Smart-home device light rings with tapered sections for uniform output

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11873952-B2
Application number	US-202217723636-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 19, 2022
Priority date	Dec 31, 2017
Publication date	Jan 16, 2024
Grant date	Jan 16, 2024

Abstract

A light ring assembly for a smart-home device may include a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a light guide, where the light guide may include a plurality of cutouts that receive the plurality of LEDs, and a plurality of transmissive sections between the plurality of cutouts where a thickness of the transmissive sections tapers as the transmissive sections extend away from the plurality of cutouts. The light ring assembly may also include an output surface that receives light emitted from the plurality of LEDs through the plurality of transmissive sections, where the output surface is substantially circular.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A smart-home device comprising:
a plurality of Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) mounted to a circuit board and oriented to emit light in a first direction that is perpendicular to a surface of the circuit board; and
a circular light guide comprising:
a top surface that provides a substantially circular output surface that receives light from the plurality of LEDs transmitted through the circular light guide and outputs the light through the top surface; and
a bottom surface comprising:
a plurality of flat surfaces that are positioned adjacent to the plurality of LEDs; and
a plurality of tapered sections between each of the plurality of flat surfaces, wherein the plurality of tapered sections decrease a thickness of the circular light guide in the first direction between the plurality of flat surfaces; and

a cover that forms a pressable button and shields a view of the top surface of the circular light guide from view outside of the smart-home device, wherein:
the light output through the top surface of the circular light guide illuminates the cover causing the cover to glow; and
pressing the cover causes the cover and the circular light guide to move closer to the plurality of LEDs, thereby causing the cover to glow brighter when pressed.

2. The smart-home device of claim 1 , wherein the circular light guide further comprises a sidewall that is perpendicular to the top surface and the bottom surface that is covered with a reflective mask.

3. The smart-home device of claim 1 , wherein light emitted from the top surface of the circular light guide is substantially uniform.

4. The smart-home device of claim 1 , wherein a width of the circular light guide perpendicular to the first direction is wider at the bottom surface than at the top surface.

5. The smart-home device of claim 1 , further comprising a rubber gasket and a passive infrared (PIR) sensor that are mounted inside of the circular light guide, wherein the rubber gasket shields the PIR sensor from detecting light from the plurality of LEDs.

6. The smart-home device of claim 1 , further comprising a reflective ring around the cover, wherein the light output through the top surface of the circular light guide reflects off the cover and then off of the reflective ring to leave the smart-home device.

7. The smart-home device of claim 1 , wherein the cover is formed from a translucent plastic material.

8. The smart-home device of claim 1 , wherein the smart-home device comprises a battery-operated motion detector for a smart-home security system.

9. A method of producing a uniform light output from a smart-home device, method comprising:
generating light from a plurality of Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) mounted to a circuit board and oriented to emit the light in a first direction that is perpendicular to a surface of the circuit board;
propagating the light through a circular light guide comprising:
a top surface that provides a substantially circular output surface that receives light from the plurality of LEDs transmitted through the circular light guide and outputs the light through the top surface; and
a bottom surface comprising:
a plurality of flat surfaces that are positioned adjacent to the plurality of LEDs; and
a plurality of tapered sections between each of the plurality of flat surfaces, wherein the plurality of tapered sections decrease a thickness of the circular light guide in the first direction between the plurality of flat surfaces; and

propagating the light from the circular light guide through a cover that forms a pressable button and shields a view of the top surface of the circular light guide from view outside of the smart-home device, wherein:
the light output through the top surface of the circular light guide illuminates the cover causing the cover to glow; and
pressing the cover causes the cover and the circular light guide to move closer to the plurality of LEDs, thereby causing the cover to glow brighter when pressed.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the circular light guide further comprises a sidewall that is perpendicular to the top surface and the bottom surface that is covered with a reflective mask.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein light emitted from the top surface of the circular light guide is substantially uniform.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein a width of the circular light guide perpendicular to the first direction is wider at the bottom surface than at the top surface.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the smart-home device further comprises a rubber gasket and a passive infrared (PIR) sensor that are mounted inside of the circular light guide, wherein the rubber gasket shields the PIR sensor from detecting light from the plurality of LEDs.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the smart-home device further comprises a reflective ring around the cover, wherein the light output through the top surface of the circular light guide reflects off the cover and then off of the reflective ring to leave the smart-home device.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the cover is formed from a translucent plastic material.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the smart-home device comprises a battery-operated motion detector for a smart-home security system.

Assignees

• Google Llc

Inventors

• Kraz Mark
• Volmering Amber
• Macomber Bryan
• Grillo Jacobi
• Kilgore Adam

Classifications

• H05B47/1965

  using handheld communication devices · CPC title

• H05B47/19

  via wireless transmission · CPC title

• F21K9/61 Primary

  using light guides · CPC title

• F21K9/237

  Details of housings or cases, i.e. the parts between the light-generating element and the bases; Arrangement of components within housings or cases (F21K9/238 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F21K9/62

  using mixing chambers, e.g. housings with reflective walls · CPC title