ConstraintsLed

ConstraintsLed is a framework and methodology for controlling LED systems through constraint-based programming. Designers specify constraints on luminance, color, timing, and hardware limits rather than issuing imperative commands.

The core consists of a constraint solver, a model of the LED array, and adapters to hardware drivers. LEDs are represented as variables with attributes such as brightness, color, and on/off status. Constraints can reference spatial zones, power budgets, color balance, and timing relationships, while objectives may aim to maximize perceived uniformity or minimize energy use.

In typical use, the topology is declared, constraints and objectives are defined, and the solver computes a feasible lighting state. The system supports real-time updates by performing incremental solving, allowing changes to propagate without violating user-defined constraints.

Applications include architectural and stage lighting, interactive installations, and energy-conscious displays where many LEDs must coordinate under multiple interdependent requirements. ConstraintsLed is designed to handle complex interdependencies that arise when scaling up from small pilot setups to larger arrays.

Limitations include solver performance on very large arrays and the need for careful abstraction of hardware capabilities. Practical deployments often use hierarchies of constraints or approximate solvers to meet timing constraints, with trade-offs between optimality and responsiveness.

See also: constraint programming, constraint satisfaction problem, LED control.