Night vision lighting system for use in vehicles

• US 6,247,825 B1
• Filed: 10/30/1999
• Issued: 06/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard E. Borkowski
• Original Assignee: Richard E. Borkowski
• Inventors: Borkowski, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hobden, David V.
• Application Number:
  US09/430,781
• Time in Patent Office: 598 Days
• Field of Search: 362/23, 362/28, 362/471, 362/489, 362/545, 362/800, 362/20, 362/184
• US Class Current: 362/23
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/12 lighting onto the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0885 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/30 for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A vehicle lighting system providing lighting for an instrument panel generating light having a wave length, such as white light, which does not interfere with night goggle vision systems. The system comprises a portable housing, a battery pack, and an plurality of cables extending outwardly from the housing to a plurality of light-emitting elements providing white light proximate each of the plurality of vehicle instruments.

Claims

1. A supplementary lighting system for use in a vehicle during night vision imaging operations to illuminate a plurality of vehicle instruments, comprising:

a portable housing;

a battery pack coupled to said portable housing;

a plurality of electrical cables extending outwardly from said portable housing, defining a plurality of current paths in electrical communication with said battery pack; and

a plurality of light-emitting circuit elements coupled to said plurality of current paths, each providing a spot light, when energized, having a frequency which does not interfere with said night vision imaging operations, each said plurality of light-emitting circuit elements being adapted to be positioned proximate to one of said plurality of vehicle instruments.

2. The supplementary lighting system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of mechanical coupling devices adapted to locate said spot light of each of said plurality of light-emitting circuit elements relative to a particular one of said plurality of vehicle instruments.

3. The supplementary lighting system of claim 2, wherein said spot light is visually observable by a human being and is not in the Infrared (IR) spectrum.

4. A supplementary lighting system according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one switch accessible from an exterior position on said portable housing for selectively applying power from said battery pack to said plurality of light-emitting circuit elements.

5. A supplementary lighting system according to claim 1, wherein said battery pack comprises:

a first battery pack located within said portable housing serving as a primary power source; and

a second battery pack located within said portable housing serving as an auxiliary secondary power source.

6. A supplementary lighting system according to claim 3, wherein said spot light comprises white light.

7. A supplementary lighting system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of releasable electrical connectors, accessible from a position exterior of said portable housing, for selectively electrically connecting said plurality of electrical cables to said battery pack.

8. A supplementary lighting system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of electrical cables define a plurality of closed-loop current paths with said battery pack providing generation of current flow in each of said closed-loop current paths.

9. A supplementary lighting system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of light emitting circuit elements comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

10. A supplementary lighting system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of mechanical coupling devices comprise a plurality of brackets.

11. In combination:

a plurality of vehicle instruments each having a display;

a portable housing;

a battery pack coupled to said portable housing;

a plurality of electrical cables extending outwardly from said portable housing, defining a plurality of current paths in electrical communication with said battery pack; and

a plurality of light-emitting circuit elements coupled to said plurality of current paths, each providing a spot light, when energized, having a frequency which does not interfere with said night vision imaging operations each said plurality of light-emitting circuit elements being adapted to be positioned proximate to a particular one of said plurality of vehicle instruments.

12. The supplementary lighting system of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of mechanical coupling devices adapted to locate said spot light of each of said plurality of light-emitting circuit elements relative to a particular one of said plurality of vehicle instruments.

13. The supplementary lighting system of claim 11, wherein said spot light is visually observable by a human being and is not in the Infrared (IR) spectrum.

14. A supplementary lighting system according to claim 11, further comprising:

at least one switch accessible from an exterior position on said portable housing for selectively applying power from said battery pack to said plurality of light-emitting circuit elements.

15. A supplementary lighting system according to claim 11, wherein said battery pack comprises:

a first battery pack located within said portable housing serving as a primary power source; and

a second battery pack located within said portable housing serving as an auxiliary secondary power source.

16. A supplementary lighting system according to claim 11 wherein said spot light comprises white light.

17. A supplementary lighting system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of releasable electrical connectors, accessible from a position exterior of said portable housing, for selectively electrically connecting said plurality of electrical cables to said battery pack.

18. A supplementary lighting system according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of electrical cables define a plurality of closed-loop current paths with said battery pack providing generation of current flow in each of said closed-loop current paths.

19. A supplementary lighting system according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of light emitting circuit elements comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

20. A supplementary lighting system according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of mechanical coupling devices comprise a plurality of brackets.