IP Library Granted Patent US 12,379,541
Granted Patent B2
US 12,379,541 · App. 18/936,343 · Granted Aug 5, 2025

Illuminated apparatus closure

Inventors: Michael Wright (San Diego, CA); Erik Allegoren (San Diego, CA); Erik Williamson (Carlsbad, CA)
Assignee: Illumina, Inc.
G02B6/0095G02B6/0043G02B6/0051G02B6/0061G02B6/0068
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,379,541
App. No.
18/936,343
Filed
Nov 4, 2024
Granted
Aug 5, 2025
Kind
B2
Examiner
EIDE, ERIC T
Art Unit
2875
USPC
362/606
Abstract

A closure for an apparatus comprises: a plurality of light sources; a lightguide to distribute light from the plurality of light sources, the lightguide having a first primary surface opposite a second primary surface, wherein the first primary surface has a first surface treatment, and wherein light emitted from the lightguide indicates a status of the apparatus; and a frame supporting the plurality of light sources and the lightguide for selective movement of the closure vertically or horizontally relative to the apparatus.

Claims (30)

1. A closure for an apparatus, the closure comprising:

a set of first light sources;

a substrate having a first primary surface opposite a second primary surface, the set of first light sources positioned proximate to the first primary surface of the substrate;

a first lightguide configured to distribute light from the set of first light sources, the first lightguide having a first primary surface opposite a second primary surface, the first primary surface of the first lightguide positioned proximate to the second primary surface of the substrate;

a first curved structure extending between the set of first light sources proximate to the first primary surface of the substrate and the first lightguide proximate to the second primary surface of the substrate, wherein light emitted from the first lightguide indicates a status of the apparatus; and

a frame supporting the set of first light sources, the substrate, the first lightguide, and the first curved structure, the frame being configured for selective movement of the closure relative to the apparatus; and

a lift assembly comprising:

a motor; and

a lift mount coupled to the motor and to the closure for translating the closure along a single axis.

2. The closure of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second set of light sources positioned proximate to the first primary surface of the substrate; and

a second curved structure extending between the second set of light sources proximate to the first primary surface of the substrate and the first lightguide proximate to the second primary surface of the substrate.

3. The closure of claim 1 , further comprising a diffuser having a first primary surface opposite a second primary surface, the first primary surface of the diffuser positioned proximate to the second primary surface of the first lightguide, wherein the light from the first lightguide is visible via the diffuser.

4. The closure of claim 3 , wherein the first primary surface includes a first abraded surface.

5. The closure of claim 3 , wherein the second primary surface includes a glossy surface.

6. The closure of claim 3 , wherein the second primary surface includes a second abraded surface.

7. The closure of claim 3 , wherein the first primary surface includes a light-extracting surface.

8. The closure of claim 7 , wherein a separation between the light-extracting surface and a front surface of the diffuser is selected so that the light distributed by the diffuser has a coefficient of variation less than about 9%.

9. The closure of claim 7 , wherein the set of first light sources is arranged so that color gradients are blended across a length and a height of an illumination surface of the first lightguide.

10. The closure of claim 7 , wherein the light-extracting surface includes dots formed on the first primary surface.

11. The closure of claim 7 , wherein the light-extracting surface has a first gradient of dot size extending between an edge of the first primary surface and a center of the first primary surface.

12. The closure of claim 11 , wherein the light-extracting surface has a second gradient of dot size oriented in a direction different from a direction of the first gradient of dot size.

13. The closure of claim 3 , wherein each of the frame, the diffuser, and the first lightguide has substantially a U-shape, and wherein the frame, the diffuser, and the first lightguide are stacked with each other.

14. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the set of first light sources comprise light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and wherein at least two of the LEDs are mounted in a first row on a first side of a first circuit board.

15. The closure of claim 14 , wherein the LEDs include:

a first set of LEDs proximate to a first side of the first lightguide, and

a second set of LEDs proximate to a second side of the first lightguide opposite the first side, the second set of LEDs mounted in a second row on a first side of a second circuit board.

16. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the closure has substantially a U-shape.

17. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the closure includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the first portion being connected and substantially perpendicular to the second portion, and the second portion being connected and substantially perpendicular to the third portion.

18. The closure of claim 17 , wherein the second portion is configured to be positioned at a front of the apparatus, and wherein the first portion and the third portion are configured to be positioned at respective sides of the apparatus opposite to each other.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2024
From: WRIGHT, MICHAEL; ALLEGOREN, ERIK; WILLIAMSON, ERIK
To: ILLUMINA, INC.
Reel/Frame 069627/0697 →
Continuity (4)
Division 18179828 · Mar 7, 2023
Division 17247132 · Dec 1, 2020
Provisional Application 62945080 · Dec 6, 2019
Related Publication 20250060528A1 · Feb 20, 2025
References Cited (53)
US 5808708A · Oyama · 1998 [cited by examiner]
US 6859145B2 · Wilker et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6865848B2 · Krimmel · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 7416320B2 · Sakiyama et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 8277065B2 · Camarillo Fernandez et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8740437B2 · Kim et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 9006751B2 · Kleo et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9514661B2 · Riegel · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9841551B2 · Gierens et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 10029710B2 · Hörlendsberger · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10175411B2 · Tang et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10724791B2 · Kwon · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10877201B2 · Vasylyev · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10895353B2 · Diana et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 10989370B2 · Longarzo et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11285790B2 · Van Doleweerd et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11294118B2 · Nijkamp et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20070153548A1 · Hamada et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080129927A1 · Hamada et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080182301A1 · Handique et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090103283A1 · Baba · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20090207631A1 · Isoda · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100277908A1 · Hu et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110149551A1 · Camarillo et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120287674A1 · Nichol · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20130063326A1 · Riegel · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20150078035A1 · Nichol et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160187333A1 · Moll et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170205552A1 · Gierens et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170363800A1 · Liu · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20180003428A1 · Kwon · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180003881A1 · Tang et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20200276891A1 · Van Doleweerd et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210141149A1 · Nijkamp et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
CN 101889225A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
CN 105090891A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
CN 109661541A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
EP 2068182B1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP H02114160A · 1990 [cited by applicant]
JP H07130214A · 1995 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002073215A · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2003302635A · 2003 [cited by applicant]
JP 2004526185A · 2004 [cited by applicant]
JP 2006156324A · 2006 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009224314A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016154693A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
RU 2640186C2 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
TW M375890U · 2010 [cited by applicant]
TW 201801590A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO 02061328A1 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report for Application No. 20897080.6, mailed on Oct. 31, 2022, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT Application No. PCT/US2020/070832, mailed on Apr. 14, 2021, 12 pages. [cited by applicant]
Office Action for Taiwan Application No. 109139544, mailed on May 5, 2022, 67 pages. [cited by applicant]