User Interface Controlled Lighting

We started out by using the Launchpad to create a circuit that included seven different photo sensors to record how the light in the room changes throughout the day.

Step 1: LED Control Through Arduino

We wrote a code in Arduino to control the color and brightness of a set of LEDs. The goal of this was to be able to control the lighting in a room in order to match the brightness of natural light in the room as well as mood lighting.

Step 2: Prototype

After we got the LEDs working, we built a model of a ceiling light fixture with the lights inside. The light fixture was an 18 inch by 18 inch by 4 inch box made out of thin sheet metal for the sides and mylar for the bottom in order to give off a slight glow instead of the sharper pinpoints of each individual LED.

Step 3: Interface

Using a computer, the user is able to select the color and brightness of the LEDs in order to change the atmosphere in the room. From the computer, the user can also turn the lights on and off.

Step 4: Real World Application

This model can be used in the real world in homes, businesses, schools, and many other places. The benefit of this model is that it can energy with its dimming feature, as well as ease of use for a wider spectrum of customers.