Patent Description:
The electromagnetic spectrum (EME) is the energy distribution of the whole of the electromagnetic waves that a substance emits (emission spectrum) or absorbs (absorption spectrum). The EME includes a wide range of radiation, from that of lower wavelength such as gamma rays and x-rays, passing through ultraviolet radiation, light and infrared rays, to the electromagnetic waves with longer wavelength, such as radio waves.

The light spectrum is the region of the electromagnetic spectrum that human eye is able to perceive. Electromagnetic radiation in this range of wavelengths is also called 'visible' or simply light. There are no exact limits in the visible spectrum; a typical human eye responds to wavelengths from <NUM> to <NUM>, although the eye adapted to the dark can see over a greater range, ranging from <NUM> to <NUM>.

The retina auto-protects itself from the short wavelengths in two ways: with a heterogeneous distribution of the photoreceptors in such a way that photoreceptors, sensitive to the short wavelengths, do not exist in the macular depression and by the action of yellow pigments existing in the same area that also perform a protective action. In addition, the crystalline increases its proportion of yellow chromophores with age.

These natural protections of the human eye against the shortest wavelengths (the crystalline and those of the retina) can find themselves seriously affected by certain pathologies and/or surgical interventions, even exclusively over time.

Some techniques have been developed to protect healthy eyes, cataract operated eyes, and eyes in neuro-degenerative retina process from short wavelengths:.

A blocking element of the short wavelengths is a device designed to separate, pass, or delete a group of objects or things of the total mixture. The blocking elements are designed for the selection of a particular range of wavelengths of light. The mechanism is always subtractive, consists of blocking of wavelengths, allowing the passage of other wavelengths.

There are different types of filters applied to the human eye on the market. For instance, the patent application <CIT> describes a filter applied in a contact lens that does not cover the whole of said contact lens, understanding the whole as iris area, pupil area and the contact lens body, this fact being fundamental for avoiding irregularities in vision. On the other hand, the document <CIT> describes intraocular lenses for treating of AMD which is not the object of the present invention.

It is also known the fact of using yellow filters in ophthalmic lenses, for example through the document <CIT>.

The yellow filter can be used in multiple applications, as shown by the documents located in the current state of the art.

The document <CIT> describes a yellow filter applied to an electrical lighting device, but combined with a second red-colored filter, which moves away from the inventive concept described in the present invention.

The document <CIT> describes an external support device of different lighting filters, with different colors, which moves away from the inventive concept of the present invention which lies in a unique blocking element of short wavelengths, integrated in a given material, to eliminate the short wavelengths from the visible light spectrum before it reaches the user due to pernicious effects produced by the high energy of this light range, aim that, evidently, is not achieved with this document.

The document <CIT> describes a filter with a series of technical features but that absolutely defines a pathophysiological application and in addition, the filter described in the patent application <CIT> is not homogeneous in its absorbance and may produce unwanted effects.

Celia Sanchez-Ramos is the inventor of the patents <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>. However, although these documents are referred to the issue of ambient light, especially the short wavelengths on the spectrum from <NUM> to <NUM>, none of these documents explains the problem derived from the mass and daily use of screens primarily based on LED technology in its different variants, like OLED, LCD-LED, AMOLED, among other cutting-edge technologies for smartphones, electronic tablets, laptops and televisions, projectors and in general any screen with LED technology and/or LED backlight.

A practical example of this type of LED technology displays is in document <CIT>. , which describes how it is internally that known commercially as Retina® display and implemented in various products marketed by Apple, as the MacBook Pro®, iPad® <NUM>, or iPhone® <NUM>. Although said document describes extensively how it is emitted the light by the LEDs (more specifically, those known as organic LEDs or OLED), at no time the presence of any medium or element to limit radiation emitted to the user of the device is considered.

<FIG> shows the different graphs of emission for products currently marketed within the visible range.

Today any particular user spends an average of <NUM>-<NUM> hours a day, or more, in front of LED-type displays, i.e., receiving an emission of short wavelengths at a usually very small distance (on the order of <NUM>-<NUM>), which negatively affects the eye and human vision. This problem is described in the state of the art in [<NPL>].

Said document, in the conclusions thereof, emphasizes the need to evaluate the potential toxicity of the light emitted by the LEDs, depending on the various devices available on the market so that efficient recommendations can be made to the domestic light manufacturers, due to the increased presence of LED-type lighting for indoor environments. However, this document does not commit to a solution to combine the evolution of the LED technique with a risk-free everyday use. That is, this document advocates, directly, the limitation and legal regulation of light emissions, without proposing any kind of solution for the already marketed products.

Another document that describes the associated problems in [<NPL>] where the need to adapt the light emission to the sleep cycle is described.

This document, however, indicates that the potential toxicity of the LED-type displays is unknown and that, in any case, their associated problems can be reduced by reducing the light intensity.

The technical problem that underlies is the reduction of risk in the eye damage due to the intensive use of LED-type displays. From the document by Behar-Cohen, it is known to which type of damages the human eye is exposed, but in its conclusions, the most obvious way is used, which is to limit the use of that type of screens and force manufacturers, in a generic way, to restrict their emissions within a specific range. However, it leaves unanswered precisely how to reduce this type of emissions in the simplest way as possible, not only at the manufacturing step, which is not always possible, easy or simple, but also with the products currently existing on the market.

The document <CIT> generally relates to optical filters that provide regulation and/or enhancement of chromatic and luminous aspects of the color appearance of light to human vision, generally to applications of such optical filters, to therapeutic applications of such optical filters, to industrial and safety applications of such optical filters when incorporated, for example, in radiation-protective eyewear, to methods of designing such optical filters, to methods of manufacturing such optical filters, and to designs and methods of incorporating such optical filters into apparatus including, for example, eyewear and illuminants.

Based on the technical problem described, and with the aim that the blocking element of emissions object of the invention does not have to be the same in all cases and must be easy to implement by any user and not only by experts. The object of the invention is achieved with the method defined in claim <NUM>.

In the dependent claims it is disclose embodiments of the invention.

In all aspects of the invention is equally achieve the protection of the retina, cornea and crystalline of the harmful action of the short wavelengths, as well as eliminate the eyestrain, improve the comfort and visual function, final objects of the invention, since this damage in eye not properly protected is a cumulative and irreversible damage.

Throughout the description and claims, the word 'comprises' and its variations are not intended to exclude other technical features, additives, components or steps. For those skilled in the art, other objects, advantages, and characteristics of the invention will emerge in part from the description and in part from the practice of the invention. The following examples and drawings are provided by way of illustration and are not intended to be limiting of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention covers all the possible combinations of particular and preferred embodiments herein indicated.

Described very briefly hereinafter are a series of drawings that help to better understand the invention, and which are expressly related to an embodiment of said invention that is presented as a non-limiting example thereof.

In the state of the art the degree of toxicity of the short wavelengths, produced by LED light of different spectral composition, due to the use of an electronic device equipped with this type of displays (LED) on retinal pigment epithelial cells, has not been described.

The specific objectives of the toxicity test and the provided solution are as follows:.

Following the assessment and determination of toxicity, the solutions proposed in the present invention are assessed.

In table <NUM>, a summary of the reagents, equipment and supplied material used in the study is found. On the other hand, a lighting device has been designed comprising five differentiated lighting zones separated off from each other by discriminating barriers of a white material. Each one of the zones contains a LED producing light of irradiance <NUM> mW/cm<NUM> but emitting light with different spectral composition:.

In <FIG>, Example <NUM> is a <NUM>-year-old person that uses a computer for less than three hours a day in high ambient high conditions, Example <NUM> is a <NUM>-year old person that uses various electronic devices (computer + table + smartphone) for more than <NUM> hours a day in low and high lighting environments, and Example <NUM> is a <NUM>-year old person that has a moderate retinal disease state and watches TV for three to five hours a day under high lighting conditions.

<FIG> represents schematically the lighting device used and the spectral emission curves of each of the LEDs. This device was placed on the culture plate, and the cells were exposed to LED light for <NUM> light-dark cycles (<NUM> hours/<NUM> hours) with and without the interposition of the blocking element of short wavelengths. As shown, there is a zone not illuminated by LEDs where the cells not exposed to light which were used as negative control are placed.

In this non-limitative embodiment, the blocking element is defined as a blocking element of short wavelengths consisting of a substrate with a yellow pigment evenly distributed on its surface and, in that said pigment has an optical density such that it allows the selective absorption of short wavelengths between <NUM> and <NUM> in a range between <NUM> and <NUM>%. More specifically, it is a film or multilayer film, where one of them is pigmented.

The retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) were thawed following the supplier's instructions, in 'Epithelial cell culture medium', supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS) and growth factors. At <NUM> hours and once the culture reaches the confluence, the cells were raised with trypsin-EDTA and were seeded at a density of <NUM> cells/well in a <NUM>-well plate previously treated with poly-lysine. The culture was kept for <NUM> hours after which the medium was replaced by fresh medium (<NUM>µl/well). This procedure was repeated each of the days in which the experiment was carried out to avoid evaporations by the heat produced by the lamps. The plate with the lighting device was placed within the incubator at <NUM> in an atmosphere of <NUM>% CO<NUM>.

The toxicity experiment was conducted after the cells were incubated in the presence of light of different spectral characteristics for <NUM> exposure/rest cycles of <NUM> hours per cycle.

The samples were washed with PBS and fixed with <NUM>% paraformaldehyde for <NUM> minutes. After fixation, the cells were permeated with <NUM>% Triton for <NUM> minutes. Once the samples were permeated, they were blocked with <NUM>% BSA and the anti-caspase and anti-H2AX antibodies dissolved in <NUM>% PBS+BSA were then added at a concentration of <NUM>:<NUM> for the determination of apoptosis and DNA damage respectively.

After an hour of incubation, the samples were washed with PBS, and secondary antibodies, Alexa <NUM>, and Alexa <NUM>, were added at the same concentration as the primary antibody and incubated for <NUM> minutes. After incubation, the samples were washed, and the signal was read in the BD Pathway <NUM> fluorescence microscope. For the activation of caspases, images were captured at <NUM> of emission and for H2AX at <NUM>.

Each experiment was repeated at least twice. The values are given as mean ± standard deviation. The data were analyzed by statistical unpaired Student's t-test using the statistical software Statgraphics version Centurion XVI. P-values of less than <NUM> were significant.

After a period of <NUM> light exposure cycles to for <NUM> hours, alternating with <NUM> recovery cycles for a further <NUM> hours, the nuclei of the primary human retinal pigment epithelial cells were DAPI-stained to count the number of cells per well.

The non-irradiated cells grew well in the wells, but irradiation with monochromatic LED light inhibited cell growth. Blue light (<NUM>) produced a very significant reduction in the number of cells, although there was also an observable phototoxic effect for green light (<NUM>). In the case of white light (T° = <NUM> °K) no statistically significant differences were observed.

With the presence of the blocking element of short wavelengths, an increase of cell viability was observed, mainly in cells exposed to white light (T° = <NUM> °K) and light blue (<NUM>) as shown in the table <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the LED light effect and the photoprotective effect of a blocking element that selectively absorbs the short wavelengths on the cell viability in human retinal pigment epithelial cells can be seen. FU means fluorescence unit.

To examine whether the radiation had some effect on the integrity of cellular DNA, cells were marked using H2AX antibody.

H2AX is a variant of the histone H2A that is involved in DNA repair, i.e. when there is damage in nuclear DNA. When the double-stranded DNA break occurs, H2AX histone is rapidly phosphorylated on serine <NUM> by kinase ATM and becomes Gamma-H2AFX.

This phosphorylation step can extend to several thousands of nucleosomes from the site of the double-strand break and can mark the surrounding chromatin in the recruitment of the proteins necessary for damage signaling and DNA repair. As part of post-translational modifications of apoptosis, caused by severe DNA damage, a high expression of phosphorylated H2AX is considered as an accurate indicator of apoptosis.

The results of experiments showed that anti-H2AX antibody recognizes sites of phosphorylated histones after irradiation with LED light indicating an activation of DNA repair mechanisms.

By interposing the blocking element of the short wavelengths, a significant decrease in activation of histone H2AX, indicative of less DNA damage, was observed. This decrease was <NUM>% for white (T° = <NUM> °K), blue (<NUM>), and green (<NUM>) LED light, and <NUM>% in cells exposed to red LED light, as seen in table <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the LED light effect and the photoprotective effect of a blocking element that selectively absorbs the short wavelengths on the activation of histone H2AX in human retinal pigment epithelial cells, is shown. FU means fluorescence unit.

The activation of caspase-<NUM> and - <NUM> was determined, since these enzymes are involved in the regulation and execution of apoptosis. The cells were marked using the anti-caspase antibody.

Irradiation with LED light in the cells caused an increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells in the culture. The caspase activation is observed as a pinkish color around the blue-stained nucleus (DAPI).

The interposition of the blocking element of short wavelengths induced a significant decrease in caspase activation, indicative of apoptosis in cells exposed to the different LED light sources. This decrease was <NUM>% for white (T° = <NUM> °K) and blue (<NUM>) lights, <NUM>% for green light (<NUM>), and <NUM>% for red light, as shown in table <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the LED light effect and photoprotective effect of a blocking element that selectively absorbs the short wavelengths on the activation of the caspase-<NUM>, -<NUM> in human retinal pigment epithelial cells, is shown. FU means fluorescence unit.

Following an analysis of the problem and an example of solution, the light, especially that of smaller wavelengths, in <NUM> cycles of <NUM> hours of exposure alternating with <NUM> hours of recovery, affects the growth of the human retinal pigment epithelial cells. An increase in the number of cells expressing the histone H2AX (DNA damage) y caspase-<NUM> and -<NUM> (apoptosis) occurs.

In all cases the blocking element that selectively absorbs the short wavelengths exerts a protective effect against the damaging effects of light on the human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

It is obvious for a person skilled in the art that other embodiments can be possible, and not only that shown in the previous example. However, all realizations must take into account that the absorbance that blocks the wavelengths between <NUM> and <NUM> must be selected, as well as reduced, via software, said emission selectively without reducing the intensity or amount of light.

For this reason, the present invention establishes a series of factors (table <NUM>) to which have endowed them a certain maximum and minimum weight to precisely set the maximum and minimum absorbance for each individual:.

The sum of the various factors listed by way of example in table <NUM> is what gives as a result a maximum and minimum absorbance threshold corresponding to <FIG>, where, by way of an example, for a user between <NUM> years old (max. <NUM>, min. <NUM>) that works with a computer (<NUM>/<NUM>), with an exposure time to the light source by the user less than <NUM> hours (<NUM>/<NUM>), with an ambient lighting of the place where the user interacts with the photopic LED-type light source (<NUM>/<NUM>) and without disease states, is stated that we would have a maximum absorbance in the range of <NUM>-<NUM> of (<NUM>+<NUM>+<NUM>+<NUM>) of <NUM>%, while the minimum of absorbance would be <NUM>%, as shown, for example in <FIG>. However, if the same individual uses various electronic devices (computer, tablet and smartphone) for more than <NUM> hours in environments of high and low lighting, the preferred absorbance range would be between <NUM>-<NUM>%. On the other hand, if the individual has a moderate retinal disease state and was exposed to television for <NUM>-<NUM> hours a day in high light conditions, the recommended absorbance range would be <NUM>-<NUM>%.

Some might think it is not necessary to have a maximum absorbance range and completely block the passage of the short wavelengths between <NUM>-<NUM>. However, the total blocking of the blue light produces effects both on the visibility of the screen and on the individual's circadian cycle itself, so it is logical to set a minimum and maximum absorbance range, minimizing such negative effects.

Examples and practical embodiments to achieve this selective absorbance vary since it can be a multilayer substrate (the blocking element used in the example), a coating (gel, foam, emulsion, solution, dilution, or mixture) with a pigment of this optical density, or reduction via software of the emission on the spectrum of <NUM>-<NUM>.

The portable electronic device (<NUM>) as one that can be used in the present invention according to some practical embodiments is shown in <FIG>. More specifically, the portable electronic device <NUM> of the invention includes a memory <NUM>, a memory controller <NUM>, one or more processing units (CPU) <NUM>, a peripherals interface <NUM>, a RF circuitry <NUM>, an audio circuitry <NUM>, a speaker <NUM>, a microphone <NUM>, an input/output (I/O) subsystem <NUM>, a LED display <NUM>, other input or control devices <NUM>, and an external port <NUM>. These components communicate over the one or more communication buses or signal lines <NUM>. The device <NUM> can be any portable electronic device, including but not limited to a handheld computer, a tablet computer, a mobile phone, a media player, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or the like, including a combination of two or more of these items. It should be appreciated that the device <NUM> is only one example of a portable electronic device <NUM>, and that the device <NUM> may have more or fewer components than shown, or a different configuration of components. The various components shown in <FIG> may be implemented in hardware, software or a combination of both hardware and software, including one or more signal processing and/or application specific integrated circuits. In the same way, the LED display <NUM> has been defined, although the invention may also be implemented in devices with a standard display.

The memory <NUM> may include high-speed random-access memory and may also include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid state memory devices. In some embodiments, the memory <NUM> may further include storage remotely located from the one or more processors <NUM>, for instance network attached storage accessed via the RF circuitry <NUM> or external port <NUM> and a communications network (not shown) such as the Internet, intranet(s), Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Local Area Networks (WLANs), Storage Area Networks (SANs) and the like, or any suitable combination thereof. Access to the memory <NUM> by other components of the device <NUM>, such as the CPU <NUM> and the peripherals interface <NUM>, may be controlled by the memory controller <NUM>.

The peripherals interface <NUM> couples the input and output peripherals of the device to the CPU <NUM> and the memory <NUM>. The one or more processors <NUM> run various software programs and/or sets of instructions stored in the memory <NUM> to perform various functions for the device <NUM> and to process data.

In some embodiments, the peripherals interface <NUM>, the CPU <NUM>, and the memory controller <NUM> may be implemented on a single chip, such as a chip <NUM>. In some other embodiments, they may be implemented on separate chips.

The RF (radio frequency) circuitry <NUM> receives and sends electromagnetic waves. The RF circuitry <NUM> converts electrical signals to/from electromagnetic waves and communicates with communications networks and other communications devices via the electromagnetic waves. The RF circuitry <NUM> may include well-known circuitry for performing these functions, including but not limited to an antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner, one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, memory, and so forth. The RF circuitry <NUM> may communicate with the networks, such as the Internet, also referred to as the World Wide Web (WWW), an Intranet and/or a wireless network, such as a cellular telephone network, a wireless local area network (LAN) and/or a metropolitan area network (MAN), and other devices by wireless communication. The wireless communication may use any of a plurality of communications standards, protocols and technologies, including but not limited to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) (e.g., IEEE <NUM>. 11a, IEEE <NUM>. 11b, IEEE <NUM> and/or IEEE <NUM>. 11n), voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, a protocol for email, instant messaging, and/or Short Message Service (SMS), or any other suitable communication protocol, including communication protocols not yet developed as of the filing date of this document.

The audio circuitry <NUM>, the speaker <NUM>, and the microphone <NUM> provide an audio interface between a user and the device <NUM>. The audio circuitry <NUM> receives audio data from the peripherals interface <NUM>, converts the audio data to an electrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to the speaker <NUM>. The speaker converts the electrical signal to human-audible sound waves. The audio circuitry <NUM> also receives electrical signals converted by the microphone <NUM> from sound waves. The audio circuitry <NUM> converts the electrical signal to audio data and transmits the audio data to the peripherals interface <NUM> for processing. Audio data may be retrieved from and/or transmitted to the memory <NUM> and/or the RF circuitry <NUM> by the peripherals interface <NUM>. In some embodiments, the audio circuitry <NUM> also includes a headset jack (not shown). The headset jack provides an interface between the audio circuitry <NUM> and removable audio input/output peripherals, such as output-only headphones or a headset with both output (headphone for one or both ears) and input (microphone).

The I/O subsystem <NUM> provides the interface between input/output peripherals on the device <NUM>, such as the LED display <NUM> and other input/control devices <NUM>, and the peripherals interface <NUM>. The I/O subsystem <NUM> includes a LED-display controller <NUM> and one or more input controllers <NUM> for other input or control devices. The one or more input controllers <NUM> receive/send electrical signals from/to other input or control devices <NUM>. The other input/control devices <NUM> may include physical buttons (e.g., push buttons, rocker buttons, etc.), dials, slider switches, and/or geographical location means <NUM>, such as GPS or similar.

In this practical embodiment, the LED display <NUM> provides both an output interface and an input interface between the device and a user. The LED-display controller <NUM> receives/sends electrical signals from/to the LED display <NUM>. The LED display <NUM> displays visual output to the user. The visual output may include text, graphics, video, and any combination thereof. Some or all the visual output may correspond to user-interface objects, further details of which are described below.

The LED display <NUM> also accepts input from the user based on haptic contact. The LED display <NUM> forms a touch-sensitive surface that accepts user input. The LED display <NUM> and the LED-display controller <NUM> (along with any associated modules and/or sets of instructions in the memory <NUM>) detects contact (and any movement or break of the contact) on the LED display <NUM> and converts the detected contact into interaction with user-interface objects, such as one or more soft keys, that are displayed on the LED display. In an exemplary embodiment, a point of contact between the LED display <NUM> and the user corresponds to one or more digits of the user.

The LED display <NUM> is or may be formed by a plurality of light-emitter diodes, and more specifically formed by white LEDs, although other type of LED emitters may be used in other embodiments.

The LED display <NUM> and LED-display controller <NUM> may detect contact and any movement or break thereof using any of a plurality of touch sensitivity technologies, including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, and surface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximity sensor arrays or other elements for determining one or more points of contact with the LED display <NUM>.

The device <NUM> also includes a power system <NUM> for powering the various components. The power system <NUM> may include a power management system, one or more power sources (e.g., battery, alternating current (AC)), a recharging system, a power failure detection circuit, a power converter or inverter, a power status indicator (e.g., a light-emitting diode (LED)) and any other components associated with the generation, management, and distribution of power in portable devices.

In some embodiments, the software components include an operating system <NUM>, a communication module (or set of instructions) <NUM>, a contact/motion module (or set of instructions) <NUM>, a graphics module (or set of instructions) <NUM>, a user interface state module (or set of instructions) <NUM>, and one or more applications (or set of instructions) <NUM>.

The operating system <NUM> (e.g., Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks) includes various software components and/or drivers for controlling and managing general system tasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control, power management, etc.) and facilitates communication between various hardware and software components.

The communication module <NUM> facilitates communication with other devices over one or more external ports <NUM> and also includes various software components for handling data received by the RF circuitry <NUM> and/or the external port <NUM>. The external port <NUM> (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB), FIREWIRE, etc.) is adapted for coupling directly to other devices or indirectly over a network (e.g., the Internet, wireless LAN, etc.).

The contact/motion module <NUM> detects contact with the LED display <NUM>, in conjunction with the LED-display controller <NUM>. The contact/motion module <NUM> includes various software components for performing various operations related to detection of contact with the LED display <NUM>, such as determining if contact has occurred, determining if there is movement of the contact and tracking the movement across the LED display, and determining if the contact has been broken (i.e., if the contact has ceased). Determining movement of the point of contact may include determining speed (magnitude), velocity (magnitude and direction), and/or an acceleration (including magnitude and/or direction) of the point of contact. In some embodiments, the contact/motion module <NUM> and the LED display controller <NUM> also detects contact on the LED pad.

The graphics module <NUM> includes various known software components for rendering and displaying graphics on the LED display <NUM>. Note that the term "graphics" includes any object that can be displayed to a user, including without limitation text, web pages, icons (such as user-interface objects including soft keys), digital images, videos, animations and the like.

In some embodiments, the graphics module <NUM> includes an optical intensity module <NUM>. The optical intensity module <NUM> controls the optical intensity of graphical objects, such as user-interface objects, displayed on the LED display <NUM>. Controlling the optical intensity may include increasing or decreasing the optical intensity of a graphical object. In some embodiments, the increase or decrease may follow predefined functions.

The user interface state module <NUM> controls the user interface state of the device <NUM>. The user interface state module <NUM> may include a lock module <NUM> and an unlock module <NUM>. The lock module detects satisfaction of any of one or more conditions to transition the device <NUM> to a user-interface lock state and to transition the device <NUM> to the lock state. The unlock module detects satisfaction of any of one or more conditions to transition the device to a user-interface unlock state and to transition the device <NUM> to the unlock state.

The one or more applications <NUM> can include any applications installed on the device <NUM>, including without limitation, a browser, address book, contact list, email, instant messaging, word processing, keyboard emulation, widgets, JAVA-enabled applications, encryption, digital rights management, voice recognition, voice replication, location determination capability (such as that provided by the global positioning system (GPS)), a music player (which plays back recorded music stored in one or more files, such as MP3 or AAC files), etc..

In some embodiments, the device <NUM> may include one or more optional optical sensors (not shown), such as CMOS or CCD image sensors, for use in imaging applications.

Thus, the portable electronic device (<NUM>) essentially comprises, a LED display (<NUM>); one or more processors (<NUM>); a memory (<NUM>); and one or more programs wherein the program(s) (<NUM> to <NUM>) are stored in the memory (<NUM>) and configured to be executed by at least the processor(s) (<NUM>), the programs (<NUM> to <NUM>) including instructions to calculate the emissions of harmful short wavelengths between <NUM> and <NUM> and selectively reducing the emission of short wavelengths between <NUM>-<NUM> of at least a portion of the LEDs contained in the display (<NUM>). All of this as has already been indicated above.

The selective reduction is carried out by modifying the colors in the operating system (<NUM>) or in the color intensity module (<NUM>). In any case, there is also the possibility that said selective reduction is temporarily progressive so that the greater exposure time to the screen (<NUM>) of device (<NUM>), the greater reduction will be.

Finally, the computer program product with instructions configured for execution by one or more processors (<NUM>) that, when executing by a portable electronic device (<NUM>) as describe, said device (<NUM>) carries out the method according to the computer-implemented method to block the short wavelengths in LED-type light sources characterized in that it comprises the steps of: (i) calculating the emissions of harmful short wavelengths between <NUM> and <NUM>; and (ii) selectively reducing the emission of short wavelengths between <NUM>-<NUM> of the LEDs contained in the display depending on the calculation set out in the step (i).

The calculation of the harmful emissions is a function of at least one of the following variables: age of a user of LED-type light source, separation distance to the LED-type light source, size of the LED-type light source, exposure time to the light source by the user, ambient lighting of the place where the user interacts with the LED-type light source and the possible retinal and/or corneal disease state.

This computer program product can be physically implemented in the display hardware itself or in the video controller of a computer system comprising a LED-type display.

The protection of the retina, cornea and crystalline of the harmful action of the short wavelengths, as well as the elimination of the eyestrain, the improvement of the comfort and visual function, and the avoidance of the insomnia, final objects of the invention, are also achieved both with the computer-implemented method and with the portable electronic device (<NUM>), and with the described computer product.

One of the possibilities given by the invention is the possibility of changing the background of any document to one less aggressive for the human eye. Indeed, today, most of the documents have a white background, while its content is typically in a color that offers a strong contrast, like black, blue, red or green. This is conditioned by the fact that electronic documents, in general, try to imitate the documents written on paper, in addition to minimize the cost of printing of said documents.

However, that contrast, as described, implies a strong light emission with a harmful content for the human eye. Therefore, and thanks to the described method, the computer-implemented method, the device, and the computer product implement a further step of detecting the background of the document shown to the user, and a second step of switching said background to one with a reduced emission on the spectrum indicated.

To justify the convenience of the invention, a test of lighting characterization of several tablets in the market and LED-backlit has been implemented.

The following concepts are defined in the test:.

The aim of the test is to determine the lighting characteristics of <NUM> display of tablets with LED backlight which project different images on their display:.

The measures were performed on the models Apple iPad <NUM>, Asus Memo Pad Smart y Samsung Galaxy Tab <NUM> (all trademarks registered by their respective owners) for a total of <NUM> wallpapers of different colors. The <NUM> primary colors (red, green and blue) were used, to which variations of hue and saturation were performed. Likewise the measures were performed with a white background. The following table set out the hue, saturation and brightness of each of the colors of the image projected on the display of the tablets that have been assessed:.

To determine the emission spectrum of the LED light sources was used the Ocean Optics Redtide USB <NUM> spectrophotometer. The data were analyzed using the Ocean Optics SpectraSuite software and plotted using the Sigmaplot software.

The acquisition protocol used for acquisition of measurements was:.

The total irradiance of the light sources was determined with a Thorlabs PM100USB radiometer at <NUM>.

For the calculation of irradiance according to its wavelength, the following mathematical analysis was carried out: <MAT>.

In the graph shown in <FIG>, the irradiance (mW/cm<NUM>) depending on the wavelength of the tablet Asus Memo Pad Smart, using as a background the primary colors (red, green and blue) and a white image, is represented. In <FIG> and the subsequent graphs, the variation in lighting characteristics of the tablet display due to a change in the hue (<FIG>) or the saturation of the image of each of the primary colors (<FIG>) is represented.

On the other hand, in <FIG>, the irradiance (mW/cm<NUM>) depending on the wavelength de la tablet Asus Memo Pad Smart with and without the interposition of a protective filter which partially absorbs the short wavelengths of the visible spectrum, according to the object of the invention, is represented. In table <NUM>, the represented values are indicated:.

In the graphs in <FIG>, the irradiance (mW/cm<NUM>) depending on the wavelength of the tablet iPad <NUM>, using as a background the primary colors (red, green and blue) and a white image (<FIG>), is represented.

In the subsequent graphs, the variation in lighting characteristics of the tablet display due to a change in the hue (<FIG>) or the saturation of the image of each of the primary colors (<FIG>), is represented.

On the other hand, in <FIG>, the irradiance (mW/cm<NUM>) depending on the wavelength of the tablet iPad <NUM> with and without the interposition of a protective filter which partially absorbs the short wavelengths of the visible spectrum, according to the object of the invention, is represented. In table <NUM>, the represented values are indicated:.

In the graphs in <FIG>, the irradiance (mW/cm<NUM>) depending on the wavelength of the tablet Samsung Galaxy Tab <NUM>, using as a background the primary colors (red, green and blue) and a white image (<FIG>), is represented.

In the subsequent graphs, the variation in lighting characteristics of the tablet display due to a change in the hue (<FIG>) or the saturation of the image of each of the primary colors (<FIG>) is represented.

On the other hand, in <FIG>, the irradiance (mW/cm<NUM>) depending on the wavelength of the tablet Samsung Galaxy Tab <NUM> with and without the interposition of a protective filter which partially absorbs the short wavelengths of the visible spectrum, according to the object of the invention, is represented. In table <NUM>, the represented values are indicated:.

Claim 1:
A blocking method of short wavelengths in LED-type light sources comprising the steps of:
selecting a mean optical density of a pigment between a maximum percent of absorption and a minimum percent of absorption in the range of short wavelengths between <NUM> and <NUM>; and
pigmenting a substrate over its entire surface in such a way that the mean absorption is between said maximum and minimum percent of absorption between <NUM> and <NUM>% of selective absorption in the range of short wavelengths between <NUM> and <NUM>;
characterised in that the mean optical density is based on the sum of a predetermined maximum percent of absorption and a predetermined minimum percent of absorption of at least two of the following factors:
the age of a user of LED-type light source, the size of the LED-type light source, the total exposure time of a user to the LED-type light source, the ambient lighting of the place where the user interacts with the LED-type light source, the type of LED-type light source, or a retinal or corneal disease state of the user.