Portable lighting devices

• US 9,247,598 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MAG Instrument Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MAG Instrument Incorporated
• Inventors: Maglica, Anthony, West, Stacey H, Nathanson, Scott, Radloff, Robert P
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): COOPER, JONATHAN G
• Application Number:
  US12/657,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20100219775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,202 Days
• Field of Search: 315/291, 315/152, 315/343, 315/297, 315/159, 340/815.65, 340/815.77, 340/815.45, 362/276
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/005 the device being a pocket lamp F21L4/022, F21L4/045, F21L4/085 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/045 Pocket lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0407 for flashing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0421 the switch being part of, or disposed on the tail cap portion thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0492 the sensor detecting a change in orientation, a movement or an acceleration of the lighting device, e.g. a tilt switch
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/375 using buck topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/38 using boost topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/395 Linear regulators

Abstract

A portable lighting device having a plurality of modes of operation and method of operating the portable lighting device are disclosed. One method of operating the portable lighting device is by rotating the portable lighting device along a principal axis of projection of the light source to enter into a new mode of operation. Normal, dim, motion sensitive, variable brightness, blink, right and left hand, lock out, SOS, night light, strobe, compass and signal modes are disclosed, and the modes may be adjusted. A rechargeable battery pack is disclosed that includes a housing, a rechargeable battery, and an accelerometer. A battery cassette is disclosed that provides a negative electrode at each end of the battery cassette, and a central connector that provides a positive electrode at both ends of the battery cassette.

Claims

1. A multi-mode portable electronic lighting device, comprising:

a housing including a source of power;

a light source electrically connected to the source of power which emanates light away from the housing toward a plane along a principal axis of projection that is perpendicular to the plane at a point of intersection with the plane when an on/off switch is not in an off state;

a controller configured to implement a plurality of modes of operation of the light source along the principal axis of projection when the on/off switch is not in the off state and a momentary switch is actuated; and

a user interface for inputting commands to the controller,

wherein the user interface comprises a motion sensitive interface in which commands are input through a first predefined movement of the portable electronic lighting device;

wherein the controller will not change operation of the light source between the plurality of modes of operation when the on/off switch is not in the off state and the momentary switch is not actuated;

wherein the controller is configured to change a mode of operation of the light source when the controller determines that the multi-mode portable electronic lighting device has been moved in the first predefined movement, so that the light source operates in a changed mode of operation; and

wherein the controller is further configured to adjust light output of a given mode of operation of the light source when the controller determines that the multi-mode portable electronic lighting device has been moved in a second predefined movement when the on/off switch is not in the off state and the momentary switch is not actuated.

2. The multi-mode portable electronic lighting device of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes an inertial sensor electrically coupled to the controller.

3. The multi-mode portable electronic lighting device of claim 2, wherein the inertial sensor is an accelerometer.

4. The multi-mode portable electronic lighting device of claim 3, wherein the accelerometer is a 3-axis accelerometer.

5. The multi-mode portable electronic lighting device of claim 1, wherein the first predefined movement is rotation of the multi-mode portable electronic lighting device in a single direction about the principal axis of projection.

6. The multi-mode portable electronic lighting device of claim 5 wherein the second predefined movement is rotation of the multi-mode portable electronic lighting device about the principal axis of projection in a direction opposite to the first predefined movement.