METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ILLUMINATING HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

• US 20080130267A1
• Filed: 12/03/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FKA Distributing Co. LLC
• Original Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Dowling, Kevin J., Blackwell, Michael K., Strauss, Josh
• Granted Patent: US 7,652,436 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/96
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/04 Attracting insects by using illumination or colours A01M1/08 and A01M1/145 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2038 Holders or dispensers for pressurized insecticide, e.g. pressurized vessels, cans
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2077 using an electrical resistance as heat source A01M1/2083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2227 with means for amusing or giving information to the user A47G23/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2019/2238 with illumination means
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/02 Forks; Forks with ejectors; Combined forks and spoons; Salad servers
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2200/08 Illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/12 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/03 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/048 air treating gels
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/12 Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/125 emanating multiple odours
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/04 simulating flames
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/035 by means of plugging into a wall outlet, e.g. night light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/006 for illumination or simulation of snowy or iced items, e.g. icicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/28 : using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 : Pulse-width modulation [PWM]

Abstract

Methods and systems for generating one or more scents in conjunction with light. Light of various colors, including dynamic lighting effects, may be generated such that at least one characteristic of the light may be based at least in part on one or more characteristics of a scent or scents, and/or proximate environmental conditions. In one example, one or more LED-based light sources are employed together with a scent-producing facility in a conventional household product (e.g., an integrated air-freshener/LED night light, an LED-simulated candle with scent, etc.).

Claims

1. A method of providing light in conjunction with a scent-producing product and/or a scent-producing facility that includes the scent-producing product, the method comprising:

A) providing at least one light system, comprising at least one light source controllable by a processor for generating radiation of one or more colors and/or one or more brightness levels;

B) disposing the at least one light system in proximity to the scent-producing facility so as to generate the radiation in proximity to the scent-producing facility and/or the scent-producing product; and

C) generating at least one selected color of the radiation in response to a signal from the processor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal relates to data indicative of a condition of the scent-producing product.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing at least one condition in an environment proximate to the scent-producing facility, wherein C) comprises generating the at least one selected color of the radiation based at least in part on the sensed at least one condition.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

D) varying a scent produced by the scent-producing product; and

E) varying the at least one selected color of the radiation based at least in part on D).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

B) comprises disposing the at least one light system in proximity to the scent-producing facility so as to illuminate at least a portion of the scent-producing facility and/or the scent-producing product with the radiation; and

C) comprises generating the at least one selected color of the radiation so as to cause a color change of the scent-producing facility and/or the scent-producing product.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

a scent-producing facility that includes a scent-producing product; and

at least one light system comprising at least one light source controllable by a processor for generating radiation of one or more colors and/or one or more brightness levels, the at least one light system disposed proximate to the scent-producing facility and configured to generate at least one selected color of the radiation in response to a signal from the processor.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the scent-producing product comprises a liquid or a gel.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the scent-producing facility comprises a household air-freshener.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising at least one sensor for monitoring at least one condition in an environment proximate to the apparatus, wherein the at least one controller controls the at least one light source and/or the scent-producing facility based at least in part on the monitored at least one condition.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to monitor germ, bacteria or other contamination levels in the environment proximate to the apparatus.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one LED-based light source for generating light having one or more colors and/or one or more brightness levels;

a scent-producing facility for producing at least one scent from a scent-producing product; and

at least one controller for controlling the at least one LED-based light source and the scent-producing facility so as to generate the light in coordination with the at least one scent.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one controller receives at least one control signal from an external source for controlling the at least one light source and/or the scent-producing facility.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the scent-producing facility comprises an air-freshener, and wherein the at least one LED-based light source comprises an LED-based night light.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one controller controls the at least one LED-based light source based at least in part on at least one condition associated with the scent-producing facility, the scent-producing product or the at least one scent.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one condition comprises an amount of the scent-producing product, a quality of the at least one scent, a strength of the scent, or a remaining life of the scent-producing facility.

16. A method, comprising:

A) generating at least one scent; and

B) generating light via at least one LED-based light source, wherein at least one characteristic of the light is based at least in part on the at least one scent.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising generating the at least one scent and/or the at least one characteristic of the light based at least in part on at least one environmental condition.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one environmental condition includes germ, bacteria or other contamination levels.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one scent and the at least one characteristic of light share at least one correlated aesthetic attribute.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising generating the at least one characteristic of light based at least in part on at least one condition associated with the at least one scent.