Multi-color illumination display apparatus

• US 7,494,243 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2002
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whitegate Partners, LLC
• Original Assignee: Whitegate Partners, LLC
• Inventors: Murphy, Mason E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Negron; Ismael
• Application Number:
  US10/298,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20040095746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,290 Days
• Field of Search: 362/559, 362/560, 362/565, 362/85, 362/86, 362/87, 362/227, 362/230, 362/231, 362/235, 362/236, 362/237, 362/240, 362/248, 362/276, 362/290, 362/291, 362/292, 362/310, 362/311, 362/362, 362/372, 362/367, 362/800, 362/806, 362/802, 315/76, 359/443, 359/444, 359/449, 359/460, 446/175, 446/219, 446/485, 404/44, 404/31
• US Class Current: 362/231
• 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 and that may be operated in a variety of visual modes. The illumination apparatus may have, e.g., a housing having a display surface, first and second multi-color light sources directing light 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 may be reflected from the display surface and pass through the shield. 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 full-spectrum white light.

Claims

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

a housing including an elongated and curved display surface fixed relative to the housing;

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

a second multi-color light source coupled to and disposed near a second end of the apparatus opposite the first end 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.

2. A kit comprising:

a multi-color illumination apparatus; and

a plurality of elongated flexible interchangeable filters, the filters each being removeably attachable to the illumination by flexing the filter into a curve to produce tension in the filter such that the filter is attached to the illumination apparatus while under the tension, each filter having different optical qualities.

3. The kit of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of filters has a different arrangement of a plurality of perforations.

4. The kit of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of filters has a different light transmittance.

5. The kit of claim 2, further including a display device.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein when each of the filters is coupled to the multi-color illumination apparatus, the respective filter is positioned so as to at least partially shield multi-color light emitted by the multi-color illumination apparatus.

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

a housing having a display surface fixed relative to the housing;

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.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the shield is removeably attachable to the housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first and second multi-color light sources each comprise at least one light-emitting diode.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the display surface is elongated and has a central portion and opposing end portions, and wherein the display surface is concave such that the central portion of the display surface is farther from the shield than the end portions of the display surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the shield when attached to the housing forms an opposing concave surface facing the display surface.

12. 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 fixed relative to the base portion and the vertical extension, 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 light reflecting surface passing through the filter,

wherein the light-reflecting surface comprises a wall fixed relative to the base portion and the vertical extension, the apparatus further including a speaker disposed on a first side of the wall, wherein the light-reflecting surface is disposed on a second side of the wall, and wherein the second side is on an opposite side of the wall as the first side.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the filter includes a plurality of perforations.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the light-reflecting surface includes a plurality of perforation, wherein the speaker is configured to direct sound through the perforations.

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

a housing including a wall, the wall including a curved surface fixed relative to the housing;

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

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

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further including a speaker attached to the wall at a side of the wall opposite the curved surface, the speaker configured to direct sound through the curved surface in accordance with the at least one mode.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further including a speaker, wherein the speaker is attached to a first side of the wall, wherein the curved surface is a surface of a second side of the wall, and wherein the second side is on an opposite side of the wall as the first side.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the user interface includes a switch.