Mirror and cabinet apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12320512-B2
Application number	US-202318199140-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2023
Priority date	May 18, 2022
Publication date	Jun 3, 2025
Grant date	Jun 3, 2025

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a bathroom mirror lighting system comprising a mirror, a light source, a sensor, and a control circuit operably coupled to the light source and the sensor. The control circuit receives a sensor signal from the sensor indicative of at least one of a user's distance from the sensor, a user's position, a user's posture, a motion of the user towards or away from the sensor, or a task being performed by the user. The control circuit then transmits a control signal to the light source causing the light source to alter its light output based on the sensor signal from the sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bathroom mirror lighting system comprising:
a mirror;
a light source;
a sensor; and
a control circuit operably coupled to the light source and the sensor, the control circuit configured to:
receive a sensor signal from the sensor indicative of at least one of a user's distance from the sensor, a user's position, a user's posture, a motion of the user towards or away from the sensor, or a task being performed by the user; and
transmit a control signal to the light source causing the light source to alter its light output based on the sensor signal from the sensor,
wherein the light source comprises a plurality of lights, each of which is independently alterable by the control signal.

2. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 1 wherein the alteration of the light output comprises an alteration of light intensity.

3. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 1 wherein the alteration of the light output comprises an alteration of light direction.

4. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 1 wherein the alteration of the light output comprises an alteration of light color temperature.

5. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 1 wherein the altering of the light output comprises altering a portion of the plurality of lights.

6. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 5 wherein the altering of a portion of the lights causes an alteration of light direction.

7. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 1 wherein the control signal or the sensor signal comprises a plurality of signals.

8. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a digital light processing (DLP) projector.

9. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 8 wherein the DLP projector comprises:
a first light source; and
a DLP array of micro mirrors receiving light from the light source;
wherein the alteration of the micro mirrors of the DLP array causes the alteration to the light output.

10. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 9 wherein the alteration of the light output causes the light output to focus the light output on the user or on a specific portion of the user.

11. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 1 wherein the light source is separate from the mirror.

12. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 1 wherein the alteration of the light output is caused by the control signal causing the light source to mechanically alter its position.

13. A bathroom mirror lighting system comprising:
a mirror;
a light source;
a sensor; and
a control circuit operably coupled to the light source and the sensor, the control circuit configured to:
receive a sensor signal from the sensor indicative of at least one of a user's distance from the sensor, a user's position, a user's posture, a motion of the user towards or away from the sensor, or a task being performed by the user; and
transmit a control signal to the light source causing the light source to alter its light output based on the sensor signal from the sensor,

wherein the alteration of the light output comprises an alteration of a light output area.

14. A bathroom mirror lighting system comprising:
a mirror;
a light source;
a sensor; and
a control circuit operably coupled to the light source and the sensor, the control circuit configured to:
receive a sensor signal from the sensor indicative of at least one of a user's distance from the sensor, a user's position, a user's posture, a motion of the user towards or away from the sensor, or a task being performed by the user; and
transmit a control signal to the light source causing the light source to alter its light output based on the sensor signal from the sensor,

wherein the light source comprises an LED matrix comprising a plurality of LEDs, wherein the alteration of individual LEDs of the plurality of LEDs causes the alteration of the light output.

15. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 14 wherein the alteration of the light output causes the light output to focus the light output on the user or on a specific portion of the user.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Diemel Douglas J
• Lv Feipeng
• Zhuang Yanxiong
• Sun Haichao
• Liu Qiuyue
• Han Linan
• Chew Kor Han
• Xu Yingying
• Gao Yuan
• Huang Fan
• Zhu Wendong
• Gu Danni
• Schibur Mark
• Wasscher Maxwell
• Hammond Steve
• Lemel Jesse
• Mazz Margaret
• Kajuch Pete
• Lilly Erin
• Wehmeier Megan
• Stevens Katie
• Revelis Katerina
• Booth Shawn
• Wegner Matthew
• Letoumeau Alexander V

Classifications

• F21V14/02

  by movement of light sources {(in vehicle head lamps F21S41/657)} · CPC title

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• A47K1/04

  Basins (connected to waste pipe E03C1/12); Jugs; Holding devices therefor · CPC title

• A47B2077/027

  with integrated backsplash · CPC title

• A47B2220/0097

  Remote control for furniture, e.g. tables or shelves · CPC title