Illumination device

• US 7,677,746 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra L
• Assistant Examiner(s): MACCHIAROLO, LEAH SIMONE
• Application Number:
  US11/554,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20070121343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 362/341, 362/345, 362/355, 362/356, 362/11, 362/16, 362/18, 362/622, 362/613, 362/8, 362/427, 362/428, 362/418, 362/85, 362/276, 362/277, 362/285, 362/287
• US Class Current: 362/85
• 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, comprising:

a LED lamp assembly, comprising;

a gutter-shaped housing with a generally angular or U-shaped cross section including a light reflecting material on an interior of a bottom member of the gutter-shaped housing,

a LED array including a number of light emitting diodes attached to the interior of the bottom member of said gutter-shaped housing, and

a diffuser sheet including a light diffusing, partly transparent material disposed on top of said gutter-shaped housing; and

a user interface allows for control adjustment of a light intensity of at least one of the light emitting diodes and for control adjustment of a position or angle of the LED lamp assembly relative to the multimedia communication terminal, the user interface including a menu system, wherein

said illumination device is configured to be attached under, above or on a side of the multimedia communication terminal by one or more retaining devices, and

said LED array is configured to be electrically coupled to a power source controlled by the multimedia communication terminal.

2. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein said user interface allows for control adjustment of the position or the angle relative to the multimedia communication terminal by controlling a movement of the one or more retaining devices.

3. The illumination device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

one or more narrow ribs being attached on a backside of the illumination device and configured to cool down LED array generated heat.

4. The illumination device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said gutter-shaped housing is made of steel or aluminium.

5. The illumination device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an internal surface of said gutter-shaped housing includes a white or silver colored layer.

6. The illumination device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said diffuser sheet has a matt finish on a face outward from the gutter-shaped housing and a gloss finish on a face inward toward the gutter-shaped housing.

7. A system comprising:

a LED lamp assembly including a gutter-shaped housing with a generally angular or U-shaped cross section including a light reflecting material, a LED array including a number of light emitting diodes attached to a bottom of said gutter-shaped housing, and a diffuser sheet including a light diffusing, partly transparent material disposed on top of said gutter-shaped housing;

a multimedia communication terminal configured to transmit signals through a network;

a retaining device configured to attach the illuminating device to the multimedia communication terminal; and

a user interface allows for control adjustment of a light intensity of at least one of the light emitting diodes and for control adjustment of a position or angle of the LED lamp assembly relative to the multimedia communication terminal, the user interface including a menu system,

wherein said LED array is configured to be electrically coupled to a power source controlled by the multimedia communication terminal.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the LED lamp assembly the illuminating device is configured to be detachable from the multimedia communication terminal while still being electrically coupled to the multimedia communication terminal.

9. A system comprising:

a LED lamp assembly including a LED array;

a first multimedia communication terminal configured to transmit signals through a network;

a retaining device configured to attach the illuminating device to the multimedia communication terminal; and

a communications interface configured to receive a command through the network from a remote second multimedia communication terminal to adjust a light intensity of at least one of the light emitting diodes or to adjust a position or angle of the LED lamp assembly relative to the multimedia communication terminal.