Compact light weight energy-efficient illumination module for integrated portable applications

Abstract

A compact, light weight and energy-efficient illumination module is described for inclusion into a variety of portable products such as an organizer, a book and a handbag. The illumination module allows for convenient, energy-efficient viewing, reading or writing with the portable products. The illumination module comprises a light source, a standalone electrical power source such as a battery, a switching electrical circuit having an integrated user-operated switch, an enclosure and a mechanically adjustable attachment for including the enclosure into the portable products. Upon activation, the light source of the illumination module emits a locally directed spatial illumination light pattern onto the portable product for reading.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of illumination of portable consumer products for the purpose of viewing, reading or writing. More particularity, the present invention discloses a compact, lightweight and energy-efficient illumination module for inclusion into a wide variety of portable consumer products to allow viewing, reading or writing with the portable consumer products in a dark environment by a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The need and associated art of illumination for viewing in the dark has been around for thousands of years in the human history. A handheld burning torch is a primitive example. A set of AC-powered kilowatt Xenon arc lamps for the illumination of a whole baseball field can be a modern example. A handheld battery powered flashlight is a modem example of illumination for a privately directed viewing of objects in the dark. However, for the convenient, privately directed, energy-efficient viewing of portable consumer products such as an organizer or a handbag in the dark there has been a general lacking of suitable products in the market to date.

SUMMARY

[0003] The present invention is directed to an illumination module for inclusion into a number of portable consumer products for the convenient, privately directed viewing of such portable consumer products in the dark.

[0004] The first objective of this invention is for the illumination module to be low cost, compact and lightweight.

[0005] The second objective of this invention is for the illumination module to be energy-efficient.

[0006] The third objective of this invention is for the illumination module to be highly versatile so that it can be included into a wide variety of portable consumer products.

[0007] Other objectives, together with the foregoing are attained in the exercise of the invention in the following description and resulting in the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] The current invention will be better understood and the nature of the objectives set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. For clarity of explanation, the detailed description further makes reference to the attached drawings herein:

[0009] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention of an illumination module that is included into a cover of an organizer via a flexible closure and locking dual function arm;

[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates the detailed internal construction of the first embodiment of the present invention of the illumination module;

[0011] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention of an illumination module that is included into a cover of a book via a flexible book mark tab;

[0012] FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention of an illumination module that is included into an inside cover of a book via a multi-axis adjustable and foldable cantilever; and

[0013] FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B illustrate a fourth embodiment of the present invention of an illumination module that is affixed onto the interior of a hand bag via a repositionable valcrel attachment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] In the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will become obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuitry have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessary obscuring aspects of the present invention.

[0015] Reference herein to “one embodiment” or an “embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments.

[0016] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1A an illumination module 10 is shown to be included into an organizer cover 102 of an organizer 100 via a mechanically adjustable attachment 30 that is part of the illumination module 10. As illustrated, the mechanically adjustable attachment 30 is in a closed position locking the illumination module 10 against an exterior surface of the organizer cover 102. This is the non-operating position of the illumination module 10. The details of the related locking mechanism is not shown as there are many varieties of locking mechanisms well known in the art. Upon opening of the organizer cover 102 and the mechanically adjustable attachment 30 into its operating position, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, an organizer page 104 of the organizer 100 can now be read by a user. Furthermore, the illumination module 10 can be switched on, with a means to be presently described, to emit a spatial illumination light pattern 50 illuminating the organizer page 104 to allow the viewing, reading or writing of the organizer page 104 either in a dark environment by a user with a normal vision or in a normal environment by a user with a weak vision. The mechanically adjustable attachment 30 thus functions as a dual function arm for flexibly linking and locking the illumination module 10 against the organizer cover 102. As the illumination module 10 is integrated with the organizer cover 102 a hands free usage of the illumination module 10 is practical thus providing operational convenience to the user. Additionally, the spatial illumination light pattern 50 of the illumination module 10 only needs to operate within a short distance of the illuminated organizer page 104. Therefore, the spatial illumination light pattern 50 can be designed to be of low power with relatively high directionality thus effecting an energy-efficient operation with good viewing privacy. By the same token, the illumination module 10 can also be made to be very compact and lightweight.

[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates the same first embodiment of the present invention of the illumination module 10 with details of its internal construction revealed. To reveal the details of the internal construction of the illumination module 10, the mechanically adjustable attachment 30 is purposely shown to be bent and broken into two pieces. Thus, inside the enclosure 20 of the illumination module 10, the illumination module 10 further comprises a light source 12 emitting the spatial illumination light pattern 50, a standalone electrical power source 14 and a user-operated switch 18 connected with a switching electrical circuit 16. To be consistent with the intended application, the light source 12 should be selected of a type that is compact, lightweight and energy-efficient. For example, the light source 12 can be made up of a set of one or more high efficiency Light Emitting Diodes (LED), each having a selected intensity and a selected primary emissive color such as red, green and blue. For a second example, the individual LED can itself be a composite color from some of the primary emissive colors. In any case, depending upon the primary spectral reflectivity of the organizer page 104, the resulting intensity and color spectrum of the spatial illumination light pattern 50 should produce a reflected color image of the organizer page 104 with sufficient intensity and contrast for useful viewing or reading in a dark environment by the user. For a third example, the light source 12 can be made up of a set of one or more LEDs, each having a selected intensity and a selected primary emissive color or a composite color thereof such that the resulting color spectrum of the spatial illumination light pattern 50 approximates a visual sensation of white light thus producing a reflected image of the organizer page 104 with sufficient intensity and natural color for natural viewing or reading in the dark. For a fourth example, the light source 12 can be made up of a set of one or more miniature incandescent lights, each having a selected intensity such that the resulting intensity of the spatial illumination light pattern 50 produces a reflected color image of the organizer page 104 with sufficient intensity and contrast for useful and natural viewing or reading in the dark.

[0018] The standalone electrical power source 14, to be compact and light weight, should preferably be made up of a set of one or more electrically connected batteries. For convenience of usage, the batteries should be designed to be user-replaceable. Alternatively, the batteries can be selected to be the rechargeable type with an optionally integrated recharging circuitry. The switching electrical circuit 16, together with the user-operated switch 18 and the standalone electrical power source 14, function to turn on or off the light source 12 by the user as desired.

[0019] Still referring to FIG. 2, an enclosure 20 is designed for holding and protecting the light source 12, the standalone electrical power source 14, the switching electrical circuit 16 and the user-operated switch 18. To be compact and lightweight, the enclosure 20 can be any one or a combination of a plastic case, a leather case, a foam case of proper durometer or a sheet metal case.

[0020] The mechanically adjustable attachment 30, for including the enclosure 20 into the organizer 100 to be properly illuminated by the spatial illumination light pattern 50, preferably should be easily deformable for adjustment by the user while maintaining its rigidity afterwards. As an example, the mechanically adjustable attachment 30 can be constructed out of a deformable metal wire frame that is further enclosed with a rubber-like skin for esthetics.

[0021] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention of the illumination module 10 that is included into a book cover 204 of a book 200 via a mechanically adjustable attachment 30 that is, in this case, a flexible book mark tab. In FIG. 3A the book cover 204 is shown in its closed position while the illumination module 10 is purposely left open to show its light source 12 and enclosure 20. An accompanying arrow is also shown to illustrate the direction of movement to close the illumination module 10 against the book cover 204 for storage in a non-operating mode. In FIG. 3B, the book cover 204 is shown in its open position revealing a book page 202 to be read by a user. Correspondingly, the illumination module 10 is positioned in its operating position via the mechanically adjustable attachment 30 that is, as mentioned above, a flexible book mark tab. The light source 12, now switched on although hidden from the view, of the illumination module 10 emits a spatial illumination light pattern 50 onto the book page 202 to be read in the dark.

[0022] FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention of the illumination module that is included into the inside of a book cover 204 of a book 200 via a mechanically adjustable attachment 30 that is a multi-axis adjustable and foldable cantilever structure comprising a lower cantilever beam 31 and an upper cantilever beam 32. The lower cantilever beam 31 is rotatably attached to the book cover 204 via a lower hinge 33 with a double arrow headed arc illustrating the rotational adjustment of the lower cantilever beam 31. The upper cantilever beam 32, holding the illumination module emitting the spatial illumination light pattern 50, is rotatably attached to the lower cantilever beam 31 via an upper hinge 34 with another double arrow headed arc illustrating the rotational adjustment of the upper cantilever beam 32. In this way, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the spatial illumination light pattern 50 can be linearly positioned and angularly aimed, by a user, at a book page 202 of the book 200 for proper reading in the dark. In FIG. 4A, the mechanically adjustable attachment 30 of multi-axis adjustable and foldable cantilever structure is shown folded flatly against the inside of the book cover 204 in an unused position that is also non-obtrusive to reading under, for example, normal daylight.

[0023] FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B illustrate a fourth embodiment of the present invention of an illumination module 10 that is affixed onto an inside surface 304 of a handbag 300 via a repositionable valcrel attachment. FIG. 5A illustrates the handbag 300 with a handbag cover 302 in its closed position for the handbag 300 to be carried around by a user. With the handbag cover 302 opened up, FIG. 5B, the enclosure 20 of the illumination module 10 is shown attached onto the inside surface 304 of the handbag 300 via a repositionable valcrel attachment 36. The detailed structure and function of the repositionable valcrel attachment 36, being well known in the art, is not illustrated here for simplicity. Thus, the location of a spatial illumination light pattern 50 emitted by a light source 12 of the illumination module 10 can be properly positioned by a user to view the contents of the handbag 300 in the dark.

[0024] As described with four exemplary cases of design, a compact, light weight and energy-efficient illumination module for inclusion into a number of portable products for convenient, privately directed, energy-efficient viewing, reading or writing with the portable products in the dark. The invention has been described using exemplary preferred embodiments. However, for those skilled in this field, the preferred embodiments can be easily adapted and modified to suit additional applications without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. For example, the illumination module can be adapted to include in an address book, an accounting book, a notebook, a file holder, a brief case, a purse and a wallet. Thus, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements based upon the same operating principle. The scope of the claims, therefore, should be accorded the broadest interpretations so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

Claims

1. A compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination module for inclusion into a wide variety of portable devices to provide illumination for said portable devices, comprising: a light source; a standalone electrical power source; a switching electrical circuit having an integrated user-operated switching means for switchably connecting the electrical power source to the light source thereby causing said light source to emit a spatial illumination light pattern; an enclosure means for holding and protecting the light source, the standalone electrical power source and the switching electrical circuit; and a mechanically adjustable attachment means for inclusion of the enclosure means into the portable devices whereby the portable devices are locally illuminated with the spatial illumination light pattern for convenient, privately directed, energy-efficient viewing, reading or writing.

2. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination module of claim 1 wherein the light source further comprises a set of one or more Light Emitting Diodes (LED) to generate a reflected color image of the portable devices with sufficient intensity and contrast for useful viewing or reading of the said portable products in a dark environment.

3. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination module of claim 1 wherein the light source further comprises a set of one or more LED to generate a color spectrum of the spatial illumination light pattern approximating a visual sensation of white light thus producing a reflected image of the portable products with sufficient intensity and natural color for natural viewing or reading of the said portable devices in a dark environment.

4. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination module of claim 1 wherein the light source further comprises a set of one or more miniature incandescent lights, each having a selected intensity whereby the resulting intensity of the spatial illumination light pattern from the said light source produces a reflected color image of the portable devices with sufficient intensity and contrast for useful and natural viewing or reading of the said portable products in a dark environment.

5. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination module of claim 1 wherein the standalone electrical power source further comprises a set of one or more user-replaceable batteries.

6. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination module of claim 5 wherein the standalone electrical power source further comprises a set of one or more rechargeable batteries with an optionally integrated recharging circuitry.

7. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination module of claim 1 wherein the enclosure means is selected from a group of structures consisting of a plastic case, a leather case, a foam case, and a sheet metal case.

8. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination module of claim 1 wherein said wide variety of portable devices include, but not limited to, an organizer, an address book, an accounting book, a notebook, a book, a file holder, a brief case, a hand bag, a purse and a wallet.

9. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination module of claim 8 wherein the mechanically adjustable attachment means comprises a flexible closure and locking dual function arm integrated with a cover of the organizer.

10. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination module of claim 8 wherein the mechanically adjustable attachment means comprises a flexible bookmark tab integrated with a cover of the book.

11. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination module of claim 8 wherein the mechanically adjustable attachment means comprises a multi-axis adjustable and foldable cantilever integrated with an inside cover of the book.

12. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination module of claim 8 wherein the mechanically adjustable attachment means comprises a repositionable valcrel integrated with an inside surface of a handbag.