LED flashlight

• US 20060028810A1
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Viatek Consumer Products Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Brinkmann Corporation
• Inventors: Hon, Siu Cheong, Chan, Ka Ming
• Granted Patent: US 7,152,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/157
• 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 13/045 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/006 applied to portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A flashlight configured to durably provide an effective beam of light for extended periods of time. The flashlight features a high-power, directed LED configured to produce a divergent beam of light that is characterized by an optical directivity angle extending from a vertex point. The flashlight includes a lens having a first portion forming a convergent lens, where the LED is located such that its vertex point coincides with the lens'"'"' focal point. The convergent lens is sized and positioned such that substantially all of the directed light from the LED passes through the convergent lens portion to emerge in a first beam of parallel light. The LED emits additional light through a tip. A parabolic reflector has the tip at its focal point to reflects the additional light into a second beam of parallel light that is parallel to and surrounding the first beam, thus forming a single and more efficient useful beam. The LED and parabolic reflector are formed into an illuminator assembly that is contained within a housing of the flashlight so as to hold the LED in alignment with its preferred position with respect to the parabolic reflector.

Claims

1. A flashlight, comprising:

a high-power, directed LED configured to produce a divergent beam of light that is characterized by an optical directivity angle extending from a vertex point; and

a lens having at least a portion that is convergent, being characterized by a focal point, wherein the LED is located such that its vertex point coincides with the lens'"'"' focal point.

2. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the lens is sized and positioned such that substantially all of the directed light from the LED passes through the convergent lens to emerge in a first beam of parallel light.

3. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein:

the divergent beam of light exits the LED through a tip portion; and

additional light exits the tip portion of the LED in a direction extending outside of the beam of light; and

further comprising a parabolic reflector having a focal point, wherein the focal point of the parabolic reflector coincides with the location of the tip portion of the LED so as to cause the parabolic reflector to reflect at least some of the additional light into a second beam of parallel light.

4. The flashlight of claim 3, wherein:

the lens includes a non-convergent portion configured such that light passing through the non-convergent portion of the lens exists the lens at the same angle it enters the lens; and

the second beam of parallel light is parallel to the first beam of parallel light.

5. The flashlight of claim 4, wherein the non-convergent portion of the lens surrounds the convergent portion of the lens.

6. The flashlight of claim 1, and further comprising:

a switch;

one or more battery compartments configured to hold batteries, the battery compartments having contacts that are connected in a circuit that includes the LED and the switch such that the switch can close and open the circuit to energize and deenergize the LED when batteries are installed in the battery compartments; and

a housing configured to house the LED, the lens, the witch and the battery compartments.

8. The flashlight of claim 6, wherein the lens includes a non-convergent portion configured such that light passing through the non-convergent portion of the lens exits the lens at the same angle it enters the lens.

7. A flashlight, comprising:

a high-power, directed LED configured to produce a divergent beam of light, wherein the divergent beam of light exits the LED through a tip portion, wherein additional light emanates from the tip portion of the LED in a direction extending outside of the beam of light;

a parabolic reflector having a focal point, wherein the focal point of the parabolic reflector coincides with the location of the tip portion of the LED so as to cause the parabolic reflector to reflect at least some of the additional light into a second beam of parallel light.

9. An illuminator assembly for insertion into a flashlight having a lens, comprising:

a high-power, directed LED configured to produce a divergent beam of light, wherein the divergent beam of light exits the LED through a tip portion, wherein additional light exits the tip portion of the LED in a direction extending outside of the beam of light;

a parabolic reflector having a focal point, wherein the LED is physically held relative to the parabolic reflector in a position where the focal point of the parabolic reflector coincides with the location of the tip portion of the LED so as to cause the parabolic reflector to reflect at least some of the additional light into a second beam of parallel light.

11. The flashlight of claim 9, and further comprising a body portion defining one or more battery compartments configured to receive one or more batteries, wherein:

the illuminator assembly is conformingly received by the body portion; and

the housing conformingly receiving the body portion so as to contain the body portion within the housing.

12. The flashlight of claim 9, and further comprising a lens, wherein:

the LED is configured to emit light from its filament and produce a divergent beam of light that is characterized by an optical directivity angle extending from a vertex point, an that also produces additional light extending in a direction outside of the divergent beam and emanating from the tip of the LED;

the lens has a first portion that is convergent, being characterized by a focal point, wherein the LED is located such that its divergent-beam vertex point coincides with the lens'"'"' focal point;

the divergent beam substantially passes through the lens'"'"' first portion to form a first parallel beam of light;

the lens has a second portion that passes light without changing its direction; and

the parabolic reflector reflects at least a portion of the additional light into a second parallel beam of light that is parallel to the first parallel beam of light.

10. A flashlight, comprising:

an illuminator assembly including an LED, a printed circuit board and a parabolic reflector,

wherein components are mounted on the printed circuit board,

wherein the LED is a high-power LED having a filament, a parabolic micro-reflector and a transparent tip, the LED being mounted in the printed circuit board,

wherein the parabolic reflector is connected to the printed circuit board such that the focal point of the parabolic reflector coincides with the transparent tip, and

wherein the parabolic reflector has a flange;

a housing conformingly receiving the illuminator assembly so as to contain the illuminator assembly within the housing.

13. A flashlight, comprising:

an LED having a filament, a parabolic micro-reflector and a transparent tip, the LED being configured to emit light from its filament and to emit that light in a divergent beam of light characterized by an optical directivity angle extending from a vertex point, and the LED being configured to also emit additional light extending in a direction outside of the divergent beam and emanating from the tip of the LED;

a means for focusing the divergent beam of light into a first parallel beam of light; and

a means for focusing the additional light into a second parallel beam of light;

wherein the first and second beams of light are parallel.

14. A method of focusing the light from an LED having a filament, a parabolic micro-reflector and a transparent tip, the LED being configured to emit light from its filament and to emit that light in a divergent beam of light characterized by an optical directivity angle extending from a vertex point, and the LED being configured to also emit additional light extending in a direction outside of the divergent beam and emanating from the tip of the LED, comprising:

focusing the divergent beam of light into a first parallel beam of light; and

focusing the additional light into a second parallel beam of light;

wherein the first and second beams of light are parallel.