GB2533009A

GB2533009A - Lamp

Info

Publication number: GB2533009A
Application number: GB1509874.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lionel David Sparrow Roger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-06-10
Filing date: 2015-06-08
Publication date: 2016-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 2035-06-08
Also published as: GB2533009B; GB201509874D0; GB201410333D0

Abstract

A torch has a body 1 and a battery 5 housed in the body 1. The body 1 carries an LED 4 and a total internal reflection lens 6 at the end opposite from a press button switch 3. An inertial sensor or accelerometer 7 is mounted in the housing. The LED 4 is powered by the battery 5. Charging contacts 8 are exposed on the housing. A control printed circuit board 2 is mounted in the body 1. The LED 4, the battery 5, the switch 3 and the accelerometer 7 are connected to the PCB 2. The accelerometer 7 detects movement of the lamp in terms of acceleration of the lamp when the lamp is tapped. The lamp switches between different states on detection by the inertial sensor of a tapping action of a first or second type.

Description

LAMP

The present invention relates to a lamp and in particular a battery-powered LED (light emitting diode lamp).

A toy wand is known from US Patent Application US 2002/0058459. In the words of the abstract: "The wand is activated and controlled by a sequence of motions of the wand while in the hand of an operator. When moved through a specific sequence of motions (herein termed a "spell"), the wand will produce an appealing display of lights whose purpose is to amuse or entertain the wand operator or others in the viewing area. The toy wand comprises a casing, a means for detecting a sequence of motions, one or more lights, and a means for providing time-varying illumination from the lights as a function of the history of motions of the wand." The means for detecting a sequence of motions is an accelerometer and the lights are LEDs alternatively illuminated in accordance with the movement detected by the accelerometer.

A portable lighting device is known from US Patent Application US 2010/0219775. In the words of the abstract: "A portable lighting device having a plurality of modes of operation and method of operating the portable lighting device are disclosed. One method of operating the portable lighting device is by rotating the portable lighting device along a principal axis of projection of the light source to enter into a new mode of operation. Normal, dim, motion sensitive, variable brightness, blink, right and left hand, lock out, SOS, night light, strobe, compass and signal modes are disclosed, and the modes may be adjusted. A rechargeable battery pack is disclosed that includes a housing, a rechargeable battery, and an accelerometer. A battery cassette is disclosed that provides a negative electrode at each end of the battery cassette, and a central connector that provides a positive electrode at both ends of the battery cassette." The lamp as marketed has a button that must be depressed in with indicia for the required mode upper most. The mode is then initiated. After initiation, selections within the mode, for instance flash on and off can be selected by turning about the barrel without the button depressed.

Most of our lamps are sold for use on pedal bicycles including mountain bikes.

Riders of the latter are very conscious of the length of power left in the batteries of their lamps, to such extent that when conditions are good and/or when they are going slowly, they turn their lamps down despite this requiring awkward pressing on the button on the end of the lamp mounted on the handlebars.

to The object of the present invention is to provide an improved LED lamp adapted to be controlled entirely by movements imparted to it.

In our UK patent application No 2,462,935 9, an LED lamp is described whose output can be stepped between different levels of output.

For completeness it should be noted that the invention of our UK patent application 0B2498442 related to a lamp comprising: * a housing; * a battery mounted within the housing; * an illumination LED or array thereof mounted on the housing; * a status display LED array mounted on the housing; * a inertial sensor for sensing change of position and/or orientation of the housing; * circuitry adapted to: * control the lamp between: * a quiescent state when no LED is ON, * an active state when the status display LED array is ON and * an illumination state when at least one illumination LED is ON and to: * switch from the quiescent state to the active state on detection via the inertial sensor of a position/orientation user action of a first type, switching ON one or more status LED and to * switch from the active state to the illumination state on detection via the inertial sensor of a position/orientation user action of a second type, switching ON one or more illumination LED.

According to the present invention there is provided a lamp comprising: * a housing; * a battery mounted within the housing; * an illumination LED or array thereof mounted on the housing; * a inertial sensor for sensing change of position and/or orientation of the housing; * circuitry adapted to: * control the lamp between: * a quiescent state when the illumination LED(s) is/are OFF, * an illumination state when the illumination LED(s) is/are ON and * between successive brightnesses of illumination of the LED(s); and to * switch from the quiescent state to the illumination state on detection via the inertial sensor of a tapping action of a first type, and to * switch between successive brightnesses of illumination on detection via the inertial sensor of a tapping action of a second type, increasing or decreasing the LED brightness.

Preferably the tapping action of a first type involves a plurality of sharp taps against the lamp. Further preferably, the tapping action of a second type involves a single sharp tap against the lamp. Alternatively a single tap could switch the lamp ON and double taps could change illumination level. Other taps could be used. Repetition of the tapping action of a first type (from the quiescent state to the illumination state) can involve a plurality of relatively high accelerations and correspondingly high signals from the sensor such as to be able to be detected by the circuitry which is quiescent; whereas a single tap against the lamp involves less accelerations and lower signals able to be detected by the circuitry in illumination state. However it is envisaged that the same strength of tap will normally be used.

A status display LED array can be mounted on the housing, to show that level of illumination for instance.

Preferably, the circuitry is further adapted to switch the lamp from a quiescent 5 state when no LED is ON to an intermediate active state when the status display LED array is ON via the inertial sensor of a tapping action.

The circuitry can be adapted to switch between successive states with the same or a similar tapping action with an interval in between or by unique tapping for each pair of states, for example two taps to get from quiescent to active and vice versa, three taps to go from active to ON and vice versa and one tap to cycle through successive levels of illumination.

Preferably, the circuitry is further adapted to change the inertial sensor modes Is of action via the inertial sensor of a tapping action of a first or second type. The change of position and/or orientation of the housing can be such that inertial sensor detects movement in an arc (clockwise and anti-clockwise) or inversion (upwards and downwards).

The inertial sensor will normally be a capacitive Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) accelerometer, adapted to detect movement of the sensor by virtue of the displacement of a seismic mass between two charged plates causing a change in the capacitance between the two plates. Thus the accelerometer can detect movement of the lamp and the housing in terms of acceleration of the mass and orientation in terms of the gravitational attraction on the mass. The sensor can be uni-dimensional or three dimensional or three uni-dimensional arranged to detect in three dimensional. Further it can be an angular detection.

The sensitivity of the accelerometer can be such that with the lamp mounted on a helmet the tapping can be via the helmet, i.e. the user taps the helmet and the tap is transferred to the lamp.

To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a lamp in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of the lamp of Figure 1; A lamp has a body 1 and a battery 5 is housed in the body 1. The body 1 carries a LED 4 and a total internal reflection lens 6 at the end opposite from a press 10 button switch 3. An accelerometer 7 is mounted in the housing. The LED 4 is powered by the battery 5. Charging contacts 8 are exposed on the housing.

A control printed circuit board (PCB) 2 is mounted in the body 1. The LED 4, the battery 5, the switch 3, the accelerometer 7 are connected to the PCB 2. The accelerator 7 detects movement of the lamp in terms of acceleration of the lamp when the lamp is exposed to a plurality of sharp taps. The plurality of relatively high accelerations activate correspondingly high signals in the sensor 7 which are then detected by the circuitry 2 which is quiescent. Following detection of the high signals the circuit is adapted to then switch the LED 4 from a quiescent state when no LED is ON to an illumination state when the illumination LED is ON. If the lamp is subsequently exposed to a single tap the accelerator 7 detects movement of the lamp in terms of lower acceleration as compared to higher acceleration detected when the lamp was exposed to a plurality of sharp taps. The relatively lower accelerations activate correspondingly lower signals in the sensor 7 which are then detected by the circuitry 2. Following detection of the lower signals the circuit 2 is adapted to then switch the LED 4 between successive brightnesses of illumination. One tap corresponding to a successive increase or decrease in brightness of illumination of the LED 4.

The LED may also switch between different states via the switch 3. The switch 3 is connected to the circuit and compression of the switch will activate the battery 5 to turn the LED 4 ON and/or to change the level of brightness. The switch 3 incorporates a bi-colour LED powered by the circuit 4 to indicate battery state and the state of powering of the lamp.

The energy used to charge the rechargeable battery can supplied from a charger (not shown) using AC mains electricity or a DC voltage source or the like via a pair of contacts 8. The charger will detect when the battery 5 reaches full charge.

Various means may be used (e.g. change in terminal voltage or temperature) to stop the charger charging before harmful overcharging or overheating occurs.

The actual firmware to execute the above is believed to be within the capabilities of the skilled reader and will not be described as such.

The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiment. For instance different user operations may be used to operate the lamp and to change the modes of operation. In addition various alternative modes of operation of the lamp may be programmed

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A lamp comprising: * a housing; * a battery mounted within the housing; * an illumination LED or array thereof mounted on the housing; * an inertial sensor for sensing change of position and/or orientation of the housing; * circuitry adapted to: * control the lamp between: to * a quiescent state when the illumination LED(s) is/are OFF, * an illumination state when the illumination LED(s) is/are ON and * between successive brightnesses of illumination of the LED(s); and * switch from the quiescent state to the illumination state on detection via the inertial sensor of a tapping action of a first type, and to * switch between successive brightnesses of illumination on detection via the inertial sensor of a tapping action of a second type, increasing or decreasing the LED brightness.
2. A lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tapping action of a first type involves a plurality of sharp taps against the lamp and the tapping action of a second type involves a single sharp tap against the lamp.
3. A lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tapping action of a first type involves a single sharp tap against the lamp and the tapping action of a second type involves a plurality of sharp taps against the lamp.
4. A lamp as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the lamp further 25 comprises a status display LED array mounted on the housing
5. A lamp as claimed in claim 4, wherein the display is to show the level of illumination.
6. A lamp as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the circuitry is further adapted to switch the lamp from a quiescent state when no LED is ON to an intermediate 30 active state when the status display LED array is ON via the inertial sensor of a tapping action.
7. A lamp as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the circuitry is adapted to switch between successive states with the same or a similar tapping action with an interval in between or by unique tapping for each pair of states.
8. A lamp as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the circuitry is further adapted to change the inertial sensor modes of action via the inertial sensor of a tapping action of a first or second type.
9. A lamp as claimed in claim 8, wherein the inertial sensor detects movement in an arc (clockwise and anti-clockwise) or inversion (upwards and downwards).
10. A lamp as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inertial sensor is a capacitive Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) accelerometer, adapted to detect movement of the sensor by virtue of the displacement of a seismic mass between two charged plates causing a change in the capacitance between the two plates.
11. A lamp as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sensitivity of the 15 accelerometer is such that with the lamp mounted on a helmet the tapping can be via the helmet, i.e. the user taps the helmet and the tap is transferred to the lamp.