Multi-mode portable illumination device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9719669-B2
Application number	US-201615058124-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2016
Priority date	May 31, 2000
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

A multi-mode portable illumination device includes a switch structure featuring a substantially planar member and a mechanical switch which requires a relatively small amount of force and a short stroke distance to actuate. The mechanical switch is attached to a member which contains circuit(s) adding additional functionality to the multi-mode portable illumination device. The member has conductive springs attached to either end that are used to complete the electrical circuit with the battery and the lamp, while their compressive force is absorbed by a housing protecting the switch structure. A conductive strip is used to improve the conductivity of the circuit in a metal multi-mode portable illumination device which has been provided with an electrically resistive protective coating.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-function portable lighting device, comprising:
a body;
a power source held within the body;
a light source;
a mechanical switch;
a circuit that electrically connects the power source, the light source, and the mechanical switch; and
electronics which produce a plurality of electrical functions of operation in response to a plurality of different actuation actions of the mechanical switch by a user of the multi-function portable lighting device;
wherein the plurality of electrical functions are selected from the group consisting of a flashlight light mode, an automatic shut off mode, an audio feedback mode; an interactive Morse Code capability, a global positioning transponder mode, a laser pointer mode, a motion detector mode, and infrared light sensing mode and a digital compass mode.

2. The multi-function portable lighting device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrical functions are selected from a second group consisting of a flashlight light mode, an automatic shut off mode, an interactive Morse Code capability, a motion detector mode, and a digital compass mode.

3. The multi-function portable lighting device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrical functions are selected from a second group consisting of a flashlight light mode, an automatic shut off mode, and a motion detector mode.

4. The multi-function portable lighting device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrical functions are selected from a second group consisting of a flashlight light mode, an automatic shut off mode, and an interactive Morse Code capability.

5. A multi-function portable lighting device, comprising:
a body;
a power source held within the body;
a single light source;
a mechanical switch;
a circuit that electrically connects the power source, the single light source, and the mechanical switch; and
electronics which produce a plurality of electrical functions of operation for the single light source in response to a plurality of different actuation actions of the mechanical switch by a user of the multi-function portable lighting device; wherein
the multi-function portable lighting device only produces light through use of the single light source.

6. The multi-function portable lighting device of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of electrical functions include a flashlight light mode.

Assignees

• Mag Instr Inc

Inventors

• Koch Greg
• Bangerter Bruce K
• Collier Kevin E
• Steinicke Darrell B

Classifications

• Y10S362/802

  Position or condition responsive switch · CPC title

• F21V23/0414

  specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices · CPC title

• F21L4/027

  the light sources being a LED · CPC title

• F21L4/02

  characterised by the provision of two or more light sources · CPC title

• F21L4/005

  the device being a pocket lamp (F21L4/022, F21L4/045, F21L4/085 take precedence) · CPC title