Portable Lighting devices

• US 20100219775A1
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MAG Instrument Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MAG Instrument Incorporated
• Inventors: Nathanson, Scott, West, Stacey H., Maglica, Anthony, Radloff, Robert P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,247,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/362
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/005 the device being a pocket lamp F21L4/022, F21L4/045, F21L4/085 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/045 Pocket lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0407 for flashing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0421 the switch being part of, or disposed on the tail cap portion thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0492 the sensor detecting a change in orientation, a movement or an acceleration of the lighting device, e.g. a tilt switch
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/375 using buck topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/38 using boost topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/395 Linear regulators

Abstract

A portable lighting device having a plurality of modes of operation and method of operating the portable lighting device are disclosed. One method of operating the portable lighting device is by rotating the portable lighting device along a principal axis of projection of the light source to enter into a new mode of operation. Normal, dim, motion sensitive, variable brightness, blink, right and left hand, lock out, SOS, night light, strobe, compass and signal modes are disclosed, and the modes may be adjusted. A rechargeable battery pack is disclosed that includes a housing, a rechargeable battery, and an accelerometer. A battery cassette is disclosed that provides a negative electrode at each end of the battery cassette, and a central connector that provides a positive electrode at both ends of the battery cassette.

Claims

1. A multi-mode portable electronic lighting device, comprising:

a controller configured to implement a plurality of modes of operation; and

a user interface for inputting commands to the controller, wherein the user interface comprises a motion sensitive interface in which commands are input through predefined movements of the portable electronic lighting device.

2. The multi-mode portable electronic lighting device of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes an inertial sensor electrically coupled to the controller.

3. The multi-mode portable electronic lighting device of claim 2, wherein the inertial sensor is an accelerometer.

4. The multi-mode portable electronic lighting device of claim 3, wherein the accelerometer is a 3-axis accelerometer.

5. The multi-mode portable electronic lighting device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive selection commands from the user interface for selecting between the different modes of operation.

6. The multi-mode portable electronic lighting device of claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured so that once at least one mode of operation is selected, the selected mode of operation may be adjusted based on an adjustment command received from the user interface.

7. The multi-mode portable electronic lighting device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive adjustment commands for adjusting one or more modes of operation once those modes of operation have been selected.

8. A portable lighting device configured to operate using a portable source of power, the portable lighting device comprising:

a light source;

a main power circuit for electrically connecting the light source to the portable source of power, the main power circuit including an electronic power switch disposed electrically in series with the light source;

an inertial sensor having at least one output; and

a controller electrically coupled to the portable source of power, the controller including an output for providing a control signal for controlling the flow of power through the electronic power switch and light source in the main power circuit, the controller also being electrically connected to the at least one output of the inertial sensor, wherein the controller is configured to control the flow of power through the electronic power switch based on one or more signals received from the at least one output of the inertial sensor.

9. The portable lighting device of claim 8, wherein the inertial sensor is an accelerometer.

10. The portable lighting device of claim 9, wherein the accelerometer is a 3-axis accelerometer.

11. The portable lighting device of claim 9, wherein the accelerometer includes one or more analog outputs in communication with one or more data ports of the controller.

12. The portable lighting device of claim 9, wherein the accelerometer includes one or more digital outputs in communication with one or more data ports of the controller.

13. The portable lighting device of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to control the electronic power switch in a manner to provide at least two modes of operation, and wherein the controller is configured to switch to a new mode of operation when the controller determines that the portable lighting device has been moved in a first predetermined manner based on the one or more signals received from the at least one output of the inertial sensor.

14. The portable lighting device of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to control the electronic power switch to provide a plurality of different modes of operation, and wherein each time the controller determines that the portable lighting device has been moved in the first predetermined manner, the controller switches to another one of the plurality of different modes of operation.

15. The portable lighting device of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to adjust at least one mode of operation when the controller determines that the portable lighting device has been moved in a second predetermined manner.

16. The portable lighting device of claim 15 wherein one of the modes of operation comprises a variable brightness mode, and the controller is configured to vary the brightness of the light source based on the amount of movement in the second predetermined manner.

17. The portable lighting device of claim 15, wherein one of the modes of operation is a signal mode, and the controller is configured to turn off the light source when the controller detects that the portable lighting device has been moved in the second predetermined manner and turn back on the light source when the controller detects the portable lighting device has been moved in an opposite manner.

18. The portable lighting device of claim 15, wherein one of the modes of operation is a visible blink mode, and the frequency of the blink is varied when the controller determines that the portable lighting device has been moved in the second predetermined manner.

19. The portable lighting device of claim 15, wherein one of the modes of operation is an SOS mode, and the brightness of the light source is adjusted when the controller determines that the portable lighting device has been moved in the second predetermined manner.

21. The portable lighting device of claim 13, wherein the light source is arranged to project light along a principal axis of projection when the light source is powered.

22. The portable lighting device of claim 21, wherein the portable lighting device is moved in the first predetermined manner when the portable lighting device is rotated about the principal axis of projection in a first direction or rotation.

23. The portable lighting device of claim 22, wherein the controller is further configured so that the portable lighting device is rotated in the first direction by a predetermined amount from an original rotational position to switch to the new mode of operation.

24. The portable lighting device of claim 23, wherein the controller is further configured so that after switching to the new mode of operation the portable lighting device must be rotated back to the original rotational position before further rotation in the first direction will cause the controller to switch to another new mode of operation.

25. The portable lighting device of claim 22, wherein the first direction of rotation is clockwise.

26. The portable lighting device of claim 25, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a mode of operation when the controller determines that the portable lighting device has been rotated about the principal axis of projection in a clockwise direction.

27. The portable lighting device of claim 22, wherein the first direction of rotation is counterclockwise.

28. The portable lighting device of claim 27, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a mode of operation when the controller determines that the portable lighting device has been rotated about the principal axis of projection in a counterclockwise direction.

29. The portable lighting device of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to switch to the new mode of operation only when the controller determines that the portable lighting device has been moved in the first predetermined manner and a mode selection feature has been enabled.

30. The portable lighting device according to claim 29, wherein the controller is configured so that the mode selection feature is enabled when a momentary switch in electrical communication with the controller is depressed and held down.

31. The portable lighting device according to claim 8, wherein the light source comprises an LED.

20. (canceled)

32. A flashlight comprising:

a light source;

a main power circuit for electrically connecting the light source to the portable source of power, the main power circuit including an electronic power switch disposed electrically in series with the light source;

an accelerometer having at least one output; and

a controller electrically coupled to the portable source of power, the controller including an output for providing a control signal for controlling the flow of power through the electronic power switch and light source in the main power circuit, the controller also being electrically connected to the at least one output of the accelerometer, wherein the controller is configured to control the flow of power through the electronic power switch in a manner to provide at least two different modes of operation, and wherein the controller is configured to switch to a new mode of operation when the controller determines that the portable lighting device has been moved in a first predetermined manner based on one or more signals received from the at least one output of the accelerometer.

33-53. -53. (canceled)

54. A multi mode flashlight, comprising:

a housing including a source of power;

a light source located at a forward end of the housing; and

a tailcap located at the tail end of the housing, the tailcap including a switch and at least two icons, wherein each icon is associated with a mode of operation of the flashlight;

wherein the mode of operation is selected by orienting the housing so that the icon associated with the desired mode of operation is positioned in a predetermined manner and the switch is depressed to turn the flashlight on and the switch is depressed for at least a predetermined amount of time.

55. The multi mode flashlight of claim 54, wherein the modes of operation and the icons on the tail cap include at least two modes of dim, strobe, nite light, signal and SOS modes.

56. The multi mode flashlight of claim 54, wherein the predetermined manner is for the icon associated with the desired mode to be positioned at 12 o'"'"'clock.

57. The multi mode flashlight of claim 54, wherein the mode may be adjusted by rotating the housing.

58. The multi mode flashlight of claim 54, wherein the switch includes a bump located near one of the icons to aid a user in determining which icon is positioned in the predetermined manner.

59. The multi mode flashlight of claim 58, further comprising a rechargeable battery pack within the housing.

60. The multi mode flashlight of claim 58, wherein the housing is a cylindrical barrel, and the light source and the tailcap are located at either end of the barrel.

61-70. -70. (canceled)

71. A flashlight, comprising:

a switch; and

a lock out feature that is activated by

pointing the flashlight vertically upward prior to the flashlight being turned on;

turning on the flashlight by depressing a switch on the flashlight;

tilting the flashlight downward while continuously depressing the switch; and

releasing the switch;

wherein activation of the lock out feature prevents the flashlight from being turned on.

72. The flashlight of claim 71 further comprising:

an exit lock out feature that is activated by

pointing the flashlight upward before depressing the switch;

depressing the switch and tilting the flashlight downward as the switch is continuously depressed; and

releasing the switch while the flashlight in pointed downward;

wherein activation of the exit lock out feature allow the flashlight to be turned on.