Consistent contributor [Ken] has cooked up another contraption with his directional booklight. Combining an LED strip and privacy screen filter inside a wooden enclosure, this handy tool is made for someone who wants to read in bed without disturbing anyone else. The booklight sits on top of the page, the LEDs light up just the given area, and because the privacy screen only allows light to come straight off the page, only the reader can see any light and any other viewing angle is obscured.
[Ken] thought of everything. Rather than have the light stay on while the booklight is lifted to turn the page and possibly flash an unsuspecting slumberer, a tactile switch on the underside turns the light on only when it is pressed against the page, allowing very little light to escape.
Future upgrades include another switch on top to detect when the book is closed, and an accelerometer to detect when the reader may have fallen asleep.
We’ve reported a few of [Ken]’s projects before, like his 3D popup cards, unique weather display, and semi-real-life Mario Kart
That’s a great idea! I’m sure that would make a nice little product you can sell. I would be interested.
Indeed
I wonder, would it work if the plexiglas/lexan/acrylic was edge-lit (making it even thinner)?
This is a great idea to apply easily on front-lit ebook readers, such as Kindle Paperwhite or Kobo Glo, theoretically making them spouse-proof!
bummer to have to remove it every time you want to flip a page though.
You just have to choose an e-reader with capacitive touch instead of IR touch along front lighting.
So, doesn’t apply easily to front-lit ebook readers, such as Kindle Paperwhite or Kobo Glo…
Amazon purveyors of these products notwithstanding, I’m pretty sure my (capacitive touch) Moto X and Moto E displays would not be at all happy with this kind of screen on top. Neither one works quite up to snuff with a screen protector or even thin gloves, especially the Moto E.
These polarizing films are only as thick as your average screen protector. It’s the same material used for 3D glasses in theaters.
Nobody here is saying anything about polarizing filters. The discussion here is about privacy filters. They are unlike any 3d viewing film, polarized or not, and operate on a completely different principle.
If you put a privacy screen on the bottom of the light, could you eliminate the need for the tactile switch?
No, you ruin the entire project. The current arrangement filters the light using the privacy screen. If you put the screen on the bottom, all the light will flood the area like a normal reading light, making the screen useless.
If you want to get rid of the switch, replace it by a ping sensor and a microcontroller (I would say the A-word, but refrained myself).
To [Ken], nice work! Well done!
I meant a second privacy screen, on the bottom, in addition to the one on the top.
Even putting a second screen would not work. The light would be scattered by the book and flood the area.
That’s pretty cool. The one problem I see is differently sized books. It might be usable on larger books, but smaller books would need a smaller light.
Or an adjustable aperture, like a movable divider wall inside the bracket.