Audio lamp

• US 8,042,961 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2008
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andrew Massara, Jaron Rothkop
• Original Assignee: Andrew Massara, Jaron Rothkop
• Inventors: Massara, Andrew, Rothkop, Jaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong; Bao Q
• Application Number:
  US12/326,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20090196016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 362 86- 88, 362/253, 362/800, 362/230, 362/234, 36224902-24906, 362/650, 362/651, 362/240, 362/241, 381/124
• US Class Current: 362/86
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/026 intended to be recessed in a ceiling or like overhead structure, e.g. suspended ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0056 Audio equipment, e.g. music instruments, radios or speakers
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0076 Safety or security signalisation, e.g. smoke or burglar alarms, earthquake detectors; Self-defence devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/15 Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

In one embodiment, this invention discloses a device that is a lamp on the one hand, and also a speaker on the other, comprising a light-emitting element, a surface that acts as a sound-emitting element, and a base socket that can fit to an ordinary household lamp socket. The surface can be translucent and act as a lamp cover at the same time. There is also an electronic assembly in the lamp that controls both the light-emitting and sound-emitting elements, as well as communicates with an external host or other devices. In another embodiment, the lamp cover can also couple with an acoustic-wave transducer unit so that the audio lamp device becomes a light and a microphone. Various sensors can also be equipped within the audio lamp, and the results can be sent to the external host through the electronic assembly.

Claims

1. An audio lamp apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a base socket provided on an upper portion of the housing;

suspension elements extending from a lower portion of the housing;

an armature supported by the suspension elements;

a surface ring and a printed circuit board supported by the armature, wherein the printed circuit board is electrically connected to the base socket;

a plurality of light emitting diodes provided on the printed circuit board;

a lamp cover supported by the surface ring; and

an exciter provided on the lamp cover and electrically connected to the circuit board.

2. The audio lamp apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the suspension elements comprise a plurality of springs.

3. The audio lamp apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a circumferential flange extending outwardly from the surface ring; and

a gasket covering a peripheral surface of the flange.

4. The audio lamp apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the lamp cover comprises both an opaque region and a translucent region.

5. The audio lamp apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

the opaque region is surrounded by an annular translucent region.

6. The audio lamp apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the printed circuit board exhibits an annular configuration.

7. The audio lamp apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a rear casing attached to a central portion of the lamp cover, the rear casing and the lamp cover defining a sealed chamber containing the exciter.

8. The audio lamp apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a reflector element arranged for directing light from light emitting diodes in a direction away from the housing.

9. The audio lamp apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

the opaque region comprises a first material and the translucent region comprises a second material and the first and second material exhibit different acoustical characteristics.

10. The audio lamp apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the exciter is a transducer configured for operation in a speaker mode in which whereby electrical signals received by the transducer will drive the lamp cover to produce sound or a microphone mode in which ambient sound which drives the lamp cover will be received by the transducer and converted to electrical signals corresponding to the ambient sound.

11. An audio lamp apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a base socket provided on an upper portion of the housing;

suspension elements extending from a lower portion of the housing;

an armature supported by the suspension elements;

a surface ring and a printed circuit board supported by the armature, wherein the printed circuit board is electrically connected to the base socket;

a plurality of light emitting diodes provided on the printed circuit board;

a lamp cover supported by the printed circuit board; and

an exciter provided on the lamp cover and electrically connected to the circuit board.

12. The audio lamp apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

a reflector element arranged for directing light from light emitting diodes in a direction away from the housing.

13. The audio lamp apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

an annular opening is defined between the printed circuit board and the surface ring, the reflector element being arranged for directing light from light emitting diodes provided on an upper surface of the printed circuit board through the annular opening.

14. An audio lamp apparatus comprising:

a light-emitting element;

a sound-emitting element;

a control circuit operatively connected to the light-emitting element and the sound-emitting element;

a light reflecting element that reflects light from the light emitting element in a plurality of directions, the light reflecting element having a generally toroidal arcuate profile; and

a base socket;

wherein the base socket is configured for engaging a conventional lighting socket and transmitting power to the light emitting element, the sound emitting element and the control circuit.