Smart illuminated electrical faceplate
First Claim
1. A faceplate for a wall mounted electrical junction box comprising:
- a lightguide comprising;
a transparent substrate, a front surface configured to extend beyond and cover at least a portion of the electrical junction box, a light receiving surface to transmit light into the transparent substrate, wherein the light receiving surface is positioned relative to the front surface to cause the light to undergo internal reflection at the front surface and thereby at least in part homogenize the intensity of the light in the transparent substrate, a back surface, and a first portion of the front or back surface that functions to scatter the light through the front surface, wherein the lightguide further comprises at least one opening in the front surface sized to encompass at least a portion of an electrical component operable to be disposed in the electrical junction box.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed wherein is an electrical faceplate, such as a cover for a wall outlet or light switch, that uniformly illuminates by receiving light into a transparent lightguide, homogenizing the light within the lightguide and scattering the homogenized light preferentially through a front surface. In one embodiment a faceplate comprises a substrate operable to cover an interface between an electrical junction box and a wall. The faceplate further comprises a light receiving surface operable to receive light from a light generation component (e.g. an LED) and transmit the light substantially parallel to a front surface, thereby promoting reflection at the front surface that homogenizes the light intensity within the faceplate and a portion operable to scatter light through the front surface. Several embodiments provide a faceplate with a lightguide to homogenize light through a process of total internal reflection to provide uniform illumination of the faceplate.
21 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A faceplate for a wall mounted electrical junction box comprising:
- a lightguide comprising;
a transparent substrate, a front surface configured to extend beyond and cover at least a portion of the electrical junction box, a light receiving surface to transmit light into the transparent substrate, wherein the light receiving surface is positioned relative to the front surface to cause the light to undergo internal reflection at the front surface and thereby at least in part homogenize the intensity of the light in the transparent substrate, a back surface, and a first portion of the front or back surface that functions to scatter the light through the front surface, wherein the lightguide further comprises at least one opening in the front surface sized to encompass at least a portion of an electrical component operable to be disposed in the electrical junction box. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- a lightguide comprising;
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15. A faceplate for an electrical junction box comprising:
- a transparent substrate configured to cover a transition region between a wall and at least a portion of the electrical junction box, a front surface, a light receiving surface to transmit light into the transparent substrate and positioned relative to the front surface to cause the light to undergo total internal reflection at the front surface and thereby generate homogenized intensity light in the transparent substrate, a rear surface positioned behind the front surface, and at least one portion of the front or rear surface that functions to scatter the homogenized intensity light through the front surface.
- View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A faceplate for an electrical junction box with indirect illumination comprising:
- a front cover that functions as a lightguide to homogenize light within the front cover through a process of internal light reflection, the front cover configured to extend over a transitional region between a wall and the electrical junction box, the front cover comprising;
a front surface sized to cover at least a portion of the electrical junction box, a light receiving surface to transmit light into the transparent substrate and positioned relative to the front surface to cause the light to undergo internal light reflection at the front surface and thereby generate homogenized intensity light in the transparent substrate, a second surface positioned behind the front surface, and at least a portion of the front or second surface that functions to scatter the homogenized intensity light through the front surface. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- a front cover that functions as a lightguide to homogenize light within the front cover through a process of internal light reflection, the front cover configured to extend over a transitional region between a wall and the electrical junction box, the front cover comprising;
Specification