Optical signaling system for a smart-home device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10197243-B2
Application number	US-201715655690-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2017
Priority date	May 15, 2015
Publication date	Feb 5, 2019
Grant date	Feb 5, 2019

Abstract

Various arrangements for light distribution incorporated as part of a device are presented. A circular light guide may be used that receives light from a plurality of light emitters that can be arranged in a circular pattern. A conical reflector may be used and may be positioned to reflect light emitted from the circular light guide onto an exterior of a case of the device. The conical reflector may reflect light such that light is reflected by the exterior of the case in the shape of a halo into an ambient environment of the device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector, comprising:
a case;
a carbon monoxide sensor housed within the case;
a smoke sensor housed within the case;
a plurality of light emitters arranged in a circular pattern and mounted within the case;
a light guide comprising a light disperser that: is formed from a translucent or transparent material, is partially surrounded in reflective cladding, and that receives light from the plurality of light emitters and emits the light through a halo-shaped surface of the light disperser;
a reflector that reflects light emitted by the plurality of light emitters arranged in the circular pattern through the halo-shaped surface of the light guide into an ambient environment of the combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector; and
one or more processors housed within the case, wherein:
the one or more processors are in communication with the carbon monoxide sensor, the smoke sensor, and the plurality of light emitters; and
the one or more processors are configured to activate the plurality of light emitters such that light is emitted into the ambient environment in a halo shaped pattern having an even glow.

2. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light emitters comprises at least six light emitters arranged in the circular pattern.

3. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light emitters emit light in a plurality of colors.

4. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of light emitters emit light in the halo shaped pattern in the colors of red, green, and blue.

5. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 1 , further comprising a button, wherein the light emitted by the plurality of light emitters in the halo shaped pattern is output around the button.

6. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 1 , further comprising a cover grille that allows air to enter the combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector.

7. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 1 , wherein the reflector is circular.

8. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of light emitters is a group of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

9. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of the light emitters are illuminated to serve as a nightlight.

10. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 1 , wherein the case further comprises a light transmission region, wherein the light transmission region of the case has an opacity that allows light emitted within the case to pass through material of the light transmission region, exit through a surface of the case, and cause the light transmission region to appear to glow.

11. A light distribution system for a sensor device, comprising:
a plurality of light emitters arranged in a circular pattern and mounted within a case of the sensor device;
a light guide comprising a light disperser that: is formed from a translucent or transparent material, is partially surrounded in reflective cladding, and that receives light from the plurality of light emitters and emits the light through a halo-shaped surface of the light disperser; and
a reflector that reflects light emitted by the plurality of light emitters arranged in the circular pattern through the halo-shaped surface of the light guide into an ambient environment of the sensor device.

12. The light distribution system for the sensor device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of light emitters comprises at least six light emitters arranged in the circular pattern.

13. The light distribution system for the sensor device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of light emitters emit light in a plurality of colors.

14. The light distribution system for the sensor device of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of light emitters emit light through the halo-shaped surface in the colors of red, green, and blue.

15. The light distribution system for the sensor device of claim 11 , wherein the light emitted by the plurality of light emitters through the halo-shaped surface is output around a button.

16. The light distribution system for the sensor device of claim 11 , further comprising a cover grille that allows air to enter the sensor device.

17. The light distribution system for the sensor device of claim 11 , wherein the reflector is circular.

18. The light distribution system for the sensor device of claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of light emitters is a group of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

19. The light distribution system for the sensor device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of the light emitters are illuminated to serve as a nightlight.

20. The light distribution system for the sensor device of claim 11 , wherein the case comprises a light transmission region, wherein the light transmission region of the case has an opacity that allows light emitted within the case to pass through material of the light transmission region, exit through a surface of the case, and cause the light transmission region to appear to glow.

Assignees

• Google Llc

Inventors

• Dong William
• Mittleman Adam
• Macomber Bryan

Classifications

• F21V7/0033

  with successive reflections from one reflector to the next or following · CPC title

• G05G1/105

  comprising arrangements for illumination · CPC title

• G08B19/005

  combined burglary and fire alarm systems · CPC title

• F21V7/0058

  adapted to cooperate with light sources of shapes different from point-like or linear, e.g. circular light sources · CPC title

• G08B17/10

  Actuation by presence of smoke or gases {, e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means} · CPC title