Ambilight, which is short for Ambient Lighting Technology, is a feature invented by Philips Electronics, generating light effects around the TV that correspond to the video content. The effect, the company claims, is a larger virtual

Virtual

The term virtual is a concept applied in many fields with somewhat differing connotations, and also, differing denotations.The term has been defined in philosophy as "that which is not real" but may display the salient qualities of the real....

 screen and a more immersive viewing experience. In addition, Philips claims that it reduces viewer eye strain. Ambilight also reduces the visibility of a typical LCD problem: backlight bleed.

Ambient Light Technology is a lighting system that actively adjusts both brightness and color based upon picture content. Integrated into the television cabinet, Ambient Light Technology is aimed to enable the viewer to see more picture detail, contrast and color while eliminating on-screen reflections.

Ambilight technology works by 'intelligently' projecting light from the rear of the set in an almost infinite combination of possible colours, shades and intensity. Viewers can choose to have Ambilight follow the colour and brightness of the programme content - automatically changing with the colours on the screen - or alternatively the light levels and colour can be set to match the interior decor or mood in the room. When the television is not on the unit becomes a lamp.

Adults and children may be staring at screens for extended periods of time, both at home and on the road. When they focus on one thing for too long, the accommodating eye muscles get stressed and tired, thereby causing visual fatigue. Philips Ambilight TV with the back light feature aims to help ease eye fatigue and strain.

Aurea flat TV emits an aura of light from the front of the TV as well as on all four sides. A further refinement is that it reflects a whole range of colours from each side of the screen. The colours and dynamics of each image spread beyond the screen.

Versions

Ambilight is marketed in several versions, mostly depending on the number of independent light channels, anywhere from one to four or more.

The Ambilight Spectra name refers to a frame surrounding the display panel that lights up in colors matching the edges of the displayed image, in addition to illuminating the wall behind the television screen.

AmBX

AmBX

AmBX is an internationally patent protected technology for controlling incandescent and white/coloured LED lighting and other enabled devices...

is a version of Ambilight designed for PC gaming. Similarly, light effects occur resulting from in-game events and actions.

Patents

The concept of adapting ambient light with a video display already existed, but proposed solutions required a separate channel for the light effects in addition to the video and audio channels. Ambilight uses the video channel itself to generate color and the concepts as well as various methods of calculating the color from the video signal are protected by patents.

External links

• Seduction by Light - The official Philips website for the new Ambilight / Aurea family product range
• LiveLight Project - DIY Ambient Lightning Project by a finnish student.
• Aurea Phillips Blog - Ambilight Images and Technical Specifications
• Wong Kar Wai to create exclusive film for Philips next generation Ambilight television
• Boblight - DIY collection of free tools to control RGB lights similar to Ambilight
• Lightpack - USB content-driving cross-platform ambient lighting system
• Amblone - Another DIY Ambilight solution running on Windows
• Shiftbrite + Arduino - A DIY Arduino-based clone