Patent Grant
11268663
The present disclosure generally relates to portable lighting devices. More particularly, the present disclosure includes portable, rechargeable lighting devices that have acoustic features and/or wireless connectivity.
Portable lighting devices have uses in a variety of situations, including during travel and in situations of limited or no power access.
The present disclosure includes lighting devices, including, e.g., solar-powered lighting devices. The lighting device, according to some examples herein, may include a housing including a cover and a base coupled to the cover, wherein the base encloses a first chamber and the cover encloses a second chamber. Further, for example, the lighting device may comprise a solar panel coupled to an outer surface of the housing; at least one speaker, which may be disposed within the first chamber of the housing; at least one rechargeable battery; a microprocessor; and a plurality of light sources. The light sources may be disposed outside the first chamber and/or within the second chamber, the plurality of lights configured to emit light towards the cover. Further, the solar panel, the rechargeable battery, the microprocessor, the speaker, and the light sources may be in electronic communication with one another; and the microprocessor may be configured to control at least one operating mode of the light sources and at least one operating mode of the speaker. The lighting device may include two speakers, for example, optionally facing in different directions. The housing may have a tapered shape.
Further, for example, the housing may include a section between the cover and the base, the section being radially outward of the speaker(s). The section may comprise a material or combination of materials that permit the passage of sound therethrough. For example, the section may comprise a textile material. The light sources may comprise light-emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged at regular intervals from each other, e.g., 6 to 24 LEDs, or 10 to 18 LEDs. The LEDs may be arranged in an annular configuration. According to some aspects of the present disclosure, the lighting device may be configured to receive user input wirelessly from an external electronic device, such as, e.g., a smart phone or other mobile device. For example, the lighting device may include a wireless communication to enable Bluetooth.
The present disclosure also includes a lighting device comprising a housing, wherein the housing includes a cover that is at least partially transparent or translucent, and a base coupled to the cover, wherein the base encloses a chamber. The lighting device may further comprise a solar panel coupled to an outer surface of the housing; at least one speaker disposed within the chamber; at least one rechargeable battery; a microprocessor; and a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) facing an inner surface of the cover. The solar panel, the rechargeable battery, the microprocessor, the speaker, and the plurality of LEDs may be in electronic communication with one another; and the microprocessor may be configured to control at least one operating mode of the plurality of LEDs and at least one operating mode of the speaker. In at least one example, the chamber is a first chamber, and the cover encloses a second chamber outside the first chamber. Optionally, the plurality of LEDs may be within the second chamber. The at least one operating mode of the speaker may include generating white noise, generating a natural sound, playing music, emitting an alarm, or a combination thereof. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one operating mode of the plurality of LEDs may include adjusting an intensity of light generated by the LEDs, changing colors of the LEDs, or a combination thereof. For example, the plurality of LEDs may include at least one white LED and at least one RGB LED. The lighting device may further comprise a touchscreen configured to receive user input and transmit the user input to the microprocessor, e.g., to control the operating modes.
The present disclosure also includes a lighting device comprising a housing that includes a base enclosing a first chamber; a cover enclosing a second chamber outside of the first chamber; and a section between the cover and the base. The section may comprise a textile material that permits the passage of sound therethrough. The lighting device may further comprise a solar panel coupled to an outer surface of the housing; at least one speaker disposed within the first chamber and radially inward of the section; at least one rechargeable battery; a microprocessor; and a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) within the second chamber, the plurality of LEDs including white LEDs and RGB LEDs; wherein the solar panel, the rechargeable battery, the microprocessor, the speaker, and the plurality of LEDs are in electronic communication with one another; and wherein the microprocessor is configured to control at least one operating mode of the plurality of light sources and at least one operating mode of the speaker. According to some aspects of the present disclosure, the lighting device further comprises a separator between the cover and the base, the separator and the base together forming the first chamber. The housing may have a tapered shape, e.g., a cross-sectional dimension of the cover being less than a cross-sectional dimension of the section. Further, for example, the at least one operating mode of the speaker may include generating white noise, a natural sound or both; and the at least one operating mode of the plurality of LEDs may include changing colors of the LEDs.
Any of the foregoing features of lighting devices may be used in combination with each other in yet additional examples as discussed further herein.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.
The terminology used in this disclosure may be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific examples of the present disclosure. Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the features, as claimed.
The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context dictates otherwise. The terms “approximately” and “about” refer to being nearly the same as a referenced number or value. As used herein, the terms “approximately” and “about” generally should be understood to encompass ±5% of a specified amount or value. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” or other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. The term “exemplary” is used in the sense of “example” rather than “ideal.”
The present disclosure includes portable solar-powered lighting devices with a speaker, wireless communication, and/or charging capabilities. For example, the lighting devices herein may be configured as solar-powered rechargeable light/speaker/battery packs. One or more features of the lighting devices may provide benefits for travel use, such as, e.g., dimensions (e.g., compact size and/or shape), weight (e.g., relatively light weight), and/or functionality (e.g., speaker, different light operating modes, different sound operating modes, and/or wireless connectivity).
According to some aspects of the present disclosure, the section 106 may be configured to allow sound to pass therethrough, e.g., the sound being generated by a speaker contained within the housing. Additionally or alternatively, the cover 102 may be configured to allow light to pass therethrough, e.g., the light being generated by one or more light sources contained within the housing.
The lighting devices herein may have any suitable shape. The cross-sectional shape may be circular, as shown in
The housing may comprise a polymer or combination of polymer materials. For example, the base and/or other components of the lighting device 100 may comprise acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polypropylene, polyethylene, silicone, polyurethane, including thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyvinylchloride (PVC). In at least one example, the cover 102 and/or the base 104 comprises ABS. For example, the base 104 may comprise rigid ABS, optionally with a soft-touch polymer layer overmolded, and/or the cover 102 may comprise ABS configured to allow light to pass therethrough (e.g., the cover 102 being transparent or translucent). For example, the cover 102 may comprise frosted ABS, which may have any desired color (e.g., white, clear, beige, yellow, orange, red, blue, green, violet, grey, etc.). These materials are exemplary only; additional polymers and other suitable materials including glass (e.g., glass with shatter resistance) are also contemplated and encompassed herein. The material used to form the cover 102 may allow for even dispersion of light.
The section 106 overlaying speaker components of the device 100 may be at least partially porous to facilitate sound transmission. In at least one example, the section 106 comprises a polymer wall with a plurality of holes (e.g., a perforated ABS sheet) covered with fabric or other textile material. The textile material may be water-resistant and may have a texture and/or weave that promotes transmission of sound. The textile (e.g., fabric) may be coupled to, e.g., permanently adhered to, the polymer wall. In some examples herein, the lighting device 100 includes a handle 160 coupled to the housing and/or attached to an interior of the device 100 and extending through the housing. The handle 160 may be flexible, e.g., comprising a flexible polymer or textile, and may be adjustable. In some examples, the lighting device 100 does not include a handle.
Further referring to
The outermost surface of the solar panel(s) 150 may include a protective layer such as a film or other material to protect the surface of the solar panel(s) 150 from damage while still permitting exposure to sunlight for generating power. In at least one example, the solar panel(s) 150 is covered with a protective layer comprising a laminate. Exemplary voltages of the solar panel 160 may generally range from about 4V to about 8V, e.g., about 5V, about 6V, or about 7V, but other voltages are encompassed by the disclosure herein.
The lighting device 100 may include one or more user interfaces, such as one or more buttons, dials, touchscreens, switches, etc., configured to receive user input for controlling different functionalities of the lighting device. Additionally or alternatively, the lighting device 100 may be configured to accept user input wirelessly as discussed further below. In some examples, the lighting device includes a plurality of user elements. As shown in
The first and second buttons 131, 132 each may comprise a polymer, such as ABS, overlaying electronic components, and may have the same or different color than the base 104 and/or other portions of the housing. The first button 131 may be used to control different features of the device 100 than the second button 132. Exemplary features that may be controlled by the first and second buttons 131, 132 may include, for example, turning the touchscreen 110 on and off, turning light sources on and off, turning wireless communication features on and off, and/or to selecting among different operating modes of the lighting device 100. Exemplary wireless communication protocols that may be used include, but are not limited to, Bluetooth, a near-field communication (NFC) protocol, Zigbee, a RF communication protocol, Wi-Fi, and combinations thereof. For example, the lighting device 100 may be Bluetooth connected and/or Wi-Fi enabled, e.g., to permit third-party connectivity such as communicating with Google Home/Assistant, Apple HomePod/Siri, Amazon Echo/Alexa, and/or apps like IFTTT.
In at least one example, the first button 131 may be configured to turn the touchscreen 110 on and off, and the second button 132 may be configured to activate and terminate wireless communication, e.g., Bluetooth. Thus, for example, a first press of the first button 131 may turn the touchscreen 110 on, and a second press of the first button 131 may turn the touchscreen 110 off. Similarly, a first press of the second button 132 may activate Bluetooth capability, and a second press of the second button 132 may terminate Bluetooth. The first button 131 and/or the second button 132 may include an indicator light to indicate when a feature of the device 100 is activated (e.g., the indicator light being illuminated when Bluetooth is activated).
According to some aspects of the present disclosure, the touchscreen 110 may be touch sensitive to allow a user to select among various options and features of the lighting device 100. The touchscreen optionally may include a graphical user interface (GUI). For example, the touchscreen may provide an indication of the amount of power remaining in the device 100, e.g., as a percentage and/or by a progress indicator (e.g., shaded portion within a boundary, or a series of colored bars or lights). In the case of a progress indicator, the correspondence between the shaded portion or number of colored bars or lights and the battery charge may include specified ranges or thresholds of the battery. Additionally or alternatively, the touchscreen may include a menu that allows a user to select among different operating modes. In some examples, the touchscreen responds to touch in order to select among a series of operating modes. Selecting different operating modes may be achieved by the number, frequency, and/or location the touchscreen 110 is touched (e.g., one touch in the center selects a first operating mode, a second touch in the center selects a second operating mode, one touch at the periphery selects a third operating mode, a touch of at least 2 seconds selects a fourth operating mode, etc.). According to some aspects of the present disclosure, the touchscreen 110 may serve as a touch sensitive snooze button, e.g., for using the lighting device 100 as an alarm clock.
The cover 102 may be configured to allow a user to access the touchscreen 110. For example, the cover 102 may include a touch sensitive portion overlaying the touchscreen, or the cover 102 may include an aperture or window corresponding to the size and shape of the touchscreen 110, such that the cover 102 borders the touchscreen 110. In some examples herein, the lighting device does not include a touchscreen 110. In such cases, the cover 102 need not be touch sensitive and may enclose the entire upper portion of the lighting device 100.
The lighting devices herein may contain a battery 130, e.g., a rechargeable battery, in electronic communication with the solar panel(s) 150 and/or one or more other electronic components (see, e.g.,
The battery 130 may be in communication with the solar panel(s) 150, such that the battery 130 may store power generated by the solar panel(s) 150. The battery 130 also may be in communication with the LEDs 125 in order to supply power to the LEDs 125. While omitted from the
The housing of the lighting device 100 may be arranged such that the base 104 houses the speaker(s) 107 or otherwise secures the speaker(s) 107 in place. In at least one example, the base 104 may include features complementary to features of the section 106. As shown in
Further referring to
The upper surface of the separator 108 may serve as a support for the one or more LEDs 125. For example, the LED(s) 125 may be mounted or otherwise coupled to a substrate 120, illustrated in
In some examples, the LED(s) 125 may generate a light output ranging from about 10 lumens to about 350 lumens, such as about 50 lumens to about 300 lumens, about 100 lumens to about 300 lumens, or from about 150 lumens to about 250 lumens, e.g., about 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, or 250 lumens. The LED(s) 125 may have different intensity settings, e.g., a bright intensity (greater than or equal to 100 lumens, e.g., 220 lumens), a regular intensity (e.g., 50 to 100 lumens), and/or a low intensity (less than 50 lumens, e.g., 20 lumens). For example, the LED(s) 125 may have a light output of 100 lumens or greater, e.g., 120 lumens or greater, or 150 lumens or greater.
Further, for example, the rechargeable battery 130 may provide sufficient power for illuminating the LEDs 125 on a low setting (20 lumens) for at least 12 hours, at least 15 hours, or at least 20 hours, e.g., from 6 hours to 30 hours, or from 18 hours to 24 hours. Additionally or alternatively, the battery 130 may provide sufficient power for illuminating the LEDs 125 at a high setting (220 lumens) for at least 2 hours or at least 4 hours, e.g., from about 3 hours to about 5 hours.
The microprocessor or integrated circuit chip may be configured to control one or more operating modes of the lighting device 100, e.g., visual and/or acoustic modes. For example, the lighting device 100 may include one or more operating modes of the speaker(s) 107 (e.g., on/off, preset sounds, alarm, volume), one or more operating modes of the LED(s) 125 (e.g., on/off, intensity, color, color transitions), and/or one or more operating modes that combine operation of the speaker and the LED(s) (e.g., mood lighting combined with relaxing sounds, or flashing light combined with an alarm). As mentioned above, the lighting device 100 may include a touch sensitive snooze button and/or display screen (e.g., in the form of touchscreen 110) to terminate or change between operating modes, such as a preset alarm stored in the microprocessor of the PCB 134.
At least one operating mode of the lighting device 100 may include playing music from an external device, such as a mobile phone, MP3 player or other audio player, etc., through the speaker(s) 107 of the device 100. Further, for example, various operating modes of the lighting device 100 may be preprogrammed into the microprocessor, such that a user may select among the operating modes via physical input and/or wireless input. Exemplary preset operating modes may include, but are not limited to, color transitions to simulation circadian rhythm for waking up, color transitions (e.g., soothing gentle color transitions from red to blue and/or vice versa over time), and different soundscapes.
For example, the lighting device 100 may include one or more operating modes for generating various sounds, including, but not limited to, white noise, ocean sounds (e.g., crashing waves), babbling brook, rainfall, wind, or bird sounds, among other natural or environmental sounds. Additionally or alternatively, the lighting device may include one or more operating modes for turning LEDs 125 on and off, adjusting intensity of light generated by the LED(s), and/or changing colors of the LED(s) (including initiating and/or cycling through color transitions). For example, the operating modes of the device 100 may include simulating a natural sunrise for natural wake-up, simulating a natural sunset to facilitate sleep, and/or mood or therapy lighting. Further, the operating modes optionally may combine light and sound. For example, the device 100 may be configured to modify light output from one or more LED(s) 125 according to the sound and/or rhythm of music generated by the speaker(s) 107.
The lighting device 100 may include a screen (e.g., touchscreen 110) that allows for setting the time and/or an alarm, adjusting brightness of the LED(s) 125, adjusting volume of the speaker(s) 107, checking the battery charge level, and/or selecting preset values for light and/or sound. When the lighting device 100 is paired via Bluetooth, a user may connect and control the light through an app (e.g., an application of a smart phone or other mobile device), monitor sleep patterns, and/or play music or other audio files through a phone as a wireless/Bluetooth speaker. That is, the microprocessor may be configured to interface with the mobile device through the app, which may enable the mobile device to transmit various user inputs to control the microprocessor, and thus to control the lighting device 100. For example, the app may display a user interface as described in U.S. application Ser. No. 16/165,864 filed on Oct. 18, 2018, incorporated by reference herein. The user interface may include various options for users to select, including the option to select a color to be displayed by the lighting device 100 by changing the color(s) of the LED(s) 125. For example, a user may change the color of the lighting device 100 by selecting a preset color and/or by making a customized selection via a color wheel.
The lighting devices herein may be relatively compact and/or lightweight to promote portability. For example, the lighting device 100 may have a total weight less than 12 ounces, less than 10 ounces, or less than 8 ounces, e.g., a weight of 4 to 12 ounces, or 6 to 10 ounces. Further, for example, the maximum cross-sectional dimension may be less than or equal to 6 inches, less than or equal to 5 inches, or less than or equal to 4 inches, e.g., from about 4 to 5 inches.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/733,379 filed on Sep. 19, 2018, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20170241636 | Mosley | Aug 2017 | A1 |
| 20190011089 | Whiting | Jan 2019 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20200088360 A1 | Mar 2020 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62733379 | Sep 2018 | US |
