Light including an electro-optical "photonic" selector switch

• US 20080049433A1
• Filed: 08/23/2006
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
• Inventors: Snyder, Mark W., Sharrah, Raymond L., Dalton, Matthew B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,549,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/362
• 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 21/0885 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/065 using separate operating parts, e.g. a push button surrounded by a rotating knob
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/20 wherein an auxiliary movement thereof, or of an attachment thereto, is necessary before the main movement is possible or effective, e.g. for unlatching, for coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9631 using a light source as part of the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/968 using opto-electronic devices

Abstract

A light and/or selector may comprise a selector rotatable and axially movable in a housing with a member rotatable therewith for indicating rotational position. A projection engages one or more recesses when the rotatable selector is proximate the housing and does not engage the recesses when the rotatable selector is distal the housing. A spring biases the rotatable selector towards the housing so that the rotatable selector must be pulled away from the housing against the bias of the spring to disengage the projection from the one or more recesses and to rotate.

Claims

1. A light comprising:

a housing;

a rotatable selector disposed in an opening in said housing and both rotatably and axially movable therein, said rotatable selector including a member rotatable therewith for providing an indication of the rotational position of said rotatable selector;

wherein one of said housing and said rotatable selector has a projection that engages one or more recesses in the other of said housing and said rotatable selector when said rotatable selector is in an axial position proximate said housing, and wherein the projection does not engage the one or more recesses when said rotatable selector is in an axial position distal said housing; and

a spring biasing said rotatable selector axially towards said housing,

wherein said rotatable selector must be pulled away from said housing against the bias of said spring to disengage the projection from the one or more recesses and to rotate said rotatable selector.

2. The light of claim 1 further comprising:

a light source disposed in said housing; and

an electrical circuit responsive to the indication of the rotational position of said rotatable selector for selecting an operating condition for said light source.

3. The light of claim 2:

wherein the member of said rotatable selector includes an opaque baffle and wherein said electrical circuit is responsive to optical communication between a photo-transmitter and a photo-receiver and to interruption thereof by the opaque baffle for selecting the operating condition for said light source;

or

wherein the member of said rotatable selector includes an optically reflective member and wherein said electrical circuit is responsive to reflected optical communication between a photo-transmitter and a photo-receiver and to interruption thereof by the optically reflective member for selecting the operating condition for said light source;

or

wherein the member of said rotatable selector includes a switch actuator and wherein said electrical circuit includes a switch responsive to said switch actuator for selecting the operating condition for said light source;

or

wherein the member of said rotatable selector includes a magnet and wherein said electrical circuit is responsive to said magnet for selecting the operating condition for said light source.

4. The light of claim 3 wherein:

the opaque baffle includes a projection defining a portion of an axial cylinder that rotates with said rotatable selector to interrupt optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver;

or

the optically reflective member includes a pattern defining areas of different reflectivity that rotates with said rotatable selector to interrupt and/or to partially interrupt optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver;

or

said electrical circuit includes a switch, a reed switch and/or a Hall-effect device that is responsive to said magnet.

5. The light of claim 2 wherein said electrical circuit is responsive to an electrical switch for selectively applying electrical power to energize said light source in the operating condition selected by said rotatable selector, and wherein the electrical switch comprises a pushbutton movable in the axial direction of said rotatable selector.

6. The light of claim 2 further comprising an electrical switch coaxial with said rotatable selector and having a pushbutton movable in the axial direction of said rotatable selector, wherein said electrical switch selectively energizes said light source in the operating condition selected by said rotatable selector.

7. The light of claim 1 wherein the projection and the one or more recesses are separated by a clearance sufficient not to bind in the presence of sand.

8. The light of claim 1 further comprising an electrical switch substantially coaxial with said rotatable selector and having a pushbutton movable in the axial direction of said rotatable selector.

9. A selector comprising:

a housing;

a rotatable selector disposed in an opening in said housing and both rotatable and axially movable therein, said rotatable selector including a member rotatable therewith for providing an indication of the rotational position of said rotatable selector;

wherein one of said housing and said rotatable selector has a projection that engages one or more recesses in the other of said housing and said rotatable selector when said rotatable selector is in an axial position proximate said housing, and wherein the projection does not engage the one or more recesses when said rotatable selector is in an axial position distal said housing; and

a spring biasing said rotatable selector axially towards said housing,

wherein said rotatable selector must be pulled away from said housing against the bias of said spring to disengage the projection from the one or more recesses and to rotate said rotatable selector.

10. The selector of claim 9 further comprising:

an operatable device;

an electrical circuit responsive to the indication of the rotational position of said rotatable selector for selecting an operating condition for said operatable device.

11. The selector of claim 10:

wherein the member of said rotatable selector includes an opaque baffle and wherein said electrical circuit is responsive to optical communication between a photo-transmitter and a photo-receiver and to interruption thereof by the opaque baffle for selecting the operating condition for said operatable device;

or

wherein the member of said rotatable selector includes an optically reflective member and wherein said electrical circuit is responsive to reflected optical communication between a photo-transmitter and a photo-receiver and to interruption thereof by the optically reflective member for selecting the operating condition for said operatable device;

or

wherein the member of said rotatable selector includes a switch actuator and wherein said electrical circuit includes a switch responsive to said switch actuator for selecting the operating condition for said operatable device;

or

wherein the member of said rotatable selector includes a magnet and wherein said electrical circuit is responsive to said magnet for selecting the operating condition for said operatable device.

12. The selector of claim 11 wherein:

the opaque baffle includes a projection defining a portion of an axial cylinder that rotates with said rotatable selector to interrupt optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver;

or

the optically reflective member includes a pattern defining areas of different reflectivity that rotates with said rotatable selector to interrupt and/or to partially interrupt optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver;

or

said electrical circuit includes a switch, a reed switch and/or a Hall-effect device that is responsive to said magnet.

13. The selector of claim 10 wherein said electrical circuit is responsive to an electrical switch for selectively applying electrical power to energize said operatable device in the operating condition selected by said rotatable selector, and wherein the electrical switch comprises a pushbutton movable in the axial direction of said rotatable selector.

14. The selector of claim 10 further comprising an electrical switch coaxial with said rotatable selector and having a pushbutton movable in the axial direction of said rotatable selector, wherein said electrical switch selectively energizes said operatable device in the operating condition selected by said rotatable selector.

15. The selector of claim 9 wherein the projection and the one or more recesses are separated by a clearance sufficient not to bind in the presence of sand.

16. The selector of claim 9 further comprising an electrical switch substantially coaxial with said rotatable selector and having a pushbutton movable in the axial direction of said rotatable selector.

17. A light comprising:

a plurality of light sources;

a photo-transmitter and a photo-receiver positioned for optical communication therebetween;

a selector having a member movable for interrupting optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver;

a circuit responsive to optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver and to interruption thereof by the member for selecting one or ones of said plurality of light sources and responsive for selectively applying electrical power to the selected one or ones of said plurality of light sources.

18. The light of claim 17 wherein said selector is rotatable about an axis and wherein:

the member includes a projection defining a portion of an axial cylinder that rotates with said selector to interrupt optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver;

or

the member includes a pattern defining areas of different reflectivity that rotates with said selector to interrupt and/or to partially interrupt optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver.

19. The light of claim 17 wherein said selector is rotatable about an axis and has at least two detent positions, and wherein the member interrupts optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver in one detent position and allows optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver in another detent position.

20. The light of claim 17 wherein said circuit is responsive to an electrical switch for selectively applying electrical power to the selected one or ones of said plurality of light sources.

21. The light of claim 20 wherein said selector is rotatable about an axis and wherein the electrical switch comprises a pushbutton movable axially along the axis.

22. The light of claim 17 wherein said circuit includes a processor responsive to optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver and interruption thereof and to an electrical switch for selecting and applying electrical power to one or ones of said plurality of light sources.

23. The light of claim 22 wherein said processor is responsive to said electrical switch for applying electrical power to operate a selected one or ones of said light sources in a momentary ON condition, a continuous ON condition, an OFF condition, a blinking condition, a flashing condition, a dimming condition, a dimmed condition, or any combination of the foregoing conditions.

24. The light of claim 17 wherein said photo-transmitter and said photo-receiver positioned for optical communication therebetween comprises:

first and second pairs of a photo-transmitter and a photo-receiver, wherein the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver of the first pair are positioned for optical communication with each other independently of the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver of the second pair, and wherein the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver of the second pair are positioned for optical communication with each other independently of the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver of the first pair.

25. The light of claim 24 wherein said member baffles about 180°

of rotation of said selector and wherein said first and second pairs are disposed about 90°

of rotation apart, thereby defining conditions wherein;

(1) optical communication of said first pair and of said second pair are both not interrupted,

(2) optical communication of said first pair is interrupted and optical communication of said second pair is not interrupted,

(3) optical communication of said first pair and of said second pair are both interrupted, and

(4) optical communication of said first pair is not interrupted and optical communication of said second pair is interrupted.

26. The light of claim 17 wherein said member comprises a pattern of areas having different optical reflectivity in positions corresponding to different positions of rotation of said selector, thereby defining conditions wherein:

(1) optical communication between said photo-transmitter and said photo-receiver is interrupted,

(2) optical communication between said photo-transmitter and said photo-receiver is not interrupted,

(3) optical communication between said photo-transmitter and said photo-receiver is interrupted to a relatively greater degree, and

(4) optical communication between said photo-transmitter and said photo-receiver is interrupted to a relatively lesser degree.

27. A selector comprising:

a selector housing having an opening therein;

a rotatable selector disposed in the opening in said selector housing, wherein said rotatable selector is rotatable in the opening relative to the selector housing and is movable axially in the opening relative to the selector housing, said rotatable selector including a member rotatable therewith for providing an indication of the rotational position of said rotatable selector in the opening of said selector housing;

wherein one of said selector housing and said rotatable selector has one or more projections that engage one or more recesses in the other of said selector housing and said rotatable selector when said rotatable selector is in an axial position proximate said selector housing, and wherein the one or more projections do not engage the one or more recesses when said rotatable selector is in an axial position distal said selector housing; and

a spring bearing on said selector housing and said rotatable selector for biasing said rotatable selector axially towards said selector housing,

an electrical switch that is coaxial with said rotatable selector and having a pushbutton and actuator movable in said rotatable selector in the axial direction thereof;

wherein said rotatable selector must be pulled away from said selector housing against the bias of said spring to disengage the one or more projections from the one or more recesses and to rotate said rotatable selector relative to said selector housing.

28. The selector of claim 27 further comprising:

an operatable device;

an electrical circuit responsive to the indication of the rotational position of said rotatable selector for selecting an operating condition for said operatable device.

29. The selector of claim 28:

wherein the member of said rotatable selector includes an opaque baffle and wherein said electrical circuit is responsive to optical communication between a photo-transmitter and a photo-receiver and to interruption thereof by the opaque baffle for selecting the operating condition for said operatable device;

or

wherein the member of said rotatable selector includes an optically reflective member and wherein said electrical circuit is responsive to reflected optical communication between a photo-transmitter and a photo-receiver and to interruption thereof by the optically reflective member for selecting the operating condition for said operatable device;

or

wherein the member of said rotatable selector includes a switch actuator and wherein said electrical circuit includes a switch responsive to said switch actuator for selecting the operating condition for said operatable device;

or

wherein the member of said rotatable selector includes a magnet and wherein said electrical circuit is responsive to said magnet for selecting the operating condition for said operatable device.

30. The selector of claim 29 wherein:

the opaque baffle includes a projection defining a portion of an axial cylinder that rotates with said rotatable selector to interrupt optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver;

or

the optically reflective member includes a pattern defining areas of different reflectivity that rotates with said rotatable selector to interrupt and/or to partially interrupt optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver;

or

said electrical circuit includes a switch, a reed switch and/or a Hall-effect device that is responsive to said magnet.

31. The selector of claim 28 wherein said electrical circuit is responsive to an electrical switch for selectively applying electrical power to energize said operatable device in the operating condition selected by said rotatable selector, and wherein the electrical switch comprises a pushbutton movable in the axial direction of said rotatable selector.

32. The selector of claim 28 further comprising an electrical switch coaxial with said rotatable selector and having a pushbutton movable in the axial direction of said rotatable selector, wherein said electrical switch selectively energizes said operatable device in the operating condition selected by said rotatable selector.

33. The selector of claim 27 wherein the projection and the one or more recesses are separated by a clearance sufficient not to bind in the presence of sand.

34. A light comprising:

a plurality of light sources;

at least one photo-transmitter and at least one photo-receiver positioned for optical communication therebetween;

a selector having a selector ring rotatable about an axis and having a member rotatable therewith for interrupting optical communication between the at least one photo-transmitter and the at least one photo-receiver, said rotatable selector ring having at least two detent positions;

an electrical switch actuatable by a pushbutton disposed in said selector ring and movable axially therein; and

a circuit responsive to optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver and to interruption thereof by the member for selecting one or ones of said plurality of light sources and responsive for selectively applying electrical power to the selected one or ones of said plurality of light sources.

35. The light of claim 34 wherein:

the member includes a projection defining a portion of an axial cylinder that rotates with said selector ring to interrupt optical communication between the at least one photo-transmitter and at least one photo-receiver;

or

the member includes a pattern defining areas of different reflectivity that rotates with said selector ring to interrupt and/or to partially interrupt optical communication between the at least one photo-transmitter and the at least one photo-receiver.

36. The light of claim 34 wherein the member interrupts optical communication between the at least one photo-transmitter and the at least one photo-receiver in one detent position and allows optical communication between the at least one photo-transmitter and the at least one photo-receiver in another detent position.

37. The light of claim 34 wherein said circuit is responsive to an electrical switch for selectively applying electrical power to the selected one or ones of said plurality of light sources.

38. The light of claim 37 wherein said electrical switch is located proximate the axis of said selector, and wherein said pushbutton comprises an actuator pin movable axially along the axis and an actuator button adjacent said actuator pin.

39. The light of claim 34 wherein said circuit includes a processor responsive to optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver and interruption thereof and to an electrical switch for selecting and applying electrical power to one or ones of said plurality of light sources.

40. The light of claim 39 wherein said processor is responsive to said electrical switch for applying electrical power to operate a selected one or ones of said light sources in a momentary ON condition, a continuous ON condition, an OFF condition, a blinking condition, a flashing condition, a dimming condition, a dimmed condition, or any combination of the foregoing conditions.

41. The light of claim 37 wherein said at least one photo-transmitter and at least one photo-receiver positioned for optical communication therebetween comprises:

first and second pairs of a photo-transmitter and a photo-receiver, wherein the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver of the first pair are positioned for optical communication with each other independently of the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver of the second pair, and wherein the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver of the second pair are positioned for optical communication with each other independently of the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver of the first pair.

42. The light of claim 41 wherein said member baffles about 180°

of rotation of said selector and wherein said first and second pairs are disposed about 90°

of rotation apart, thereby defining four conditions wherein;

(1) optical communication of said first pair and of said second pair are both not interrupted,

(2) optical communication of said first pair is interrupted and optical communication of said second pair is not interrupted,

(3) optical communication of said first pair and of said second pair are both interrupted, and

(4) optical communication of said first pair is not interrupted and optical communication of said second pair is interrupted.

43. The light of claim 34 wherein said member comprises a pattern of areas having different optical reflectivity in positions corresponding to different positions of rotation of said selector ring, thereby defining conditions wherein:

(1) optical communication between said at least one photo-transmitter and said at least one photo-receiver is not interrupted,

(2) optical communication between said at least one photo-transmitter and said at least one photo-receiver is substantially fully interrupted,

(3) optical communication between said at least one photo-transmitter and said at least one photo-receiver is interrupted to a relatively greater degree, and

(4) optical communication between said at least one photo-transmitter and said at least one photo-receiver is interrupted to a relatively lesser degree.

44. A light comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diode light sources;

first and second pairs each including a respective photo-transmitter and a photo-receiver positioned for optical communication therebetween;

a selector having a selector ring rotatable about an axis and having a baffle rotatable therewith to interrupt optical communication between the respective photo-transmitter and photo-receiver of each of said first and second pairs of a photo-transmitter and a photo-receiver, said rotatable selector ring having at least two detent positions;

an electrical switch actuatable by a pushbutton disposed in said selector ring and movable axially therein; and

a circuit responsive to optical communication between the respective photo-transmitter and photo-receiver of each of said first and second pairs and to interruption thereof by the baffle for selecting one or ones of said plurality of light emitting diode light sources and responsive to said electrical switch for selectively applying electrical power to the selected one or ones of said plurality of light emitting diode light sources.

45. The light of claim 44 wherein the baffle includes a projection defining a portion of an axial cylinder that rotates with said selector ring to interrupt optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver of each of said first and second pairs.

46. The light of claim 44 wherein the baffle interrupts optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver of said first pair in a first detent position and allows optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver of said first pair in a second detent position.

47. The light of claim 46 wherein the baffle interrupts optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver of said second pair in a third detent position and allows optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver of said second pair in the second detent position.

48. The light of claim 44 wherein said electrical switch is located proximate the axis of said selector, and wherein said pushbutton comprises an actuator pin movable axially along the axis and an actuator button adjacent said actuator pin.

49. The light of claim 44 wherein said circuit includes a processor responsive to optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver of each of said first and second pairs and to interruption thereof and to the electrical switch for selecting and applying electrical power to one or ones of said plurality of light emitting diode light sources.

50. The light of claim 49 wherein said processor is responsive to said electrical switch for applying electrical power to operate a selected one or ones of said light emitting diode light sources in a momentary ON condition, a continuous ON condition, an OFF condition, a blinking condition, a flashing condition, a dimming condition, a dimmed condition, or any combination of the foregoing conditions.

51. A light comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diode light sources;

at least one pair including a photo-transmitter and a photo-receiver positioned for optical communication therebetween;

a selector having a selector ring rotatable about an axis and having a reflective pattern rotatable therewith to interrupt and/or partially interrupt optical communication between the photo-transmitter and photo-receiver of said at least one pair including a photo-transmitter and a photo-receiver, said rotatable selector ring having at least two detent positions;

an electrical switch actuatable by a pushbutton disposed in said selector ring and movable axially therein; and

a circuit responsive to optical communication between the photo-transmitter and photo-receiver of said at least one pair and to interruption and/or partial interruption thereof by the reflective pattern for selecting one or ones of said plurality of light emitting diode light sources and responsive to said electrical switch for selectively applying electrical power to the selected one or ones of said plurality of light emitting diode light sources.

52. The light of claim 51 wherein the reflective pattern includes respective reflective areas having different optical reflectivity, wherein the reflective areas of the reflective pattern rotate with said selector ring to interrupt and/or partially interrupt optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver of said at least one pair.

53. The light of claim 51 wherein the reflective pattern interrupts optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver of said at least one pair in a first detent position and allows optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver of said at least one pair in a second detent position.

54. The light of claim 53 wherein the reflective pattern partially interrupts optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver of said at least one pair to a relatively greater degree in a third detent position and partially interrupts optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver of said at least one pair to a relatively lesser degree in a fourth detent position.

55. The light of claim 51 wherein said electrical switch is located proximate the axis of said selector, and wherein said pushbutton comprises an actuator pin movable axially along the axis and an actuator button adjacent said actuator pin.

56. The light of claim 51 wherein said circuit includes a processor responsive to optical communication between the photo-transmitter and the photo-receiver of said at least one pair and to interruption and/or partial interruption thereof and to the electrical switch for selecting and applying electrical power to one or ones of said plurality of light emitting diode light sources.

57. The light of claim 56 wherein said processor is responsive to said electrical switch for applying electrical power to operate a selected one or ones of said light emitting diode light sources in a momentary ON condition, a continuous ON condition, an OFF condition, a blinking condition, a flashing condition, a dimming condition, a dimmed condition, or any combination of the foregoing conditions.