Vanity mirror

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9638410-B2
Application number	US-201313783087-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2013
Priority date	Mar 8, 2012
Publication date	May 2, 2017
Grant date	May 2, 2017

Abstract

A mirror assembly can include a housing, a mirror, and a light source. In certain embodiments, the mirror includes a light pipe configured to emit a substantially constant amount of light along a periphery of the mirror. In some embodiments, the mirror assembly includes a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly can be configured to adjust the amount of emitted light based on the position of a user in relation to the mirror. Certain embodiments of the mirror include an algorithm to adjust light based on the position of a user relative to the mirror, the level of ambient light, and/or the activation of different light modes.

First claim

The following is claimed:

1. A mirror assembly comprising:
a housing portion;
a mirror;
one or more light sources disposed at a periphery of the mirror;
a proximity sensor configured to detect an object within a sensing region, the proximity sensor configured to generate a signal indicating that the object is within a predetermined distance from the proximity sensor; and
an electronic processor configured to generate an electronic signal to the one or more light sources for emitting light when the processor receives the signal from the proximity sensor indicating that the object is within the predetermined distance from the proximity sensor,
wherein when the proximity sensor detects the object, the size or width of a sensitivity zone is temporarily increased in order for the proximity sensor and the electronic processor to trigger or to maintain the light source in an active state.

2. The mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the level of light generated is proportional to the distance between the object and the proximity sensor.

3. The mirror assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an ambient light sensor.

4. The mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to resist false triggers using an algorithm.

5. The mirror assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a rechargeable mobile power source.

6. The mirror assembly of 5 , wherein the rechargeable mobile power source is configured to be recharged via a port.

7. The mirror assembly of claim 6 , wherein the port is a USB port.

8. The mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein an illuminance at an outer periphery of the sensing region is at least about 500 lux and less than or equal to about 1000 lux.

9. The mirror assembly of claim 8 , wherein the illuminance is about 600 lux.

10. The mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more light sources have a color rendering index of at least about 80.

11. The mirror assembly of claim 10 , wherein the color rendering index is about 90.

12. The mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more light sources has a color temperature of less than or equal to about 6500K.

13. The mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein after the processor generates the signal to the one or more light sources for emitting light, the processor is configured to deactivate the one or more light sources if the object is not detected within the sensing region before a timer elapses.

14. The mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more light sources comprises at least two different colored light sources.

15. The mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more light sources comprises a plurality of light sources.

16. The mirror assembly of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of light sources are configured to change the color of the emitted light.

17. The mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the color of the light emitted from the one or more light sources is adjustable by a user.

18. The mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the intensity of the light emitted from the one or more light sources is adjustable by a user.

19. The mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electronic processor is configured to activate a task mode, the task mode being configured to activate a state of increased sensitivity of the proximity sensor.

Assignees

• Simplehuman Llc

Inventors

• Yang Frank
• Wolbert David
• Sandor Joseph
• Cardenas Orlando
• Bushroe Frederick N

Classifications

• F21V33/004 Primary

  Sanitary equipment, e.g. mirrors, showers, toilet seats or paper dispensers · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• A47G2200/08

  Illumination · CPC title

• F21V33/0004

  Personal or domestic articles · CPC title

• A45D42/10

  illuminated · CPC title