Optical signaling system for a smart-home device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11009216-B2
Application number	US-202016787722-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2020
Priority date	May 15, 2015
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

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, comprising a cover grille and a housing, wherein the cover grille forms a plurality of holes;
a carbon monoxide sensor housed within the case;
a smoke sensor housed within the case;
a speaker, housed within the case, that is pointed to emit sound through the cover grille;
a plurality of light emitters arranged in a pattern and mounted within the case, wherein the plurality of light emitters emit light in a plurality of colors;
a light guide that is formed from a transparent material and that receives light from the plurality of light emitters and emits light onto an external surface of the cover grille, wherein:
the light guide is centered with respect to the cover grille; and one or more processors housed within the case, wherein:
the one or more processors are in communication with the speaker, the carbon monoxide sensor, the smoke sensor, and the plurality of light emitters.

2. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 1 , further comprising:
a circuit board housed within the case, the circuit board having a first side to which components are attached and a second side to which components are attached; and
a smoke chamber housed within the case, wherein the smoke chamber is proximate to the second side of the circuit board, the second side of the circuit board facing toward a surface of the case that attaches with a surface mount plate.

3. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of light emitters are proximate to the first side of the circuit board.

4. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 1 , further comprising a reflector, wherein the reflector is configured to reflect light emitted from the light guide onto the external surface of the cover grille.

5. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 1 , wherein the light guide is rounded in shape.

6. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 1 , wherein the light guide forms a plurality of collectors that each receive light from one or more emitters of the plurality of light emitters.

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

8. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 3 , wherein, when all of the plurality of light emitters are active, the pattern is illuminated with an even glow.

9. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light emitters emit light in the pattern in the colors of red, green, and blue.

10. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 1 , wherein the cover grille allows air to enter the combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector.

11. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of light emitters is a group of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

12. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 1 , wherein six groups of LEDs are present.

13. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause the plurality of light emitters to output a plurality of lighting animations.

14. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause the plurality of light emitters to vary a brightness of light output.

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

16. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 1 , further comprising a surface mount plate, wherein the case is configured to be attached to the surface mount plate and rotated.

17. The combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to activate the plurality of light emitters such that light is emitted into an ambient environment in a shaped pattern.

Assignees

• Google Llc

Inventors

• Dong William
• Mittleman Adam
• Macomber Bryan

Classifications

• F21V33/0076 Primary

  Safety or security signalisation, e.g. smoke or burglar alarms, earthquake detectors; Self-defence devices · CPC title

• G05G1/105

  comprising arrangements for illumination · CPC title

• F21V7/041

  with conical or pyramidal surface · CPC title

• F21V7/0033

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

• F21V9/00

  Elements for modifying spectral properties, polarisation or intensity of the light emitted, e.g. filters (coloured shades F21V1/00; elements characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/502) · CPC title