The present description relates generally to portable devices used for illuminating spaces.
Advances in technology have enabled lighting devices to become increasingly lightweight and portable. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are capable of efficiently converting electrical energy into light with little waste heat, allowing them to provide extended illumination with portable energy sources, such as batteries.
Portable lanterns and the like are used in a variety of situations. Some are used for area illumination in spaces without dedicated lighting. Others are used for increasing visibility in hard to reach places like under vehicles. These devices are especially useful in the event of external power loss.
It is an object of this disclosure to provide an improved portable lighting solution that can be carried by a user to provide light in the area they are working as needed.
It is a further object of this disclosure to provide an improved portable lighting solution with a longer lasting power source.
It is a further object of this disclosure to provide an improved portable lighting solution that is dust and water resistant.
A method of using a multi-functional lighting device includes connecting the multi-functional lighting device to a first and a second remote using a first and a second transceiver. The first and second remotes are authenticated. The lighting device receives a signal from the first remote with a first instruction for a first function and the second remote with a second instruction for a second function. The lighting device interprets the first instruction and second instruction using a processor into a first or second command, respectively. The processor communicates the first and second command to the first or second function of the device, respectively.
Another method of controlling a multi-functional lighting device with a first remote includes connecting the multi-functional lighting device to the first remote in addition to connecting at least a second remote. The remote provides a user identification to the multi-functional lighting device from the first remote. The remote then sends a signal from the remote with an instruction relating to one of at least two functions of the multi-functional lighting device. The remote receives a status update from the light relating to the function from the multi-functional lighting device.
The disclosure further provides a remote controlled multi-functional lighting device with a first function and a second function. The lighting device provides a lighting element positioned in a housing and a battery system coupled to an inside of the housing and operably connected to and enabling the lighting element to emit light. Within the lighting device, a first receiver and a second transceiver are configured to connect the multi-functional lighting device to a first remote and a second remote, respectively. The transceivers can receive a signal from the first remote with a first instruction for the first function or the second remote with an second instruction for the second function. A controller within the lighting device is configured to authenticate the first and second remotes and interpret the first instruction or second instruction using a processor into a first or second command, respectively. Upon receiving first or second command, the controller executes the first and second command to the first or second function of the device, respectively.
The following description of example methods and apparatus is not intended to limit the scope of the description to the precise form or forms detailed herein. Instead the following description is intended to be illustrative so that others may follow its teachings.
In the following description, the terms “water resistant” or “dust resistant” are used. These terms are set under ANSI/IEC-60529 which promulgates certain standards for the degrees of protection granted against intrusion by both solid objects and water. Solid objections include dust, debris, and even accidental conduct by the user's body during use. The terms “water resistant” or “dust resistant” on their own do not necessarily mean that no dust or no water will enter the device.
The terms “light emitting diode” and “LED” are also used in the following description. One of ordinary skill will appreciate that an LED describes a wide variety of two lead semiconductors that emit light by electroluminescence when a voltage differential is applied. LED lights can be made in a variety of sizes and typically come in either through-hole or surface mount configurations.
The term “phosphorescence” is also used in the following description. Phosphorescence refers to a mechanism by which a material fluoresces when exposed to radiation. This mechanism is associated with unsuitable energy state transitions in quantum mechanics. A phosphorescence material does not immediately re-emit the radiation it absorbs, but instead absorbed radiation is re-emitted at a lower intensity for up to several hours after the original excitation.
The present application discloses a multi-functional high efficiency LED Area portable light. The portable lighting device includes a cross shaped housing with a front portion and a back portion. In the front portion, an LED lighting element is centrally positioned. Part of the housing is a series of aluminum cooling fins. A rotatable stand and handle are connected to the housing at the top and bottom respectively. At the rear of the portable light, a switch and charging port are built into the rear portion of the housing.
The example multi-functional portable lighting device may be powered via replaceable or rechargeable batteries. In some instances, the portable lighting device includes a charging port into which a connector of a power source can be inserted to supply power to rechargeable batteries of the multi-functional portable light. In other instances, the multi-functional portable lighting device includes a receptacle with conductive contacts into which one or more batteries may be inserted for powering the portable light.
In one example situation, the user, when additional lighting is needed as in a power outage or repair task, uses the switch to activate the LED lighting element. The user can use the stand and mounting point to locate and secure the portable lighting device in the most helpful location. The charging port can be used to power the device or recharge the battery. After the user is finished, the user can use the switch to disable the light.
Referring now to
The housing 116 is an aluminum finned design extending across large portions of the front and back of the device as shown in
The front face of the portable lighting device 10 includes a high efficiency chip on board (“COB”) forward LED 112 used to illuminate, as shown in
In the rear view shown in
The portable lighting device 110 contains a lithium-ion rechargeable battery to provide power to the rest of the device. A charging port 122 is shown on the back of lighting device 110. This enables an “R+C system,” where R is “rechargeable” and C is “cable”. The product can be charged as a DC type unit, using the lithium-ion battery, but it also can be used with the cable hooked into external power as a conventional AC type electrical device.
As shown in
The portable lighting device 110 is rated IP67 for water and dust resistance and can be used indoors and outdoors. The design of portable lighting device 110 prevents contact and the ingress of dust of more than a de minimis amount that provides no harm to the function of the device. It is also shielded from splashing water such that incidental contact with but not submersion in water.
Turning to
The example audio light 10 may be configured for both indoor and outdoor uses. Thus, the housing 12 may be formed to provide the audio light 10 with impact resistance, water resistance, and/or dust resistance. In the example shown in
Referring to
The audio light 10 may additionally include a controller (not shown) disposed in the housing 12. The controller is operably connected to a transceiver (not shown). The controller is configured to receive control signals wirelessly at its transceiver from an external wireless device (not shown), such as a cellular phone, laptop computer, tablet computer, or the like, using radio frequency (RF) transmission. This can be a dedicated RF link, or it can be a wireless network conforming to the international standards such as the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Ultra-Wide-Band (UWB) standards. Other wireless technologies not mentioned above, such as ultra-sound or optical, may also be applicable in this case. Control signals may include, for example, signals for turning on and off or dimming the light source 24, signals for controlling the volume of the speaker 18, signals for playing music through the speaker 18, and the like.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller is operably connected to the lighting unit 16 and the speaker 18, such that the controller can perform control of the lighting unit 16 and the speaker 18 in response to a control signal received from the external wireless device. For instance, if the controller receives a signal to dim the light source 24, the controller will cause the light source 24 to dim. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller is operably connected to a light source driver (not shown) and a speaker driver (not shown). The light source driver and the speaker driver are configured to perform control of the light source 24 and the speaker 18, respectively. When the controller receives a control signal from the external wireless device, the controller forwards the control signal to the light source driver or the speaker driver. For instance, if the controller receives a signal to dim the light source 24, the controller will forward the signal to the light source driver, and the light source driver will cause the light source 24 to dim.
In this disclosure, the bracket 20 of the audio light 10 is pivotally connected to the housing 12 so that the housing 12 may rotate with respect to the bracket 20. It will be appreciated, however, that the bracket 20 need not be pivotally connected to the housing 12, but rather may be connected to the housing 12 in any suitable manner. As shown in
The audio light 10 may also include an internal power supply (not shown), such as a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, so that the audio light 10 may be operated even when disconnected from an external power source (not shown), such as a standard electrical outlet. As shown in
In one mode of operation, when the first end of the cable is connected to the external charging socket 42, and the second end of the cable is connected to the external power source, the internal power supply is charged by the external power source. When the internal power supply is charged, the cable may be disconnected from the external charging socket 42, and the audio light 10 may be operated without being connected to the external power source by drawing power from the internal power supply. In an alternate mode of operation, when the first end of the cable is connected to the external charging socket 42 and the second end of the cable is connected to the external power source, the audio light 10 is powered directly by the external power source.
With reference to
Referring now to
The example audio light 210 may be configured for both indoor and outdoor use. Thus, the housing 212 may be formed to provide the audio light 210 with impact resistance, water resistance, and/or dust resistance. In the example shown in
Referring now to
The audio light 210 may additionally include a controller (not shown) disposed in the housing 212. The controller is operably connected to a transceiver (not shown). The controller is configured to receive control signals wirelessly at its transceiver from an external wireless device (not shown), such as a cellular phone, laptop computer, tablet computer, or the like, using radio frequency (RF) transmission. This can be a dedicated RF link, or it can be a wireless network conforming to the international standards such as the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Ultra-Wide-Band (UWB) standards. Other wireless technologies not mentioned above, such as ultra-sound or optical, may also be applicable in this case. Control signals may include, for example, signals for turning on and off or dimming the light source 224, signals for controlling the volume of the pair of speakers 218, 219, signals for playing music through the pair of speakers 218, 219, and the like.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller is operably connected to the lighting unit 216 and the pair of speakers 218, 219, such that the controller can perform control of the lighting unit 216 and the pair of speakers 218, 219 in response to a control signal received from the external wireless device. For instance, if the controller receives a signal to dim the light source 224, the controller will cause the light source 224 to dim. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller is operably connected to a light source driver (not shown) and a speaker driver (not shown). The light source driver and the speaker driver are configured to perform control of the light source 224 and the pair of speakers 218, 219, respectively. When the controller receives a control signal from the external wireless device, the controller forwards the control signal to the light source driver or the speaker driver. For instance, if the controller receives a signal to dim the light source 224, the controller will forward the signal to the light source driver, and the light source driver will cause the light source 224 to dim.
In this disclosure, the bracket 220 of the audio light 210 is pivotally connected to the housing 212 so that the housing 212 may rotate with respect to the bracket 220. It will be appreciated, however, that the bracket 220 need not be pivotally connected to the housing 212, but rather may be connected to the housing 212 in any suitable manner. As shown in
The audio light 210 may also include an internal power supply (not shown), such as a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, so that the audio light 210 may be operated even when disconnected from an external power source (not shown), such as a standard electrical outlet. As shown in
In one mode of operation, when the first end of the first cable is connected to the external charging socket 242, and the second end of the first cable is connected to the external power source, the internal power supply is charged by the external power source. When the internal power supply is charged, the first cable may be disconnected from the external charging socket 242, and the audio light 210 may be operated without being connected to the external power source by drawing power from the internal power supply. In an alternate mode of operation, when the first end of the first cable is connected to the external charging socket 242 and the second end of the first cable is connected to the external power source, the audio light 210 is powered directly by the external power source.
As shown in
As shown in
Referring now to
Although certain example methods and apparatus have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.
The present application claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 15/581,848, filed on Apr. 28, 2017, and U.S. application Ser. No. 15/475,644, filed on Mar. 31, 2017, the contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 15581848 | Apr 2017 | US |
Child | 15801479 | US | |
Parent | 15475644 | Mar 2017 | US |
Child | 15581848 | US |