Multi-color illumination apparatus

• US 20040095746A1
• Filed: 11/18/2002
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whitegate Partners, LLC
• Original Assignee: MasonWare Partners, LLC
• Inventors: Murphy, Mason E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,494,243 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/86
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0663 Coloured light
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 17/00 Apparatus for performing colour-music
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 11/14 with many small apertures
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/16 by deformation of parts; Snap action mounting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0832 Hook and loop-type fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/096 Magnetic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0056 Audio equipment, e.g. music instruments, radios or speakers
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/00 Planar light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Abstract

An illumination apparatus configured to generate multi-color light in a pleasing fashion and that may be operated in a variety of visual modes. The illumination apparatus may further include one or more speakers that may operate in a variety of audio modes. The illumination apparatus may further produce light that is suitable for treating light-deficiency disorders and/or for reducing eyestrain.

Claims

1. An apparatus for producing multi-color illumination, comprising:

a housing having a display surface;

a first multi-color light source directing light in a first direction onto the display surface;

a second multi-color light source directing light in a second different direction onto the display surface; and

a perforated shield coupled to the housing, at least a portion of the light from each of the first and second multi-color light sources being reflected from the display surface and passing through the shield.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shield is removeably attacheable to the housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display surface is concave.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the shield when attached to the housing forms an opposing concave surface facing the display surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second multi-color light sources each comprise at least one light-emitting diode.

6. An apparatus for producing multi-color illumination, comprising:

a base portion including a first multi-color light source;

a vertical extension coupled to the base portion and including a light-reflecting surface and a second multi-color light source, the first and second multi-color light sources each casting light onto the light-reflecting surface, the light reflecting off the light-reflecting surface; and

a filter coupled to the vertical extension and the base portion, at least a portion of the light reflected from the first portion passing through the filter.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the filter includes a plurality of perforations.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the light-reflecting surface comprises a wall, the apparatus further including a speaker disposed on a side of the wall opposite the light-reflecting surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the light-reflecting surface includes a plurality of perforations.

10. An apparatus for producing multi-color illumination, comprising:

a housing including a display surface;

a first multi-color light source coupled to and disposed near a first end of the apparatus and directed onto the display surface; and

a second multi-color light source coupled to and disposed near a second opposite end of the apparatus and directed onto the display surface; and

a shield coupled to the housing, the shield and the display surface forming an unenclosed volume having at least two open sides.

11. An apparatus for producing multi-color illumination, comprising:

a main body including a light-reflecting surface;

a multi-color light source coupled to the main body and casting light onto the light-reflecting surface; and

a speaker coupled to the main body and disposed behind the light-reflecting surface, the light-reflecting surface being configured such that sound from the speaker passes through the light-reflecting surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the light-reflecting surface includes a plurality of perforations.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the speaker is a magnetically driven speaker.

14. An apparatus for producing multi-color illumination, comprising:

a housing including a wall, the wall including a surface;

a first multi-color light source coupled to and disposed near a first end of the apparatus and casting light onto the surface, the first multi-color light source changing colors in accordance with at least one of a plurality of modes;

a second multi-color light source coupled to and disposed near a second opposite end of the apparatus and casting light onto the surface; and

a user interface coupled to the main body and configured to control the at least one mode.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further including a speaker attached to the wall, the speaker generating sound in accordance with the at least one mode.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the speaker is attached to a side of the wall opposite the surface.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the user interface includes a switch.

18. An apparatus for producing multi-color illumination, comprising:

a main body including a light-reflecting surface;

a filter coupled to the main body;

a multi-color light source disposed between the main body and the filter and casting light onto the light-reflecting surface; and

a speaker coupled to the main body,

the light-reflecting surface and the filter being opposed convex surfaces.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the filter is removeably attached to the main body, the filter being put under tension when attached to the main body.

20. A kit comprising:

a multi-color illumination apparatus; and

a plurality of interchangeable filters, the filters being removeably attachable to the illumination apparatus, each filter having different optical qualities.

21. The kit of claim 20, wherein each of the plurality of filters has a different arrangement of a plurality of perforations.

22. The kit of claim 20, wherein each of the plurality of filters has a different light transmittance.

23. The kit of claim 20, further including a display device.

24. An apparatus -for producing multi-color illumination, comprising:

a housing having a light-reflecting surface;

a multi-color light source coupled to the housing and casting light onto light-reflecting surface;

a storage device disposed within the housing and storing data representing first audio information;

a speaker; and

a controller configured to cause, in a first mode, the speaker to generate sound based on the first audio information.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, further including:

an interface configured to receive second audio information,

wherein the controller is configured to cause, in a second mode, the speaker to generate sound based on the second audio information.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further including a universal serial bus (USB) connection to accept power and an RS-232 data stream, the RS-232 data stream including the second audio information.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, further including a light source coupled to the housing and configured to produce full-spectrum white light.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the multi-color light source is configured to produce light in a manner based on the first audio information.