Multi-mode portable lighting device
First Claim
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1. A multi-mode flashlight, comprising:
- a power source;
a light source;
a main power circuit that connects the light source to the power source and that includes a mechanical power switch and an electronic power switch disposed electrically in series with the light source;
a controller that controls the electronic power switch and that is electrically connected in series to the mechanical power switch, wherein the mechanical power switch acts as a user interface to the controller;
wherein upon power up, the controller reads at least one output signal from a state machine to determine a first mode of operation based on the at least one output signal;
wherein the controller writes a second mode of operation to the state machine following power up; and
wherein the state machine stores the second mode of operation for a predetermined period after the mechanical power switch is opened so that if the mechanical power switch is closed before the predetermined period lapses, the controller operates in the second mode of operation.
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Abstract
A portable lighting device, such as a flashlight, with a mechanical power switch and multiple operating modes is provided. The mechanical power switch is disposed in series with the controller for the lighting device and acts as the user interface to the controller to change modes of operation. Because the mechanical power switch is in series with the controller, the portable lighting device does not consume battery power when the mechanical switch is open. A state machine coupled to the controller is polled by the controller each time it is powered up to determine the operational mode of the lighting device.
155 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A multi-mode flashlight, comprising:
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a power source; a light source; a main power circuit that connects the light source to the power source and that includes a mechanical power switch and an electronic power switch disposed electrically in series with the light source; a controller that controls the electronic power switch and that is electrically connected in series to the mechanical power switch, wherein the mechanical power switch acts as a user interface to the controller; wherein upon power up, the controller reads at least one output signal from a state machine to determine a first mode of operation based on the at least one output signal; wherein the controller writes a second mode of operation to the state machine following power up; and wherein the state machine stores the second mode of operation for a predetermined period after the mechanical power switch is opened so that if the mechanical power switch is closed before the predetermined period lapses, the controller operates in the second mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A multi-mode flashlight, comprising:
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a power source; a light source; a main power circuit that connects the light source to the power source and that includes a mechanical power switch and an electronic power switch disposed electrically in series with the light source; a controller that controls the electronic power switch and that is electrically connected in series to the mechanical power switch, wherein the mechanical power switch acts as a user interface to the controller; a state machine having a memory mechanism for temporarily storing a mode of operation and at least one output coupled to the controller; wherein the controller is configured to determine the mode of operation based on the at least one output signal from the state machine; and wherein the controller is configured to write a new mode of operation to the state machine if the flashlight is turned off and then turned back on for a brief period of time.
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Specification