Illuminating device

• US 9,198,261 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2011
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brainstream GmbH
• Original Assignee: Schrims GmbH
• Inventors: Schech, Christian, Wetzel, Bastian
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Brandon S
• Application Number:
  US13/820,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20130207551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,547 Days
• Field of Search: 315149-159
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 15/06 with illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 42/10 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/023 Power supplies in a casing F21V23/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• 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 23/0485 the sensor sensing the physical interaction between a user and certain areas located on the lighting device, e.g. a touch sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/004 Sanitary equipment, e.g. mirrors, showers, toilet seats or paper dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/06 for personal wear
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/302 for mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An illumination device that is operable while being transported and that can be placed, or is placed, in an object that can be opened and closed again. The illumination device comprises a first light source, an electric energy storage device, and a switch device that comprises a control unit including a sensor unit with which a first switching unit is transferable from an open switching state into a closed switching state. The first light source is suppliable with electric power from the electric energy storage device when a first sensor is touched and/or when said first sensor detects a motion. The sensor unit comprises a second sensor that at least detects if the object is open or closed. A second switching unit is transferable from an open switching state into a closed switching state in which the first light source and/or a second light source is/are supplied with electric power.

Claims

1. An illumination device that is operable when transported and can be placed in an object that can be opened and closed again, the illumination device comprising:

at least a first light source;

an electric energy storage device; and

a switch device that comprises a control unit that includes a sensor unit with which a first switching unit is transferable from an open switching state into a closed switching state,

wherein the first light source is suppliable with electric power from the electric energy storage device when a first sensor of the sensor unit is touched and/or when the first sensor of the sensor unit detects a motion,

wherein the sensor unit comprises a second sensor that at least detects if the object is open or closed, and

wherein a second switching unit is transferable from an open switching state into a closed switching state in which the first light source and/or a second light source is/are supplied with electric power from the electric energy storage device, wherein the first sensor of the sensor unit is functionally assigned to the first light source and the second sensor of the sensor unit is functionally assigned to the second light source, and

wherein the control unit is designed such that the first switching unit is transferred from a closed switching state into an open switching state if the second switching unit is transferred from an open switching state into a closed switching state.

2. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the second sensor of the sensor unit comprises a pushbutton switch, a Hall sensor, and/or a reed contact.

3. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the second sensor of the sensor unit comprises a brightness sensor, and

wherein the control unit is designed such that the second switching unit switches from a closed switching state into an open switching state when the brightness sensor detects a light intensity of more than 100 lux.

4. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor of the sensor unit comprises a pyrosensor, a capacitive sensor, and/or an ultrasonic sensor for detecting a motion and/or for detecting a touch of the switch device.

5. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is designed such that the second switching unit switches from the closed switching state back into the open switching state 5 to 60 seconds after the second sensor of the sensor unit detected that the object has been opened, and/or

wherein the control unit is designed such that the first switching unit switches from the closed switching state back into the open switching state 5 to 60 seconds after the first sensor of the sensor unit has last detected a motion.

6. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the first light source and/or the second light source include(s) a filament-type light bulb, an LED, and/or luminescent film.

7. The illumination device according to claim 1, further comprising a dimmer that is actuatable by the control unit and with which the power supplied to the first light source and/or the second light source can be abruptly or steadily reduced down to zero.

8. In combination, the illumination device according to claim 1 and the object that can be opened and closed again,

wherein the object comprises a transparent, translucent, and/or opaque material, and

wherein the first light source and/or the second light source is/are arranged inside the material of the object.

9. In combination, an illumination device that is operable while being transported and an object that can be opened and closed again, the illumination device comprising:

at least a first light source;

an electric energy storage device; and

a switch device that comprises a control unit including a sensor unit with which a first switching unit is transferable from an open switching state into a closed switching state,

wherein the first light source is suppliable with electric power from the electric energy storage device when a first sensor of the sensor unit is touched and/or when said first sensor detects a motion,

wherein the first sensor of the sensor unit includes a capacitive sensor, and

wherein two dome-shaped parts form the object that can be opened and closed again.

10. The combination according to claim 9, wherein the illumination device comprises a display element for displaying at least one piece of information, and/or the first light source and/or the second light source form(s) a display element for displaying at least one piece of information.

11. The combination according to claim 10, wherein the display element is connectable to the electric energy storage device via the first switching unit and/or the second switching unit, and

wherein the at least one piece of information includes a time of day, a date, and/or a signal.

12. The combination according to claim 10, wherein the display element comprises an acoustically, visually, and/or haptically perceivable display of the information.

13. The combination according to claim 9, further comprising a data storage device that is arrangeable in or on the object, and

wherein at least one datum is transferable to and/or stored on said data storage device using an interface unit.

14. The combination according to claim 9, wherein the object that can be opened and closed again forms a container for holding at least one physical element.

15. The combination according to claim 9, wherein the object that can be opened and closed again comprises a transparent and/or translucent and/or opaque material and the first light source is arranged inside the material of the object that can be opened and closed again.

16. The combination according to claim 9, wherein the first light source of the object that can be opened and closed again is arranged such that it shines outwards through the surface of the object.

17. The combination according to claim 9, wherein the first light source is activated when a user touches or approaches the object.

18. The combination according to claim 9, further comprising a dimmer that is actuatable by the control unit and with which the power supplied to the first light source can be abruptly or steadily reduced down to zero.

19. An illumination device that is operable while being transported and that can be placed in an object that can be opened and closed again, the illumination device comprising:

at least a first light source;

an electric energy storage device;

a switch device that comprises a control unit including a sensor unit with which a first switching unit is transferable from an open switching state into a closed switching state; and

a dimmer that is actuatable by the control unit and with which power supplied to the first light source can be abruptly or steadily reduced down to zero,

wherein the first light source is suppliable with electric power from the electric energy storage device when a first sensor of the sensor unit is touched and/or when said first sensor detects a motion, and

wherein the first sensor of the sensor unit includes a capacitive sensor.