US6095661A — Method and apparatus for an L.E.D. flashlight

Claim 1

Independent Claim 208 words

A flashlight, comprising: (a) a flashlight housing, the housing being suitable for at least one of receiving therein and mounting thereon at least one DC voltage source; (b) a light-emitting diode (LED) housing connected to the flashlight housing, the LED housing comprising a first plurality of LED units that each emit light and have a reflector for collimating the emitted light forwardly therefrom generally along an optical axis of one of the plurality of LED units, the first plurality of LED units including at least seven individual LED units; and (c) a first electrical circuit that selectively applies pulsed power from the DC voltage source to the LED units, wherein the pulses have a frequency high enough that light produced by the LED units has an appearance to a human user of being continuous rather than pulsed, and the pulses have at least one characteristic that is controlled by the first electrical circuit in order to maintain an average predetermined light output level of the LED units as a voltage on the DC voltage source varies; wherein the flashlight is of such compact size and low weight as to be suitable for single-handed portable operation by a user, the flashlight further having a purpose of providing general-purpose illumination.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 208 words

A flashlight, comprising: (a) a flashlight housing, the housing being suitable for at least one of receiving therein and mounting thereon at least one DC voltage source; (b) a light-emitting diode (LED) housing connected to the flashlight housing, the LED housing comprising a first plurality of LED units that each emit light and have a reflector for collimating the emitted light forwardly therefrom generally along an optical axis of one of the plurality of LED units, the first plurality of LED units including at least seven individual LED units; and (c) a first electrical circuit that selectively applies pulsed power from the DC voltage source to the LED units, wherein the pulses have a frequency high enough that light produced by the LED units has an appearance to a human user of being continuous rather than pulsed, and the pulses have at least one characteristic that is controlled by the first electrical circuit in order to maintain an average predetermined light output level of the LED units as a voltage on the DC voltage source varies; wherein the flashlight is of such compact size and low weight as to be suitable for single-handed portable operation by a user, the flashlight further having a purpose of providing general-purpose illumination.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 23 words

The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the LED optical axes of the first plurality of LED units are substantially parallel to one another.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 51 words

The flashlight of claim 2, further comprising: a second plurality of LED units that each emit light and have a reflector for collimating the emitted light forwardly therefrom generally along an LED optical axis, wherein the LED optical axes of the second plurality of LED units converge forwardly from the housing.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

The flashlight of claim 1, wherein an optical spread angle of the first plurality of LED units are substantially equal to one another.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 66 words

The flashlight of claim 4, further comprising: a second plurality of LED units that each emit light and have a reflector for collimating the emitted light forwardly therefrom generally along an LED optical axis, wherein an optical spread angle of the second plurality of LED units are substantially equal to one another, and different than the optical spread angle of the first plurality of LED units.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the DC voltage source includes at least one battery cell.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 51 words

The flashlight of claim 6, wherein the LED units are connected in a parallel-series configuration with at least two LED units coupled in parallel to one another and in series with at least one other LED unit; and the DC voltage source includes at least three battery cells connected in series.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 34 words

The flashlight of claim 6, wherein the first electrical circuit further includes a control circuit for maintaining a predetermined light output level of the LED units as a charge on the battery cell varies.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 45 words

The flashlight of claim 8, wherein the control circuit maintains an average predetermined light output level of the LED units as the charge on the battery cell varies by increasing a pulse width to the LED units as the charge on the battery cell decreases.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 49 words

The flashlight of claim 8, wherein the control circuit maintains an average predetermined light output level of the LED units by measuring a battery voltage and adjusting a pulse width to the LED units based on the measured voltage to maintain the average light output at the predetermined level.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 53 words

The flashlight of claim 8, wherein the control circuit maintains an average predetermined light output level of the LED units by measuring an average light output and adjusting a pulse width to the LED units based o n the measured light output to maintain the measured average light output at the predetermined level.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 155 words

A flashlight, comprising: (a) a flashlight housing, the housing being suitable for at least one of receiving therein and mounting thereon at least one DC voltage source that includes at least one battery cell; (b) a light-emitting diode (LED) housing connected to the flashlight housing, the LED housing comprising one or more first LED units that each emit light and have a reflector for collimating the emitted light forwardly therefrom generally along an LED optical axis; and (c) a first electrical circuit that selectively applies power from the DC voltage source to the LED units, the first electrical circuit further comprising a control circuit for maintaining a predetermined light output level of the LED units as a charge on the battery cell varies; wherein the flashlight is of such compact size and low weight as to be suitable for single-handed portable operation by a user, the flashlight further having a purpose of providing general-purpose illumination.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 155 words

A flashlight, comprising: (a) a flashlight housing, the housing being suitable for at least one of receiving therein and mounting thereon at least one DC voltage source that includes at least one battery cell; (b) a light-emitting diode (LED) housing connected to the flashlight housing, the LED housing comprising one or more first LED units that each emit light and have a reflector for collimating the emitted light forwardly therefrom generally along an LED optical axis; and (c) a first electrical circuit that selectively applies power from the DC voltage source to the LED units, the first electrical circuit further comprising a control circuit for maintaining a predetermined light output level of the LED units as a charge on the battery cell varies; wherein the flashlight is of such compact size and low weight as to be suitable for single-handed portable operation by a user, the flashlight further having a purpose of providing general-purpose illumination.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 34 words

The flashlight of claim 12, the first LED units being a first plurality of LED units, wherein the LED optical axes of the first plurality of LED units are substantially parallel to one another.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 54 words

The flashlight of claim 13, further comprising: a second plurality of LED units that each emit light and have a reflector for collimating the emitted light forwardly therefrom generally along an LED optical axis, wherein the LED optical axes of the second plurality of LED units converge from one another forwardly from the housing.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 34 words

The flashlight of claim 12, the first LED units being a first plurality of LED units, wherein an optical spread angle of the first plurality of LED units are substantially equal to one another.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 66 words

The flashlight of claim 15, further comprising: a second plurality of LED units that each emit light and have a reflector for collimating the emitted light forwardly therefrom generally along an LED optical axis, wherein an optical spread angle of the second plurality of LED units are substantially equal to one another, and different than the optical spread angle of the first plurality of LED units.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 96 words

A method of providing general-purpose illumination of such compact size and low weight as to be suitable for single-handed portable operation by a user, comprising the steps of: (a) providing one or more first LED units that each emit light and have a reflector for collimating the emitted light forwardly therefrom generally along an LED optical axis; (b) selectively applying power from a DC voltage source to the LED units; and (c) maintaining a predetermined light output level of the LED units as a charge on the DC voltage source varies by controlling the step (b).

Claim 20

Independent Claim 96 words

A method of providing general-purpose illumination of such compact size and low weight as to be suitable for single-handed portable operation by a user, comprising the steps of: (a) providing one or more first LED units that each emit light and have a reflector for collimating the emitted light forwardly therefrom generally along an LED optical axis; (b) selectively applying power from a DC voltage source to the LED units; and (c) maintaining a predetermined light output level of the LED units as a charge on the DC voltage source varies by controlling the step (b).

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 63 words

The method of claim 17, wherein the step of maintaining maintains an average predetermined light output level of the LED units as the charge on the battery cell varies by increasing one or more pulse characteristics selected from the group consisting of (1) a pulse width, (2) a pulse energy, and (3) a pulse frequency as the charge on the battery cell decreases.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 71 words

The method of claim 17, wherein the step of maintaining maintains an average predetermined light output level of the LED units by measuring a battery voltage and adjusting one or more pulse characteristics selected from the group consisting of (1) a pulse width, (2) a pulse energy, and (3) a pulse frequency to the LED units based on the measured voltage to maintain the average light output at the predetermined level.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 72 words

The method of claim 17, wherein the step of maintaining maintains an average predetermined light output level of the LED units by measuring a light output and adjusting one or more pulse characteristics selected from the group consisting of (1) a pulse width, (2) a pulse energy, and (3) a pulse frequency to the LED units based on the measured light output to maintain an average light output at the predetermined level.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 64 words

An illumination source, comprising: (a) a light-emitting diode (LED) housing comprising one or more LEDs; and (b) a control circuit that selectively applies power from a source of electric power to the LEDs, the control circuit substantially maintaining a light output characteristic of the LEDs as a voltage of the voltage source varies over a range that would otherwise vary the light output characteristic.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 64 words

An illumination source, comprising: (a) a light-emitting diode (LED) housing comprising one or more LEDs; and (b) a control circuit that selectively applies power from a source of electric power to the LEDs, the control circuit substantially maintaining a light output characteristic of the LEDs as a voltage of the voltage source varies over a range that would otherwise vary the light output characteristic.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 18 words

The illumination source of claim 21, wherein the light output characteristic that is maintained is light output intensity.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 63 words

The illumination source of claim 22, wherein the control circuit maintains the light output intensity of the LED units as the voltage of the DC voltage source varies by increasing one or more pulse characteristics selected from the group consisting of (1) a pulse width, (2) a pulse energy, and (3) a pulse frequency as the voltage of the DC voltage source decreases.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 61 words

The illumination source of claim 22, wherein the control circuit maintains an average predetermined light output level of the LED units by measuring a voltage and adjusting one or more pulse characteristics selected from the group consisting of (1) a pulse width, (2) a pulse energy, and (3) a pulse frequency to maintain the average light output at the predetermined level.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 49 words

The illumination source of claim 22, wherein the control circuit maintains an average predetermined light output level of the LED units by measuring an average light output and adjusting a pulse width or a pulse frequency or both to maintain the measured average light output at the predetermined level.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 95 words

A battery-powered portable flashlight (100) comprising: a casing (110) suitable to hold a battery; one or more light-emitting devices (LEDs) (150) mounted to the casing; a switch (140) mounted to the casing; and a control circuit (130) coupled to the battery, the LEDs, and the switch, wherein the control circuit drives the LEDs with electrical pulses at a frequency high enough that light produced by the LEDs has an appearance to a human user of being continuous rather than pulsed, and wherein the LEDs have proportion of on-time that increases as remaining battery power decreases.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 95 words

A battery-powered portable flashlight (100) comprising: a casing (110) suitable to hold a battery; one or more light-emitting devices (LEDs) (150) mounted to the casing; a switch (140) mounted to the casing; and a control circuit (130) coupled to the battery, the LEDs, and the switch, wherein the control circuit drives the LEDs with electrical pulses at a frequency high enough that light produced by the LEDs has an appearance to a human user of being continuous rather than pulsed, and wherein the LEDs have proportion of on-time that increases as remaining battery power decreases.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 53 words

The flashlight of claim 26, further comprising: a feedback circuit that controls the pulses so that light intensity produced by the LEDs, as perceived by the human user, is substantially constant across a greater range of battery power than a corresponding range for which light intensity is equally constant without the feedback circuit.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 16 words

The flashlight of claim 27, wherein the feedback circuit measures a light output of the LEDs.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 15 words

The flashlight of claim 26, further comprising: a battery-voltage-measuring circuit coupled to the control circuit.

Claim 35

Independent Claim 73 words

A method for driving battery-powered portable flashlight (100) having a casing (110), a DC power source mounted to the casing, one or more solid-state light-emitting device (LEDs) (150) mounted to the casing, the method comprising the steps of: receiving input from a user; and based on the received input, generating a series of pulses to drive the LEDs such that the LEDs have proportion of on-time that increases as remaining battery power decreases.

Claim 36

Independent Claim 73 words

A method for driving battery-powered portable flashlight (100) having a casing (110), a DC power source mounted to the casing, one or more solid-state light-emitting device (LEDs) (150) mounted to the casing, the method comprising the steps of: receiving input from a user; and based on the received input, generating a series of pulses to drive the LEDs such that the LEDs have proportion of on-time that increases as remaining battery power decreases.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 77 words

An illumination source, comprising: (a) a light-emitting diode (LED) housing comprising one or more LEDs; (b) a source of electrical power; and (c) a control circuit that selectively applies power from a source of electric power to the one or more LEDs to substantially maintain a predetermined color spectrum of the one or more LEDs as a voltage of the source of electric power varies over a range that would otherwise vary the light output color spectrum.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 77 words

An illumination source, comprising: (a) a light-emitting diode (LED) housing comprising one or more LEDs; (b) a source of electrical power; and (c) a control circuit that selectively applies power from a source of electric power to the one or more LEDs to substantially maintain a predetermined color spectrum of the one or more LEDs as a voltage of the source of electric power varies over a range that would otherwise vary the light output color spectrum.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 84 words

The illumination source of claim 31, wherein: the one or more LEDs comprise one or more LEDs having a first characteristic color spectrum output and one or more LEDs having a second characteristic color spectrum output, the first characteristic color spectrum output different from the second characteristic color spectrum output; and wherein the control circuit controls a pulse characteristic in order to control the proportion of light output having the first characteristic color spectrum output to that having the second characteristic color spectrum output.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 49 words

The illumination source of claim 31, wherein: the one or more LEDs comprise one or more LEDs each one having a characteristic color spectrum output that varies based on applied current; and wherein the control circuit controls a pulse current in order to control the characteristic color spectrum output.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 70 words

An illumination source, comprising: (a) a light-emitting diode (LED) housing comprising one or more LEDs; and (b) an electrical control circuit that selectively applies pulsed power from a DC voltage source of electric power to the LEDs to control a light output color spectrum of the one or more LEDs and maintain a predetermined light output level of the LED units as a charge on the DC voltage source varies.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 70 words

An illumination source, comprising: (a) a light-emitting diode (LED) housing comprising one or more LEDs; and (b) an electrical control circuit that selectively applies pulsed power from a DC voltage source of electric power to the LEDs to control a light output color spectrum of the one or more LEDs and maintain a predetermined light output level of the LED units as a charge on the DC voltage source varies.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 86 words

The illumination source of claim 34, wherein: the one or more LEDs comprise one or more LEDs having a first characteristic color spectrum output and one or more LEDs having a second characteristic color spectrum output, the first characteristic color spectrum output different from the second characteristic color spectrum output; and wherein the control circuit controls one or more pulse characteristics in order to control the proportion of light output having the first characteristic color spectrum output to that having the second characteristic color spectrum output.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 48 words

The Illumination source of claim 34, wherein: the one or more LEDs comprise one or more LEDs each having a characteristic color spectrum output that varies based on applied current; and wherein the control circuit controls a pulse current in order to control the characteristic color spectrum output.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 32 words

The illumination source of claim 34, further comprising: (c) a machine-vision imaging device; and (d) an image processor coupled to receive image signals from the imaging device, wherein the control circuit controls.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 53 words

The flashlight of claim 26, further comprising: a feedback circuit that controls the pulses so that light intensity produced by the LEDs, as perceived by the human user, is substantially constant across a greater range of battery voltage than a corresponding range for which light intensity is equally constant without the feedback circuit.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 54 words

The flashlight of claim 2, further comprising: a second plurality of LED units that each emit light and have a reflector for collimating the emitted light forwardly therefrom generally along an LED optical axis, wherein the LED optical axes of the second plurality of LED units diverge from one another forwardly from the housing.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 35 words

The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the first electrical circuit further includes a control circuit for maintaining a predetermined light output level of the LED units as a voltage on the DC voltage source varies.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 43 words

The flashlight of claim 40, wherein the control circuit maintains an average predetermined light output level of the LED units by measuring a voltage and adjusting a pulse width to the LED units to maintain the average light output at the predetermined level.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 43 words

The flashlight of claim 40, wherein the control circuit maintains an average predetermined light output level of the LED units by measuring a voltage and adjusting a pulse energy to the LED units to maintain the average light output at the predetermined level.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 43 words

The flashlight of claim 40, wherein the control circuit maintains an average predetermined light output level of the LED units by measuring a voltage and adjusting a pulse frequency to the LED units to maintain the average light output at the predetermined level.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 41 words

The flashlight of claim 8, wherein the control circuit maintains an average predetermined light output level of the LED units as the charge on the battery cell varies by increasing a pulse frequency as the charge on the battery cell decreases.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 41 words

The flashlight of claim 8, wherein the control circuit maintains an average predetermined light output level of the LED units as the charge on the battery cell varies by increasing a pulse energy as the charge on the battery cell decreases.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 45 words

The flashlight of claim 8, wherein the control circuit maintains an average predetermined light output level of the LED units by measuring a battery voltage and adjusting a pulse frequency based on the measured voltage to maintain the average light output at the predetermined level.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 45 words

The flashlight of claim 8, wherein the control circuit maintains an average predetermined light output level of the LED units by measuring a battery voltage and adjusting a pulse energy based on the measured voltage to maintain the average light output at the predetermined level.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 48 words

The flashlight of claim 8, wherein the control circuit maintains an average predetermined light output level of the LED units by measuring an average light output and adjusting a pulse frequency based on the measured light output to maintain the measured average light output at the predetermined level.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 48 words

The flashlight of claim 8, wherein the control circuit maintains an average predetermined light output level of the LED units by measuring an average light output and adjusting a pulse energy based on the measured light output to maintain the measured average light output at the predetermined level.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 54 words

The flashlight of claim 13, further comprising: a second plurality of LED units that each emit light and have a reflector for collimating the emitted light forwardly therefrom generally along an LED optical axis, wherein the LED optical axes of the second plurality of LED units diverge from one another forwardly from the housing.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 24 words

The illumination source of claim 34, wherein: the control circuit further controls a pulse width in order to further control an average light intensity.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 24 words

The illumination source of claim 34, wherein: the control circuit further controls a pulse frequency in order to further control an average light intensity.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-08-01	2004-01-31	2004-08-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-08-01	2008-01-31	2008-08-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-08-01	2012-01-31	2012-08-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for an L.E.D. flashlight

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