Portable light device

• US 7,452,099 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2006
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cyberlux Corp.
• Original Assignee: Cyberlux Corp.
• Inventors: Evans, Donald F., Roth, Michael, Isely, Larson, Schmidt, Mark D., Hatley, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US11/336,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20060187658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,032 Days
• Field of Search: 362/157, 362/184, 362/187, 362/227, 362/232, 362/235, 362238-240, 362/244, 362/250, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/184
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 14/02 capable of hand-held use, e.g. inspection lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/04 characterised by the provision of a light source housing portion adjustably fixed to the remainder of the device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/67 characterised by the arrangement of fans
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/677 the fans being used for discharging
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

The present invention provides a light device comprised of a body, a handle, a user interface, and a positionable arm that is structured to pivotally support a lighting element assembly. The light device may be configured to be portable and carried or otherwise manipulated by a user grasping the handle. In one embodiment, the body of the light device defines first and second support surfaces that are structured to stably support the weight of the light device in first and second illumination positions, respectively.

Claims

1. A light device, comprising:

a first array of LEDs structured to provide a spot-light mode of illumination at an alterable first intensity level;

a second array of LEDs structured to provide a flood-light mode of illumination at an alterable second intensity level;

an electrical power system structured to provide electrical power to the first array of LEDs and the second array of LEDs;

a user interface structured to allow a user to change an operating mode between the spot-light mode of illumination, the flood-light mode of illumination, and a combination thereof, and further structured to allow the user to change the first intensity level and the second intensity level;

one or more sensors disposed in electrical communication with the electrical power system for sensing electrical power information;

a display; and

control circuitry disposed in electrical communication with the first array of LEDs, the second array of LEDs, the electrical power system, the user interface, the one or more sensors, and the display, wherein the control circuitry is adapted to present and update a power supply message to the display based upon the sensed electrical power information, the operating mode, the first intensity level, and the second intensity level.

2. The light device of claim 1, wherein the power supply message presented and updated to the display includes a remaining battery capacity percentage.

3. The light device of claim 1, wherein the power supply message presented and updated to the display includes a remaining battery life on a time interval basis.

4. The light device of claim 1, wherein the first array of LEDs are structured to provide the spot-light mode of illumination by positioning each of the first array of LEDs in reflective proximity to a narrowing lens.

5. The light device of claim 4, wherein the narrowing lens is an LED optic adapted to focus the illumination provided by the first LED to an illumination cone angle approximately between 4 and 50 degrees.

6. The light device of claim 4, wherein the narrowing lens is an LED optic adapted to focus the illumination provided by the first LED to an illumination cone angle approximately between 15 and 50 degrees.

7. The light device of claim 4, wherein the narrowing lens is an LED optic adapted to focus the illumination provided by the first LED to an illumination cone angle approximately between 4 and 30 degrees.

8. The light device of claim 4, wherein the narrowing lens is an LED optic adapted to focus the illumination provided by the first LED to an illumination cone angle approximately between 4 and 15 degrees.

9. The light device of claim 1, wherein the second array of LEDs are structured to provide the flood-light mode of illumination by not being disposed in reflective proximity to an LED optic.

10. The light device of claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable battery for driving illumination of the light device.

11. The light device of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes first and second adjustable members coupled to first and second potentiometers, the first and second potentiometers for controlling the illumination brightness or intensity of the first and second arrays of LEDs.

12. The light device of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes first and second adjustable members coupled to first and second potentiometers, the first and second potentiometers for incrementally adjusting the operating mode between the spot-light mode of illumination, the flood-light mode of illumination, and a combination thereof.

13. The light device of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a first adjustable member for designating a percentage of available power to supply to the first array of LEDs.

14. A method of operating a light device comprising the steps of:

sensing electrical power information;

sensing mode of illumination information provided by a user via a user interface;

sensing LED intensity information provided by the user via the user interface;

directing an array of LEDs to operate in either a spot-light mode of illumination, a flood-light mode of illumination, or a combined mode of illumination based upon the sensed mode of illumination information;

directing the array of LEDs to operate at desired intensity levels based upon the sensed LED intensity information; and

displaying a power supply message to the user based upon the sensed battery electrical power information, the sensed mode of illumination information, and the sensed LED intensity information.

15. The method of operating a light device recited in claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

sensing light device system information; and

displaying a system information message to the user based upon the sensed light device system information.

16. The method of operating a light device recited in claim 14, wherein sensing electrical power information comprises monitoring the presence or absence of external power drains.

17. The method of operating a light device recited in claim 14, wherein sensing electrical power information comprises monitoring at least one of current flow during charge and discharge operations, battery voltage, battery temperature, ambient temperature, or ambient humidity.

18. The method of operating a light device recited in claim 14, wherein displaying the power supply message comprises displaying the power supply message, the power supply message being an indication of the remaining battery capacity on a percentage basis.

19. The method of operating a light device recited in claim 14, wherein displaying the power supply message comprises displaying the power supply message, the power supply message being an indication of the remaining battery capacity on a time interval basis.

20. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for operating a light device comprising the steps of:

sensing electrical power information;

sensing mode of illumination information provided by a user via a user interface;

sensing LED intensity information provided by the user via the user interface;

directing an array of LEDs to operate in either a spot-light mode of illumination, a flood-light mode of illumination, or a combined mode of illumination based upon the sensed mode of illumination information;

directing the array of LEDs to operate at desired intensity levels based upon the sensed LED intensity information; and

displaying a power supply message to the user based upon the sensed electrical power information, the sensed mode of illumination information, and the sensed LED intensity information.

21. The computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for operating a light device recited in claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

sensing light device system information; and

displaying a system information message to the user based upon the sensed light device system information.