A prominent manufacturer of high-end patio furniture and accessories, embarked on a collaborative journey with JN White, a leading provider of advanced electronic solutions. What initially began as a venture involving decal work evolved into an innovative project involving intricate LED lighting, capacitive touch technology, and state-of-the-art ambient light sensing. This case study illuminates the path from concept to realization, highlighting the challenges and solutions that led to the creation of a sophisticated user interface for luxury patio umbrellas.
The client envisioned a versatile patio umbrella with a “glowing” light ring under low light conditions, offering dynamic lighting control and intuitive user interaction. The scope of the project included the integration of a capacitive touch interface with ambient light sensing capabilities. The user interface was expected to enable users to control the marine grade LED light fixture, ranging from turning it on and off to adjusting the brightness level. To achieve this, the project necessitated intricate design, engineering, and prototyping efforts.
The collaboration for this project spanned 18 months, resulting in six prototypes. Each prototype iteration refined the design and functionality, optimizing the user experience while maintaining aesthetic excellence. The following challenges were resolved through the design process:
- Full Voltage Handling: Unlike typical low-voltage scenarios, the LED light ring required handling full electrical voltage. To address this challenge, JN White engineered a printed circuit board that could efficiently manage and distribute the +12 VDC battery voltage to the LED light module, ensuring optimal light output without compromising safety.
- Ambient Light Sensing: The umbrella’s intelligent lighting system required awareness of its environment. JN White employed an ambient light sensor, strategically positioned beneath a clear window on the graphic overlay. This sensor detected whether it was daytime or nighttime and triggered the appropriate response in the user interface.
- Backlit Icon Integration: To create an intuitive user experience, the interface needed to be distinguishable in both daylight and darkness. JN White ingeniously designed an interface that utilized side-firing LEDs. During low-light conditions, these LEDs subtly illuminated the button area, guiding users to the capacitive touch icon and enhancing the visual appeal.
- Dimming Mechanism: The ambient lighting control extended beyond mere on-off functionality. A touch-to-dim feature was incorporated to adjust the LED light intensity. Holding one’s finger on the capacitive touch icon triggers a gradual dimming effect. JN White harnessed an IC chip to facilitate this dynamic dimming feature.
The capacitive touch user interface with ambient light sensor project stands as a testament to the innovative capabilities of JN White. The integration of handling full voltage, capacitive touch interaction, ambient light sensing, and a dynamic dimming IC chip showcases the depth of engineering and design expertise. This ambitious endeavor has birthed a state-of-the-art outdoor lighting control system that effortlessly blends aesthetic sophistication with cutting-edge technology. The ambient touch controller, mounted on the parasol base, is a masterpiece that transcends traditional outdoor lighting experiences.
See What Our Customers Are Saying
"Very pleased with your team's response to our need during the COVID-19 crisis."
Lisa L., Medical Device
"JN White has been exceptional in working with our company in order to develop the look and feel of our new MRI patient worn transmitter. We had originally worked with a prior manufacturer for an earlier version of this product with much less desirable results. JN White delivered a clean professional product at a very reasonable price on time!"
Gary P., Medical
"We had very little information to work with and Jessica James made it nearly effortless on our end to get us exactly what we needed in a timely manner."
Lexi W., Industrial Equipment
"Getting any after-market graphic overlays done always has a certain risk factor in getting it all right. You guys were helpful, patient, & knowledgeable to achieve the best end result. Even pointing out some things that might be [an] oversight or [areas for] improvements. The outcome was perfect."
John S., Technology
"The print task was between the USA and Australia and everything went so smooth. I submitted a drawing, got a return email for me to confirm what I wanted. Even though this was over the Christmas period the print was waiting for me when I got back to work after the holidays. Great job and thanks."
Matt C., Military
"All of the folks there at JN White that I have talked to and dealt with have been very nice and professional."
Vern L., Industrial
"Customer service is wonderful. Receive confirmations and responses in a timely manner. Product has great quality."
Sara H., Medical
"It has been a pleasure working with JN White. We switched suppliers for some of our products to your company and you have given us higher quality. Excellent work!"
Roger W., Education
"I feel confident that JN White will do my order correctly."
Marie P., Government
"I found working with Sara to be a pleasant experience. We were trying to dial in the color to get just the right look on the printed substrate...Sara sent us a sample print sheet that had several variations, up and down, from the colors we specified, which allowed me to pick exactly the color we wanted. The end result product is perfect!"
Don M., Safety
"Our department has used JN White for a number of years for our inspection labels. They always respond very quickly when we contact them to place an order and communication is great with any questions we have. Highly recommend them."
Jim R., Government
"Easy process and great people to work with."
Richard Z., Military
"I'm very satisfied with your service. Always looking forward to bring the best!"
Ramses Z., Medical Devices
"JN White is very responsive to their customers. Product is delivered as expected...and they provide quality products. They have a clear understanding of the obstacles facing US based customers regarding the entire supply chain."
Bob M., Point of Sale
"We always deal with Steve Matacz. He is the best at making sure all details are perfect. Timely communication with any questions we have."
Paul A., Recreational
"Customer response time is one of the best; always prompt and helpful. On-time performance the last 12 months is 100%."
RoseMarie C., Utilities
"Customer service, quality and lead time are great! No complaints."
Sara H., Medical Devices
