Led flashlight with lens

• US 6,485,160 B1
• Filed: 06/25/2001
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gelcore (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Gelcore (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Petroski, James T., Sommers, Mathew L., Burkholder, Greg E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Laura K.
• Application Number:
  US09/681,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20020196620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 362/184, 362/800, 362/237, 362/240, 362/244, 362/245
• US Class Current: 362/184
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/006 applied to portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A flashlight includes a housing, an electrical power source in the housing, a semiconductor light source, a reflector well in which the semiconductor light source is seated, and a lens over the reflector. The housing has a closed end and an open end. The semiconductor light source is electrically connected to the power source. The semiconductor light source, reflector, and lens are secured to the housing. Light produced by the semiconductor light source is reflected by the reflector and focussed by the lens in a predetermined direction.

Claims

1. A light emitting device, comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes;

an individual reflector well corresponding to each light emitting diode, in which the light emitting diode is seated; and

an individual lens corresponding to each light emitting diode, the lens arranged over an opening of the reflector, light produced by each of the plurality of light emitting diodes being reflected by the reflector and focussed by the lens toward a target area.

2. The light emitting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reflector is coupled to the lens.

3. The light emitting device as set forth in claim 1, further including:

a printed circuit board on which the light emitting device is mounted.

4. The light emitting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lens provides direct light refraction to the light emitting diode.

5. The light emitting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lens is one of a multiple refractive and a refractive/diffractive hybrid lens.

6. The light emitting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lenses are matrixed.

7. A flashlight, comprising:

a housing having a closed end and an open end;

an electrical power source in the housing;

a plurality of semiconductor light sources each electrically connected to the power source;

a plurality of reflector wells in which the semiconductor light sources are seated; and

a plurality of lenses over the reflectors, the semiconductor light source, reflector, and lens being secured to the housing, light produced by each semiconductor light source being reflected by the reflector and focussed by the lens in a predetermined direction toward a selected target area such that light from the plurality of semiconductor light sources combine to illuminate the target area.

8. The flashlight as set forth in claim 7, wherein each of the reflectors is coupled to a respective one of the lenses.

9. The flashlight as set forth in claim 7, further including:

a printed circuit board, on which each of the semiconductor light sources is electrically mounted, secured substantially at the open end of the housing.

10. The flashlight as set forth in claim 7, wherein each of the semiconductor light sources is a respective light emitting diode.

11. The flashlight as set forth in claim 7, wherein the lenses provide direct light refraction to the respective semiconductor light source.

12. The flashlight as set forth in claim 7, wherein each of the lenses is one of a multiple refractive and a refractive/diffractive hybrid lens.

13. The flashlight as set forth in claim 7, wherein the respective lens, reflector, and semiconductor light sources form an array.

14. A method of manufacturing a light emitting device, comprising:

seating a plurality of light emitting diodes in corresponding reflectors;

securing a lens over each reflector; and

adjusting each reflector and lens such that light produced by the corresponding light emitting diode is reflected by the reflector and focussed by the lens toward a target area, wherein light produced by the plurality of light emitting diodes combine at the target area to produce a generally uniform, bright beam pattern at the target area.

15. The method for manufacturing a light emitting device as set forth in claim 14, further including:

seating additional light emitting diode, reflector, and lens within a housing.

16. An LED-based flashlight including:

a housing having a closed end adapted to retain a power supply, and an open end opposite the closed end; and

a plurality of light sources arranged at the open end of the housing, each light source including;

a light emitting diode (LED) arranged to receive electrical power from the power supply,

a reflector well inside which the LED is seated, the reflector well having an open end, and

a lens arranged over the open end of the reflector well and cooperating with the reflector well to direct light produced by the LED away from the housing along a predefined direction,

wherein light produced by the plurality of light sources and directed along the predefined directions converge at a target area to produce a substantially uniform beam pattern at the target area.

17. The LED-based flashlight as set forth in claim 16, wherein the reflector well and lens of each light source cooperate to image the LED between a bottom face thereof and a top of the light source.