LED light source module for flashlights

• US 7,001,047 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2004
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Illumination Management Solutions Incorporated (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Rhoads, Greg, Holder, Ronald Garrison
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Negron, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US10/866,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20050007768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 362/294, 362/305, 362/157, 362/187, 362/188, 362/190, 362/202, 362/203, 362/205, 362/208, 362/218, 362/257, 362/277, 362/285, 362/295, 362/288, 362/296, 362/297, 362/304, 362/306, 362/362, 362/373, 362/800, 362/310
• US Class Current: 362/249.04
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/005 the device being a pocket lamp F21L4/022, F21L4/045, F21L4/085 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/025 in portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A module, or collection of discreet components, for an LED flashlight is coupled to a conventional flashlight body which includes a conventional power source. The module comprise a housing adapted to be coupled to the flashlight body; an LED light source coupled to the power source; a heat sink coupled to the housing, which heat sink is thermally and mechanically coupled to the LED light source; and a reflector coupled to the housing and having an optical axis. The LED light source is positioned by the heat sink on or near the optical axis and is optically coupled to the reflector. The reflector reflects light from the LED light source in a forward direction. The module, and/or components, is arranged and configured to be operatively coupled as a unit to the flashlight body and power source.

Claims

1. A module for an LED flashlight having a flashlight body including a power source, the module comprising:

a housing adapted to be coupled to the flashlight body;

an LED light source adapted to be coupled to the power source, and having a peak emission direction,

a heat sink coupled to the housing, the LED light source is thermally and mechanically coupled to the heat sink,

a single reflector coupled to the housing and having an optical axis, the LED light source being positioned by the heat sink about the optical axis and directly optically coupled to the single reflector with the peak emission direction pointing into the reflector in a direction reverse to a forward light output direction of the module,

the single reflector collecting virtually all of the light produced from the LED light source and reflecting such light in the forward direction; and

wherein the module is arranged and configured to be operatively coupled as a unit to the flashlight body and power source.

2. The module of claim 1 wherein the module is arranged and configured to be operatively coupled as a unit into a conventional incandescent flashlight body and power source.

3. The module of claim 1 wherein the LED light source is positioned by the heat sink forward of the reflector as defined by the forward direction.

4. The module of claim 1 where the heat sink provides an electrical coupling from the power source to the LED light source.

5. The module of claim 1 where the heat sink comprises at least one heat fin for dissipating heat and for positioning the LED light source with respect to the reflector.

6. The module of claim 1 where the heat sink is thermally coupled to the reflector.

7. The module of claim 1 further comprising an insulated electrical coupling between the LED light source and the power source.

8. The module or components of claim 1 where the reflector surface is shaped to other than a conic profile to provide a reflected beam of a custom distribution pattern of energy from the LED.

9. The module of claim 1 where the heat sink is thermally coupled to the housing.

10. The module of claim 1 further comprising an LED power circuit disposed in the housing for providing power from the power source suitable for powering the LED light source.

11. The module of claim 10 where the LED power circuit comprises an LED driver circuit which controls the current to the LED light source to prevent over driving the LED light source.

12. The module of claim 10 further comprising a circuit board disposed in the housing on which the LED power circuit is mounted.

13. The module of claim 12 where the circuit board is coupled to the reflector.

14. The module of claim 3 where the circuit board is coupled to the housing.

15. A module for an LED light source Coupled to a power source, comprising:

a housing;

an LED light source coupled to the power source;

a heat sink coupled to the housing, the LED light source thermally and mechanically coupled to the heat sink;

a single reflector coupled to the housing and having an optical axis, the LED light source being positioned by the heat sink about the optical axis and being optically coupled to the single reflector, the LED light source being positioned with respect to the single reflector to radiate substantially all of the light generated by the LED light source directly toward the single reflector, which single reflector then reflects the light into the forward light output direction of the module after a single reflection, the single reflector reflecting nearly all of the light from the LED light source in the forward light output direction;

an LED power circuit disposed in the body for providing power from the power source to the LED light source;

a circuit board disposed in the housing on which the LED power circuit is mounted;

wherein nearly 100% of the LED light is captured and distributed by the single reflector.

16. The module of claim 15 further comprising a light fixture with which the module is combined.

17. The module of claim 15 further comprising a head torch with which the module is combined.

18. An integrated system of components for an LED flashlight having a flashlight body including a conventional power source, comprising:

an LED light source coupled to the power source;

a heat sink coupled to the housing, the LED light source thermally and mechanically coupled to the heat sink, the heat sink having at least one heat fin for dissipating heat;

a single reflector having an optical axis, the LED light source being positioned by the heat sink about the optical axis and being optically coupled to the single reflector, the single reflector reflecting light from the LED light source in a forward light output direction of the module, the heat fin of the heat sink positioning the LED light source forward of the single reflector as defined by the forward light output direction, the LED light source being positioned with respect to the single reflector to radiate substantially all of the light generated by the LED light source directly toward the single reflector, which single reflector then reflects the light into the forward light output direction after a single reflection;

an LED power circuit disposed in the body for providing power from the power source to the LED light source;

a circuit board disposed in the housing on which the LED power circuit is mounted; and

wherein the components are arranged and configured to be operatively coupled as a unit to the flashlight body and power source.

19. The module or components of claim 18 further comprising a single switch to power on/off the device.

20. A module for an LED flashlight having a flashlight body including a power source, the module comprising:

a housing adapted to be coupled to the flashlight body;

an LED light source adapted to be coupled to the power source;

a heat sink coupled to the housing the LED light source being thermally and mechanically coupled to the heat sink; and

a single reflector coupled to the housing and having an optical axis, the LED light source being positioned by the heat sink about the optical axis and being directly optically coupled to the reflector, the reflector reflecting light from the LED light source in a forward light output direction of the module;

wherein an insulated electrical coupling is located between the LED light source and the power source, and comprises a flex circuit.

21. An integrated module for an LED flashlight having a conventional incandescent flashlight body including a conventional power source comprising:

a housing adapted to be coupled to the conventional incandescent flashlight body;

an LED light source adapted to be coupled to the power source;

a heat sink coupled to the housing, the LED light source thermally and mechanically coupled to the heat sink, the heat sink having at least one heat fin for dissipating heat;

a single reflector coupled to the housing and having an optical axis, the LED light source being positioned by the heat sink about the optical axis and being directly optically coupled to the single reflector, the single reflector reflecting light from the LED light source in a forward light output direction of the module, the heat fin of the heat sink positioning the LED light source forward of the single reflector as defined by the forward light output direction, the LED light source being positioned with respect to the single reflector to radiate substantially all of the light generated by the LED light source directly toward the single reflector, which single reflector then reflects the light into the forward light output direction after a single reflection;

an LED power circuit disposed in the housing for providing power from the power source to the LED light source;

a circuit board disposed in the housing on which the LED power circuit is mounted; and

wherein the module is arranged and configured to be operatively coupled as a unit to the flashlight body and power source.

22. A modules for an LED flashlight having a flashlight boy including a power source, comprising:

a housing adapted to be coupled to the flashlight body;

an LED light source adapted to be coupled to the power source;

a heat sink coupled to the housing, the LED light source thermally and mechanically coupled to the heat sink; and

a single reflector coupled to the housing and having an optical axis, the LED light source being positioned by the heat sink about the optical axis and being optically coupled to the single reflector, the single reflector reflecting light from the LED light source in a forward light output direction of the module, and

a first switch to power on/off the flashlight and a second switch located in a tail cap section of the flashlight to also control the on/off condition of the flashlight.

23. A module for an LED light coupled to a power source, comprising:

a housing;

a flex circuit;

an LED light source coupled to the power source through the flex circuit;

a heat sink coupled to the housing, the LED light source thermally and mechanically coupled to the heat sink;

a single reflector coupled to the housing and having an optical axis, the LED light source being positioned by the heat sink about the optical axis and being optically coupled to the single reflector, the LED light source being positioned with respect to the single reflector to radiate substantially all of the light generated by the LED light source directly toward the single reflector, which single reflector then reflects the light into a forward light output direction after a single reflection, the single reflector reflecting nearly all of the light from the LED light source in a forward light output direction of the module;

an LED power circuit disposed in the body for providing power from the power source to the LED light source;

a circuit board disposed in the housing on which the LED power circuit is mounted;

wherein nearly 100% of the LED light is captured and distributed by the single reflector.