Light Reflection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020183253-A1
Application number	US-201916460454-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 2, 2019
Priority date	Dec 6, 2018
Publication date	Jun 11, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

The description relates to devices that emit light from a light source. One example device can include a reflector extending along an arc and oriented in light receiving relation relative to the light source. The reflector can have a cross-sectional reflector profile taken transverse to the arc that includes a first portion having a swept profile that transitions to a second portion having a reverse swept profile.

First claim

1 . A device, comprising:
a light source; and, a swept wavy-petal reflector positioned relative to the light source to cast light from the light source across an angular range including radial cross-sections within the angular range.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a light-emitting diode (LED) or multiple LEDs, and wherein the light is visible light, IR light, and/or IR light and visible light.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the swept wavy-petal reflector comprises a concave portion and a convex portion separated by an inflection point.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the angular range is 360 degrees or wherein the angular range is less than 360 degrees.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is a tabletop video conferencing device and the angular range comprises a field of illumination that includes a horizontal distribution pattern and the radial cross-sections are vertical distribution patterns of the range extending angularly outward from the tabletop video conferencing device.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the light source and the swept wavy-petal reflector comprise an arcuate light-emitting assembly.

7 . The device of claim 6 , further comprising a light-sensing assembly configured to sense light reflected back toward the device from objects in the angular range.

8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the light-sensing assembly is positioned between the arcuate light-emitting assembly and another arcuate light-emitting assembly.

9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the light from the arcuate light-emitting assembly and the another arcuate light-emitting assembly angularly overlaps in front of the light-sensing assembly.

10 . The device of claim 9 , further comprising a diffuser positioned over the arcuate light-emitting assembly and the another arcuate light-emitting assembly.

11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the diffuser comprises a lenticular.

12 . A device, comprising:
a light source; and, a reflector extending along an arc and oriented in light receiving relation relative to the light source, the reflector having a cross-sectional reflector profile taken transverse to the arc that includes a first portion having a swept profile that transitions to a second portion having a reverse swept profile.

13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the light source comprises multiple light sources arranged generally along another arc.

14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the multiple light sources are dithered along the another arc.

15 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the cross-sectional reflector profile of the reflector creates an upward bias angle on light reflected from the light source.

16 . A device, comprising:
first and second arcuate light-emitting assemblies and a light-sensing assembly interposed therebetween; and, the first arcuate light-emitting assembly configured to emit light across a first angular range and the second arcuate light-emitting assembly configured to emit light across a second angular range that angularly overlaps with the first angular range in front of the light-sensing assembly.

17 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the first and second arcuate light-emitting assemblies comprise four arcuate light-emitting assemblies and the light-sensing assembly comprises four light-sensing assemblies interposed between individual arcuate light-emitting assemblies in alternating order.

18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein the four arcuate light-emitting assemblies and the four light-sensing assemblies are arranged in a disc shape.

19 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the first and second arcuate light-emitting assemblies and the light-sensing assembly are positioned radially along a plane, and further comprising a lenticular positioned over the first and second arcuate light-emitting assemblies, the lenticular having lenticular grooves that are oriented parallel to the plane.

20 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the first and second arcuate light-emitting assemblies and the light-sensing assembly are positioned radially along a plane, and further comprising a lenticular positioned over the first and second arcuate light-emitting assemblies, the lenticular having lenticular grooves that are oriented perpendicular to the plane.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Powell Karlton D
• Palve Lalit Anil

Classifications

• H04N23/56

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title

• G03B2215/0592

  installed in front of light emitter · CPC title

• G03B2215/0582

  Reflectors · CPC title

• G03B2215/0525

  Reflector · CPC title

• G03B15/03 Primary

  Combinations of cameras with lighting apparatus; Flash units · CPC title