Television system including glare detection and remedial action system

A television system includes a housing including a television screen, a glare detector arranged in the housing and configured and disposed to detect an origination point of a glare on one of a television screen and a viewer, and a glare remediation system operatively coupled to the glare detector and one or more window covering devices. The glare remediation system is configured and disposed to close the one of the one or more window covering devices at the origination point upon detecting the glare at the one of the television screen and the viewer.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to television systems and, more specifically, to a television system including a glare detection and remedial action system.

Televisions are ubiquitous in modern society. Almost every family has one or more televisions. Many families will install a television in a central room for viewing. Often times, the central room includes windows that, depending upon season, period of day, etc., may cast a glare on the television or a viewer. The glare may detract from an overall viewing experience. In order to reduce the glare, a viewer will generally close blinds, shades, or the like to reduce incident sunlight. Often times, it may be difficult to determine from which window the glare originates. As such, the viewer may have to make multiple attempts and close/open multiple blinds or shades to reduce and/or eliminate the glare. Several failed attempts at reducing and/or eliminating the glare could lead to enhanced frustration for the viewer.

SUMMARY

According to an exemplary embodiment, a television system includes a housing including a television screen, a glare detector arranged in the housing and configured and disposed to detect an origination point of a glare on one of a television screen and a viewer, and a glare remediation system operatively coupled to the glare detector and one or more window covering devices. The glare remediation system is configured and disposed to close the one of the one or more window covering devices at the origination point upon detecting the glare at the one of the television screen and the viewer.

According to another aspect of an exemplary embodiment, a computer-implemented method of detecting and eliminating glare at a television system includes detecting a glare on one of a television screen and a viewer of the television system at the television system, determining an origination point of the glare, and closing a window covering device associated with the origination point.

According to yet another aspect of an exemplary embodiment, a computer program product for detecting and mitigating glare at one of a television system and a viewer is provided. The computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program instructions embodied therewith. The computer readable program instructions are executable by a processor to perform a method including detecting a glare on one of a television screen and a viewer of the television at the television system, determining an origination point of the glare, and closing a window covering device associated with the origination point.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference now toFIG. 1, a television system, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, is indicated generally at2. Television system2includes a housing4and a television screen6. In the exemplary embodiment shown, television system2is mounted to a wall7in a room8. It should however be understood that television system2may be supported in a wide array of installations and should not be considered to be limited to wall mounted/supported units.

Room8includes a window10having a window covering device12shown in the form of an indoor window treatment14. Window treatment14is shown in the form of motorized blinds16. However, it should be understood that window treatment14may take on a variety of forms. Room8is further shown to include a seating device20which may take the form of a chair or sofa22for supporting a viewer24engaged in watching television system2. Television system2may also include an image capture device or camera26that may capture images of viewer24.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, television system2includes a glare detection and mitigation system28arranged in housing4. As seen inFIG. 2, glare detection and mitigation system28includes a controller30having a system processor32. Glare detection and mitigation system28further includes a glare detector36which, as will be detailed more fully below, detects a glare on one, the other, or both of television screen6and viewer24. Glare detection and mitigation system28also includes a glare remediation system38and a computer readable storage medium40that stores and maintains computer readable program instructions42as well as a solar position look-up table44. Further, glare detection and mitigation system28includes a memory46and wireless communication device60that may take the form of a Bluetooth® communication device62that is capable of wireless communication with, and control of, window treatment14.

In accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, viewer24or another user, may set up glare detection and mitigation system28through an input device or remote control66. Viewer24may input an orientation of television screen6, number and location of windows10, geographic location or global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of room8, and/or a position of chair22into, for example, memory46. Viewer24may also input date and time information. In this manner, glare detector36may determine the presence of a glare. For example, glare detector36may scan solar position look-up table44to determine sun position for a particular date, during a particular season, at a particular time. Glare detector36may then compare sun position with a location of television screen6, window(s)10, and chair22to determine whether a glare can be expected. Glare detector36may also rely on inputs from camera26. For example, glare detector36may be operatively associated with object detection/identification algorithms stored on computer readable storage medium40and/or in memory46. In such a case, glare detector36may interpret images captured by camera26and evaluate viewer gestures, for example eye shading, squinting, body position, or pre-set signals that can be deemed to indicate a presence of a glare.

Reference will be made toFIG. 3in describing a method200of detecting and mitigating glare in accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment. In block204a glare is detected on at least one of television screen6and viewer24. The glare may be detected by glare detector36as described above. Once a determination is made that a glare is likely to exist, glare detector36determines an orientation or origin of the glare in block208. For example, relying upon input data as well as data from solar position look-up table44, glare detector36may determine which window or windows10provide a pathway for solar rays which may create the glare.

Glare detector36communicates the orientation information to glare remediation system38which, in turn, communicates with an appropriate one of window treatment(s)14to cover the corresponding window10in block210. In this manner, the glare may be removed without disturbing viewer24or requiring multiple attempts to determine through which window(s)10the glare may originate. In block220, glare detection and mitigation system28may determine whether the glare persists. For example, after a time period, the position of the sun may have changed requiring a different window10to be closed, or allowing previously closed window treatments14to be opened in block224.

At this point it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments describe a system for eliminating glare on a television screen and/or a view of a television system with minimal, if any, outside inputs. That is, the television system itself, after being set up for a particular location, may determine the presence of a glare and take appropriate steps to reduce and/or eliminate the glare to enhance the viewer's viewing experience. It should also be understood that while described as communicating to the window treatments through Bluetooth® protocols, other wireless communication protocols may also be employed. Further, while described as relying on a solar position look-up table and/or perceived gestures, other systems for detecting glare, including light sensors, visual inputs, in-screen sensors and the like may also be employed.