to be reduced by 50 percent at 10 PM to avoid the inconvenience of having a bright light at night when the user goes to bed, while still enabling monitoring of the status of the device 105.

[0166] Although FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate the user interface 400 for inputting a single time and a single percentage value, it will be appreciated that the user interface 400 may enable the user to schedule the brightness level for a plurality of times. For example, the user may choose 25 percent brightness from 10 PM to 6 AM, 50 percent brightness from six and 7 AM, 75 percent brightness from 7 AM to 8 AM and 100 percent brightness from 8 AM to 10 PM.

[0167] FIG. 5 illustrates a user interface 500 displayed on the display 170 of mobile terminal 140 for inputting instructions for adjusting the at least one visual characteristic. The user interface 500 comprises a first user interface element 510 for inputting the time setting and a second user interface element 540 and a third user interface element 550 for inputting the visual characteristic setting. The first user interface element 510 is a wheel-type user interface comprising a circular element 520, a first interactive element 530A and a second interactive element 530B. Numbers associated with a time of day are displayed adjacent to and around the circumference of the circular element 520. The user may interact with the first interactive element 530A and the second interactive element 530B to move the first interactive element 530A and the second interactive element 530B relative to each other along a circular path about the center of the circular element 520. By moving the first interactive element 530A and the second interactive element 530B relative to each other, the user defines a first period of time and a second period of time. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the first period of time defined by the position of the first interactive element 530A and the second interactive element 530B is from 21:00 to 06:00 and the second period of time defined by the position of the first interactive element 530A and the second interactive element 530B is from 06:00 to 21:00.

[0168] The first period of time may be associated with a first visual characteristic and the second period of time may be associated with a second visual characteristic. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the visual characteristic is a brightness characteristic of the at least one light emitter unit 110. The second user interface element 540 and the third user interface element 550 are sliders that the user may interact with in order to select a percentage brightness. The sliders comprise a horizontal track with a control (illustrated as a solid circle) which a user slides to move between a maximum value and a minimum value of percentage brightness. Left and right icons illustrate the meaning of the minimum and maximum values, illustrated here as 0 percent and 100 percent. The second user interface element 540 may be associated with the first period of time and the third user interface element 550 may be associated with the second period of time. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the user has set the brightness level to 25 percent between 21:00 and 06:00 and the user has set the brightness to 75 percent between 06:00 and 21:00.

[0169] FIG. 6 illustrates a user interface 600 displayed on the display 170 of mobile terminal 140 for inputting instructions for adjusting the at least one visual characteristic.

[0170] The user interface 600 comprises a first user interface element 610 for inputting an event into the user interface as a time setting. The first user interface element 610 comprises a list of events (event 1 to event N), where each event has a corresponding check box. A user may select an event by selecting the check box (indicated by the cross next “event 2” in FIG. 6) in order to input the event as a time setting. As will be appreciated, however, any suitable user interface element may be used for selecting an event, such as radio buttons, a drop-down menu, a scrollable list of events and so on.

[0171] As discussed above, the event may be an event such as “sunrise” or “sunset” meaning that at least one visual characteristic of light emitted by the at least one light emitter unit 110 is to be adjusted at sunrise and at sunset. The control module 150 may obtain a time of day corresponding to the event at the location of the device from a calendar application, such as an earth calendar application.

[0172] In addition, an event input into the user interface may include a calendar event. Calendar events may comprise event obtained from a calendar application installed on the mobile terminal 140. For example, a user may select as a time setting an appointment or event stored by the calendar application. The control module 150 may obtain a time of day corresponding to the selected appointment or event from the calendar application.

[0173] The user may select the visual characteristic associated with the time setting using the second user interface element 620. The second user interface element 620 is illustrated in FIG. 6 as a slider for selecting a brightness level, such as the sliders 540 and 550 described in relation to FIG. 5 above. However, it is to be appreciated that any suitable user interface element may be used to select the visual characteristic setting.

[0174] FIG. 7 illustrates a method of adjusting the at least one visible characteristic of the light emitter unit. The method may be performed by the device 105 as described above in relation to FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0175] The method begins at step 710 where instructions 160 are received by the control module 120. As described above, the instructions 160 are received from the mobile terminal 140. The instructions comprise at least one of a time setting and a visual characteristic setting.

[0176] At step 720 the control module monitors a timer 115. In addition or alternatively, the control module 120 monitors values of light intensity measured by the light sensor 130.

[0177] At step 730 the control module 120 detects whether a predetermined condition associated with at least one of the time setting and the visual characteristic setting has been met. The predetermined condition may comprise a local time at the timer 115 corresponding to the time setting. The predetermined condition may comprise a measured light intensity value being above or below a predetermined threshold value. If the control module does not detect that a predetermined condition has been met, the method returns to step 720 and the control module 120 continues monitoring. If a predetermined condition has been met, the method continues to step 740.

[0178] At step 740, the control module 120 adjusts at least one visual characteristic of the at least one light emitter unit as described above.

[0179] Some or all of the method steps described above with regard to FIG. 7 may be implemented by a computer in that they are executed by (or using) a processor, a microprocessor, an electronic circuit or processing circuitry. For example, the implementation can be performed using a non-transitory storage medium such as a computer-readable storage medium. Such computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer system.

[0180] Generally, examples can be implemented as a computer program product with a program code or computer-executable instructions, the program code or computer-executable instructions being operative for performing one of the methods when the computer program product runs on a computer. The program code or the computer-executable instructions may, for example, be stored on a computer-readable storage medium.

[0181] In an example, a storage medium (or a data carrier, or a computer-readable medium) comprises, stored thereon, the computer program or the computer-executable instructions for performing one of the methods described herein when it is performed by a processor. In a further example, an apparatus comprises one or more processors and the storage medium mentioned above.

[0182] In a further example, an apparatus comprises means, for example processing circuitry like e.g. a processor communicating with a memory, the means being configured to, or adapted to, perform one of the methods described herein.

[0183] A further example comprises a computer having installed thereon the computer program or instructions for performing one of the methods described herein.

[0184] The specific embodiments and examples described above illustrate but do not limit the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments of the invention may be made and the specific embodiments and examples described herein are not exhaustive.

[0185] For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, a number A may be considered to include numerical values that are within general standard error for the measurement of the property that the number A modifies. The number A, in some instances as used in the appended claims, may deviate by the percentages enumerated above provided that the amount by which A deviates does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.

[0186] The specific embodiments and examples described above illustrate but do not limit the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments of the invention may be made and the specific embodiments and examples described herein are not exhaustive.