IP Library Granted Patent US 12674574
Granted Patent B2
US 12674574 · App. 19/056,023 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Audio output device with a light emitting unit

Inventors: Samantha J. Krugel (Wauwatosa, WI); Chelsea L. McCormick (Oak Creek, WI); Matthew H. Ogden (Milwaukee, WI); Jacob D. Hadfield (Mukwonago, WI); Christopher R. Millane (Menomonee Falls, WI); Long Biao Liu (Dongguan, CN)
Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
F21V33/0056H04R1/025H05B47/155F21Y2115/10H04R2420/07H04R2430/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12674574
App. No.
19/056,023
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An audio output device may include a housing, a speaker provided in the housing, a plurality of actuators provided on the housing, and a light emitting unit provided on the housing. The light emitting unit includes a plurality of light emitting segments arranged in a line. The audio output device may also include a controller located within the housing and including an electronic processor, a memory, and a transceiver. The controller is coupled to the speaker, the plurality of actuators, and the light emitting unit. The controller is configured to determine that a first actuator of the plurality of actuators is actuated for a first predetermined amount of time, and operate the light emitting unit according to a first light sequence in response to the first actuator being actuated.

Claims (25)

1 . An audio output device comprising:

a housing;

a speaker provided in the housing;

a plurality of actuators provided on the housing;

a light emitting unit provided on the housing, the light emitting unit including a plurality of light emitting segments arranged in a line; and

a controller located within the housing and including an electronic processor, a memory, and a transceiver, the controller coupled to the speaker, the plurality of actuators, and the light emitting unit, the controller configured to:

determine that a first actuator of the plurality of actuators is actuated, and

operate the light emitting unit according to a first light sequence in response to the first actuator being actuated, wherein the first light sequence illuminates each of the plurality of light emitting segments according to a parameter different from other light emitting segments of the plurality of light emitting segments.

2 . The audio output device of claim 1 , wherein a first light emitting segment of the plurality of light emitting segments includes a first LED and a second light emitting segment of the plurality of light emitting segments includes a second LED, wherein the first LED is illuminated at a first brightness and the second LED is illuminated at a second brightness during the first light sequence, and wherein the first brightness is different than the second brightness.

3 . The audio output device of claim 1 , wherein a first light emitting segment of the plurality of light emitting segments includes a first LED and a second light emitting segment of the plurality of light emitting segments includes a second LED, wherein the first LED is illuminated at a first time and the second LED is illuminated at a second time during the first light sequence, and wherein the second time is after the first time.

4 . The audio output device of claim 1 , wherein the first light sequence indicates initiation of an operation of the audio output device, and wherein the controller is also configured to operate the light emitting unit according to a second light sequence upon completion of the operation.

5 . The audio output device of claim 4 , wherein the second light sequence is different than the first light sequence.

6 . The audio output device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:

determine that a second actuator of the plurality of actuators is actuated, and

operate the light emitting unit according to a second light sequence in response to the second actuator being actuated, the second light sequence being different than the first light sequence.

7 . The audio output device of claim 6 , wherein the first actuator initiates pairing of the audio output device with an external device that provides content to the audio output device, and wherein the second actuator initiates pairing of the audio output device with another device that receives content from the audio output device.

8 . The audio output device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is also configured to output a tone over the speaker in response to the first actuator being actuated.

9 . The audio output device of claim 8 , wherein the tone is synched with the first light sequence.

10 . The audio output device of claim 8 , wherein the controller is also configured to drop a volume level of content being output by the speaker while outputting the tone.

11 . The audio output device of claim 10 , wherein the controller is also configured to gradually increase the volume level of the content being output by the speaker after the tone is played.

12 . The audio output device of claim 1 , wherein each actuator of the plurality of actuators includes an LED that illuminates upon actuation.

13 . The audio output device of claim 1 , wherein the housing is an elongated housing having a first end, a second opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending through the first end and second end, and wherein the plurality of light emitting segments is arranged in the line extending parallel to the longitudinal axis.

14 . The audio output device of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of actuators is also arranged in a line extending parallel to the longitudinal axis.

15 . The audio output device of claim 1 , further comprising a battery pack interface configured to receive a battery pack.

16 . The audio output device of claim 1 , wherein the parameter includes at least one selected from a group consisting of illumination timing, brightness, and color.