Electronically controlled multi-light flashlight
First Claim
1. A flashlight, comprising:
- a plurality of light sources, each providing light when energized;
a housing configured so as to direct the light into a beam;
an integrated circuit configured to control which of the plurality of light sources is/are illuminated; and
a pushbutton switch operable by a user and electrically coupled to the integrated circuit, wherein the integrated circuit controls illumination of the light sources based on input signals from the pushbutton switch, wherein the integrated circuit is a multi-state electronic device that chances state when a signal is input from the switch, and wherein different states of the integrated circuit cause different combinations of the light sources to become illuminated, wherein the integrated circuit cycles through a fixed number of states, one state each time the pushbutton switch is depressed, and wherein the states begin at an initial state in which all of the light sources are off and then, after cycling through the fixed number of states, return to said initial state, whereupon the cycle may be repeated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Provided is a flashlight that includes a plurality of light sources for providing a beam of light. Preferably, the light sources have different levels of power consumption, different brightnesses and/or different beam lengths. More preferably, the plurality of light sources includes at least one light-emitting diode (LED) and at least one incandescent lamp. A housing directs the beam of light and an integrated circuit controls illumination of the plurality of light sources, with a switch providing an input signal to the integrated circuit. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the switch is a pushbutton switch and the integrated circuit is a multi-state electronic device that changes state when the signal is input from the switch, with different states of the integrated circuit causing different combinations of the light sources to become illuminated.
63 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A flashlight, comprising:
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a plurality of light sources, each providing light when energized;
a housing configured so as to direct the light into a beam;
an integrated circuit configured to control which of the plurality of light sources is/are illuminated; and
a pushbutton switch operable by a user and electrically coupled to the integrated circuit, wherein the integrated circuit controls illumination of the light sources based on input signals from the pushbutton switch, wherein the integrated circuit is a multi-state electronic device that chances state when a signal is input from the switch, and wherein different states of the integrated circuit cause different combinations of the light sources to become illuminated, wherein the integrated circuit cycles through a fixed number of states, one state each time the pushbutton switch is depressed, and wherein the states begin at an initial state in which all of the light sources are off and then, after cycling through the fixed number of states, return to said initial state, whereupon the cycle may be repeated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A flashlight, comprising:
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a flashlight body that is hand-sized;
plural light sources disposed within the flashlight body;
a switch disposed on the flashlight body; and
a multi-state electronic device that has plural states and is electrically coupled to the switch and to the plural light sources, wherein the flashlight body is configured to direct light from the plural light sources, wherein each activation of the switch causes the multi-state electronic device to advance to a next one of the plural states, wherein the multi-state electronic device only changes state when a signal is input from the switch, and wherein each of the plural states causes a different combination of the light sources to illuminate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification