Light emitting diode assembly for flashlights

• US 6,502,952 B1
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Illumination Innovation LLC
• Original Assignee: Fred Jack Hartley
• Inventors: Hartley, Fred Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Quach-Lee, Y. My
• Assistant Examiner(s): Neils, Peggy A.
• Application Number:
  US09/785,363
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 362/184, 362/202, 362/205, 362/800, 362/206, 362/208
• US Class Current: 362/184
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/60 Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/89 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/30 on the outer surface of cylindrical surfaces, e.g. rod-shaped supports having a circular or a polygonal cross section
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48257 connecting the wire to a die pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/8592 Applying permanent coating, e.g. protective coating
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 the devices being arranged next to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00012 Relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/181 Encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

At least one light emitting diode produces light which is subsequently diffused to broaden an angle of projection for use in collimating reflector type flashlights. A light dispersion location is formed by the light produced following the diffusion of the produced light. This light dispersion location, which may have various diametric configurations, is positioned within a lamp assembly. This placement of the light dispersion location ideally matches the ‘light center length’, LCL, of conventional incandescent lamps (bulbs) to match the focal point of the collimating reflector of existing collimating reflector type flashlights.

Claims

1. A lamp assembly for a portable hand-held flashlight, the portable hand-held flashlight having a mount for the lamp assembly, a battery power supply, a first power transfer connector, a second power transfer connector and a switch, the switch having an active position and an inactive position, the lamp assembly comprising:

a) a base having;

1) an exterior;

2) an interior;

3) a first electrical connector positioned on the exterior, the first electrical connector to provide for a subsequent connection to the first power transfer connector of the portable hand-held flashlight;

4) a second electrical connector positioned on the exterior, the second electrical connector to provide for a subsequent connection to the second power transfer connector of the portable hand-held flashlight;

5) insulating means to provide for insulating the first electrical connector from the second electrical connector;

6) coupling means to provide for a mounting of the lamp assembly at the base of the lamp assembly to the mount of the portable hand-held flashlight;

b) a light emitting diode assembly positioned relative to the interior of the base, the light emitting diode assembly having;

1) a first power coupling to provide for a transfer of power from the first electrical connector of the base;

2) a second power coupling to provide for a transfer of power to the second electrical connector of the base;

3) a light producing surface to provide for a production of a light when the switch of the portable hand-held flashlight is in the active position in response to power moving between the first power coupling and the second power coupling, the light produced having a path of projection from the light producing surface;

c) a diffuser unit to provide for a dispersion of at least a portion of the light produced by the light producing surface from the path of projection to a generally wide angle of dispersion.

2. The lamp assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the portable hand-held flashlight further comprises a collimating reflector and wherein at least a portion of the light dispersed by the diffuser unit to the generally wide angle of dispersion is reflected by the collimating reflector of the portable hand-held flashlight into a beam of light.

3. The lamp assembly defined in claim 2 further comprising a reflector positioned in close proximity to the light emitting diode assembly and on an opposing side of the light emitting diode assembly from the diffuser unit, the reflector to provide for a further dispersion of the light produced by the light producing surface of the light emitting diode assembly.

4. The lamp assembly defined in claim 1 further comprising at least one additional light emitting diode assembly.

5. The lamp assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the diffuser unit further comprises a multiplicity of surface facets.

6. The lamp assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the diffuser unit further comprises a textured surface.

7. The lamp assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the light emitting diode assembly further comprises a bowl reflector and a diffusing coating, the bowl reflector having a cavity and at least one reflective wall, the cavity having a centered axis therethrough, the reflective wall surrounding the cavity and angularly offset relative to centered axis of the cavity, the reflective wall having an upper extent and wherein the light producing surface is positioned within the cavity below the upper extent of the reflective wall, the diffusing coating covering the light producing surface wherein the light produced by the light producing surface interacts with the diffusing coating during passage therethrough where a portion of the light strikes the reflective wall of the bowl reflector and is further diffused to broaden the path of projection of the light.

8. A lamp assembly for a portable hand-held flashlight, the portable hand-held flashlight having a mount for a conventional incandescent lamp, a battery power supply, a first power transfer connector, a second power transfer connector and a switch, the switch having an active position and an inactive position, the conventional incandescent lamp having a filament, the mount for the conventional incandescent lamp placing the filament of the conventional incandescent lamp at a relative elevated position relative to the mount, the replacement lamp assembly comprising:

a) a base having;

1) an exterior;

2) an interior;

3) a first electrical connector positioned on the exterior, the first electrical connector to provide for a subsequent connection to the first power transfer connector of the portable hand-held flashlight;

4) a second electrical connector positioned on the exterior, the second electrical connector to provide for a subsequent connection to the second power transfer connector of the portable hand-held flashlight;

5) insulating means to provide for insulating the first electrical connector from the second electrical connector;

6) coupling means to provide for a mounting of the lamp assembly at the base of the lamp assembly to the mount of the portable hand-held flashlight;

b) a light emitting diode assembly having;

1) a first power coupling to provide for a transfer of power from the first electrical connector of the base;

2) a second power coupling to provide for a transfer of power to the second electrical connector of the base;

3) a light producing surface to provide for a production of a light when the switch of the portable hand-held flashlight is in the active position in response to power moving between the first power coupling and the second power coupling, the lamp assembly having a light dispersion location subsequent to production of the light;

c) placement means to provide for positioning the light dispersion location of the lamp assembly within the interior of the base at a respective relative elevated position relative to the mount of the portable hand-held flashlight which generally matches a position of the relative elevated position of the filament of the conventional incandescent lamp relative to the mount when the conventional incandescent lamp is positioned within the mount of the portable hand-held flashlight;

d) protective means to provide for protecting at least a portion of the light emitting diode assembly.

9. The lamp assembly defined in claim 8 further comprising a plurality of light emitting diode assemblies and wherein the plurality of light emitting diode assemblies cooperate to produce the light dispersion location.

10. The lamp assembly defined in claim 9 wherein the protective means further comprises a protective cover and wherein the protective cover covers the plurality of light emitting diode assemblies and wherein the protective cover further comprises diffusion means to provide for a dispersion of the light produced by the plurality of light emitting diode assemblies.

11. The lamp assembly defined in claim 8 wherein the protective means further comprises diffusion means to provide for a dispersion of the light produced by the light emitting diode assembly.

12. The lamp assembly defined in claim 8 further comprising a reflector positioned in close proximity to the light emitting diode assembly, the reflector to provide for a reflection of at least a portion of the light produced by the light producing surface of the light emitting diode assembly, the reflection to change a directional orientation of the reflected light.

13. The lamp assembly defined in claim 8 wherein the light emitting diode assembly further comprises a bowl reflector and a diffusing coating, the bowl reflector having a cavity and at least one reflective wall, the cavity having a centered axis therethrough, the reflective wall surrounding the cavity and angularly offset relative to centered axis of the cavity, the reflective wall having an upper extent and wherein the light producing surface is positioned within the cavity below the upper extent of the reflective wall, the diffusing coating covering the light producing surface wherein the light produced by the light producing surface interacts with the diffusing coating during passage therethrough where a portion of the light strikes the reflective wall of the bowl reflector and is further diffused to broaden the path of projection of the light.