Apparatuses and methods for combining mirrors with electronics in medicine cabinets

• US 9,407,261 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2011
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electric Mirror LLC
• Original Assignee: Electric Mirror LLC
• Inventors: Mischel, James V. Jr., Mischel, James V. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Czekaj, Dave
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRUMFIELD, SHANIKA M
• Application Number:
  US13/068,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20120081620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,903 Days
• Field of Search: 407/14, 340/461, 348/61, 348/148, 348/731, 359/443, 359/507, 359/512, 359/609, 359/871, 362/140
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/78 using opto-electronic devices, i.e. light-emitting and photoelectric devices electrically- or optically-coupled
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960705 Safety of capacitive touch and proximity switches, e.g. increasing reliability, fail-safe
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96077 comprising an electrode which is floating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making

Abstract

An apparatus includes a medicine cabinet door. The medicine cabinet door has an outer glass layer, the outer glass layer has a front side and a back side, an information display is mounted on the back side of the outer glass layer, such that a user can view an image displayed on the information display while looking at the front side of the outer glass layer. A method includes placing an information display behind an outer glass layer of a medicine cabinet door and within a volume of the medicine cabinet door.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a thin medicine cabinet door, the thin medicine cabinet door has an outer glass layer, the outer glass layer has a front side, a back side, a first area that scatters light, and a second area that reflects light;

an information display, the information display is mounted on the back side of the outer glass layer, such that a user can view an image displayed on the information display while looking at the front side of the outer glass layer;

a transducer, the transducer is attached to the back side of the outer glass layer, wherein the transducer vibrates the outer glass layer in response to an input signal and an audible sound is created by the vibration of the outer glass layer; and

a backlight assembly, comprising;

a diffuser, the diffuser is a continuous layer of material which has a first surface and a second surface, the second surface of the diffuser mounted on the back side of the glass layer coincident with the first area, the first surface and the second surface are substantially non-parallel and the first surface is behind the second area; and

a light source, the light source is positioned on the back side of the second area and is configured to radiate light incident on the first surface of the diffuser resulting in indirect backlight illumination of the first area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a defogger, the defogger is attached to the back side of the outer glass layer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an inner glass layer, the inner glass layer is attached to an inside surface of the medicine cabinet door, the inner glass layer has a mirror portion and the user can see a reflection in the mirror portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a thickness of the medicine cabinet door is less than 1.2 inch.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input signal is related to an image displayed on the information display.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

an information display control, the information display control is mounted to the outer glass layer.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the information display control uses a wireless signal to control the information display.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein a frequency of the wireless signal is part of the Infrared Spectrum.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein a frequency of the wireless signal is part of the Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information display displays a signal received from a television tuner.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information display displays a signal received from a video play back device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information display displays a television signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information display displays a signal that came from the Internet.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source is comprised of an array of light emitting diodes (LEDS).

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source is comprised of an array of incandescent bulbs.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source is comprised of a fluorescent tube.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source is positioned at an angle relative to the glass layer in order to decrease a height of the distributed linear light source above the glass layer, wherein the angle is less than ninety degrees and greater than zero degrees.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a glass layer, the glass layer is configured for use in a medicine cabinet door, the glass layer has a front side, a back side, a first area that scatters light, and a second area that reflects light; and

a backlight assembly, comprising;

a diffuser, the diffuser is a continuous uniform layer of material which has a first surface and a second surface, the second surface of the diffuser is mounted on the back side of the glass coincident with the first area, the first surface and the second surface are substantially non-parallel and the first surface is behind the second area; and

a light source, the light source is positioned on the back side of the second area and is configured to radiate light incident on the first surface of the diffuser resulting in indirect backlight illumination of the first area.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first area is frosted.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein an acid etch is used to frost the first area.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first area is sandblasted.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the diffuser is made from acrylic plastic.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein at least one side of the diffuser is a color selected to enhance reflection of light.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, w herein the color is white.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein a thickness of the medicine cabinet door is equal to or less than 0.875 inch.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the diffuser is comprised of at least two distinct diffuser structures.

27. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the diffuser is made from a single material.

28. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

a metal reflector, the metal reflector is positioned behind the first area and the metal reflector reflects light from the backside of the glass layer through the first area to the front side of the glass layer, thereby facilitating the creation of backlight in the first area.

29. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the light source is a distributed linear light source.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the distributed linear light source is comprised of an array of light emitting diodes (LEDS).

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the distributed linear light source is comprised of an array of incandescent bulbs.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the distributed linear light source is comprised of a fluorescent tube.

33. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the distributed linear light source is positioned at an angle relative to the glass layer in order to decrease a height of the distributed linear light source above the glass layer, wherein the angle is less than ninety degrees and greater than zero degrees.

34. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the light source develops a light intensity sufficient to illuminate a user without secondary lighting.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein a thickness of the medicine cabinet door is less than 1.1 inch.

36. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first surface is polished.

37. An apparatus, comprising:

a glass layer, the glass layer is configured for use in a medicine cabinet door, the glass layer has a front side, a back side, a first area that scatters light, and a second area that reflects light; and

a backlight assembly, comprising;

a thin low volume reflector, the reflector has a surface area the reflector is mounted on the back side of the glass layer so that its surface area is coincident with and substantially parallel to the first area; and

a light source, the light source is mounted on the back side of the glass layer over the second area that reflects light and along an edge of the first area, the light source is configured to radiate light incident on the reflector, such that a source of backlight is provided by light reflected off of the reflector which is to be emitted through the first area when the light source is on and when the medicine cabinet door is viewed from the front side.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein an angle formed between the reflector and the glass layer is in a range of zero degrees to ninety degrees.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein a thickness of the medicine cabinet door is equal to or less than 0.875 inch.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the light source is comprised of an array of light emitting diodes (LEDS).

41. The apparatus of claim 37. wherein the light source is comprised of an array of incandescent bulbs.

42. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the light source is comprised of a fluorescent tube.

43. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the light source is positioned at an angle relative to the glass layer in order to decrease a height of the distributed linear light source above the glass layer, wherein the angle is less than ninety degrees and greater than zero degrees.