Device for controlling the intensity of the light emitted by a lighting element of a lighting apparatus, in particular a flashlight

• US 6,040,660 A
• Filed: 06/13/1997
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Augustin Thalhofer, Rudolf Schmidt
• Original Assignee: Augustin Thalhofer, Rudolf Schmidt
• Inventors: Schmidt, Rudolf, Thalhofer, Augustin
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, DAVID HUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/876,021
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 315/200 A, 315/136, 315/240, 315/241 P, 315/241 S, 315/291, 315/307, 315/308, 315/DIG. 4, 315/129, 315/170, 315/76, 315/363
• US Class Current: 315/200.00A
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/044 continuously H05B39/042 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 315/04 Dimming circuit for fluorescent lamps

Abstract

A device for controlling the intensity of the light emitted by a lighting element of a lighting apparatus, in particular a flashlight, is embodied as a module which can be arranged in series with the lighting element for the supply of the latter with current. A circuit device for controlling the light-intensity of the lighting element, and a central control device for detecting a detection signal of the detection device as well as for triggering the circuit device are provided. It is made possible with the present invention to dim the intensity of the light emitted by it by variation, in particular in several stages.

Claims

1. A device for controlling the intensity of the light emitted by a lighting element of a lighting apparatus, in particular a flashlight, the lighting apparatus including a light switch element, comprising:

a module arranged in series with the lighting element for controlling the supply of current to the lighting element,

said module having a detection device for detecting a control pulse triggered at the light switch element of the lighting apparatus;

a circuit device for controlling the light intensity of the lighting element; and

a central control device for detecting a detection signal of the detection device as well as for triggering said circuit device, wherein the control pulse, detected by said detection device, is an interruption of the supply current of the lighting element generated by means of the light switch element, at a time distance from the last control pulse of less than a preselected switch-over time interval, and wherein the light intensity of the lighting element is controlled in stages, and is reduced one stage by said circuit device when actuating the light switch element, within a time interval following prior actuation which is less than the switch-over time interval.

2. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said circuit device for controlling the light intensity comprises a switching stage, in particular a transistor, which can be triggered by said central control device.

3. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein when the control pulse is detected by said detection device, the light intensity of the light element is varied in several stages by means of said circuit device by switching signals of said central control device to said circuit device.

4. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the maximum light intensity of the lighting element can be switched on by said circuit device after the lighting apparatus is switched on following a period of non-use, said period of non-use being longer than a switch-over time interval.

5. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said stages comprise a first stage and a second stage, and wherein said first stage is 50% and said second stage is 25% of the maximum light intensity.

6. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein when the light intensity has been set to the weakest stage, it can be switched to the maximum light intensity by said circuit device when the light switch element is actuated within a time interval following a previous actuation which is less than the switch-over time interval.

7. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the switch-over time interval is one second.

8. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said central control device is a microprocessor.

9. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said circuit device is constructed by means of SMD (surface-mounted device) techniques.

10. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said module is constructed as a hybrid circuit.

11. The device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a buffer provided for supplying voltage to said circuit device.

12. The device in accordance with claim 11, wherein when the lighting element is activated, said buffer, which can be triggered by said central control device, is charged in those phases of the pulse width modulation of the current supply of the lighting element, in which the triggerable switching stage does not switch any output current to the lighting element.

13. The device in accordance with claim 11, wherein a switching stage outlet current can be supplied during a pulse width of approximately 97%, and said buffer can be recharged during the remaining time.

14. The device in accordance with claim 11, further comprising:

a voltage regulator for supplying a constant voltage.

15. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein electronic components of said circuit device are embedded, in resin.

16. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the circumference of the device does not exceed the circumference of a flashlight battery suitable for the lighting apparatus.

17. The device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a housing.

18. The device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the front faces of the housing are or have voltage supply connections for electrical circuit of the device.