Portable light device

• US 20060187658A1
• Filed: 01/21/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cyberlux Corp.
• Original Assignee: Cyberlux Corp.
• Inventors: Roth, Michael, Isely, Larson, Schmidt, Mark D., Evans, Donald F., Hatley, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,452,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/234
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 14/02 capable of hand-held use, e.g. inspection lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/04 characterised by the provision of a light source housing portion adjustably fixed to the remainder of the device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/67 characterised by the arrangement of fans
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/677 the fans being used for discharging
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

The present invention provides a light device comprised of a body, a handle, a user interface, and a positionable arm that is structured to pivotally support a lighting element assembly. The light device may be configured to be portable and carried or otherwise manipulated by a user grasping the handle. In one embodiment, the body of the light device defines first and second support surfaces that are structured to stably support the weight of the light device in first and second illumination positions, respectively.

Claims

1. A light device, comprising:

an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) comprising a first LED disposed in reflective proximity to a narrowing lens adapted to provide a spot-light mode of illumination and a second LED that is adapted to provide a flood-light mode of illumination, wherein the first and second LEDs are in electrical communication with corresponding electrical circuitry;

a electrical power system for supplying electrical energy to the array of LEDs;

a control circuit in electrical communication with the array of LEDs, the electrical power system, and a user interface system configured to allow a user to engage the array of LEDs to illuminate in the spot-light mode of illumination, the flood-light mode of illumination, or a combination thereof.

2. The light device of claim 1, wherein the narrowing lens is an LED optic adapted to focus the illumination provided by the first LED to an illumination cone angle approximately between 4 and 50 degrees.

3. The light device of claim 1, wherein the narrowing lens is an LED optic adapted to focus the illumination provided by the first LED to an illumination cone angle approximately between 15 and 50 degrees.

4. The light device of claim 1, wherein the narrowing lens is an LED optic adapted to focus the illumination provided by the first LED to an illumination cone angle approximately between 4 and 30 degrees.

5. The light device of claim 1, wherein the narrowing lens is an LED optic adapted to focus the illumination provided by the first LED to an illumination cone angle approximately between 4 and 15 degrees.

6. The light device of claim 1, further comprising:

a pivot member adapted to support the array of LEDs;

a positionable arm having an electro-mechanical hinge that is adapted to allow the pivot member to pivot a pivot range of 360 degrees relative to the positionable arm;

a housing structured to at least partially enclose the electrical power system, wherein the positionable arm is coupled to the housing and the electro-mechanical hinge is structured to provide uninterrupted electrical power from the electrical power system to the array of LEDs while also allowing the pivot member to pivot over its full pivot range.

7. The light device of claim 1, further comprising:

a pivot member adapted to support the array of LEDs;

a positionable arm rotatably coupled to the pivot member; and

a housing structured to at least partially enclose the electrical power system, wherein the positionable arm is pivotally coupled to the housing, and wherein the housing defines first and second support surfaces that are adapted to stably support the weight of the light device in first and second illumination positions, respectively.

8. A light device, comprising:

a lighting element;

a pivot member adapted to support the lighting element;

a positionable arm having an electro-mechanical hinge that is adapted to allow the pivot member to pivot a pivot range of 360 degrees relative to the positionable arm;

a housing structured to at least partially enclose an electrical power system for providing electrical power to the lighting element, wherein the positionable arm is coupled to the housing and the electro-mechanical hinge is structured to provide uninterrupted electrical power from the electrical power system to the lighting element while also allowing the pivot member to pivot over its full pivot range.

9. The light device of claim 8, wherein the electro-mechanical hinge comprises:

a first hinge housing portion supporting a first electrical circuit member that defines a first electrical contact area, wherein the first electrical circuit member is disposed in electrical communication with the electrical power system,

a second hinge housing portion adapted to be rotatably coupled to the first hinge housing portion, the second hinge housing portion supporting a second electrical circuit member that defines a second electrical contact area, wherein the second electrical circuit member is disposed in electrical communication with the lighting element, and

a conductive contact spring disposed between the first electrical circuit member and the second electrical circuit member for contacting the first and second electrical contact areas and thereby electrically connecting the lighting element and the electrical power system.

10. The light device of claim 9, wherein the electro-mechanical hinge further comprises:

a locating member structured to rotatably index with the first housing portion and further structured for locking engagement with the second hinge housing portion and thereby structuring the pivot member to pivot at fixed intervals relative to the positionable arm.

11. The light device of claim 8, wherein the lighting element comprises a first LED disposed in reflective proximity to a narrowing lens adapted to provide a spot-light mode of illumination and a second LED that is adapted to provide a flood-light mode illumination, and wherein the light device further comprises:

a user interface system disposed in electrical communication with the lighting element and the electrical power system, wherein the user interface system is configured to allow a user to engage the lighting element to illuminate in the spot-light mode of operation, the flood-light mode of operation, or a combination thereof.

12. The light device of claim 11, wherein the narrowing lens is an LED optic adapted to focus the illumination provided by the first LED to an illumination cone angle approximately between 4 and 50 degrees.

13. The light device of claim 11, wherein the narrowing lens is an LED optic adapted to focus the illumination provided by the first LED to an illumination cone angle approximately between 15 and 50 degrees.

14. The light device of claim 11, wherein the narrowing lens is an LED optic adapted to focus the illumination provided by the first LED to an illumination cone angle approximately between 4 and 30 degrees.

15. The light device of claim 11, wherein the narrowing lens is an LED optic adapted to focus the illumination provided by the first LED to an illumination cone angle approximately between 4 and 15 degrees.

16. A light device, comprising:

a first array of LEDs structured to provide a spot-light mode of illumination at an alterable first intensity level;

a second array of LEDs structured to provide a flood-light mode of illumination at an alterable second intensity level;

an electrical power system structured to provide electrical power to the first array of LEDs and the second array of LEDs;

a user interface structured to allow a user to change an operating mode between the spot-light mode of illumination, the flood-light mode of illumination, and a combination thereof, and further structured to allow the user to change the first intensity level and the second intensity level;

one or more sensors disposed in electrical communication with the electrical power system for sensing electrical power information;

a display; and

control circuitry disposed in electrical communication with the first array of LEDs, the second array of LEDs, the electrical power system, the user interface, the one or more sensors, and the display, wherein the control circuitry is adapted to present and update a power supply message to the display based upon the sensed electrical power information, the operating mode, the first intensity level, and the second intensity level.

17. The light device of claim 16, wherein the power supply message presented and updated to the display includes a remaining battery capacity percentage.

18. The light device of claim 16, wherein the power supply information presented and updated to the display includes a remaining battery life on a time interval basis.

19. The light device of claim 16, wherein the first array of LEDs are structured to provide the spot-light mode of illumination by positioning each of the first array of LEDs in reflective proximity to a narrowing lens.

20. The light device of claim 19, wherein the narrowing lens is an LED optic adapted to focus the illumination provided by the first LED to an illumination cone angle approximately between 4 and 50 degrees.

21. The light device of claim 19, wherein the narrowing lens is an LED optic adapted to focus the illumination provided by the first LED to an illumination cone angle approximately between 15 and 50 degrees.

22. The light device of claim 19, wherein the narrowing lens is an LED optic adapted to focus the illumination provided by the first LED to an illumination cone angle approximately between 4 and 30 degrees.

23. The light device of claim 19, wherein the narrowing lens is an LED optic adapted to focus the illumination provided by the first LED to an illumination cone angle approximately between 4 and 15 degrees.

24. A light device, comprising:

an array of LEDs;

a pivot member adapted to support the array of LEDs;

a positionable arm rotatably coupled to the pivot member; and

a housing structured to enclose an electrical power system for providing electrical power to the array of LEDs, wherein the positionable arm is pivotally coupled to the housing, and wherein the housing defines first and second support surfaces that are adapted to stably support the weight of the light device in first and second illumination positions, respectively.

25. The light device of claim 24, further comprising:

an electro-mechanical hinge rotatably coupling the positionable arm to the pivot member, wherein the electro-mechanical hinge is adapted to allow the pivot member to pivot a pivot range of 360 degrees relative to the positionable arm, and wherein the electro-mechanical hinge is structured to provide uninterrupted electrical power from the electrical power system to the array of LEDs while also allowing the pivot member to pivot over its full pivot range.

26. The light device of claim 25, wherein the electro-mechanical hinge comprises:

a first hinge housing portion supporting a first electrical circuit member that defines a first electrical contact area, wherein the first electrical circuit member is disposed in electrical communication with the electrical power system,

a second hinge housing portion adapted for rotatable coupling to the first hinge housing portion, the second hinge housing portion supporting a second electrical circuit member that defines a second electrical contact area, wherein the second electrical circuit member is disposed in electrical communication with the array of LEDs, and

a conductive contact spring disposed between the first electrical circuit member and the second electrical circuit member for contacting the first and second electrical contact areas and thereby electrically connecting the array of LEDs and the electrical power system.

27. The light device of claim 26, wherein the electro-mechanical hinge further comprises:

a locating member structured to rotatably index with the first housing portion and further structured for locking engagement with the second hinge housing portion and thereby structuring the pivot member to pivot at fixed intervals relative to the positionable arm.

28. A light device, comprising:

a lighting element;

a pivot member adapted to support the lighting element;

a housing structured to at least partially enclose an electrical power system for providing electrical power to the lighting element;

an electro-mechanical hinge coupling the pivot member to the housing that is adapted to allow the pivot member to pivot a pivot range of 360 degrees relative to the housing, wherein the electro-mechanical hinge is structured to provide uninterrupted electrical power from the electrical power system to the lighting element while also allowing the pivot member to pivot over its full pivot range.

29. The light device of claim 28, wherein the electro-mechanical hinge comprises:

a first hinge housing portion supporting a first electrical circuit member that defines a first electrical contact area, wherein the first electrical circuit member is disposed in electrical communication with the electrical power system,

a second hinge housing portion adapted for rotatable coupling to the first hinge housing portion, the second hinge housing portion supporting a second electrical circuit member that defines a second electrical contact area, wherein the second electrical circuit member is disposed in electrical communication with the lighting element, and

a conductive contact spring disposed between the first electrical circuit member and the second electrical circuit member for contacting the first and second electrical contact areas and thereby electrically connecting the lighting element and the electrical power system.

30. The light device of claim 29, wherein the electro-mechanical hinge further comprises:

a locating member structured to rotatably index with the first housing portion and further structured for locking engagement with the second hinge housing portion and thereby structuring the pivot member to pivot at fixed intervals relative to the housing.

31. A method of operating a light device comprising the steps of:

sensing electrical power information;

sensing mode of illumination information provided by a user via a user interface;

sensing LED intensity information provided by the user via the user interface;

directing an array of LEDs to operate in either a spot-light mode of illumination, a flood-light mode of illumination, or a combined mode of illumination based upon the sensed mode of illumination information;

directing the array of LEDs to operate at desired intensity levels based upon the sensed LED intensity information; and

displaying a power supply message to the user based upon the sensed battery electrical power information, the sensed mode of illumination information, and the sensed LED intensity information.

32. The method of operating a light device recited in claim 31, further comprising the steps of:

sensing light device system information; and

displaying a system information message to the user based upon the sensed light device system information.

33. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for operating a light device comprising the steps of:

sensing electrical power information;

sensing mode of illumination information provided by a user via a user interface;

sensing LED intensity information provided by the user via the user interface;

directing an array of LEDs to operate in either a spot-light mode of illumination, a flood-light mode of illumination, or a combined mode of illumination based upon the sensed mode of illumination information;

directing the array of LEDs to operate at desired intensity levels based upon the sensed LED intensity information; and

displaying a power supply message to the user based upon the sensed electrical power information, the sensed mode of illumination information, and the sensed LED intensity information.

34. The computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for operating a light device recited in claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

sensing light device system information; and

displaying a system information message to the user based upon the sensed light device system information.