ILLUMINATION DEVICE

• US 20070121343A1
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tandberg Telecom AS (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brown, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,677,746 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/612
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/16 with provision for adjusting the curvature
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

The present invention discloses an illumination device for illuminating users of a multimedia communication terminal. In particular, the illumination device includes high power white LEDs together with a reflector and a diffuser integrated in, or connected to, the terminal. Preferably, the light intensity and the position and angle relative to the terminal are controllable through a user interface.

Claims

1. An illumination device for illuminating one or more users in front of a multimedia communication terminal,

characterized in a gutter-shaped housing with a generally angular or U-shaped cross section consisting of a light reflecting material, a LED array including a number of light emitting diodes attached to the bottom of said gutter-shaped housing, and a diffuser sheet consisting of light diffusing, partly transparent material mounted on top of said gutter-shaped housing,

said illumination device is attached under, above or on the side of the multimedia communication terminal by means of one or more retaining device(s), and

said LED array is electrically coupled to the multimedia communication terminal.

2. An illumination device according to claim 1, characterized in that said retaining device(s) is configured to make the illumination device adjustable in terms of position and angle relative to the multimedia communication terminal.

3. An illumination device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that narrow ribs are attached on the backside of the illumination device for cooling down LED array generated heat.

4. An illumination device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light intensity of said light emitting diodes are adjustable through a user interface.

5. An illumination device according to claim 2, characterized in that said position and angle are adjustable through a user interface.

6. An illumination device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said gutter-shaped housing is made of steel or aluminium.

7. An illumination device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said gutter-shaped housing is painted or coated on the internal surface with a white or silver colour.

8. An illumination device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said diffuser sheet has a matt finish on the outward face and gloss finish on the inward face.