Lighting for audio devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10178211-B2
Application number	US-201414895418-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2014
Priority date	Jun 6, 2013
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus may include an inner module, an outer module that substantially surrounds a perimeter of the inner module, a plurality of light emitters, and a light distribution medium. The plurality of light emitters may be positioned under the inner module and project light radially outward. The light distribution medium may transport the light projected from the plurality of light emitters to an edge of the light distribution medium. The edge may include a diffusive surface and traverse a substantial portion of a boundary between the inner module and the outer module.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
an inner module;
an outer module that substantially surrounds a perimeter of the inner module;
a plurality of light emitters under the inner module that project light radially outward;
a light distribution medium that transports light projected from at least some of the plurality of light emitters to an edge of the light distribution medium with a diffusive surface, the edge traversing a boundary between the inner module and the outer module;
wherein the light distribution medium is separate from, and interposes between, the inner module and the outer module;
wherein the outer module includes an array of speakers that surround an array of microphones in the inner module.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light distribution medium is curved and transports light outward and upward from the at least some of the plurality of light emitters under the inner module along a curved path to the edge, the edge scattering the light as the light exits the light pipe to produce a uniform glow at the boundary between the inner module and the outer module.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light distribution medium is dish-shaped.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inner module includes a plurality of microphones for capturing sound and the outer module includes a plurality of speakers for rendering sound.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inner module includes a plurality of speakers for rendering sound and the outer module includes a plurality of microphones for capturing sound.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of microphones are arranged in a circular array in the inner module and the plurality of speakers are arranged in a circular array in the outer module.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the edge of the light distribution medium forms a ring that substantially surrounds the perimeter of the inner module.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein central axes for the inner module, the outer module, and the ring are coincident.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the ring is circular, triangular, or rectangular in shape.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the ring that substantially surrounds the perimeter of the inner module is segmented.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the edge of the light distribution medium is proud of a surface of the inner module and the outer module.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein light emitted from two or more of the plurality of transmitters mixes together within the light distribution medium before reaching the edge of the light distribution medium.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light emitters include at least one light emitting diode (LED) that generates a red light, at least one LED that generates a green light, and at least one LED that generates a blue light, the red light, the green light, and the blue light mixing together within the light distribution medium before reaching the edge of the light distribution medium, the apparatus modulating the intensity of the red light, the green light, and the blue light to control a hue generated when the red light, the green light, and the blue light exits the edge of the light distribution medium.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , the apparatus further comprising logic that causes the edge of the light distribution medium to be illuminated in response to a request to mute a call.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , the apparatus further comprising logic that causes the plurality of light emitters to illuminate the edge of the light distribution medium a first color in response to determining a first status associated with a call and a second color in response to determining a second status associated with the call.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , the apparatus further comprising logic that causes an intensity with which the edge of the light distribution medium is illuminated to change based on an intensity at which sound is being captured or broadcast.

17. A light distribution apparatus for transporting light from a light source to a terminal edge, the light distribution apparatus comprising:
a circular entrance point where light is introduced from one or more light emitters that project the light radially outward in different directions;
an exit point with a diffusive surface that scatters the light as the light passes through the exit point;
a dish-shaped core that guides light introduced at the circular entrance point outward and upward to the exit point and prevents light introduced at the circular entrance from escaping until the exit point, the exit point forming a rim around the dish-shaped core;
wherein the diffusive surface of the light distribution apparatus is separate from, and interposes between, an inner module and an outer module of an apparatus that includes the light distribution apparatus.

18. The light distribution apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the core is one of a plastic or glass material and the exit point is roughened plastic or glass at a terminal end of the core.

19. The light distribution apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the circular entrance point includes a light concentrator that concentrates the light emitted from the one or more light emitters and introduces the light into the core.

20. The light distribution apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a support structure coupled to the core, the support structure configured to support an inner module, the exit point forming a ring around the inner module.

21. The light distribution apparatus of claim 17 , wherein a length associated with the core allows the light projected from a plurality of light emitters pointed in different directions to mix before the light reaches the exit point.

Assignees

• Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corp

Inventors

• Clementson David
• Mcgrath David S

Classifications

• G02B6/0001

  specially adapted for lighting devices or systems (lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00) · CPC title

• F21V33/0056

  Audio equipment, e.g. music instruments, radios or speakers · CPC title

• H04R1/028

  associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles · CPC title

• H04M1/22 Primary

  Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials · CPC title

• G02B6/0045

  by shaping at least a portion of the light guide · CPC title