Segmented light indicator
First Claim
1. An indicator comprising:
- (a) a case comprising a light emitting portion, wherein the light emitting portions comprises a cover adapted to fit the case and partially enclose an interior of the case;
(b) a divider positioned within the case and adapted to separate the light emitting portion into a set of segments, wherein each segment of the set of segments is intermediate at least two other segments of the set of segments;
(c) a set of indicator lights positioned within the case; and
(d) a controller operable to control illumination of the set of indicator lights;
wherein;
(i) the controller is configured to selectively illuminate one or more of the of the set of indicator lights to cause a corresponding segment of the set of segments to illuminate,(ii) the cover comprises a triangular shaped surface comprising three vertices, and(iii) each of the three vertices corresponds to a segment of the set of segments.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A light indicator is comprised of six segments or slices that may each be individually and vividly lit with various colors and at various intensities in order to provide information in a point-of-use context, while also minimizing or entirely eliminating bleeding of colored light from one segment to another during use. The light indicator comprises a case containing a processor, memory, and LED controller, and is capable of lighting one or more segments based partially or wholly upon instructions from a remote controller or based entirely on instructions stored in its own memory. In addition to being able to simultaneously light any combination of segments to a desired color and intensity, the indicator is also capable of performing special modes including directional indication, a run mode indication, and a gauge mode indication.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. An indicator comprising:
-
(a) a case comprising a light emitting portion, wherein the light emitting portions comprises a cover adapted to fit the case and partially enclose an interior of the case; (b) a divider positioned within the case and adapted to separate the light emitting portion into a set of segments, wherein each segment of the set of segments is intermediate at least two other segments of the set of segments; (c) a set of indicator lights positioned within the case; and (d) a controller operable to control illumination of the set of indicator lights; wherein; (i) the controller is configured to selectively illuminate one or more of the of the set of indicator lights to cause a corresponding segment of the set of segments to illuminate, (ii) the cover comprises a triangular shaped surface comprising three vertices, and (iii) each of the three vertices corresponds to a segment of the set of segments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An indicator comprising:
-
(a) a cover adapted to allow the passage of light, wherein the cover comprises a set of segments, and wherein each segment of the set of segments is positioned next to and touches at least two other segments of the set of segments to form a looping sequence of segments; (b) a set of light indicators positioned within the indicator and operable to selectively illuminate one or more of the set of segments; and (c) a controller configured to control a set of illumination characteristics of the set of light indicators; wherein the controller is further configured to; (i) receive a set of indicator pattern signals, and (ii) individually control the set of illumination characteristics of each of the set of light indicators based upon the indicator pattern signal; and wherein the controller is further configured to, in response to a run mode signal of the set of indicator pattern signals; (A) light a first segment of the set of segments at a first intensity, light a second segment that is adjacent to the first segment at a second intensity, and light a third segment that is adjacent to the second segment at a third intensity to create a running block, and (B) repeatedly shift the set of illumination characteristics for each light indicator to an adjacent light indicator, in the same direction, and cause the running block to iterate through the looping sequence of segments. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An indicator comprising:
-
(a) a case; (b) a cover, wherein the cover is adapted to allow the passage of light therethrough, wherein the case and cover define an interior; (c) a divider comprising a hub with a set of six spokes extending outwards from a central axis, wherein, when the divider is placed within the interior; (i) a top edge of each of the set of six spokes abuts the cover such that the set of six spokes define a set of six segments of the cover, wherein each segment of the set of six segments abuts two other segments of the set of six segments to form a looping sequence of segments, (ii) the set of six spokes define a set of six sections within the interior, and (iii) each of the set of six segments corresponds to a different of the set of six sections, (d) a set of light indicators, wherein each section of the set of six sections contains at least one light indicator of the set of light indicators, and wherein each of the set of light indicators are individually operable to illuminate a corresponding segment of the set of six segments; (e) a controller configured to control a set of illumination characteristics of the set of light indicators; (f) a mount adapted to attach the indicator to a point-of-use, the mount comprising a positioning key adapted to ensure that, when the indicator is attached to the point-of-use, the position of each of the set of six segments is pre-determined; wherein the controller is further configured to receive a directional signal, and in response to the directional signal; (i) determine a direction associated with the directional signal, wherein the direction is associated with the physical space in which the point-of-use is located, (ii) determine one or more segments of the set of six segments that are associated with the direction based upon the pre-determined position of each of the set of six segments, and (iii) light each of the one or more segments to indicate the direction.
-
-
18. An indicator comprising:
-
(a) a cover adapted to allow the passage of light, wherein the cover comprises a set of segments, and wherein each segment of the set of segments is positioned next to and touches at least two other segments of the set of segments to form a looping sequence of segments; (b) a set of light indicators positioned within the indicator and operable to selectively illuminate one or more of the set of segments; and (c) a controller configured to control a set of illumination characteristics of the set of light indicators; wherein the controller is further configured to; (i) receive a set of indicator pattern signals, and (ii) individually control the set of illumination characteristics of each of the set of light indicators based upon the indicator pattern signal; and wherein the controller is further configured to, in response to a gauge mode signal of the set of indicator pattern signals; (A) starting at a first segment of the looping sequence of segments, light one or more segments of the looping sequence of segments, in sequence, based upon a gauge value of the gauge mode signal, wherein the number of the one or more segments that are lit is proportional to the gauge value, and (B) repeatedly change the number of the one or more segments that are lit as the gauge value changes in response to additional gauge mode signals.
-
-
19. An indicator comprising:
-
(a) a cover adapted to allow the passage of light, wherein the cover comprises a set of segments, and wherein each segment of the set of segments is positioned next to and touches at least two other segments of the set of segments to form a looping sequence of segments; (b) a set of light indicators positioned within the indicator and operable to selectively illuminate one or more of the set of segments; (c) a controller configured to control a set of illumination characteristics of the set of light indicators; and (d) a mount adapted to attach the indicator to a point-of-use and a positioning key adapted to ensure that, when the indicator is attached to the point-of-use, the position of each of the set of segments is pre-determined; wherein the controller is further configured to; (i) receive a set of indicator pattern signals, and (ii) individually control the set of illumination characteristics of each of the set of light indicators based upon the indicator pattern signal; and wherein the controller is further configured to, in response to a directional signal of the set of indicator pattern signals; (A) determine a direction associated with the directional signal, wherein the direction is associated with the physical space in which the point-of-use is located, (B) determine one or more segments of the set of segments that are associated with the direction based upon the pre-determined position of each of the set of segments, and (C) light each of the one or more segments to indicate the direction.
-
Specification