Flashlight with battery life indicator module
First Claim
1. An apparatus for a flashlight comprising:
- a tubular module having first and second ends;
means for coupling said first end to a flashlight head assembly;
means for coupling said second end to a battery holder assembly;
means for providing an electrical connection between said battery holder assembly and said flashlight bulb assembly;
an indicator mounted in said tubular module and visible from the exterior of said tubular module; and
circuit means for measuring a battery level and activating said indicator when said battery level passes a predetermined value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery life indicator module that is mounted between a flashlight head assembly containing the light reflector and a battery casing assembly for holding the batteries is disclosed. The battery life indicator module contains an indicator, such as a light-emitting diode (LED). Internal to the battery life indicator module is a circuit which measures the battery level and activates the indicator to display the battery level. The module also provides the necessary electrical connection between the batteries and the light bulb of the flashlight. In the preferred embodiment, three LEDs are used to indicate various levels of charge. The monitoring circuit is activated by the ON/OFF switch of the flashlight so that power is not drained when the flashlight is not in use. The module has threads at its two ends for coupling to the flashlight head assembly and the battery casing assembly. The monitoring circuit contains a pair of voltage dividers for providing two voltages references. These references are provided to two comparators which also monitor the voltage level on the battery. The output of the comparators are provided to two of the LEDs, while the third LED is connected to the output of a NAND gate which has inputs from each of the comparators.
112 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for a flashlight comprising:
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a tubular module having first and second ends; means for coupling said first end to a flashlight head assembly; means for coupling said second end to a battery holder assembly; means for providing an electrical connection between said battery holder assembly and said flashlight bulb assembly; an indicator mounted in said tubular module and visible from the exterior of said tubular module; and circuit means for measuring a battery level and activating said indicator when said battery level passes a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for a flashlight comprising:
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a tubular module having first and second ends, each of said ends having threads for coupling to a flashlight head assembly and a battery holder assembly. respectively; means for providing an electric connection between said battery holder assembly and said flashlight head assembly; a circuit board mounted inside said tubular module; at least two light emitting diodes mounted on said circuit board, said tubular module defining at east two windows proximate said light emitting diodes for allowing light to escape; and circuit means for measuring a battery level and activating said light emitting diodes responsive to said battery level. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A flashlight comprising:
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a head module having an opening at a first end for emitting light; a reflector mounted in said head module; a light bulb mounted between said reflector and said head module opening; a battery life indicator module having a first end coupled to a second end of said head module; a battery casing for holding at least one battery having a first end coupled to a second end of said battery life indicator module; an indicator mounted in said battery life indicator module; and circuit means for measuring a parameter related to a charge of said battery and activating said indicator when said battery level passes a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A module for incorporation into a flashlight having at least one battery comprising:
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an indicator mounted in said module and visible from the exterior of said module; circuit means for measuring a battery level and activating said indicator when said battery level passes a predetermined value; and means, coupled to an ON/OFF switch of said flashlight, for activating said circuit means. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification