SPOTLIGHT

• US 20170332457A1
• Filed: 06/27/2017
• Published: 11/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: HARVEY, Kyle, AMUNDSON, Alan, MCINTYRE, Ross
• Granted Patent: US 10,070,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/003 by interposition of elements with electrically controlled variable light transmissivity, e.g. liquid crystal elements or electrochromic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/006 by means of optical elements, e.g. films, filters or screens, being rolled up around a roller
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 the devices being arranged next to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/34 Voltage stabilisation; Maintaining constant voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/345 Current stabilisation; Maintaining constant current
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A spotlight and a method of controlling the spotlight with an external device. The spotlight having a first light source including a center spotlight, a second light source including area lights, a power supply, a transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with the external device, and a processor. The processor is operable to receive a first input from the external device specifying a first amount of power to be provided to the first light source, and receive a second input from the external device specifying a second amount of power to be provided to the second light source. The processor is also operable to control the power supply to provide the first amount of power to the first light source in response to the first input, and control the power supply to provide the second amount of power to the second light source in response to the second input.

Claims

1. A spotlight configured to be controlled by an external device, the spotlight comprising:

a housing;

a first light source supported by the housing and including a center spotlight;

a second light source supported by the housing and including area lights;

a power supply providing power to the first light source and the second light source;

a transceiver positioned within the housing, the transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with the external device; and

a processor positioned within the housing and electrically coupled to the first light source, the second light source, the power supply, and the transceiver and operable to;

receive a first input from the external device specifying a first amount of power to be provided to the first light source,

receive a second input from the external device specifying a second amount of power to be provided to the second light source,

control the power supply to provide the first amount of power to the first light source in response to the first input, and

control the power supply to provide the second amount of power to the second light source in response to the second input.

2. The spotlight of claim 1, further comprising:

a lens coupled to the housing and positioned over one or both of the first light source and the second light source; and

a film applied to the lens and electrically coupled to the power supply, wherein the processor is further operable to receive a third input from the external device specifying an amount of current to be provided to the film, wherein an opacity of the film is varied by the amount of current provided to the film.

3. The spotlight of claim 1, further comprising an ambient light sensor supported by the housing and electrically coupled to the processor, wherein the ambient light sensor is operable to sense ambient light, and wherein the processor is operable to adjust the first amount of power and the second amount of power based on the ambient light sensed by the ambient light sensor.

4. The spotlight of claim 1, further comprising a distance sensor supported by the housing and electrically coupled to the processor, wherein the distance sensor is operable to detect a distance between the spotlight and an object at which the spotlight is pointed, and wherein the processor is operable to adjust the first amount of power and the second amount of power based on the distance between the spotlight and the object.

5. The spotlight of claim 1, wherein the area lights are arranged around the center spotlight.

6. The spotlight of claim 1, further comprising:

a first variable switch supported by the housing and electrically coupled to the processor, the first variable switch operable to adjust the first input; and

a second variable switch supported by the housing and electrically coupled to the processor, the second variable switch operable to adjust the second input.

7. The spotlight of claim 1, wherein the first input and the second input are received from the external device via the transceiver.

8. The spotlight of claim 1, wherein the first input is a percentage of maximum amount of power capable of being provided to the first light source, and wherein the second input is a percentage of a maximum amount of power capable of being provided to the second light source.

9. The spotlight of claim 1, wherein the first input and the second input are complementary percentages of a maximum amount of power capable of being provided to the spotlight.

10. The spotlight of claim 1, wherein the center spotlight and the area lights include light emitting diodes.

11. A system comprising:

the spotlight of claim 1; and

an external device that wirelessly communicates with the transceiver of the spotlight, the external device operable to send the first input and the second input to the spotlight.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the external device includes a portable electronic device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the external device includes a user interface providing a first variable switch and a second variable switch, the first variable switch operable to set the first input and the second variable switch operable to set the second input.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the external device includes a user interface providing a single variable switch that sets both the first input and the second input.

15. A method of controlling a spotlight having a housing, a first light source supported by the housing, a second light source supported by the housing, and a power supply, the first light source including a center spotlight and the second light source including area lights, the method comprising:

receiving a first input from an external device specifying a first amount of power to be provided to the first light source;

receiving a second input from the external device specifying a second amount of power to be provided to the second light source;

controlling, via a processor of the spotlight, the power supply to provide the first amount of power to the first light source in response to the first input; and

controlling, via the processor, the power supply to provide the second amount of power to the second light source in response to the second input.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the spotlight further includes a lens coupled to the housing and positioned over one or both of the first light source and the second light source, and a film applied to the lens, and further comprising receiving a third input from the external device specifying an amount of current to be provided to the film, wherein an opacity of the film is varied by the amount of current provided to the film.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

detecting, using an ambient light sensor supported by the housing of the spotlight, ambient light; and

adjusting, via the processor, the first amount of power and the second amount of power based on the ambient light sensed by the ambient light sensor.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

detecting, using a distance sensor supported by the housing of the spotlight, a distance between the spotlight and an object at which the spotlight is pointed; and

adjusting, via the processor, the first amount of power and the second amount of power based on the distance between the spotlight and the object.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first input is a percentage of a maximum amount of power capable of being provided to the first light source, and wherein the second input is a percentage of a maximum amount of power capable of being provided to the second light source.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the first input and the second input are complementary percentages of a maximum amount of power capable of being provided to the spotlight.