IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,320,512
Granted Patent B2
US 12,320,512 · App. 18/199,140 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Mirror and cabinet apparatus

Inventors: Douglas J. Diemel (Kohler, WI); Feipeng Lv (Shanghai, CN); Yanxiong Zhuang (Shanghai, CN); Haichao Sun (Shanghai, CN); Qiuyue Liu (Shanghai, CN); Linan Han (Shanghai, CN); Kor Han Chew (Shanghai, CN); Yingying Xu (Shanghai, CN); Yuan Gao (Shanghai, CN); Fan Huang (Shanghai, CN); Wendong Zhu (Shanghai, CN); Danni Gu (Shanghai, CN); Mark Schibur (Sheboygan, WI); Maxwell Wasscher (Grafton, WI); Steve Hammond (Sheboygan Falls, WI); Jesse Lemel (Bayside, WI); Margaret Mazz (Atlanta, GA); Pete Kajuch (Brookfield, WI); Erin Lilly (Sheboygan, WI); Megan Wehmeier (Cleveland, WI); Katie Stevens (Fox Point, WI); Katerina Revelis (Sheboygan, WI); Shawn Booth (Sheboygan, WI); Matthew Wegner (Sheboygan, WI); Alexander V. LeToumeau (Sheboygan, WI)
Assignee: Kohler Co.
F21V23/0471F21V14/02F21Y2115/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,320,512
App. No.
18/199,140
Granted
Jun 3, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a bathroom mirror lighting system comprising a mirror, a light source, a sensor, and a control circuit operably coupled to the light source and the sensor. The control circuit receives a sensor signal from the sensor indicative of at least one of a user's distance from the sensor, a user's position, a user's posture, a motion of the user towards or away from the sensor, or a task being performed by the user. The control circuit then transmits a control signal to the light source causing the light source to alter its light output based on the sensor signal from the sensor.

Claims (39)

1. A bathroom mirror lighting system comprising:

a mirror;

a light source;

a sensor; and

a control circuit operably coupled to the light source and the sensor, the control circuit configured to:

receive a sensor signal from the sensor indicative of at least one of a user's distance from the sensor, a user's position, a user's posture, a motion of the user towards or away from the sensor, or a task being performed by the user; and

transmit a control signal to the light source causing the light source to alter its light output based on the sensor signal from the sensor,

wherein the light source comprises a plurality of lights, each of which is independently alterable by the control signal.

2. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 1 wherein the alteration of the light output comprises an alteration of light intensity.

3. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 1 wherein the alteration of the light output comprises an alteration of light direction.

4. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 1 wherein the alteration of the light output comprises an alteration of light color temperature.

5. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 1 wherein the altering of the light output comprises altering a portion of the plurality of lights.

6. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 5 wherein the altering of a portion of the lights causes an alteration of light direction.

7. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 1 wherein the control signal or the sensor signal comprises a plurality of signals.

8. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a digital light processing (DLP) projector.

9. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 8 wherein the DLP projector comprises:

a first light source; and

a DLP array of micro mirrors receiving light from the light source;

wherein the alteration of the micro mirrors of the DLP array causes the alteration to the light output.

10. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 9 wherein the alteration of the light output causes the light output to focus the light output on the user or on a specific portion of the user.

11. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 1 wherein the light source is separate from the mirror.

12. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 1 wherein the alteration of the light output is caused by the control signal causing the light source to mechanically alter its position.

13. A bathroom mirror lighting system comprising:

a mirror;

a light source;

a sensor; and

a control circuit operably coupled to the light source and the sensor, the control circuit configured to:

receive a sensor signal from the sensor indicative of at least one of a user's distance from the sensor, a user's position, a user's posture, a motion of the user towards or away from the sensor, or a task being performed by the user; and

transmit a control signal to the light source causing the light source to alter its light output based on the sensor signal from the sensor,

wherein the alteration of the light output comprises an alteration of a light output area.

14. A bathroom mirror lighting system comprising:

a mirror;

a light source;

a sensor; and

a control circuit operably coupled to the light source and the sensor, the control circuit configured to:

receive a sensor signal from the sensor indicative of at least one of a user's distance from the sensor, a user's position, a user's posture, a motion of the user towards or away from the sensor, or a task being performed by the user; and

transmit a control signal to the light source causing the light source to alter its light output based on the sensor signal from the sensor,

wherein the light source comprises an LED matrix comprising a plurality of LEDs, wherein the alteration of individual LEDs of the plurality of LEDs causes the alteration of the light output.

15. The bathroom mirror lighting system of claim 14 wherein the alteration of the light output causes the light output to focus the light output on the user or on a specific portion of the user.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2024
From: DIEMEL, DOUGLAS J.; LV, FEIPENG; ZHUANG, YANXIONG; SUN, HAICHAO; LIU, QIUYUE; HAN, LINAN; CHEW, KOR HAN; XU, YINGYING; GAO, YUAN; HUANG, FAN; ZHU, WENDONG; GU, DANNI; SCHIBUR, MARK; WASSCHER, MAXWELL; HAMMOND, STEVE; LEMEL, JESSE; MAZZ, MARGARET; KAJUCH, PETE; LILLY, ERIN; WEHMEIER, MEGAN; STEVENS, KATIE; REVELIS, KATERINA; BOOTH, SHAWN; WEGNER, MATTHEW; LETOUMEAU, ALEXANDER V.
To: KOHLER CO.
Reel/Frame 068351/0225 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202210588875.2 · May 26, 2022 · national
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63343375 · May 18, 2022
Related Publication 20230375169A1 · Nov 23, 2023
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