Abstract:
A heater includes: a controller; a user input operatively connected to the controller; and a lighting system operatively connected to, and controlled by, the controller, the lighting system configured to illuminate outside the heater along a length of the heater. A method of displaying light includes: attaching a lighting system to a heater; operatively connecting the lighting system to a controller; operatively connecting a user input device to the controller; and configure the controller to illuminate the light system to provide indirect lighting to a room in which the heater is located.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to an appliance that can output light, sound, and/or a variety of alarms. More particularly, the present invention relates to an appliance that can broadcast aesthetically pleasing light as well as light having specific meaning to indicate different types of alarms as well as music and other sound that may be desirable for listening as well as for alarm purposes. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Homes and businesses are always looking to upgrade the living spaces of buildings. Aesthetically pleasing features such as light and sound can create a more pleasant living environment. Furthermore, it may be desirable to have safety, security features, and monitor systems that will be able to indicate to people in the living area of the building whether a fault has been detected. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus that can indicate system faults to people located in the living area while enhancing the aesthetics of the living area. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure, wherein in one aspect an apparatus is provided that, in some embodiments, a method and apparatus that can indicate system faults to people located in the living area while enhancing the aesthetics of the living area. 
         [0004]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a heater includes: a controller; a user input operatively connected to the controller; and a lighting system operatively connected to, and controlled by, the controller, the lighting system configured to illuminate outside the heater along a length of the heater. 
         [0005]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of displaying light includes: attaching a lighting system to a heater; operatively connecting the lighting system to a controller; operatively connecting a user input device to the controller; and configure the controller to illuminate the light system to provide indirect lighting to a room in which the heater is located. 
         [0006]    In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a heater is provided. The heater includes: a means for controlling; a means for imputing commands into the means for controlling operatively connected to the means for controlling; and means for creating light operatively connected to, and controlled by, the means for controlling, the means for creating light being configured to illuminate outside the heater along a length of the heater. 
         [0007]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0008]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0009]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a heater illuminating an adjacent space in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of a heater having a plurality of lights in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of a portion of the heater illuminating and adjacent wall space with a variety of different colored lights in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of variety of heaters illuminating an adjacent floor space in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a ceiling mounted heater in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective, cut away view of an example house equipped with a heater in accordance the present disclosure. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a remote control in accordance of the present disclosure. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a smart device modified to interact with a heater in accordance of the present disclosure. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram illustrating various components attached to the controller in accordance with the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a heater that is configured to illuminate an area adjacent to the heater. In some embodiments, the heater may provide illumination for aesthetic reasons, to create mood lighting, to provide a holiday decoration, or to activate an alarm. In some embodiments, the heater may also include speakers which may provide music, perform a reminder function, or an alarm function. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates a light emitting appliance  10  in accordance with the present disclosure. The light emitting appliance  10  is a base heater  12 . In other embodiments, other types of heaters or other appliances may also be used. The base heater  12  sits on a floor  14 . The light emitting appliance is located near an adjacent wall  16 . 
         [0021]    The heater  12  is supported on the floor  14  by feet  18 . In other embodiments, other means of support may also be used. The base heater  12  has a control panel  20 . The control panel  20  may include a display screen  22  and, in some embodiments, have a user input device  23  which may include input keys  24 . In other embodiments, the display screen  22  may be a touchscreen and thus the user input may be done via the display screen  22 . 
         [0022]    The light emitting appliance  10  may emit light  26  to an adjacent space. (In the figures, emitted light shining on a surface is indicated by stippling  26 ,  36 ,  38 , and/or  40  and emitted light when shown emitting from a light source but not on a surface is indicated by light rays  26 .) For example, in some embodiments, the light emitting appliance  10  may emit light  26  toward the adjacent wall  16 . In other embodiments, (which will be discussed further below with respect to  FIG. 4 ) the base heater  12  may emit light  26  toward the floor  14 . In some embodiments, the emitted light  26  may all be the same color. In other embodiments, multiple colors may be emitted. In some embodiments, the light  26  may be steady and other embodiments the light  26  may blink, flash, twinkle, or perform some other dazzling feature. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the base heater  12  may optionally include a grill  28  which allows air to circulate with heating elements  29  contained within the base heater  12 . In some embodiments a fan or blower  31  (shown in  FIG. 9 ) may be located in the appliance and configured to move air over the heating elements  29  and through the grill  28 . Optionally, the base heater  12  may also include speakers  30  which may be configured to broadcast music, voice, and/or audible alarm signals. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates a partial rearview of the base heater  12 . Lights  34  are attached to the base heater  12  and provide the emitted light  26 . In some embodiments, the lights  26  may be incandescent, fluorescent, light emitting diode (LED) or any other suitable lighting elements. In some embodiments, attaching lights  34  to a base heater  12  can include integrating the lights  34  with the base heater  12 . In other embodiments, attaching lights  34  to a base heater  12  includes attaching a lighting system to a base heater  12 , such as, for example, the lights  34  may be part of a light strip  32  applied to the heater  12 . In other embodiments lights  34  may be individually attached to the heater  12  and not part of a light strip  32  or other self-contained light system. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a partial view of a base heater  12  having multiple grills  28 . The base heater  12  emits various colors  36 ,  38 , and  40  of emitted light  26 . The various colors  36 ,  38 , and  40  can be any number of different colors. For example if the colors were red  36 , white  38 , and blue  40 , the emitted light  26  may provide a patriotic theme and would be suitable for a Fourth of July or other patriotic holiday in the United States of America. Other colors  36 ,  38 , and  40  may also be used, for example, orange and black could be used for Halloween, red and green may be used for Christmas, purple, light blue, light yellow or any other pastel or other suitable colors may be used for Easter. Red may be used for Valentine&#39;s Day, and green maybe used for St. Patrick&#39;s Day. Other colors may be used as set by the user. While three different colors of light have been described here, it should be understood that greater or fewer different colors maybe used in various embodiments. Various colors may be used as accent lighting mood lighting and/or nightlights. In addition other colors, twinkling, and/or blinking light  26  may be used to indicate an alert or alarm. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative light emitting appliance  10 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the light emitting appliance  10  may also be a heater, but rather than emitting light towards an adjacent wall  16  shown in  FIG. 1 , the light  26  may be omitted downwardly toward the floor  14 . The light emitting appliance  10  may in some installations, be located near windows  42  rather than a wall  16  as shown in other embodiments described herein, the light emitting appliance  10  of  FIG. 4  may also be located adjacent to walls  16 . Various options and combinations and locations may be used according to a user&#39;s preference. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  illustrates an alternative embodiment where the light emitting appliance  10  is a ceiling unit  44  heater located on a ceiling  46 . The ceiling unit  44  may include various grills  28 . The ceiling unit  44  may be equipped with lights  34  that emit light  26  and a fashion similar to that described above. In some embodiments, the ceiling unit may emit light onto a ceiling  46  or adjacent wall  16 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is an example cutaway view of a building or home  48 . The building or home  48  may include various rooms  50  into which a light emitting appliance  10  may be installed. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the light emitting appliance  10  may be installed adjacent to a floor  14 , windows  42 , or a wall  16 . The light emitting appliance  10  emits light  26  in a manner similar to that described herein. 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  illustrates various optional remote control systems  52  for controlling the light emitting appliance  10  (not shown in  FIG. 7 ). The control system  52  may include an optional storage bracket  54  which is configured to provide a mounting for a remote unit  56 . The remote unit  56  is operatively connected to the light emitting appliance  10  in order to control the light emitting appliance  10 . The remote unit  56  may be configured to communicate with the light emitting appliance  10  wirelessly or via a wired connection. The light emitting appliance  10  may be controlled to vary how much heat is being emitted by the light emitting appliance  10  by controlling the heating elements  29  and/or the fan or blower  31  (see  FIG. 9 ). Further, the intensity, brightness, color, blinking, twinkling, or other patterns of the emitted light  26  may also be controlled by the remote unit  56 . In some optional embodiments, the remote unit  56  may also allow a user to control the speakers  30  in order to adjust the volume, turn the speakers  30  on and off, and select which music or audio signals are emitted from the speakers  30 . 
         [0030]    In other optional embodiments, a standard switch  58  or series of switches may be used to control the light emitting appliance  10  in a manner to that similar to that described above. The standard light switch  58  may be operatively connected to the light emitting appliance  10  via wires or wirelessly. 
         [0031]      FIG. 8  illustrates a portable smart device  60  which may be used as a remote system  52 . In some embodiments, the remote system  52  as shown in  FIG. 8  may be a smart phone  60 , a tablet computer, a laptop, a desk top computer or any other smart type device or computer  60 . Optionally, the smart device  60  may have a touch screen  62  that may allow a user to input commands into the smart device  60  which may transmit those commands to the light emitting appliance  10 . The remote system  52  as shown in  FIG. 8  may communicate wirelessly or via wire to the light emitting appliance  10  in order to control the light emitting appliance similar to the remote system  52  described above with respect to  FIG. 7 . 
         [0032]    In some embodiments, the light emitting appliance  10  may be controlled by a microcontroller  64  as shown in the schematic diagram  66  in  FIG. 9 . The microcontroller  64  may include a timing function  68  and various inputs  70 . The timing function  68  may allow the controller  64  to output control signals at various periodic intervals. The microcontroller  64  may use signals received from the timing function  68  and\or various inputs  70  to control lighting systems  34  operatively connected to the controller  64 , a heating element  29  associated with the light emitting appliance  10 , and/or a fan or blower  31  associated with the light emitting appliance  10  to have the light emitting appliance  10  put off a desired amount of heat, light, and/or sound. 
         [0033]    A variety of inputs  70  may be operatively connected to the controller  64  to input control signals to the controller  64 . The controller  64  will process the signals according to settings which may be preprogrammed and the controller  64  or programmed or modified by a user. The processing of the input signals will result in control signals being sent from the controller  64  to various features such as heating elements  29  associated with the light emitting appliance  10  various lighting systems  34  which may include a subset lighting systems  114 ,  116 ,  118 , speakers  30  and an alarm system  120  which may include one or both the lighting system  34  and speakers  30 . 
         [0034]    The inputs  70  will be described in detail below. It should be understood that some embodiments may include all, none, or some of the example inputs  70  described. Other embodiments may include other inputs that may not be described herein. Inputs  70  to the controller  64  may include the control panel  20 , including the display (which also may be in output  74  from the controller  64  to display information to a user), and input keys  24  and/or a touchscreen  62 . Additional inputs  70  include various remote control systems  52 , for example, remote units  56  which may include switches  58 , smart devices  60 , and their corresponding touch screens  62 . These devices may also be outputs and is much as they may display information to a user. The remote control  56 , the switch  58 , the control panel  20  with its display  22  and input keys  24 , and/or smart device  60  described above may be operatively connected to the microcontroller  64  in order to allow a user to put control input signals into the controller  64 . By using one or more of the input keys  24 , remote unit  56 , and switch  58 , and/or smart device  60  a user may control or program the controller  64  to control the outputs  74 . 
         [0035]    One example input  70  may be other lighting systems  72 . By having an input  70  of other lighting systems  72  the controller  64  can coordinate a lighting effect with other lighting systems  72 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , several light emitting appliances  10  are located adjacent to each other. In such instances the various light emitting appliances  10  can coordinate their operation. 
         [0036]    Additional inputs may include sensors  80  associated with appliances, a sound sensor  82 , a smoke sensor  84 , a motion detector  86 , and odor sensor  88 , a light sensor  90 , door sensor  92 , doorbell sensor  96 , phone sensor  98 , a window sensor  94 , the carbon monoxide sensor  102 , a radon sensor  104 , and other sensors  106 . The sensors  80  associated with other appliances may be associated for example with an oven, coffee maker, or any other suitable kitchen type appliance and activate the controller  64  to indicate that the food or drink is finished cooking or brewing. When the appliance sensor  80  sends a signal to the microcontroller  64  the microcontroller can activate one or both of the lights  34  and speakers  30  to indicate the kitchen appliance has completed its cycle. 
         [0037]    A sound sensor  82  may be used to provide a signal to the controller  64  to detect an ambient amount of sound so that the controller  64  can set the speakers  30  to an appropriate volume in view of the ambient sound. The speakers  30  may also be controlled to perform a noise cancelling function. 
         [0038]    Sensors such as the smoke sensor  84 , the carbon monoxide sensor  102 , and the radon sensor  104 , may be operatively connected to the controller  64  to cause the controller to activate one or both of the speakers  30  and lights  34  for some other audible alarm  120  to indicate that one of those sensors  84 ,  102 , and  104 , have detected smoke, carbon monoxide, or radon. 
         [0039]    The door and window sensors  92  and  94  may be operatively connected to doors or windows and detect whether a door or window has been opened. Optionally, the window sensor  94  may also detect if the window has been broken. If the sensors  92  or  94  detect an open door or window or a broken window, these sensors  92  and  94  can send a signal to the microcontroller  64  to cause one or more of the speakers  30 , lights  34  or other alarm  120  to activate. 
         [0040]    The motion detector  86  may be operatively connected to the microcontroller  64  to cause the microcontroller  64  to activate at least one of the speakers  30 , lights  34 , and/or other alarms  120  when motion is detected. The odor sensor  88  may be operatively connected to the microcontroller  64  to cause the microcontroller  64  were to activate at least one of the speakers  30 , lights  34 , and/or other alarms  120  when an odor is detected. The light sensor  90  can detect an ambient light condition in which the light emitting appliance  10  is placed. Based on the ambient light in which the light emitting appliance  10  is placed the light sensor  90  may send a signal to the controller  64  which may then modify the intensity of the lights  34 . For example if the ambient light condition is relatively dark then the lights  34  may be adjusted to be not so bright. On the other hand if the ambient light condition is relatively bright the lights  34  may be made to be more bright so they can be distinguished from the ambient light in which the light emitting appliance  10  is located. 
         [0041]    Doorbell sensors  96  an/or phone sensors  98  may be operatively connected to the microcontroller  64  to cause the microcontroller  64  to activate at least one of the speakers  30 , lights  34 , and/or other alarms  120  when the doorbell in the building where the light emitting appliance  10  is rung or a phone in the building where the light emitting appliance  10  is located rings. 
         [0042]    Other sensors or inputs  106  may be associated with the light emitting appliance  10  and operatively connected to the microcontroller  64  to cause the microcontroller  64  to activate and or adjust the speakers  30 , lights  34 , and or other alarms  120 . 
         [0043]    In some embodiments the other sensors or inputs  106  may allow the appliance  10  to operate in conjunction with other systems. For example, a home security system may tie in or be connected to the appliance  10 . When the home security system detects a breech, the appliance  10  may work in unison with the security system to operate the sound and/or lights in an alarm mode. Other systems such as smoke detecting systems may also be connected to the controller  67  to cause the sound and/or lights to operate in an alarm mode when the smoke detector system detects smoke. These external security systems, smoke detecting systems, and other systems may be external to the appliance  10  and may be mode and/or marketed by other entities than that of the appliance  10 . 
         [0044]    One of ordinary skill the art after reviewing this disclosure will understand that any of the inputs  70  including sensors, remote control systems  52  including switches  58  remote units  56  and smart devices  60  can cause the controller  64  to manipulate any of the outputs  74  of the light emitting appliance  10  including colors, blinking, flashing, moving, of the emitted light  26 , the heat put off by the heating elements  29 , sound put off by the speakers  30 , the speed of the fan or blower  31 , the other alarm systems  120  or any other output  74  of the light emitting appliance  10 . 
         [0045]    Although an example of the device is shown as being a heater, the light emitting appliance is not limited to heaters. Outputs such as lights, sound, alarms, and any other output described herein may be applied to any other appliance. 
         [0046]    The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.