Circadian Rhythms, F.lux, and DDC/CI (PART III) WORKING ALPHA!!!
SetBright? SleepTight!
YEAAA IT WORKS!!
If you’ve been following this blog, you’ve probably already read parts one & two. If you haven’t, read about it after the break!
“The circadian clock. A precision oscillator that regulates our sleep/wake cycles, our body temperature, our blood pressure, our hormone secretion, our metabolic pathways, and many other bodily processes(mirror). Hell, weakened or disrupted circadian rhythms have even been implicated in bipolar disorder!(mirror) It’s obviously, a very important mechanism. However, ’tis a mechanism that is disrupted most easily by modern life. The biggest offender is undoubtedly the ubiquitous backlit screen. What can we do about it?” – Circadian Rhythms, F.lux, and DDC/CI (part one)
In part one, I discussed the previous attempts made to alleviate the phase-delaying effects of the backlight (i.e. f.lux), and the failures thereof, I quickly reviewed the windows API, and I laid out my ideas for a novel solution therewith.
In part two, I quickly hacked together a concept program that relied on an external application to actually change the brightness of the screen.
Now, I have a working alpha, written in C#, utilizing the WMI .NET framework API.
Implementation
First, I wanted scientific data – published in a journal – to base screen brightness upon. The paper I found was: “REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN DIURNAL AND SEASONAL CYCLES OF LIGHTING CONDITIONS AND MELATONIN SECRETION“, (mirror). The authors used a MicroDAQ “Silicon Pyranometer” (mirror), to measure light intensity in Poland & Japan. I chose to use the data from Japan, Japan has a far more pronounced solar cycle than Poland. Unfortunately, the authors presented their data as an Excel chart, without the accompanying data table!
To extract the data, I blew up the chart, took a screenshot, opened it in Paint.NET, mapped the light intensities to their locations on the pixel grid, developed an equation to convert Δpixels to Δlux, and mapped every datapoint on the chart.
The heavily annotated image after work in Paint.NET – Click to enlarge!
To confirm the data, I created a chart in Excel with the data I extracted from the screenshot.
Overview of the code (high-level):
The main method does three things. It parses the input arguments, it determines therefrom which of GetBrightness(), GetBrightnessLevels() & SetBrightness(byte), to call, and initializes a tray icon – for future use. mapBright(int,int) remains unchanged, but uses the new solar intensity data. GetBrightness(), GetBrightnessLevels() & SetBrightness() call some widely available.NET code to interact with the Windows management instrumentation. All Console.Write(“stuff”) functions are for debugging, and print various status messages to the command line.
A closer look at the code:
For simplicity, I averaged the pre-peak & post peak light intensity values, and call SetBrightness(hourbright[]) from the ugly switch/case construct in mapBright(int, int). I really should also review the .NET code itself, but that would be very time consuming – time that I don’t have.
Raw code
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
//EL GPL LICENCE, MOFOs
namespace DisplayBrightnessConsole
{
public class BaseConst//#TODO , make this an OPTION that's dynamically configurable at runtime
{
public static byte[] hourbright = { 22, 44, 54, 76, 83, 92, 97, 100 };
public const double version = 0.1;
}
class Program
{
//static byte[] hourbright = { 22, 44, 54, 76, 83, 92, 97, 100 };
static void Main(string[] args)
{
//IntPtr hdc_;
//IntPtr iprc_;
//MONITORENUMPROC ipfnenum_;
//int dwdata_;
// bool hello = NativeMethods.EnumDisplayMonitors(null, null,);
Console.WriteLine("version " + BaseConst.version);
Console.WriteLine();
NotifyIcon tray = new NotifyIcon();
tray.Icon = SystemIcons.Application;
//tray.ShowBalloonTip(10000,"fuck yeah!","it works. bitch.", ToolTipIcon.Info);
//System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(1000);
//note to self see; system.drawing.drawig2d
tray.Visible = true;
//Console.WriteLine("");
#region noargs
if (args.Length == 0)
{
tray.ShowBalloonTip(1000, "SetBright? SleepTight!", "version " + BaseConst.version + " works, yo", ToolTipIcon.Info);
Console.WriteLine("DEBUG: Current brightness: " + GetBrightness());
//System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(5000);
int hour = DateTime.Now.Hour;
int min = DateTime.Now.Minute;
//int hour = 12;
//int min = 30;
mapBright( hour, min);
}
#endregion
#region getlevels
else if (args[0] == "-getlevels")
{
byte[] BrightnessLevels = GetBrightnessLevels();
Console.Write("This monitor supports " + (BrightnessLevels.Length) + " brightness levels: ");
foreach (byte b in BrightnessLevels)
{
Console.Write(b.ToString() + ";");
}
//Console.WriteLine("");
}
#endregion
else if (args[0] == "-getwmiinfo")
{
getwmiInfo();
}
#region loop
else if (args[0] == "-loop")//test sequence
{
Console.WriteLine("");
byte[] BrightnessLevels = GetBrightnessLevels();
byte initbright = GetBrightness();
Console.WriteLine("");
Console.WriteLine("");
foreach (byte b in BrightnessLevels)
{
SetBrightness(b);
//System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(250);
Console.WriteLine("Brightness->" + b.ToString());
}
Console.WriteLine("");
for (int i = 0; i < 17; i++)
{
for (int m = 0; m < 60; m += 30)
{
Console.WriteLine(" mapB(" + i + ", " + m + ");");
mapBright(i, m);
}
}
SetBrightness(initbright);
tray.Dispose();
}
#endregion
#region lh
/*
else if (args[0] == "-lh")
{
byte l = System.Convert.ToByte(args[1]);
byte h = System.Convert.ToByte(args[2]);
for (int i = l; i < h + 1; i++)
{
SetBrightness(System.Convert.ToByte(i));
Console.WriteLine("Current Brightness: " + GetBrightness());
}
}*/
#endregion
#region interpol
/*else if (args[0] == "-interpol")
{
byte[] BrightnessLevels = GetBrightnessLevels();
for (int q = 0; q+1 < BrightnessLevels.Length; q++)
{
Console.WriteLine(BrightnessLevels[q] + " - " + BrightnessLevels[q+1]);
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) { SetBrightness(BrightnessLevels[q]); SetBrightness(BrightnessLevels[q + 1]); } } }*/ #endregion #region TODO /* else if (args[0] == "-t")//interpol to target value { oops("Interpol to target value"); } */ #endregion #region time else if (args[0] == "-time") { int hour = DateTime.Now.Hour; int min = DateTime.Now.Minute; Console.WriteLine("Current time is: " + hour + ":" + min); } #endregion #region else else//assumes number was input as an input, i.e. "brightness.exe 100" { int targetBrightness; bool res = int.TryParse(args[0], out targetBrightness); //parse switch value if (res == false) { Console.WriteLine("Invalid input!, please try again"); } if (res == true) { if (targetBrightness > 100 || targetBrightness < 0) //handles the wtf case where brightness is more than 100 or less than zero { Console.WriteLine("What the hell?? Target brightness \"" + targetBrightness + "\" out of bounds!"); int i = (targetBrightness > 100 ? 100 : 0);
byte l = ((byte)i);//required explicit type conversion
SetBrightness(l);
Console.WriteLine("Brightness set to: \"" + l + "\" instead!");
return;
}
byte h = ((byte)targetBrightness);//required explicit type conversion
SetBrightness(h);
Console.WriteLine("Current Brightness: " + GetBrightness());
}
}
#endregion
}
private static int ipfenum_(IntPtr param0, IntPtr param1, ref tagRECT param2, IntPtr param3)
{
throw new NotImplementedException();
}
static void oops(String feature)
{
Console.WriteLine("....oops");
Console.WriteLine("Feature \"" + feature + "\" not implemented yet. How embarassing!");
}
static byte GetBrightness()
{
Console.WriteLine("DEBUG: CALLING GETBRIGHTNESS - System.Management.ManagementScope ");
System.Management.ManagementScope s = new System.Management.ManagementScope("root\\WMI");//define scope (namespace)
Console.WriteLine("DEBUG: System.Management.ManagementScope s = " + s);
System.Management.SelectQuery q = new System.Management.SelectQuery("WmiMonitorBrightness");//define query
Console.WriteLine("DEBUG: System.Management.SelectQuery q = " + q);
System.Management.ManagementObjectSearcher mos = new System.Management.ManagementObjectSearcher(s, q);
Console.WriteLine("DEBUG: System.Management.ManagementObjectSearcher mos = " + mos);
System.Management.ManagementObjectCollection moc = mos.Get();//output current brightness
Console.WriteLine("DEBUG: System.Management.ManagementObjectCollection moc = " + moc);
byte curBrightness = 0;//store result
foreach (System.Management.ManagementObject o in moc)
{
curBrightness = (byte)o.GetPropertyValue("CurrentBrightness");
break; //only work on the first object
}
moc.Dispose();
mos.Dispose();
return curBrightness;
}
static byte[] GetBrightnessLevels()
{
Console.WriteLine("DEBUG: CALLING GETBRIGHTNESSLEVLELS System.Management.ManagementScope ");
System.Management.ManagementScope s = new System.Management.ManagementScope("root\\WMI");//define scope (namespace)
System.Management.SelectQuery q = new System.Management.SelectQuery("WmiMonitorBrightness");//define query
Console.WriteLine("DEBUG: System.Management.SelectQuery q = " + q);
System.Management.ManagementObjectSearcher mos = new System.Management.ManagementObjectSearcher(s, q);
Console.WriteLine("DEBUG: System.Management.ManagementObjectSearcher mos = " + mos);
System.Management.ManagementObjectCollection moc = mos.Get();//output current brightness
Console.WriteLine("DEBUG: System.Management.ManagementObjectCollection moc = " + moc);
byte[] BrightnessLevels = new byte[0];//store result
Console.Write("DEBUG: targetBrightness -> ManagmentObject:");
foreach (System.Management.ManagementObject o in moc)
{
Console.Write(" " + o + "; ");
BrightnessLevels = (byte[])o.GetPropertyValue("Level");
break; //only work on the first object
}
moc.Dispose();
mos.Dispose();
return BrightnessLevels;
}
static void getwmiInfo()
{
Console.WriteLine("DEBUG: CALLING GETBRIGHTNESSLEVLELS System.Management.ManagementScope ");
System.Management.ManagementScope s = new System.Management.ManagementScope("root\\WMI");//define scope (namespace)
System.Management.SelectQuery q = new System.Management.SelectQuery("WmiMonitorBrightness");//define query
Console.WriteLine("DEBUG: System.Management.SelectQuery q = " + q);
System.Management.ManagementObjectSearcher mos = new System.Management.ManagementObjectSearcher(s, q);
Console.WriteLine("DEBUG: System.Management.ManagementObjectSearcher mos = " + mos);
System.Management.ManagementObjectCollection moc = mos.Get();//output current brightness
Console.WriteLine("DEBUG: System.Management.ManagementObjectCollection moc = " + moc);
Console.WriteLine("DEBUG: System.Management.ManagementObjectCollection mos.Get = " + mos.Get());
Console.WriteLine("DEBUG: System.Management.ManagementObjectCollection mos.Options = " + mos.Options);
byte[] BrightnessLevels = new byte[0];//store result
Console.Write("DEBUG: targetBrightness -> ManagmentObject:");
foreach (System.Management.ManagementObject o in moc)
{
Console.WriteLine(o.ClassPath);
Console.WriteLine(o.Container);
Console.WriteLine(o.Options);
Console.WriteLine(o.Path);
Console.WriteLine(o.Properties);
Console.WriteLine(o.Qualifiers);
Console.WriteLine(o.Scope);
Console.WriteLine(o.Site);
Console.WriteLine(o.SystemProperties);
List newget = new List();
newget.Add(o.GetText(System.Management.TextFormat.Mof));
newget.Add(o.GetText(System.Management.TextFormat.CimDtd20));
newget.Add(o.GetText(System.Management.TextFormat.WmiDtd20));
//string[] newget = o.GetText(System.Management.TextFormat.Mof);
//string. = o.GetText(System.Management.TextFormat.Mof);
//string newget1 = o.GetText(System.Management.TextFormat.Mof); string[] newgetwords = Regex.Split(newget1, ">");
//string newget2 = o.GetText(System.Management.TextFormat.CimDtd20); string[] newgetwords2 = Regex.Split(newget2, ">");
string newget3 = o.GetText(System.Management.TextFormat.WmiDtd20); string[] newgetwords3 = Regex.Split(newget3, ">");
string[][] lesstrings = new string[1][] { /*newgetwords, newgetwords2, */newgetwords3 };
Console.WriteLine();
Console.WriteLine();
for (int b = 0; b < lesstrings.Length; b++) { foreach (string n in lesstrings[b]) { //Console.WriteLine(); Console.WriteLine(">");
Console.Write(n);
//Console.WriteLine();
}
}
Console.WriteLine(o.GetPropertyQualifierValue("Active", "CIMTYPE"));
Console.WriteLine(o.GetPropertyQualifierValue("InstanceName", "CIMTYPE"));
Console.WriteLine(o.GetPropertyValue("__RELPATH"));
Console.WriteLine(o.GetPropertyValue("__PATH"));
/*
System.Management.ManagementClass mclass = new System.Management.ManagementClass("WmiMonitorBrightnessMethods");
mclass.Scope = new System.Management.ManagementScope(@"\\.\root\wmi");
System.Management.ManagementObjectCollection instances = mclass.GetInstances();
// I assume you get one instance per monitor
foreach(System.Management.ManagementObject instance in instances)
{
ulong timeout = 1; // in seconds
ushort brightness = 50; // in percent
object[] args = new object[] { timeout, brightness };
instance.InvokeMethod("WmiSetBrightness", args);
}
mclass.Dispose();
instances.Dispose();
*/
}
moc.Dispose();
mos.Dispose();
}
static void SetBrightness(byte targetBrightness)
{
Console.WriteLine("Setting Brightness: " + targetBrightness);
NotifyIcon tray = new NotifyIcon();
tray.Icon = SystemIcons.Application;
tray.Visible = true;
tray.ShowBalloonTip(1000, "Setting Brightness: ", (targetBrightness.ToString()), ToolTipIcon.Info);
System.Management.ManagementScope s = new System.Management.ManagementScope("root\\WMI");//define scope (namespace)
Console.WriteLine("DEBUG: System.Management.ManagementScope s = " + s);
System.Management.SelectQuery q = new System.Management.SelectQuery("WmiMonitorBrightnessMethods");//define query
Console.WriteLine("DEBUG: System.Management.SelectQuery q = " + q);
System.Management.ManagementObjectSearcher mos = new System.Management.ManagementObjectSearcher(s, q);
Console.WriteLine("DEBUG: System.Management.ManagementObjectSearcher mos = " + mos);
System.Management.ManagementObjectCollection moc = mos.Get();
Console.WriteLine("DEBUG: System.Management.ManagementObjectCollection moc = " + moc);
foreach (System.Management.ManagementObject o in moc)//output current brightness
{
o.InvokeMethod("WmiSetBrightness", new Object[] { UInt32.MaxValue, targetBrightness }); //note the reversed order - won't work otherwise!
break; //only work on the first object
} //Console.WriteLine(" ");
Console.WriteLine("DEBUG: moc + mos: disposing");
moc.Dispose();
mos.Dispose();
}
static void mapBright(int y, int x)
{
if (y < 8 || y > 15)
{
Console.Write("night time! Bright -> 0! ");
SetBrightness(0);
}
switch (y)
{
case 8:
SetBrightness(BaseConst.hourbright[((x < 30) ? 0 : 1)]);//if not yet 8:30, 22; else 44
//Console.Write("hbri[" + (((x < 30) ? 0 : 1)) + "]");
break;
case 9:
SetBrightness(BaseConst.hourbright[1 + ((x < 30) ? 0 : 1)]);
//Console.Write("hbri[" + (1 + ((x < 30) ? 0 : 1)) + "]");
break;
case 10:
SetBrightness(BaseConst.hourbright[2 + ((x < 30) ? 0 : 1)]);
//Console.Write("hbri[" + (2 + ((x < 30) ? 0 : 1)) + "]");
break;
case 11:
SetBrightness(BaseConst.hourbright[3 + ((x < 30) ? 0 : 1)]);
//Console.Write("hbri[" + (3 + ((x < 30) ? 0 : 1)) + "]");
break;
case 12:
SetBrightness(BaseConst.hourbright[7 + ((x < 30) ? 0 : -1)]);
//Console.Write("hbri[" + (7 + ((x < 30) ? 0 : -1)) + "]");
break;
case 13:
SetBrightness(BaseConst.hourbright[7 + ((x < 30) ? 0 : -1)]);
//Console.Write("hbri[" + (7 + ((x < 30) ? 0 : -1)) + "]");
break;
case 14:
SetBrightness(BaseConst.hourbright[6 + ((x < 30) ? 0 : -1)]);
//Console.Write("hbri[" + (6 + ((x < 30) ? 0 : -1)) + "]");
break;
case 15:
SetBrightness(BaseConst.hourbright[5 + ((x < 30) ? 0 : -1)]);
//Console.Write("hbri[" + (5 + ((x < 30) ? 0 : -1)) + "]");
break;
}
}
}
}
If you want the compiled binary, download it below. Background application functionality is not implemented as of yet – if you desperately need the benefits of this application, then run it hourly as a scheduled task.
SETBRIGHT_SLEEPTIGHT_RELEASE_0.1
One last note
This will not work on every computer! It’s far more likely to work if your computer is either new, or a laptop. It seems that WMI doesn’t support older/desktop monitors for some reason. I’ll need to get the low level DDC/CI working for that.
Alexander Riccio 