Patent Grant
11512818
This application is related to concurrently filed, co-pending, and commonly assigned U.S. application Ser. No. 16/926,601, entitled “Portable Devices, Systems and Methods for Alert Notification,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
This patent document relates to portable lighting devices, including, for example, flashlights, headlamps and their circuitry. More particularly the subject matter of this patent document relates to multi-mode portable lighting devices that include monitoring sensors and auxiliary battery capacity.
Light sources, such as flashlights or headlamps, are widely used in households. They are also used by various professions, such as police, firemen, military and security personnel, as well as used for various activities, such as extreme sports, camping, walking, jogging or other activities in low-lit areas. Moreover, lights sources are commonly used in emergency situations that may be unsafe, due to a power failure or in a remote area with risk to safety.
Despite the use of light sources for a long time, improvements made to these devices as compared to other consumer electronics have been minimal. Prior art light sources generally don't give the user valuable information relating to the light source or its location, such as GPS location, temperature or accelerometer data, nor do known light sources provide a capability to supply power to auxiliary devices. Indeed, in remote areas where there is no power source or in areas where there is a power failure, the ability to continue using personal electronic devices without an auxiliary power source is limited. Thus, the need for improvements to portable lighting devices still remains.
The present disclosure provides an improved portable light source, such as a flashlight or a headlamp, with a battery bank and one or more sensors, integrated in a unique and inventive solution that may optionally be associated with a software App running on a smart device, such as a cell-phone or tablet.
Portable lighting devices, systems and methods are provided. In one embodiment, the portable lighting devices may include a housing, a light source, a rechargeable battery, a battery charging and control circuitry, a power connector port and a wireless communication circuitry. The housing may have a proximal end and a distal end and defining a hollow cavity. The light source may be disposed at the proximal end of the housing, and electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery. The battery charging and control circuitry may be disposed in the cavity of the housing and operatively coupled to the rechargeable battery.
In one embodiment, the battery charging and control circuitry may be configured to control transmission of current from the rechargeable battery to the light source, and transmission of current from the rechargeable battery through the power connector port and onto an external device. The transmission of current to the external device may occur when the rechargeable battery has a charge capacity above a predetermined threshold level and terminates (or does not initiate) when the charge capacity of the rechargeable battery is at or below the predetermined threshold level. The predetermined threshold level may be set at a value within a range between 5% charge capacity and 30% charge capacity.
In one embodiment, the wireless communication circuitry of the portable lighting device may be configured to transmit a battery condition information of the rechargeable battery to an external communication device through a wireless link. The wireless link may be formed between the wireless communication circuitry and circuitry of the external communication device, the circuitry selected from a group consisting of Bluetooth circuitry, Wi-Fi circuitry and wireless mobile communication circuitry.
As can be appreciated, the portable lighting devices may include at least one sensor electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery and disposed in the cavity of the housing. The at least one sensor may be configured to detect a condition in which the portable lighting device is exposed and to output an associated sensor data. The at least one sensor may include a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) locator, a temperature sensor, an accelerometer, a pedometer, or any combination of any of the foregoing. The wireless communication circuitry may be operatively coupled with the at least one sensor, and configured to transmit the sensor data to the external communication device.
In yet another embodiment, the portable lighting devices may include a memory electrically coupled to a processor and the at least one sensor. The memory may be used to store data such as sensor data, model number data, part number data, serial number data, manufacturing data, electrical power source data, battery data, electrical power source charging data, battery charging data, operating time data, operating mode data, user operating mode settings, voltage data, current data, processor data, firmware data, failure data, diagnostic data, or any combination of any of the foregoing.
As can be appreciated, the power connector port may be a USB-C connector port, a micro-USB connector port, a USB connector port or a Lighting® connector port. In one embodiment, the portable lighting devices may include a protective coating disposed on an exterior surface of the housing, the protective coating has an oleophobicity level of at least 5 and a thickness between about 250 nm and about 500 nm.
In yet another embodiment, portable lighting systems are provided. The portable lighting systems include the portable lighting device and an external communication device. The external communication device may be wirelessly coupled to the portable lighting device, and configured (for example, using a software application) to provide a battery condition information of the rechargeable battery in the portable lighting device. In another embodiment, the external communication device may be configured to provide a condition in which the portable lighting device is exposed based on the sensor data received from the portable lighting device.
Each of the foregoing various aspects, together with those set forth in the claims and described in connection with the embodiments summarized above and disclosed herein may be combined to form claims for a device, apparatus, system, methods of manufacture and/or use in any way disclosed herein without limitation.
These and other features, aspects and advantages are described below with reference to the drawings, which are intended to illustrate but not to limit the invention. In the drawings, like reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout similar embodiments.
Unique and inventive multi-mode portable lighting devices, systems and methods of operation are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the portable lighting device may be a flashlight or a headlamp. Examples of flashlights are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,366,290, 8,169,165 and 9,671,102, the disclosures of which are specifically incorporated by reference in their entirety. Although flashlight embodiments are disclosed herein, it is to be expressly understood that the present invention is not restricted solely to such embodiments. Rather, the present disclosure is directed to each of the inventive features described below, both individually as well as collectively, in various embodiments. Further, as will become apparent to those skilled in the art, one or more aspects of the present disclosure may be incorporated in other portable lighting devices, for example, headlamps.
As can be appreciated, the one or more control switches 16 may be used to control an actuation of the flashlight 10, a selection of ON/OFF power, a selection of Mode change, a status check on the flashlight 10, and/or an actuation of an alert SOS feature, among others. These features may be controlled through several control switches 16 on the flashlight 10. Alternatively, the features may be controlled though an integrated control switch 16. As shown in the exemplary embodiment on
As can be appreciated, the battery status check may be triggered with a single actuation of the second side control switch 16c, and may be configured to provide a warning LED or preset audio alert from speaker 18. For example, for an audio alert, the message may be full, above 80%, above 60%, above 40% and/or low. As another example, for warning LEDs, a blue light for a certain time period, i.e., 3 seconds, may represent battery above 80%, a yellow light may represent battery at or about 40%, and a red light may represent that the battery is low. Moreover, the network connectivity status check may, for example, be triggered with a double actuation of the second side control switch 16c, and may also be configured to provide a warning LED or preset audio alert from speaker 18. For example, for an audio alert, the message may “Good Network and GPS Signal,” “GPS Signal Lost,” and/or “All Signal Lost.” As another example, for warning LEDs, a blue light for a certain time period, i.e., 3 seconds, may represent good signal, a yellow light may represent no GPS, and a red light may represent all signal lost.
In one embodiment, the light source 22 may be triggered to turn on momentarily with the actuation of the first side control switch 16b, and turns off when the first side control switch 16b is released. In another embodiment, the audio alert for battery status may be turned on/off with the actuation of the first side control switch 16b. For example, when actuating the first side control switch 16b for a certain period, i.e. 2 seconds, then the audio speaker 18 is turned ON/OFF for replay of preset audio alert.
In yet another embodiment, the top control switch 16a may be used to actuate the LED light source 22, and may be programmed with different LED light modes that change depending on the number of times the top control switch 16a is actuated and the sequence, for example, every actuation of the top control switch 16a may toggle through the actuation of one or more of the following exemplary operating modes of the light source: high, mid, low, fast-flashing, slow-flashing, etc.
In an alternative embodiment, the one or more control switches 16 may be depressed together to actuate other operations. For example, the first side control switch 16b and the second side control switch 16c may be depressed simultaneously to actuate an alert SOS/Panic/Emergency mode. In response to the actuation of the control switch 16, the speaker 18 may play preset audio to the user.
In one embodiment, the battery bank 24 may be used to supply power to the flashlight 10. In another embodiment, the battery bank 24 may also be used as a power bank to supply power to external electric devices via a charge cable electrically coupled to the power connector port 20. As can be appreciated, the power connector port 20 may be configured to receive a USB-C (USB Type-C) connector used in many electronic devices. Other types of connectors are also contemplated, including micro-USB and USB connectors used with other electronic devices. Alternatively, the power connector port 20 may be configured to receive a Lightning® connector used in Apple® iPhone® mobile devices. As can be appreciated, the power connector port 20 may also be used to couple the battery bank 24 to a power supply to recharge the batteries.
The one or more sensors 26 may be used to detect physical conditions, e.g., environment, in which the flashlight 10 is operated or exposed. For example, the one or more sensors 26 may include a heat sensor, a motion sensor, a temperature sensor, a GPS locator, and a pedometer. Other types of sensors may also be suitable. As can be appreciated, the motion sensor may be configured, for example, as a 3-axis accelerometer to optionally measure static acceleration (such as gravity), tilt of an object, dynamic acceleration, velocity, orientation and vibration of the object. Other known or developed sensors may also be employed to provide desired functionality to flashlight 10, such as temperature sensors, light sensors, magneto sensors, gyrometers, CO2 sensors, etc. In one embodiment, the control switch 16c may be used to select a mode that actuates the operation of the one or more sensors 26. Other control switches may be employed to control the selection and actuation of the one or more sensors 26.
The data produced from the one or more sensors 26 may include, for example, temperature data, acceleration data, location and/or Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) coordinate data, pedometer data, or any combination of any of the foregoing. The data may be processed by the processor 28 and stored in memory 30. Other data relating to the flashlight 10 may also be stored in memory 30 and may be utilized by the processor 28 including, for example, model number data, part number data, serial number data, manufacturing data, electrical power source data, battery data, electrical power source charging data, battery charging data, operating time data, operating mode data, user operating mode settings, control switch 16 actuation data, voltage data, current data, processor data, firmware data, failure data, diagnostic data, among others, or any combination of any of the foregoing.
Memory 30 may include non-volatile read-only memory and/or non-volatile read/write memory as may be desired. For example, data stored by the manufacturer, e.g., model and part number, serial number and date of manufacture may be stored in a read-only memory such as an EPROM as might operating firmware, whereas other data, e.g., operating data, GPS coordinate data, temperature data and settings, may be stored in non-volatile memory such as RAM. All data could be stored in a memory that may be a part of processor 28 or may be wholly or partly separate therefrom.
The processor 28 may be utilized to process data from the one or more sensors 26 and/or the memory 30. As can be appreciated, the processor 28 may be a micro-controller, a microprocessor, a CPU, a processing device on a chip, or equivalent, which may be operatively coupled, for example, to the battery bank 24, the one or more sensors 26, the memory 30, the wireless communication circuitry 32, a DC-DC switch (not shown), the battery charging and control circuitry 36, the light source 22, the control switches 16 and the speaker 18. In one embodiment, the processor 28 may be a system-on-chip, such as Nordic Semiconductor's nRF52840 SoC with integrated Bluetooth 5 capability (including long range and high throughput modes), advanced IoT security, and a Cortex-M Series processor.
In one embodiment, the wireless communication circuitry 32 may be configured for transmission of radio frequency signals conforming to the Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi standards. Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as mobile devices that employ Bluetooth circuitry, are capable of being paired with peripherals that conform to the Bluetooth standard. The resulting link between paired devices is often referred to as a peer-to-peer network. Thus, the wireless communication link formed between the wireless communication circuitry 32 of the flashlight 10 and the mobile device is a peer-to-peer network. Similarly, Wi-Fi enabled devices, employing Wi-Fi circuitry, are also capable of connecting with peripherals that conform to the WiFi standard, thereby establishing a wireless communication link between the devices. In another exemplary embodiment, the wireless communication circuitry 32 may be configured to transmit radio frequency for wireless mobile communication, such as 3G, 4G or 5G or other wireless mobile communication technology of higher specification, to a mobile device employing wireless mobile communication circuitry. For example, the wireless communication circuitry 32 may be a Qualcomm MDM9206 LTE chipset with 3G/4G multimode and multiband support and may integrate LTE Cat-M1 LTE technology, 2G GSM/GPRS cellular technology, Wi-Fi enabled for 802.11ac standard technology and Bluetooth enabled for Bluetooth standard 4.1 technology. Alternatively, the wireless communication circuitry 32 may be a Quectel BG96 or BG95 chipset with LTE Cat-M1 LTE technology and, optionally, with LTE Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) (also known as LTE Cat NB1) technology.
In one embodiment, the components disclosed herein may be provided on one or more printed circuit boards (or “PCBs”), which may contain such items as a controller, firmware, an authentication chip, a battery charging and control circuitry 36, among others. For example, the flashlight 10 may include a first PCB to control the light source 22, the wireless communication circuitry and the sensor 26 operations, and a second PCB to control the connector port 20 and battery charging and control circuitry 36. The first PCB may be electrically connected to the second PCB, for example, via a one or more wires or connectors. In an alternative embodiment, the components of the first PCB and the second PCB may be integrated onto a single PCB.
In one embodiment, the DC-DC switch may be integrated in the battery charging and control circuitry 36. As can be appreciated, the battery charging and control circuitry 36 may be configured to (a) receive a 5V charge via the power connector port 20; (b) control DC voltages in the flashlight 10 via the external 5V or from battery bank 24; (c) charge and/or manage the capacity of the battery bank 24; (d) control the operation of the battery bank 24; (e) control the charge-in and charge-out operation through the power connector port 20; and (f) adjust the usage or power intensity of the light source 22 when the battery bank 24 is being used to charge an external device (not shown). In one embodiment, the battery charging and control circuitry 36 may be configured to stop or halt power output to an external device if the capacity of the battery bank 24 is at or below a predetermined charge capacity (i.e., value set within the range between 5% charge capacity and 30% charge capacity) in order to preserve some battery charge for maintaining the operations of the flashlight 10.
Alternatively, when the flashlight 10 has a charging cable (coupled to an external device) is inserted into power connector port 20, the battery charging and control circuitry 36 determines the amount of charge remaining in the battery bank 24 (50). When the battery bank 24 has a charge that is above a preset threshold (i.e., within the range from 5% to 30% charge capacity), the battery charging and control circuitry 36 sends an indication to DC-DC switch to output power from the battery bank 24 to the external device (52). In such an instance, the DC-DC switch will direct the current received from the battery bank 24 through power connector port 20 to the external device (54). However, if the charge in the battery bank 24 is at or below or subsequent drops below the preset threshold, the battery charging and control circuitry aborts or suspends power transfer to prevent power output from the battery bank 24 to the external device (56).
Alternatively, when the flashlight 10 has a charging cable coupled to an auxiliary or external electronic device inserted into power connector port 20, the battery charging and control circuitry 36 may determine the amount of current being drawn by the auxiliary or external device. When the auxiliary or external device is drawing a relatively large amount of current (for example, 800 mA), the battery charging and control circuitry 36 sends an indication to DC-DC switch that the auxiliary device is in need of a charge. In such a high-current draw situation, DC-DC switch will direct current from the battery bank 24 through power connector port 20 to the auxiliary or external device. Should the battery charging and control circuitry 36 determines that the auxiliary or external device is drawing a relatively low amount of electrical current, DC-DC switch 34 reduces the amount of current being outputted to the auxiliary or external device.
Furthermore, when the flashlight 10 has a charging cable (coupled to an external device) inserted into power connector port 20, the battery charging and control circuitry 36 determines the amount of charge remaining in the battery bank 24 (50). When the battery bank 24 has a charge that is above a preset threshold (i.e., set at a value within the range 5% to 30% charge capacity), the battery charging and control circuitry 36 sends an indication to DC-DC switch to output power from the battery bank 24 to the external device (52). In such an instance, the DC-DC switch will direct the current received from the battery bank 24 through power connector port 20 to the external device (54). However, if the charge in the battery bank 24 drops is at or below or subsequently drops below the preset threshold, the battery charging and control circuitry aborts or suspends or prevents power output from the battery bank 24 to the external device (56).
In an embodiment, the flashlight 10 may employ multiple active reporting modes to report status, for example, to the mobile App. For instance, the flashlight may employ a constant reporting mode, a timed reporting mode and/or a trip reporting mode. The reporting may be any predetermined or preset parameters for reporting. The constant reporting mode may actuate the flashlight 10 to remain up all the time (i.e. not in sleep mode) and the report is sent in a pre-determined interval. The time reporting mode may actuate the flashlight 10 to enter constant reporting mode during configured time periods (i.e. start-time and end-time), which can be as multiple periods over multiple days. Finally, the trip reporting mode may actuate the flashlight 10 to report when the flashlight 10 is in motion, which takes place when the accelerometer detects movement of the device. If the flashlight 10 is stationary, the reporting would terminate.
As can be appreciated, the flashlight 10 may be IP67 waterproof compliant. In one embodiment, the flashlight 10 may include latching clips 66 to hold the two halves 68 and 70 of the housing 14 with fluid dispensing for the seam. In another embodiment, the speaker 18 may include a waterproof sound-permeable membrane. In yet another embodiment, the flashlight 10 may include an air vent 72 with waterproof-breathable membrane.
The flashlight 10 may also include a protective coating 74 for water-resistance or water-proofing. For example, the flashlight 10 may include a polymeric coating formed using a continuous plasma comprising a compound of CH2═C(R1)—COO—R2, where R1 includes —H or —CH3; and where R2 includes —(CH2)2—(CF2)m—CF3 and m is 3 or 5, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,852,693, whose contents are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Artisans would appreciate that other commercially available compounds may be used for forming a polymeric coating 74 on the surface of the flashlight 10. In one embodiment, the protective coating 74 has a thickness between about 250 nm and about 500 nm.
In one embodiment, the protective coatings 74 may have an oleophobicity level of about at least 5, suitably between about level 5 to about level 10, including every level therebetween, such as about levels 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. Additionally, the coating can provide a water contact angle of at least 100.degree. In one aspect, the coating can provide a water contact angle between about 100.degree. to about 120.degree. Such characteristics of the coating can help protect against pollutants and contamination, including water or moisture contamination. In one embodiment, the coating can protect against liquid damage. In another aspect, the contamination or liquid damage can be water.
The coating material 74 may also be an antimicrobial coating. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, antimicrobial coatings may include additives such as silver, zinc, tin mercury, lead, iron, cobalt, nickel, manganese, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, barium, cadmium and chromium. Exemplary antimicrobial coatings may include, for example, those disclosed in U.S. Publ. Nos. US20060222845, US20070259307, US20110206817, US20090202656, US20090182337, and US20110311591, and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,080,028, 6,238,686, 5,770,255, 5,753,251, 5,681,575, 8,084,132, 7,884,089, 7,625,579, 7,955,636, 5,066,328, 8,124,169, 4,933,178, 8,066,854, 6,929,705, 5,997,815, 7,282,214, 7,976,863, 6,514,517, 5,238,749, 8,137,735, 6,592,814, 8,172,395, 7,402,318, 8,133,423, 5,853,745, 6,565,913, 8,178,120, 6,361,567, 5,756,145, 7,641,912, 6,900,265 and 5,244,667, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The coating material may also be a fire-resistant coating. Suitable fire-resistant coatings include, for example, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,322,555, 5,236,773, U.S. Publ. No. US20060083878, and PCT Appl. No. PCT/EP2000/004914, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The coating material may also be a scratch resistant coating. Suitable scratch resistant coatings may include, for example, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,867,602, 5,837,362, 6,025,059, 7,264,669, 7,115,050, 6,916,368, 6,020,419, 6,803,408, 6,835,420, 6,759,478, 8,163,357, 6,387,519, 7,053,149, 7,662,433, and 7,871,690, and U.S. Publ. Nos. US20120100380, US20110097574, US20100119802, US20110058142, US20120121845, US20120003483, and US20110151218, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Although the various inventive aspects are herein disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments, implementations, and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while a number of variations of the inventive aspects have been shown and described in detail, other modifications, which are within their scope will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art based upon this disclosure. It should be also understood that the scope this disclosure includes the various combinations or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, such that the various features, modes of implementation, and aspects of the disclosed subject matter may be combined with or substituted for one another. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments or implementations described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims.
Similarly, this disclosure is not be interpreted as reflecting an intention that any claim require more features than are expressly recited in that claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in a combination of fewer than all features of any single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.
Further, all claim terms should be interpreted in their most expansive forms so as to afford the applicant the broadest coverage legally permissible. Although the embodiments have been described with reference to the drawings and specific examples, it will readily be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and adaptations of the processes, methods and apparatuses described herein are possible without departure from the spirit and scope of the embodiments as claimed herein. Thus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation on the scope of the embodiments as claimed below.
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