Google Inc.

Erogear, Inc.

Anders Nelson

Brian Jonathan Conner

Arvind Dorai

This application discloses an electronic device (e.g., a camera) that a plurality of light sources and a light source driver. The light sources are configurable to a plurality of light source subsets to illuminate a field of view. At least two of the light source subsets include distinct light source members and are configured to illuminate different regions of the field of view. The light source driver is coupled to the plurality of light sources and configured to drive the plurality of light source subsets. In some embodiments, the electronic device includes or is coupled to a camera module configured to capture visual data of the field of view, and the plurality of light sources is configured to provide illumination for the camera module.

Electronic device with adjustable illumination

This application discloses an electronic device (e.g., a camera) that operates at two distinct modes and includes a camera lens configured to capture visual data of a field of view, a plurality of light sources, and a light source driver. The light sources are configurable to a plurality of light source subsets to illuminate the field of view. At least two of the light source subsets include distinct light source members and are configured to illuminate different regions of the field of view. The light source driver is configured to drive the light sources with two distinct drive voltages at two distinct modes. In a first mode, the light sources are electrically coupled to each other and driven by a first drive voltage. In the second mode, one of the light source subsets is selected and driven by a second drive voltage that is lower than the first dive voltage.

Camera illumination

This application discloses a camera including a camera lens, a plurality of light sources and bypass circuit. The camera lens is configured to capture visual data of a field of view, and the light sources are configured to illuminate the field of view. The bypass circuit is coupled to the light sources, and configured to group the light sources into a plurality of light source subsets. At least two of the light source subsets include distinct light source members to illuminate different regions of the field of view of the camera. The camera includes a first mode in which the light sources are electrically coupled in series to form a string and driven by a boosted drive voltage, and a second mode in which one of the light source subsets is selected and driven by a regular drive voltage that is lower than the boosted drive voltage.

Camera with LED illumination

Flexible LED light arrays particularly suitable for use in clothing and other articles are disclosed. The light arrays are disposed on flexible printed circuit boards (PCBs). The flexible PCBs include substantially sinusoidal metal contact traces, along which the LEDs are attached at an angle preselected to minimize stresses in the expected directions of bending. The flexible PCBs may have control electronics provided on separate, attachable control boards, which may be either flexible or rigid. The flexible LED light arrays may also be arranged in master-slave configurations with a number of arrays, in which one master control array or board is attached to a number of slave arrays and handles external communication for the slave arrays.

Flexible LED light arrays

This application discloses a lighting emitting diode (LED) illumination system that operates at least in a boost mode and a bypass mode. The LED illumination system includes a plurality of LEDs and bypass elements. Each bypass element is coupled in parallel with one or more LEDs, and configured to bypass them selectively in the bypass mode. A boost converter is configured to drive the LEDs. The boost converter includes a boost controller that is configured to enable the boost mode in response to a boost enable signal. In the boost mode, the boost controller is electrically coupled to control the boost converter to drive the LEDs by a boosted drive voltage, and in the bypass mode, the boost controller is deactivated to allow the boost converter to drive a subset of the LEDs by a regular drive voltage that is substantially lower than the boosted drive voltage.

Multi-mode LED illumination system

Flexible, fabric-encapsulated light arrays particularly suitable for use in clothing are disclosed. The light arrays are light-emitting diode (LED) arrays disposed on flexible printed circuit boards (PCBs). The flexible PCBs include substantially sinusoidal metal contact traces, along which the LEDs are attached at an angle preselected to minimize stresses in the expected directions of bending. The PCBs may also include enlarged metal contact pads and a coverlay arrangement to prevent delamination. The light arrays are contained within pockets that may be made of conductive fabric in order to form a Faraday cage. Systems and methods are also disclosed that use local and wide-area controllers to send words, images, and video to the light arrays substantially in real time.

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Anders Nelson