Light Devices and Control Software

• US 20160197502A1
• Filed: 12/02/2015
• Published: 07/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles Waters, Michael Waters
• Original Assignee: Charles Waters, Michael Waters
• Inventors: Waters, Michael, Waters, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 10,069,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/005 the device being a pocket lamp F21L4/022, F21L4/045, F21L4/085 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/085 Pocket lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/045 the sensor receiving a signal from a remote controller
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/763 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

Flashlights are provided that utilize LEDs to provide high intensity light and a cooling fin structure to effectively dissipate generated heat. The flashlights described herein can be substantially water proof. Application software for a communication device is also provided to control operation and settings of light devices connected to the communication device.

Claims

1. A flashlight comprising:

an elongate housing extending along a longitudinal axis and having a forward portion with a forwardly facing surface and a rearward portion;

cooling fins of the forward portion of the elongate housing;

a forwardly facing opening in the forwardly facing surface, the cooling fins disposed at least partially around the opening;

a power source disposed within the housing;

a switch device mounted to the housing;

a LED disposed in the forward end portion of the elongate housing and mounted to project light through the opening, the LED electrically connected to the power source and the switch device so that the LED can be selectively energized;

wherein the LED is mounted within the forward end portion so that the cooling fins dissipate heat generated by the operation thereof.

2. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the cooling fins extend rearwardly from the forwardly facing surface.

3. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the opening is generally centrally disposed in the forwardly facing surface, and the cooling fins extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of the housing to surround a majority of the opening.

4. The flashlight of claim 3, wherein the housing has a compact configuration with top and bottom wall portions and relatively smaller sidewall portions extending therebetween, the cooling fins extending inwardly from the sidewall portions on either side of the opening.

5. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the housing has a three-piece construction with the forward portion, the rear portion, and a middle portion being formed as the three pieces that are separably assembled together.

6. The flashlight of claim 5, wherein the forward and rear portions of the housing connect together capturing the middle portion therebetween.

7. The flashlight of claim 6, wherein the forward and rear portions of the housing connect together using fasteners extending through the middle portion.

8. The flashlight of claim 7, wherein the middle portion includes interior channels on opposing sides thereof sized to receive the fasteners therethrough.

9. The flashlight of claim 5, wherein the middle portion includes a power source compartment and the rear portion includes one or more through openings to access the power source compartment.

10. The flashlight of claim 9, wherein the power source is a rechargeable power source, and the through opening includes a port for recharging the rechargeable power source.

11. The flashlight of claim 9, wherein the power source is a rechargeable power source, and further comprising a solar panel mounted to the housing and configured to provide recharging power to the rechargeable power source.

12. The flashlight of claim 1, further comprising a charge measuring circuit electrically connected to the power source and configured to monitor a charge status of the power source, the charge measuring circuit including a transmitter configured to send a charge status signal to an external computing device.

13. The flashlight of claim 5, wherein connections between the forward, middle, and rear portions of the housing include seals therein such that the housing is waterproof.

14. A communication device configured to operate application software to communicate with a light device, the communication device comprising:

a housing having a display, a receiver, and a memory;

a processor in the housing configured to control operation of the receiver and the display according to execution of the application software stored in the memory;

the receiver configured to receive a unique identifier and a charge signal from a charge measuring circuit of a light device;

the display configured to display the unique identifier and a charge status identified in the charge signal.

15. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a query signal from the charge measuring circuit to establish a successful communication range.

16. The communication device of claim 14, further comprising a transmitter, and wherein the processor is configured to control operation of the transmitter according to execution of the application software, and the transmitter is configured to send a query to the charge measuring circuit to determine a current charge status of the light device.

17. A system including the communication device of claim 14 and the light device, the communication device and light device having a connection therebetween such that the light device sends the unique identifier and charge signal to the communication device to be received by the receiver thereof.

18. A communication device configured to operate application software to communicate with one or more light devices, the communication device comprising:

a housing having a display, a transceiver, and a memory;

a processor in the housing configured to control operation of the transceiver and the display according to execution of the application software stored in the memory;

a user input device of the housing in connection with the processor, the processor being configured to;

cause a connection to a light device to be established upon input through the user input device;

register the light device with input from the user input;

display registered light devices on the display.

19. The communication device of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to display a device template for a registered light device on the display, the device template providing device specific information, including a current power source level and/or a unique device identifier.

20. The communication device of claim 19, wherein the device template further provides one or more setting function switches or sliders, including at least one of:

an on/off switch, a brightness slider, or a color slider.

21. The communication device of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to display a device effects screen for a registered light device on the display, the device effects screen including switches for effects, including at least one of:

a strobe light, a candle flicker setting, a music visualizer, a color cycler.

22. The communication device of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to receive an input from the user input device to activate a locator signal that indicates to a user a proximity of a registered light device to the mobile communication device.

23. A system including the communication device of claim 18 and a light device, the communication device and the light device having a connection therebetween such that the processor of the communication device causes the transceiver to send a signal to the light device to change a mode of operation thereof.