Remotely operated illumination device

• US 8,219,023 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2010
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Pezeshkian, Narek, Burmeister, Aaron, Nguyen, Hoa
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US12/725,237
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 455/7, 455/11.1, 455/3.03, 455/419, 455/420, 455/9, 455/13.1, 455/16, 455/41.2, 455/552.1, 455/352, 455/353, 455/157.2, 455/158.4, 455/159.1, 307/66, 307/64, 257/99, 257/706, 398/183, 362/373, 362/800, 342/14
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/00 Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15 Active relay systems

Abstract

A system includes a substrate having a first side and a second side, more than one optical sources, wherein at least one optical source is coupled to the first side and at least one optical source is coupled to the second side, a power source operatively connected to the optical sources, a switch connected to the power source, and an RF receiver connected to the switch. The optical sources may be LEDs and may operate within the visible or infrared spectrum. The system may include an enclosure that is configured to be attached to antenna masts of a radio relay device. The enclosure may have windows to allow light from the optical sources to pass unobstructed through the enclosure. In some embodiments, the system is contained within the radio relay device. The system may be remotely controlled to illuminate a distant object or structure.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a substrate having a first side and a second side;

more than one optical sources, wherein at least one optical source is coupled to the first side and at least one optical source is coupled to the second side;

a power source operatively connected to the optical sources;

a switch connected to the power source; and

a radio frequency (RF) receiver connected to the switch.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical sources comprise light emitting diodes (LEDs).

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical sources operate within the infrared spectrum.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical sources operate within the visible spectrum.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one optical source operates at a different wavelength than at least another optical source.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising an enclosure with a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a first window therein and the second portion having a second window therein, wherein the substrate is positioned within the enclosure such that the optical source coupled to the first side of the substrate is aligned with the first window and the optical source coupled to the second side of the substrate is aligned with the second window.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a second substrate positioned within the enclosure, wherein the power source, the switch, and the RF receiver are coupled to the second substrate.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the enclosure is coupled to a radio relay device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the radio relay device comprises an antenna mast, wherein the enclosure is coupled to the antenna mast.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the radio relay device further comprises:

a housing; and

an antenna mast rotation mechanism mounted within the housing and coupled to the antenna mast, wherein the antenna mast rotation mechanism is configured to rotate the antenna mast to a position such that the antenna mast is substantially parallel to an ambient gravity vector.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the enclosure is contained within a radio relay device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the radio relay device has a first side and a second side, wherein the first window is aligned with the first side of the radio relay device and the second window is aligned with the second side of the radio relay device.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the radio relay device comprises two antenna masts, wherein the enclosure is coupled to each of the antenna masts.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the substrate, the power source, the switch, and the RF receiver are contained within a radio relay device.

15. A system comprising:

a radio relay device comprising

a housing;

at least one antenna mast coupled to the housing;

an antenna mast rotation mechanism mounted within the housing and coupled to the antenna mast, wherein the antenna mast rotation mechanism is configured to rotate the antenna mast to a position such that the antenna mast is substantially parallel to an ambient gravity vector; and

an illumination device, coupled to the radio relay device, comprising;

a substrate having a first side and a second side;

more than one optical sources, wherein at least one optical source is coupled to the first side and at least one optical source is coupled to the second side;

circuitry connected to the set of optical sources;

a switch connected to the circuitry;

a power source connected to the switch; and

a radio frequency (RF) receiver connected to the switch.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the optical sources comprise light emitting diodes (LEDs).

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the optical sources operate within the infrared spectrum.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one optical source operates at a different wavelength than at least another optical source.

19. The system of claim 15 further comprising an enclosure with a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a first window therein and the second portion having a second window therein, wherein the substrate is positioned within the enclosure such that the optical source coupled to the first side of the substrate is aligned with the first window and the optical source coupled to the second side of the substrate is aligned with the second window.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising a second substrate positioned within the enclosure, wherein the circuitry, the power source, the switch, and the RF receiver are coupled to the second substrate.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the radio relay device comprises two antenna masts, wherein the illumination device is coupled to each of the antenna masts.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the radio relay device comprises two antenna masts joined by a crossbar, wherein the illumination device is coupled to the crossbar.

23. A system comprising:

a radio relay comprising

a housing;

an antenna mast coupled to the housing;

an antenna mast rotation mechanism mounted within the housing and coupled to the antenna mast, wherein the antenna mast rotation mechanism is configured to rotate the antenna mast to a position such that the antenna mast is substantially parallel to an ambient gravity vector; and

an illumination device, contained within the radio relay, comprising;

a substrate having a first side and a second side;

more than one optical sources, wherein at least one optical source is coupled to the first side and at least one optical source is coupled to the second side;

a power source operatively connected to the optical sources;

a switch operatively connected to the power source; and

a radio frequency (RF) receiver operatively connected to the switch.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the radio relay device has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the substrate is aligned with the first side of the radio relay and the second side of the substrate is aligned with the second side of the radio relay.