GB2384373A - Torch or cycle lamp with display means - Google Patents

Torch or cycle lamp with display means Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2384373A
GB2384373A GB0201247A GB0201247A GB2384373A GB 2384373 A GB2384373 A GB 2384373A GB 0201247 A GB0201247 A GB 0201247A GB 0201247 A GB0201247 A GB 0201247A GB 2384373 A GB2384373 A GB 2384373A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
torch
display
cycle lamp
cycle
battery
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0201247A
Other versions
GB0201247D0 (en
Inventor
Robert James Hancox
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB0201247A priority Critical patent/GB2384373A/en
Publication of GB0201247D0 publication Critical patent/GB0201247D0/en
Publication of GB2384373A publication Critical patent/GB2384373A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21L—LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF, BEING PORTABLE OR SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR TRANSPORTATION
    • F21L4/00—Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells
    • F21L4/02—Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells characterised by the provision of two or more light sources
    • F21L4/022—Pocket lamps
    • F21L4/027—Pocket lamps the light sources being a LED
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62J—CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS
    • B62J6/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices on cycles; Mounting or supporting thereof; Circuits therefor
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
    • F21Y2115/00—Light-generating elements of semiconductor light sources
    • F21Y2115/10—Light-emitting diodes [LED]
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
    • G01R31/36—Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
    • G01R31/3644—Constructional arrangements
    • G01R31/3646—Constructional arrangements for indicating electrical conditions or variables, e.g. visual or audible indicators

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

A torch or cycle lamp has an illuminated graphical or multiple segment display 4 to provide the user with status information or form part of the user interface. The display has a minimum of two segments and is able to present information either in alphabetic, numeric, graphical or symbolic form. The information may be a graduated representation of the battery charge status or remaining operating time. The display may be a LCD. The light source 1 may be LEDs.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1>
ADVANCED TORCH OR CYCLE LAMP This invention relates to a torch or cycle lamp with an advanced capability.
Torches and cycle lamps are readily available devices, typically comprising battery, switch, light source and housing.
Although numerous designs exist, a common problem with them is the lack of status
information such as the remaining charge in the battery or a precise indication of how long the light will last.
With the simplest systems operated from primary cells such as zinc-carbon, the state of the battery can be estimated by the brightness of the light because this gradually fades as the power source is depleted. However, alternative battery technologies and other advances have allowed modern torches to have a near constant light output making it impossible to know in advance when the light will fail by this method.
A common occurrence of this is when secondary cells such as Nickel Cadmium or Nickel Metal Hydride are used in a cycle lamp. In this case, the battery output voltage and therefore the light intensity hardly varies during the majority of the discharge period. Consequently, the light fails both suddenly and unexpectedly and in many cases this is an issue both of convenience and safety.
In the case of a more complex system capable of performing a number of different lighting functions, operation may be difficult due to the requirement to use the unit in darkness and limited space for controls.
Accordingly, this invention provides a torch or cycle lamp equipped with a graphical or multiple segment display.
Ideally, the display would be of a low power type such as an LCD so that information may be displayed both when the torch is active and when it is idle. The display should also be illuminated during operation of the controls so that it is readable in the dark.
The resulting system would be capable of presenting information to the user such as a graduated representation of charge status or remaining operating time or be capable of forming part of an interactive user interface. The information would be displayed in either alphabetic, numerical, symbolic or graphical form depending upon the capabilities of the display and user preference.
A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the top view of the torch.
Figure 2 is a view of the internal components from the left side.
<Desc/Clms Page number 2>
The example design shown is a small rechargeable torch which may also be used as a cycle lamp. It features a liquid crystal display 7 and fits neatly into the palm of the hand or pocket. Referring to the drawing, the main components are identified as follows.
A light source 1 comprising a mixture of white and coloured Light Emitting Diodes. A POWER button 2 and a MODE button 3. A clear plastic display window 4 moulded into the case 5. A control system comprising microcontroller 6 and support electronics integrated onto a printed circuit Board 8. An illuminated four digit seven segment liquid crystal display 7. A prismatic rechargeable Li-Ion battery 9 and associated charging Socket 10.
These components are combined in an electrical circuit such that the microcontroller can determine the state of the battery, the state of the buttons and can control the light source and display.
Theoretically, the torch can have almost any number of different operating modes or functions depending upon the software loaded into the microcontroller. However, in this specific example it has two which are as follows : Normal. The light produced is white and continuous for use as a torch.
Beacon. The light flashes orange once every second for use in an emergency.
When the system is manufactured, the battery is charged up and the algorithms in the microcontroller are reset.
Pressing the POWER button 2 toggles the torch between ON and OFF.
Pressing the MODE button 3 changes between modes Normal and Beacon.
During operation of the controls, the display is illuminated to make it readable in the dark. If the POWER button is pressed, the display continues to indicate the battery state. If the MODE button is pressed, the display changes to indicate which one has been selected. Then, after a few seconds of inactivity, reverts back to indicating the battery state.
Whilst the light source is on, the microcontroller periodically acquires status information from the battery and updates the display accordingly. In this example, the battery status is presented as a single digit varying between "9" and "0".
As the energy in the battery is depleted, the display decrements linearly with each digit representing approximately ten minutes of operation. The user can therefore quickly work out how many minutes of operation remain by adding a zero to the displayed number. After use, the torch may be recharged by connecting a suitable power supply to the charging socket. Charging would normally continue until the battery is fully charged indicated when the display reads"9".
As shown in the drawing, the example torch has a four digit display. However, a single digit display would also be adequate to indicate the charge state, remaining operating time and the selected operating mode.

Claims (6)

  1. CLAIMS 1. A torch or cycle lamp equipped with a graphical or multiple segment display.
  2. 2. A torch or cycle lamp as claimed in Claim 1 where the display is illuminated.
  3. 3. A torch or cycle lamp as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 where the display provides a graduated indication of remaining operating time.
  4. 4. A torch or cycle lamp as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 where the display provides a graduated indication of charge status.
  5. 5. A torch or cycle lamp as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 where the display forms part of an interactive user control system.
  6. 6. A torch or cycle lamp substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
GB0201247A 2002-01-19 2002-01-19 Torch or cycle lamp with display means Withdrawn GB2384373A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0201247A GB2384373A (en) 2002-01-19 2002-01-19 Torch or cycle lamp with display means

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0201247A GB2384373A (en) 2002-01-19 2002-01-19 Torch or cycle lamp with display means

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0201247D0 GB0201247D0 (en) 2002-03-06
GB2384373A true GB2384373A (en) 2003-07-23

Family

ID=9929407

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0201247A Withdrawn GB2384373A (en) 2002-01-19 2002-01-19 Torch or cycle lamp with display means

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2384373A (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006041275A1 (en) * 2004-10-13 2006-04-20 Reynoso Gutierrez Mario Adran Electronic device and method for communication using light signals
EP1930649A1 (en) * 2006-12-05 2008-06-11 Yunzhao Liu Flashlight with LCD display
GB2505253A (en) * 2012-08-24 2014-02-26 Ultimate Sports Engineering Lamp

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2146849A (en) * 1983-09-17 1985-04-24 Marconi Instruments Ltd Electrical test probe head assembly
GB2215851A (en) * 1988-02-12 1989-09-27 Tekna Battery life indicator module for flashlight
US4962347A (en) * 1988-02-25 1990-10-09 Strategic Energy, Ltd. Flashlight with battery tester
EP0651262A2 (en) * 1993-11-01 1995-05-03 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. Portable battery-powered devices with battery testers
US5690410A (en) * 1995-10-23 1997-11-25 Lin; Tzu-Lung Light device for a bicycle
WO2000042350A1 (en) * 1999-01-12 2000-07-20 Thierry Cassan Flash-light with tubular case comprising a safety system managed by a microprocessor
GB2354065A (en) * 1999-09-11 2001-03-14 Jonathan Richard Swift Solar powered cycle lights

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2146849A (en) * 1983-09-17 1985-04-24 Marconi Instruments Ltd Electrical test probe head assembly
GB2215851A (en) * 1988-02-12 1989-09-27 Tekna Battery life indicator module for flashlight
US4962347A (en) * 1988-02-25 1990-10-09 Strategic Energy, Ltd. Flashlight with battery tester
EP0651262A2 (en) * 1993-11-01 1995-05-03 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. Portable battery-powered devices with battery testers
US5690410A (en) * 1995-10-23 1997-11-25 Lin; Tzu-Lung Light device for a bicycle
WO2000042350A1 (en) * 1999-01-12 2000-07-20 Thierry Cassan Flash-light with tubular case comprising a safety system managed by a microprocessor
GB2354065A (en) * 1999-09-11 2001-03-14 Jonathan Richard Swift Solar powered cycle lights

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006041275A1 (en) * 2004-10-13 2006-04-20 Reynoso Gutierrez Mario Adran Electronic device and method for communication using light signals
EP1930649A1 (en) * 2006-12-05 2008-06-11 Yunzhao Liu Flashlight with LCD display
GB2505253A (en) * 2012-08-24 2014-02-26 Ultimate Sports Engineering Lamp
GB2505253B (en) * 2012-08-24 2015-09-02 Ultimate Sports Engineering A light

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0201247D0 (en) 2002-03-06

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)