WO2017214657A1

WO2017214657A1 - Electrical systems and components and methods therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2017214657A1
Application number: PCT/AU2016/050814
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter CASTLE; Martin Karl LOSCHER; David John GURRIE; Adam Ben DE JONG
Original assignee: Lumen International Holdings Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2016-06-14
Filing date: 2016-08-31
Publication date: 2017-12-21

Abstract

A lamp is co-operable with another lamp in a vehicle. The lamp includes a light-emitting portion, a conductor and a control arrangement connected to the conductor to form a capacitive sensor for sensing a human. The capacitive sensor senses a human and distinguish between a human and rain. In addition, the system includes a device responsive to an engine being cranked. The device includes conductors for receiving a voltage from the electrical power source; and a logic arrangement configured to apply a logic to automatically identify a variation in the voltage, indicative of the engine being cranked and the logic arrangement configured to apply protection-logic to electrical-power supplied to the power-consuming device.

Description

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS AND METHODS THEREFOR FIELD

The inventors have developed various new electrical systems, and components and methods therefor. The invention will be described by reference to the example of a lighting system for illuminating the tray of a utility vehicle. The invention is not limited to this example.

Indeed many of the described components and methods have application well beyond the described systems.

BACKGROUND A utility vehicle (or a 'ute' as it would be known in Australia, or a 'pickup' as it would be known in the United States) is a vehicle including a cargo tray at its rear. Various attempts to illuminate the tray of a utility vehicle have been made. Typically they entail a lamp with a switch, e.g. a toggle switch. The present inventors have recognised that such arrangements provide a less than ideal illumination, can be costly to make and install and can be problematic, e.g. can be prone to water damage.

Some aspects of the present invention aim to provide improvements in and for lamps, or at least to provide an alternative for those concerned with lamps.

The present inventors have also recognised that it is an irritation when the lights in the tray of a vehicle are left on when the vehicle is put in motion, and that this can be addressed by automatically deactivating the lights in response to the engine being cranked. Furthermore, the inventors have also recognised that responding to the engine being cranked is advantageous in contexts other than lighting systems. Accordingly, some aspects of the present invention aim to provide improved, or at least alternative, methods and/or devices responsive to an engine being cranked. The present inventors have also recognized that it is an irritation when lights and/or other accessories drain a vehicle's battery to a state of charge insufficient to start the engine. Accordingly at least preferred forms of some aspects of the present invention aim to protect batteries from being so drained. Some aspects of the invention aim to provide efficiencies in, or at least alternative approaches to, the construction of various electrical devices.

It is not admitted that any of the information in this patent specification is common general knowledge, or that the person skilled in the art could be reasonably expected to ascertain or understand it, regard it as relevant or combine it in any way before the priority date.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the invention provides a lamp co-operable with another lamp, substantially identical to the other lamp, and including a light-emitting portion; a conductor; and a control arrangement connected to the conductor to form a capacitive sensor for sensing a human; the control arrangement being connected to the light-emitting portion; connectable to the other lamp; and configured to change the state of the light-emitting portion in response to each of the capacitive sensor sensing a human; and the capacitive sensor of the other lamp sensing a human. Another aspect of the invention provides a lamp including a light-emitting portion; a conductor; and a control arrangement connected to the conductor to form a capacitive sensor arranged to sense a human and in response to sensing a human change the state of the light- emitting portion; the capacitive sensor being configured to disregard sensed capacitance having a stability below a stability criterion to discriminate between a human and rain.

Preferably the stability criterion is the sensed capacitance remaining within a defined range for a predetermined stability-check period; and the defined range is about an average of the sensed capacitance over a predetermined averaging period. Other stability criteria, such as a maximum standard deviation over a defined period, are possible.

The capacitive sensor may be configured to identify the sensed capacitance having a stability above a stability criterion for a predetermined stability period to discriminate between a human and rain.

The capacitive sensor may be configured to identify a capacitance beyond a magnitude threshold for a predetermined magnitude period to discriminate between a human and rain. The magnitude threshold is preferably a defined departure from a baseline capacitance. Another aspect of the invention provides a lamp including a light-emitting portion; a conductor; and a control arrangement connected to the conductor to form a capacitive sensor arranged to sense a human and in response to sensing a human change the state of the light- emitting portion; the capacitive sensor being configured to deactivate the light-emitting portion in response to sensing capacitance beyond a threshold for a predetermined period.

Another aspect of the invention provides a lamp including one or more external portion from which light emerges; and a capacitive sensor, by which the lamp is activatable, associated with the external portion(s) to sense a human touching substantially any point of the external portion(s).

Preferably substantially all of the light that emerges from the lamp emerges from the external portion(s). Optionally the lamp includes only one external portion, of the lamp, from which light emerges, the only one external portion being a substantially continuous portion.

The lamp may be configured to produce at least 20, or more preferably at least 30, lumen.

Another aspect of the invention provides a lamp including a light-emitting portion; a conductor; a cover; a shield; and a control arrangement connected to the conductor to form a capacitive sensor arranged to sense a human and in response to sensing a human change the state of the light- emitting portion; the light-emitting portion being arranged to forwardly project light through the cover; the conductor being an elongate member behind the cover and forward of and at least partly encircling the light-emitting portion; the shield being arranged to shield the conductor from the light-emitting portion. Another aspect of the invention provides a lamp including a cover; a light-emitting portion arranged to forwardly project light through the cover; and a printed circuit board carrying the light-emitting portion; the printed circuit board and a portion of the cover through which the projected light passes together at least partly defining a sealed cavity.

The lamp preferably includes a double-sided adhesive member defining a closed shape, encircling the light-emitting portion, and sealingly engaging one of the printed circuit board and the cover. Preferably a rear of the printed circuit board is potted.

Another aspect of the invention provides a device responsive to an engine being cranked; the engine at least one of having and being associated with a starter motor for cranking the engine; and an electrical power source for powering the starter motor; the device including conductors for receiving a voltage from the electrical power source; and a logic arrangement configured to apply logic to automatically identify a variation, in the voltage, indicative of the engine being cranked.

The logic may include detecting a fall in the voltage associated with starting the starter motor. Preferably the logic includes detecting the voltage falling at a rate which exceeds a fall-detect threshold.

The logic may include detecting a sustained low voltage corresponding to the operation of the starter motor. Preferably the logic includes detecting the voltage remaining below a sustained-low-detect threshold for a sustained-low-detect period. Most preferably the sustained-low-detect period commences upon the detecting the voltage falling at a rate which exceeds the fall-detect threshold.

The logic may include detecting a rise associated with deactivating the starter motor. Preferably the logic includes detecting the voltage rising at a rate above a rise-detect threshold. The logic may include after the sustained-low-detect period detecting the voltage rising at a rate above a rise-detect threshold. The logic may include detecting a sustained voltage associated with operation of an electrical generator (e.g. an alternator) driven by the engine and connected to the power source. The logic preferably includes, after the detecting the voltage rising above the rise-detect threshold, detecting the voltage remaining above a sustained-voltage-detect threshold for a sustained-voltage-detect period. Optionally the logic includes detecting the voltage remaining above a sustained-voltage-detect threshold for a sustained- voltage-detect period.

The device may be a lamp including a light-emitting portion wherein the logic

arrangement is a control arrangement configured to deactivate the light-emitting portion in response to the engine being cranked.

Alternatively, the device may be an electrical outlet including one or more receiving portions into which a power-consuming device may be plugged to be powered. The logic arrangement may be configured to cut power to the power-consuming device in response to the engine being cranked. The device may be configured to automatically cut power to the power-consuming device to protect a battery. Preferably the logic arrangement is configured to apply protection-logic to electrical-power supplied to the power-consuming device to identify a variation, in the electrical-power, indicative of the electrical-power source having less than a predetermined state of charge; and in response to the electrical-power source having less than the predetermined state of charge, automatically cut power to the power-consuming device to protect the electrical power source.

The device may be configured to restore power to the power-consuming device in response to the engine being cranked. The one or more receiving portions may include a 12V cigarette-lighter-type socket. Another aspect of the invention provides a device, being an electrical outlet, including one or more receiving portions into which a power-consuming device may be plugged to be powered by an electrical power source, (e.g. by a battery, fuel cell other source the output of which is relatable to its state of charge); and a logic arrangement configured to apply protection-logic to electrical-power supplied to the power-consuming device to identify a variation, in the electrical-power, indicative of the electrical-power source having less than a predetermined state of charge; and in response to the electrical-power source having less than the predetermined state of charge, automatically cut power to the power-consuming device to protect the electrical power source; wherein the one or more receiving portions include a 12V cigarette-lighter-type socket.

The protection-logic preferably includes determining, a protection threshold, based on at least one parameter of the electrical- power supplied to the power consuming device; and comparing at least one other parameter of the electrical-power supplied to the power consuming device to the protection threshold.

Another aspect of the invention provides a logic arrangement, for protecting an electrical power source to which a load is applicable, configured to apply protection-logic to electrical-power supplied to the load to identify a variation, in the electrical-power, indicative of the electrical power source having less than a predetermined state of charge; and in response to the electrical power source having less than the predetermined state of charge, at least reduce the load to protect the electrical power source; wherein the protection-logic includes determining, a protection threshold, based on at least one parameter of the electrical-power supplied to the power consuming device; and comparing at least one other parameter of the electrical-power supplied to the power consuming device to the protection threshold.

The logic arrangement could be integrated with a power consuming device such as a radio or a light. Alternatively it could be integrated with a vehicle, e.g. to monitor all of the current supplied by the vehicle's battery. Inclusion in a dedicated battery-protector module (including a suitable housing) would be advantageous.

Another aspect of the invention provides an electrical outlet, including a barrel having a barrel axis and defining a 12V cigarette-lighter-type socket; a body into which the barrel is rearwardly inserted; and a clip embracing an exterior of the barrel; the barrel and the clip including barrel-retaining portions co-operable to limit forward movement of the barrel through clip; the clip and the body including clip-retaining portions co-operable to limit forward movement of the clip relative to the body, the clip and the body including further clip-retaining portions co-operable to limit rearward movement of the clip relative to the body; and at least either one of a) the clip-retaining portions of the clip and the body and b) the further clip-retaining portions of the clip and the body is configured to urge the clip at least one of fore or aft to control rattling.

The further clip-retaining portions preferably include projections arranged to resiliently deform, when the clip is rearwardly moved into engagement with the body, to forwardly urge the clip to control rattling.

Preferably at least either one of the i) clip-retaining portions of the clip, and ii) the clip- retaining portions of the body, include lead-in portions along which the other of i) and ii) slide, when the clip is rearwardly inserted. The one of i) and ii) may include stop-portions following the lead-in portions and positively engageable by the other of i) and ii) to so limit forward movement of the clip relative to the body.

The clip-retaining portions of the clip may include rearwardly-projecting barbed projections.

Preferably the retaining clip at least predominantly consists of an integral body of material. Another aspect of the invention provides a clip for an electrical outlet, the electrical outlet having a barrel defining a 12V cigarette-lighter-type socket; and a body into which the barrel is rearwardly inserted; and the clip being configured to embrace an exterior of the barrel and including barrel-retaining portions co-operable with the barrel to limit forward movement of the barrel through clip; clip-retaining portions, in the form of rearwardly-projecting barbed projections, co- operable with the body to limit forward movement of the clip relative to the body; and further clip-retaining portions to limit rearward movement of the clip relative to the body; the further clip-retaining portions including projections arranged to resiliently deform, when the clip is rearwardly moved into engagement with the body, to forwardly urge the clip to control rattling.

Another aspect of the invention provides an electrical outlet, including a lamp; a body carrying the lamp; a 12V cigarette-lighter-type socket accessible from a front of electrical outlet; one or more wires routable, from within the body, through a hole in a planar portion of sheet material to which the electrical outlet is mountable; a resilient element at least predominantly consisting of an integral body of material and shaped to engage a) the planar portion, and b) a periphery of a rear of the body, to at least impede the exit of light from, and the ingress of water into, the rear of body; and shield the wires from the edge of the hole.

The electrical outlet may include a barrel projecting from the rear of the body to project through the hole in the planar portion of sheet material; and defining the 12V cigarette-lighter-type socket accessible from a front of the electrical outlet.

Preferably the resilient element includes a tubular portion for carrying the barrel and the wire(s) through the hole. Another aspect of the invention provides an electrical outlet, including a body; a barrel projecting from the rear of the body to project through a hole in a planar portion of sheet material to which the electrical outlet is mountable; and defining the 12V cigarette-lighter-type socket accessible from a front of the electrical outlet; one or more wires routable, from within the body, through a hole in a planar portion of sheet material to which the electrical outlet is mountable; a resilient element at least predominantly consisting of an integral body of material and including a tubular portion for carrying the barrel and the wire(s) through the hole. Preferably the control arrangement is configured to activate the light-emitting portion in response to a tail gate being opened.

Another aspect of the invention provides a set of lamps each of which includes a respective capacitive sensor arranged to sense a human and in response to sensing a human change the state of the set. Another aspect of the invention provides a method, of manufacturing a lamp, including defining a sealed cavity at least partly between a printed circuit board and a portion of a cover; then potting a rear of the printed circuit board; the printed circuit board carrying a light-emitting portion for forwardly projecting light through the portion of the cover.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of detecting an engine being cranked; the engine at least one of having and being associated with a starter motor for cranking the engine; and an electrical power source for supplying a voltage to the starter motor; the method including a logic arrangement applying logic to automatically identify a variation, in the voltage, indicative of the engine being cranked.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method, of protecting an electrical power source to which a load is applicable, including applying protection-logic to electrical-power supplied to the load to identify a variation, in the electrical-power, indicative of the electrical power source having less than a predetermined state of charge; and in response to the electrical power source having less than the predetermined state of charge, at least reducing the load to protect the electrical power source; wherein the applying protection-logic includes determining, a protection threshold, based on at least one parameter of the electrical-power supplied to the power consuming device; and comparing at least one other parameter of the electrical-power supplied to the power consuming device to the protection threshold.

Load could be reduced by, for example, a) deactivating a selected one or more of a plurality of power sockets controlled by the arrangement; or b) the arrangement sending a control signal to a device associated with the load. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the apparatus will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a lamp;

Figure 2 is an enlargement of a portion of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a cross-section view of the body of the lamp of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-section view through the body of another lamp;

Figure 5 charts sensor readings associated with a human hand;

Figure 6 charts sensor readings associated with rain;

Figure 7 is a flow chart illustrating how the lamp of Figures 1 and 2 discriminates between a human and rain;

Figure 8 is a flow chart illustrating how the lamp of Figures 1 and 2 discriminates between a human and a cargo object;

Figure 9 is an electrical diagram of a lighting system incorporating lamps in accordance with Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 10 charts the fall and rise in a voltage corresponding to an engine being cranked;

Figures 1 1 a and 1 1 b are together a flow chart illustrating how the lamp of Figures 1 and 2 detects a variation in voltage corresponding to an engine being cranked;

Figure 12 is a simplified version of Figure 10 in which various key features are highlighted;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a power outlet;

Figure 14 is a front view of an outlet body;

Figure 15 is a front perspective view of the outlet body;

Figure 16a is a rear view of the outlet body;

Figure 16b is a rear perspective view of the outlet body;

Figure 17 is a side view of a barrel;

Figure 18 is a cross-section view corresponding to the line B-B in Figure 17;

Figure 19 is a perspective view of the barrel of Figure 17 fitted with a retaining clip; Figure 20 is a perspective view of the retaining clip; Figure 21 is a plan view of the retaining clip;

Figure 22 is a cross-section view through the assembled outlet corresponding to the line B-B in Figure 17;

Figure 23 is an axial cross-section view of the outlet (barrel omitted);

Figure 24 is a rear perspective view of selected components of the outlet;

Figure 25 is a top view of the outlet;

Figure 26 is a front view of a sealing member;

Figure 27 is a rear view of the sealing member;

Figure 28 schematically illustrates an electrical system including the power outlet;

Figure 29 charts a protection-threshold voltage as a function of current; and

Figure 30 is a flow chart illustrating the protection-logic applied by the outlet.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The lamp 1 incorporates a body 3 and a lead 5. The lead 5 terminates in a plug 7.

The body 3 incorporates a cosmetic surround in the form of bezel 9, a cover in the form of lens 1 1 , a seal 13, a conductor 15, a support 17, a seal 19 and a printed circuit board (PCB) 21.

The lead 5 is connected to a rear of the PCB 21. Light-emitting portions in the form of LEDs are mounted on the front of the PCB 21. Also mounted on the PCB 21 are electronics including a Microchip PIC microcontroller (not shown; other microcontrollers could be used) which constitute a control arrangement and co-operates with the conductor 15 to form a capacitive sensor. The control arrangement controls the LEDs.

The support 17 serves to support the conductor 15 and also to shield the conductor 15 from the LEDs. The support includes a planar flange 17a surrounding a wall 17b which encircles an opening 17c. Spaced around the top of the wall 17b are four outwardly- projecting overhangs 17d. The conductor 15 consists of a single length of wire. In this case the wire is 0 0.7 mm nickel-plated spring steel wire. Most of the wire is formed into a planar loop. A short end portion 15a is turned down perpendicular to the plane of the loop. The other end of the wire stops short of the turned down portion 15a so that the loop is an open loop. Other shapes are possible. As is most apparent in Figure 3, the support 17 supports the conductor 15 and the conductor 15 embraces the wall 17b and sits under the overhangs 17d. The support also shields the conductor 15 from the LEDs of the PCB 21 so that a silhouette of conductor 15 is not visible. This is aesthetically important.

Whilst, in this example, the conductor 15 takes the form of a wire, other forms of conductor are possible. For example, a track on the PCB or a coating on the lens would also be convenient. The cover 1 1 is a single integral body of material. In this example, the body is white translucent material. Of course, there are other options such as transparent material and various frosting and textured effects. The bezel 9 is a single integral body of opaque plastic. The PCB 21 , support 17 and seals 13, 19 have mutually complementary (albeit not identical) external profiles. The flange 17a and seals 13, 19 have complementary (albeit not identical) inner profiles. The seals are formed of double-sided adhesive. In this case they are die cut.

A rear of the cover 1 1 incorporates a planar landing 1 1 a shaped to complement the seal 13.

When assembled, the support 17 holds the conductor 15. The end 15a of the conductor 15 is received within a socket 21 a of the PCB 21 to electrically connect the conductor 15 to the control arrangement. The seal 19 is sandwiched between the flange 17a and the PCB 21 , and the seal 13 is likewise sandwiched between the flange 17a and the landing 1 1 a whereby some of the control arrangements and the LEDs are captured within a sealed cavity 1 1 b partly defined by a portion 1 1 c, of the cover 1 1 , and the PCB 21 . A cavity 1 1 d at the rear of the PCB 21 is then potted with a suitable potting agent to seal out moisture and debris from, and electrically protect, the PCB 21.

The encapsulation of the LEDs within the cavity 1 1 b protects the LEDs and the cover portion 1 1 c, and the space therebetween, from the potting compound. Of course, potting compound leaking onto the rear of the cover portion 1 1 c or onto the LEDs would have a detrimental effect on the illumination and appearance of the lamp 1.

For the avoidance of doubt, 'seal' and related wording are to be understood in this context. A pressure-tight seal is not required. For example, the socket 21 a is a 0 1 mm hole for receiving the 0 0.7 mm end 15a. Solder is used to connect portion 15a to PCB 21. This interface is a seal as this wording and similar wording is used herein.

Portion 1 1 c of the cover 1 1 is a substantially continuous portion through which substantially all of the light produced by the lamp 1 emerges. The capacitive sensor, including the conductor 15 and the PCB mounted electronics, is associated with the portion 1 1 c to sense a human touching substantially any point of the portion 1 1 c. As such, the 'capacitive-touch pad' area includes substantially all of the exterior portions from which light emerges from the lamp.

It is contemplated that some variants of the disclosed apparatus may take the form of capacitive-touch buttons incorporating low-output indicator-type LEDs, although the lamp preferably has an output of at least 20 lumen to provide effective illumination to an area such as the tray of a utility vehicle. Lamps which produce at least about 30 lumen have been found to be advantageous in this context.

The disclosed lamp 1 incorporates a cover 1 1. For the avoidance of doubt, coverless variants are also possible. By way of example, the external portion from which light emerges might be an exposed surface portion of a light-emitting diode. The cover 1 1 includes a pair of recessed screw holes 1 1 e by which the lamp 1 may be secured to a planar surface (e.g. the inner wall of a utility vehicle tray) to project light perpendicularly to that surface. The bezel 9 includes inner barbs 9a co-operable with landings 1 1f of the cover 1 1 so that the bezel 9 can simply be clipped onto the cover 1 1 . Other clip-on arrangements are possible.

Figure 4 illustrates the body portion 3' of an alternate lamp that is similar to the lamp 1 but for a modified cover 1 1 ' and bezel 9' which are shaped to mount to a vertical wall and orient the LEDs (etc) to project light downwardly at about 35 degrees from the horizontal. The described lights could also be mounted on a horizontal surface such as the inside of the roof of a tray canopy.

The control arrangement of the PCB 21 and the conductor 15 together constitute a touch sensor for sensing a human touching, or in close proximity to, the portion 1 1 c of the cover. The support 17 controls the position of the conductor 15 relative to the portion 1 1 c to improve the performance of the capacitive sensor.

Utility vehicle trays are often exposed to rain and used to carry a variety of cargo items. It is desirable that rain and cargo objects contacting the lamp do not cause the lamp to operate for extended periods. As such, it is preferred that the control arrangement is configured to apply logic to the sensed capacitance to discriminate between a human touch on the one hand and rain and/or cargo objects on the other hand.

Within the PIC microcontroller the sensed capacitance is understood as a number ranging from 0 to 1023. Figure 5 plots the sensed capacitance 23 corresponding to a human touch, whereas Figure 6 plots the capacitance 25 corresponding to rain. The sensed capacitance 23 is a square wave, whereas the capacitance 25 associated with rain is erratic.

According to a preferred form of the device, the control arrangement is configured to apply multiple logical tests to discriminate between a human and rain. Figure 7 illustrates the implementation of these logical tests within the control arrangement of the PCB 21 . At 27a, the sensed capacitance (expressed as a number between 0 and 1023) is retrieved and at 27c a baseline BL is calculated. In this example, the baseline is a long term average. An average over a period of more than 5 seconds is considered long term. The baseline is preferably periodically updated. In this example, a counter is consulted at 27b to assess whether it is time to update the baseline. Also at 27a, a rolling average 29 is calculated. In this case, the rolling average is the average of the sensed capacitance over the immediately preceding 128 ms.

At 31 , the sensed capacitance 23 is compared to a magnitude threshold MT. In this case, the magnitude threshold MT is defined as 20 units above the baseline BL. Figure 5 shows the sensed capacitance 23 going upwardly beyond the magnitude threshold MT when the lamp is touched by a human. If the sensed capacitance is beyond the magnitude threshold, the control arrangement moves on to logical step 33 at which the stability of the sensed capacitance is assessed. In this example, the sensed capacitance is considered to be 'immediately stable' if it is within a defined range of ±7 of the rolling average 29. If the sensed capacitance is immediately stable, a stable time counter is incremented at step 35 and a further aspect of stability is assessed at step 37.

At step 37, a stability time counter is compared to a predetermined count value which in this case corresponds to a predetermined stability-check period of 80 ms. A period of 60ms to 100ms is believed to be advantageous. If that count has not been reached, the control arrangement will return to step 27. After the stable time counter exceeds the value corresponding to the predetermined stability-check period (i.e. after the sensed capacitance 23 has remained within the range of the rolling average 29 ±7 for 80 ms), the control arrangement moves on to step 39 at which an asserted counter is

incremented and then moves on to step 41.

At step 41 , the asserted counter is compared to a predetermined count value

corresponding to a sustained stability period of 400 ms. If 400 ms has not yet been exceeded, the control arrangement returns to step 27. Once 400 ms has been exceeded, the sensed capacitance is considered indicative of a human and at 43 the control arrangement changes the state of the LEDs, that is:

1. if the LEDs are on, the control arrangement turns them off; and

2. if the LEDs are off, the control arrangement turns them on. If at steps 31 and 33 the sensed capacitance falls below the threshold MT or outside the ±7 range, the control arrangement at step 45 resets the stable time counter and the asserted counter and returns to step 27.

Figure 8 illustrates a further set of logic by which the control arrangement discriminates between a human and a cargo item so that contact from a cargo item does not cause the lamp to remain on for an extended period. At step 47, the control arrangement asks whether the switch has been asserted at step 43. If not, a press-hold counter is set to zero at 47a. If the switch is asserted, the status of the light-emitting portion is checked at 48 and, if this is so, at 49 a press-hold counter is incremented. At 51 , this counter is compared to a predetermined required number corresponding to a predetermined period such as 5 seconds. If that number has been exceeded, the LEDs are turned off at step 53. If at step 48 the light-emitting portion is not on, the control arrangement returns to step 47.

This advantageous construction is robust and weatherproof, relatively inexpensive to produce, and also relatively easy and inexpensive to install. The sealing enclosure of the electronics within the cavity 1 1 b in conjunction with the potting material provides a degree of weatherproof! ng. This advantageous switching arrangement does away with the cost, complexity and potential problems (e.g. weatherproofing problems) associated with conventional switches such as toggle switches. Moreover, the absence of a separate switch creates a clean, attractive appearance which is of utmost importance to some consumers. The operation of the light is simple and intuitive. Figure 9 illustrates an installed lighting system 55 connected to a battery B and a switch of the tailgate TG. The switch could be a 12V or a ground switch. Switches at locations other than the tailgate are possible. The system 55 incorporates four lamps 1 and wiring 57 by which the battery B, lamps 1 a to 1 d and tailgate TG are electrically connected. As such, two of the wires of the lead 5 constitute conductors for receiving voltage from the battery B.

The plug 7 of each lamp 1 is a four-way plug including a separate conductor for each of the battery, ground, a bus communication line 58 and the tailgate TG.

The lamps 1 a to 1d (or more specifically the control arrangements of those lamps) are mutually connected by the bus 58 so that the lamps are synchronised to always have the same state. As such, each control arrangement is configured to change the state of not only its own LEDs but also the LEDs of each of the other lamps. Thus the lamps of a set can be advantageously positioned about the tray of a vehicle and an operator need only locate and apply their finger (or other body portion) to a single one of those lamps to activate the set. This of course makes finding an activation point much easier and also results in a better spread of light about the tray. Other modes of interconnection and synchronisation are possible.

In another variant of the system 55, the lamps 1 b, 1 c, 1 d are simplified by the omission of the capacitive touch sensor. As such these lamps become slave units and the lamp 1 a becomes a master unit for controlling the slave units. Significant cost savings can be eliminated by deleting the logic arrangements from the lamps 1 b, 1 c, 1 d. As such this variant of the system 55 is a lower cost variant which may be appropriate for installations where the lamps 1 b, 1 c, 1 d are at locations which are not conveniently reachable by a user so there is little advantage in configuring these lamps to be touch activation points. In yet other variants of the system there may be more than one master unit, e.g. both of the lamps 1 a, 1 b may be master units responsive to each other whilst the lamps 1 c, 1d are simplified slave units responsive to the lamps 1 a, 1 b. Other variants of the described system are contemplated. There is of course significant advantage to be gained from having a cap-touch lamp as a master unit in control of a simple slave unit, or more preferably in control of two or more slave units.

In the foregoing examples, the slave units take the form of lamps. Alternatively, other devices may be controlled by the cap-touch master lamp. By way of example, in the context of a camper trailer a single cap-touch lamp may provide a convenient activation point for activating a host of other electrical devices such as radios and power outlets, etc. In particular, it is contemplated that a relay may be responsive to the master unit whereby the master unit can be used to control a device such as a higher powered lamp.

The connection to the tailgate TG enables the lamps to automatically activate in response to the tailgate opening. Advantageously, the lamps are also configured to automatically turn themselves off if and when an operator cranks the engine of the vehicle. This avoids the inconvenience of having to stop the vehicle to turn off the lights when they have been left on inadvertently. Typically, the engine would be an internal combustion engine.

To achieve this advantageous operation, the control arrangement of the PCB 21 monitors the supply voltage from the battery B for a variation 59 indicative of the engine being cranked. Figure 10 illustrates such a variation, including a sharp fall 59a followed by a sustained low 59b, a fast rise 59c and a sustained voltage 59d. This control logic allows for convenient automatic deactivation without the expense and complication of co-operating with the ignition or engine management systems.

The control logic implemented by the control arrangement on PCB 21 is outlined in Figures 1 1 a, 1 1 b. At 61 , the voltage from the battery B is measured and an average of that voltage over an averaging period is calculated. In this case, the averaging period is the immediately preceding 128 ms. As such, the average is a rolling average. At 63, the current voltage is subtracted from the current average to determine a value referred to herein as delta. This value is a simple signed measure of the rate at which the voltage is changing.

At 65, the logical status of a 'dip completed' flag is assessed. If that flag is set to 'false', the control arrangement moves to step 67 at which the status of an 'initial dip detected' flag is assessed. If that flag is set to 'false', the control arrangement moves on to step 69 at which delta is compared to a dip delta threshold. In this example, the dip delta threshold is set to correspond to a fall of 50 volts per second. Falling at a rate which exceeds 50 volts per second is typically associated with the falling voltage caused by the initial starting current drawn by the starter motor as the battery B struggles to meet the starter motor's energy demands. If delta does not exceed the dip delta threshold, the logic arrangement pauses at step 71 before returning to step 61.

If delta exceeds the dip delta threshold, the initial dip detected flag is set to 'true' at step 73 and at 75 a 'dip hold threshold' is set. Preferably it is set to the current voltage reading less a dip offset. In this case the dip offset is 0.5 volts. As will be subsequently described, the dip hold threshold is used to detect a sustained low associated with the operation of the starter motor.

Setting the initial dip detected flag to 'true' signifies the identification of the sharp fall 59a. Subsequent to this identification, the logic arrangement moves on to step 77 via steps 71 , 61 , 63, 65 and 67. At 77, the current voltage is compared to the dip hold threshold. If the current voltage is below the dip hold threshold, a dip hold time counter is incremented at step 79 and then that counter is compared to a dip hold time threshold at step 81. In this example, the dip hold time threshold is selected so that at step 81 a sustained low 59b of more than 480 ms is identified, and if so, at 83 the dip completed flag is set to 'true'. In turn the logic arrangement moves on to step 85 via steps 71 , 61 , 63 and 65. If at step 77 the current voltage is not below the dip hold threshold, all flags are cleared (i.e. set to 'false') and all counters are cleared (i.e. set to zero) at step 87 and the logic arrangement moves on to step 71.

If at step 81 the dip hold counter is not greater than the dip hold time threshold, the logic arrangement moves to step 71 and in turn through another iteration of steps 61 , etc.

Once the sustained low 59b has been detected, the status of a 'rise completed' flag is assessed at step 85 and, if not, the logic arrangement moves on to looking for the rise 59c associated with the deactivation of the starter motor after the engine is fired. At 89, the status of a 'rise detected' flag is assessed. If not, at step 91 delta is compared to a rise delta threshold selected to correspond to a rise of 30 volts per second. If that rate is not exceeded, a 'rise wait counter' is incremented at step 93 and that counter is in turn compared to a rise wait time threshold at step 95.

The rise wait time threshold is selected to correspond to 5 seconds. If that threshold is not exceeded, the control arrangement returns to step 71 for another iteration through steps 61 and 85, etc. If the rise wait time threshold has been exceeded at step 97, all flags and counters are cleared and the logic arrangement returns to step 71 for another iteration of the logic.

If at step 91 delta exceeds the rise delta threshold, the rise detected flag is set to 'true' at step 99 and at 101 a rise hold threshold is defined. Preferably the rise hold threshold is defined in terms of the current voltage reading. In this case, it is defined in terms of the current reading plus a rise offset. Preferably the rise offset is 0.2 volts.

Subsequent to step 101 , the control arrangement moves on through step 71 en route to step 89 and (since the rise detected flag has been set to 'true') on to step 103 to begin looking for the sustained voltage 59d associated with the operation of the alternator driven by the engine. At 103, the current voltage is compared to the rise hold threshold, and if that threshold is exceeded a 'rise hold time' counter is incremented at 105 and that counter compared to a rise hold time threshold at 107. The rise hold time threshold corresponds to one second in this example. Until that threshold has been reached, the logic arrangement moves from step 107 to step 71 for another iteration through the control logic.

Upon the rise hold time threshold being exceeded, the logic arrangement sets the rise completed flag to 'true' at step 109, then moves on to step 71. On this further iteration, whilst the rise completed flag is set to 'true', the logic arrangement moves from step 85 to step 1 1 1 at which a 'crank detected' flag is set to 'true', i.e. the cranking of the engine is identified. The rise completed flag being set to 'true' at 109 is also identification of the cranking of the engine.

If at step 103 the current voltage is not greater than the rise hold threshold, the logic arrangement moves on to step 1 13 at which the rise detected flag is set to 'false'. The logic arrangement then moves on to step 71 for another iteration through step 91 , etc. The inventors have found that the performance of crank-detection logic can be improved by varying the sample rate at which it is applied. An electrical outlet configured to apply crank-detection logic at a rate of 1 / 80ms was trialed. Whilst this rate was fully expected to work well, faster rates were found to be preferred. A sample rate 1 / 16ms was found to work well. The described control logic (and separate elements thereof) can be usefully applied in contexts other than lighting. Figure 13 illustrates a power outlet 1 15 incorporating a cigarette-lighter-type 12V power outlet covered by a cover 1 17. The outlet 1 15 has a planar rear 1 19 by which it is mountable to, for example, a planar vertical wall on the interior of a utility vehicle's tray. Typically this entails cutting a hole to accommodate the rear 123a of the cigarette-lighter-type socket.

The outlet 1 15 is in use wired to the battery B to supply power from the battery B to various power-consuming devices (such as a radio) that one might wish to power in the tray of a utility vehicle. Many such devices should be deactivated whilst the vehicle is in motion. Thus it is convenient to provide a power outlet which cuts the power to the power-consuming devices when the vehicle's engine is cranked.

The outlet 1 15 incorporates a lamp 121 , although non-illuminated variants of the outlet are also contemplated. Advantageously, the lamp 121 may incorporate a capacitive sensor and/or otherwise be analogous to the lamp of Figure 1 . Advantageously, the outlet 1 15 incorporates a logic arrangement configured to deactivate the lamp 121 in response to the engine being cranked. It is also contemplated that the outlet may include a capacitive sensor, for sensing a human, in response to which the outlet 1 15 is configured to change the state of the power supplied to the power-consuming device(s). In this example the conductor of the capacitive sensory is a metallic trace on a PLB positioned to sensor a human touching touch point 125 on the bottom of the outlet.

The lamp 121 may be configured to replace one of the lamps 1 a to 1d of the system 55 to form an advantageous electrical system in which the operation of the lamp 121 is synchronised with the other of the lamps 1 a to 1 d.

The preferred mechanical details of the outlet 1 15 will now be described. These mechanical details could advantageously be applied in other context, e.g. in a context of a simple non-illuminated outlet without any form of logic arrangement.

The outlet includes a body 127, a barrel 123, retaining clip 129, a sealing member 131 and cosmetic trims 133.

The body 127 is, in this example, a single integral body of glass-filled polyamide formed by injection moulding. Other forms, materials and modes of construction are possible. For the avoidance of doubt, 'integral' and variants of the term have their conventional meaning in the art. As such they refer to a body being formed of a single continuous phase of material. They take in bodies formed by routine operations such as a single injection moulding operation or by machining a single billet. The terms also take in a body formed by integrating two bodies through welding which results in a single continuous phase of material. The terms do not refer to a member made up of two distinct albeit mutually fastened bodies, such as two members connected by a typical fastener or adhesive.

The body includes a planar rear 1 19 defined by the free edge of an approximately rectangular wall 135. A front of the wall 135 is partially spanned by a front wall 137. In this example the front wall 137 is approximately planar and oriented to be approximately parallel to the planar surface to which the outlet 1 15 is mountable. The front wall 137 spans the top about two thirds of the front end of the wall 135 leaving a lower opening 139 in which the lamp 121 is mounted.

In this example the front wall 135 is approximately square in profile. An opening 141 opens centrally through the front wall 135 to receive the barrel 123. The opening 131 is predominantly circular and includes two key ways 141 a, 141 b and six ends 141 c of stiffening ribs 141 d spaced about as periphery. The ends 141 c and two side formations about the key way 141 b project radially inwards from the generally circular periphery of the opening 141 to grip the cylindrical exterior of the barrel 123 and thereby reduce rattling without requiring excessive assembly forces that may be required if there were interference over more extensive contact surfaces. Other inward projections could be employed to similar effect.

Adjacent each of the four corners of the front wall 135 is formed is a respective counter- bored screw hole 143. As is most evident in Figure 23 the front edge 141 e of the opening 141 is rounded to define a lead-in whereas the rear edge 141f is substantially perpendicular.

The barrel 123 has a cylindrical exterior over most of its length. At its top end the cylindrical exterior is encircled by a radial flange 145 which is in turn capped by a lid 147. The lid 147 is pivotally mounted and spring biased to its closed position. The barrel 123 internally carries a 12V cigarette-lighter-type socket into which suitable power consuming devices can be plugged. These internals are well within the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art and are therefore are not shown or otherwise detailed in this specification.

Keys 149a, 149b are formed on the cylindrical exterior and project a short distance downwardly from the flange 145. As is most evident in Figure 18, underlying the flange 145, is an arrangement of clip receiving features including groove portions 151 a, 151 b (which are akin to portions of a circlip groove) and openings 135a, 135b through the barrel's cylindrical wall.

The clip 129 substantially consists of a single integral body of spring steel cut and formed from a sheet of spring steel by a progressive metal-forming die. Other materials and modes of construction are contemplated. The clip includes a planar body portion 155 in the form of an open loop to embrace the barrel 123 in the manner of a circlip. Four resilient barbs 156 project rearwardly from an inner periphery of the body 155. End portions 156a of the barbs 156 are folded over to project forwardly and radially upwards.

Spaced around an exterior of the body 155 are fingers 157 formed to, when the clip is in its free condition, project rearwardly from the body 155 at a shallow oblique angle.

The clip 155 is fitted to the barrel 123 by first opening the clip by engaging a tool (e.g. a tool akin to circuit pliers) with engagement points 159. In this example the engagement points take the form of holes passing through the body 155. The opened clip 155 is then passed over the body 123. A key way 161 receives the key 149b to rotationally locate the clip 155 relative to the barrel 123. Other means of rotational location are possible. The tool is then released so that the clip under its own resilience contracts about the barrel 123 and a plurality of barrel engaging formations of the clip engage the barrel to axially locate the clip 155 along the barrel 123. The barrel-engaging formations include:

• circlip-like portions 163a, 165a which engage the groove 151 a;

· projection 166a which engages opening of 153a;

• circlip-like portions 163b, 165b which engage the groove 151 b; and • projection 166b which engages opening 153b.

The barrel, clip combination 123, 155 is then rearwardly inserted into the body 127, or more specifically into the opening 144 of that body. During the initial phase of insertion the lead-in 141 e leads the rear 123a of the barrel into the hole. With further rearward movement of the barrel, clip combination the end portions 156a function as lead ins and cooperate with the lead-in 141 e to drive the barbs 156 radially inwards until the free ends of the portions 156a pass the rear of the wall 135. Upon that passing of the rear of the wall 135, the barbs 156a are outwardly driven under their own bias so that the free ends of the portions 156a underlie the wall 135 to resist forward movement of the barrel, clip combination (i.e. resist reversal of the rearward insertion of that combination).

During the insertion of the barrel, clip combination 123, 155 the fingers 157 are resiliently deformed so that after assembly the fingers push on the front of the wall 135 to forwardly move the barrel, clip combination 123, 155 until the free ends of the portions 156a are driven into positive engagement with the rear of the wall 135 whilst the fingers 157 remain resiliently deformed. As such the fingers 157 continuously urge the barrel, clip combination 123, 155 in the forward direction. This has been found to

advantageously control rattling. In effect the wall 135 is clamped between the portions 156a and fingers 157.

Many variations of the described principles are possible. By way of example, one of both of the barbs 156 and the fingers 157 could be replaced by integral features of one or both of the barrel 123 and the housing 127.

Turning to Figures 24 to 27, the planar rear 1 19 of the body 127 is spanned by the sealing member 131. Sealing member 131 is a single integral piece of EPDM rubber (or other suitable resilient material) which serves a variety of purposes. A front of the member 131 is encircled by a forwardly opening channel 167 to receive the free edge of the wall 134. In use the member 131 spaces the body 127 from the planar portion to which the outlet is mounted and forms a seal surrounding an interior of the body 127. This seal is a dual purpose seal. Firstly it is water resistant to limit the amount of water entering the body. Secondly it blocks light that would otherwise bleed out from the rear of the housing which would be aesthetically unsatisfactory.

Projecting from a rear of the body 131 is a sleeve portion 169 for carrying both the barrel 123 and wires from a PCB (not shown) carried within the body 127. This mode of construction allows the wires to pass through the sheet material to which the outlet is mounted without forming a second aperture dedicated to the wires whilst at the same time ensuring that those wires are properly protected from the potentially sharp edges of the sheet material. A rear of the sleeve portion 169 is closed but for a downwardly protecting tubular outlet portion 171 via which the wires are routed. The downward opening of this portion is another measure to limit the amount of water that may enter the interior of the body 127.

The seal includes an array of screw holes 173 complementary to the array of screw holes 143 of the body 127. Preferably the outlet is supplied to end consumers as a multi- component kit including firstly, an assembly made up of the body 127, barrel 123, clip 155 and sealing member 131 ; secondly suitable screws; and thirdly the cosmetic pieces 133. To install the outlet 115, the user forms a suitable penetration in the planar material to which the outlet is to be mounted then feeds the free ends of the wires and the portions 171 and 169 of the member 131 through that hole. The screw holes 143, 173 may then be used as a template to mark out the location of the appropriate screw holes before the assembly is removed and the holes drilled. Once the holes are drilled the assembly can be replaced and the screws fitted to mount the assembly to the planar surface. The cosmetic pieces are then push fitted into the counter bores of the screw holes 143 to conceal the screws and complete the aesthetics of the outlet. The control arrangements of the lamp 1 and the outlet 1 15 are configured to compare the battery voltage to a predefined threshold and deactivate the LEDs if that voltage goes below that threshold. This prevents the lamp 1 or outlet 1 15 from entirely draining the battery if it is inadvertently left illuminated. Other forms of protection-logic are possible, e.g. the lamp 1 may automatically deactivate after a predetermined activation time, e.g. after 10 minutes, to protect the battery.

Figures 29 and 30 illustrate a preferred mode of protection-logic. According to this preferred mode the power supplied via the 12V socket is monitored and a variation indicative of the battery approaching depletion is determined by comparing one parameter of that power (in this case a voltage) to a threshold 175 which varies as a function of another parameter of that power (in this case current). Of course variations of this principle are possible, e.g. a comparison of power and current would be entirely equivalent. In the context of direct current power supply, power is the simple product of voltage and current.

As illustrated in the graph, the threshold voltage 175 decreases with increasing current. In this example, there is a linear relationship between the threshold voltage and the current although other more complex relationships are contemplated. The precise form of the curve ideally varies from battery to battery and is preferably calculated through direct measurements of the vehicle/battery system under a full range of loads. Most preferably the protection-logic is configured to ensure that the battery is left with sufficient charge to crank the engine of the vehicle.

Figure 30 illustrates a preferred implementation of the protection-logic. Preferably this logic is implemented by a PCB mounted microcontroller although other logic

arrangements are possible.

At step 177 the electrical current supplied to the power consuming device via the 12V cigarette-type-socket is determined, then at 179 the threshold voltage 175 is calculated. The controller then moves on to step 181 at which a state of charge (SOC) flag is checked. If that flag is 'true' the controller moves on to step 183 at which the voltage supplied to the power consuming device via the 12V cigarette-lighter-type socket is compared to the threshold value 175 calculated at step 179. If the voltage is below that value the SOC flag is set to 'false' at step 185. According to this preferred form of the invention, the supply of power to the power consuming device is conditional on the SOC flag being set to 'true' so that in response to step 185 the outlet 1 15 is deactivated to protect the battery 187.

From step 185 the controller returns to step 177 for another iteration through the logic. This time, now that the SOC flag is set to 'false', the controller moves on from step 181 to step 187 at which one or more flags are checked to determine whether an SOC reset event has occurred. The engine being cranked is a potential SOC reset event. The voltage available from the battery is another possible reset event. Preferably the reset voltage is higher than the threshold voltage 175 corresponding to zero current to provide hysteresis. For example, in this example, 13V would be a suitable reset voltage.

If there has been no reset event the controller moves on from step 187 to step 177 for another iteration. Once a reset event has occurred, the controller moves on from step 187 to step 189 at which the SOC flag is set to 'true' before the controller moves to step 177 for another iteration. Figure 28 schematically illustrates an electrical system incorporating the outlet 1 15 a battery 186 and a fuse 191. Within the housing 127 is mounted a PCB 193 on which is mounted a power supply 195, output driver 197, microcontroller 199, lamp 121 , touch switch 201 and status lamp 203.

The power supplied divides the power received from the battery between the output driver 197 and the controller 199. It also regulates and controls the voltage to the microcontroller 199 to protect it from variations in the voltage supplied. The output driver 197 could take the form of a relay or a similar integrated circuit and serves to selectively connect the socket to the power supply 195 (an in turn the battery 186) in response to control signals from the controller 199. In some contexts, it can be advantageous for the control arrangement to record the fact that it has automatically deactivated the LEDs (or other power-consuming device) to protect the battery against being entirely drained (whether that deactivation is in response to voltage, activation time and/or other factors).

The control arrangement of the outlet 1 15 is advantageously configured to store an 'automatic shutdown' flag if and when power to the power-consuming device(s) is cut off in this manner. The control arrangement is further configured to restore power to the power-consuming device(s) in response to both the 'automatically deactivated' flag and the 'engine cranked' flag being set to 'true'. This creates an advantageous user experience. By way of example, a radio plugged into the socket might be played for a long time whilst a vehicle is parked at a campsite. The socket advantageously guards against the radio draining the vehicle's battery by automatically shutting down when required. On the other hand, when that occurs, the operator need only crank the engine to simultaneously operate the alternator (to begin replenishing the battery) and restore power to the radio.

Whilst preferred forms of the technology are particular suited to automotive applications, other variants of the described technology may be applied elsewhere.

Claims

1. A lamp co-operable with another lamp, substantially identical to the other lamp, and including a light-emitting portion; a conductor; and a control arrangement connected to the conductor to form a capacitive sensor for sensing a human; the control arrangement being connected to the light-emitting portion; connectable to the other lamp; and configured to change the state of the light-emitting portion in response to each of the capacitive sensor sensing a human; and the capacitive sensor of the other lamp sensing a human.

2. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the control arrangement is configured to disregard sensed capacitance having a stability below a stability criterion to discriminate between a human and rain.

3. A lamp including a light-emitting portion; a conductor; and a control arrangement connected to the conductor to form a capacitive sensor arranged to sense a human and in response to sensing a human change the state of the light- emitting portion; the capacitive sensor being configured to disregard sensed capacitance having a stability below a stability criterion to discriminate between a human and rain.

4. The lamp of claim 2 or 3 wherein the stability criterion is the sensed capacitance remaining within a defined range for a predetermined stability-check period; and the defined range is about an average of the sensed capacitance over a predetermined averaging period.

5. The lamp of claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the capacitive sensor is configured to identify the sensed capacitance having a stability above a stability criterion for a predetermined sustained-stability period to discriminate between a human and rain.

6. The lamp of any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the capacitive sensor is configured to identify a capacitance beyond a magnitude threshold for a predetermined magnitude period to discriminate between a human and rain.

7. The lamp of claim 6 wherein the magnitude threshold is a defined departure from a baseline capacitance.

8. The lamp of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the capacitive sensor is configured to deactivate the light-emitting portion in response to sensing capacitance beyond a threshold for a predetermined period.

9. A lamp including a light-emitting portion; a conductor; and a control arrangement connected to the conductor to form a capacitive sensor arranged to sense a human and in response to sensing a human change the state of the light- emitting portion; the capacitive sensor being configured to deactivate the light-emitting portion in response to sensing capacitance beyond a threshold for a predetermined period.

10. The lamp of any one of claims 1 to 9 where the capacitive sensor is associated with one or more external portions, of the lamp, from which light emerges to sense a human touching substantially any point of the external portion(s);

1 1. A lamp including one or more external portion from which light emerges; and a capacitive sensor, by which the lamp is activatable, associated with the external portion(s) to sense a human touching substantially any point of the external portion(s).

12. The lamp of claim 10 or 1 1 wherein substantially all of the light that emerges from the lamp emerges from the external portion(s).

13. The lamp of claim 10, 1 1 or 12 including only one external portion, of the lamp, from which light emerges; the only one external portion being a substantially continuous portion.

14. The lamp of any one of claims 1 to 13 being configured to produce at least 20 lumen.

15. The lamp of any one of claims 1 to 14 including a cover and a shield; the light-emitting portion being arranged to forwardly project light through the cover; the conductor being an elongate member behind the cover and forward of and at least partly encircling the light-emitting portion; the shield being arranged to shield the conductor from the light-emitting portion.

16. A lamp including a light-emitting portion; a conductor; a cover; a shield; and a control arrangement connected to the conductor to form a capacitive sensor arranged to sense a human and in response to sensing a human change the state of the light- emitting portion; the light-emitting portion being arranged to forwardly project light through the cover; the conductor being an elongate member behind the cover and forward of and at least partly encircling the light-emitting portion; the shield being arranged to shield the conductor from the light-emitting portion.

17. The lamp of any one of claims 1 to 14 including a cover; the light-emitting portion being arranged to forwardly project light through the cover.

18. The lamp of any one of claims 15 to 17 wherein including a printed circuit board carrying the light-emitting portion; the printed circuit board and a portion of the cover through which the projected light passes together at least partly defining a sealed cavity.

19. A lamp including a cover; a light-emitting portion arranged to forwardly project light through the cover; and a printed circuit board carrying the light-emitting portion; the printed circuit board and a portion of the cover through which the projected light passes together at least partly defining a sealed cavity.

20. The lamp of claim 18 or 19 including a double-sided adhesive member defining a closed shape, encircling the light-emitting portion, and sealingly engaging one of the printed circuit board and the cover.

21. The lamp of claim 18, 19 or 20 wherein a rear of the printed circuit board is potted.

22. The lamp of any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein an or the control arrangement is configured to receive an input voltage; and deactivate the light-emitting portion in response to a variation in the input voltage indicative of an engine being cranked.

23. A device responsive to an engine being cranked; the engine at least one of having and being associated with a starter motor for cranking the engine; and an electrical power source for powering the starter motor; the device including conductors for receiving a voltage from the electrical power source; and a logic arrangement configured to apply logic to automatically identify a variation, in the voltage, indicative of the engine being cranked.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein the logic includes detecting a fall in the voltage associated with starting the starter motor.

25. The device of claim 23 or 24 wherein the logic includes detecting the voltage falling at a rate which exceeds a fall-detect threshold.

26. The device of claim 23, 24 or 25 wherein the logic includes detecting a sustained low corresponding to the operation of the starter motor.

27. The device of any one of claims 24 to 26 wherein the logic includes detecting the voltage remaining below a sustained-low-detect threshold for a sustained-low-detect period.

28. The device of claim 27 wherein the sustained-low-detect period commences upon the detecting the voltage falling at a rate which exceeds the fall-detect threshold.

29. The device of any one of claims 23 to 28 wherein the logic includes detecting a rise associated with deactivating the starter motor.

30. The device of any one of claims 23 to 29 wherein the logic includes detecting the voltage rising at a rate above a rise-detect threshold.

31. The device of claim 28 or 29 wherein the logic includes, after the sustained-low- detect period, detecting the voltage rising at a rate above a rise-detect threshold.

32. The device of claim 31 wherein the logic includes, after the detecting the voltage rising above the rise-detect threshold, detecting the voltage remaining above a sustained-voltage-detect threshold for a sustained-voltage-detect period.

33. The device of any one of claims 23 to 31 wherein the logic includes detecting the voltage remaining above a sustained-voltage-detect threshold for a sustained-voltage- detect period.

34. The device of any one of claims 23 to 33 including detecting a sustained voltage associated with operation of an electrical generator driven by the engine and connected to the power source.

35. A lamp being the device of any one of claims 23 to 34 and including a light-emitting portion; wherein the logic arrangement is a control arrangement configured to deactivate the light-emitting portion in response to the engine being cranked.

36. The lamp of any one of claims 1 to 23 or 35 wherein an or the control arrangement is configured to activate the light-emitting portion in response to a tail gate being opened.

37. A lamp, for illuminating the tray of a utility vehicle, in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 24, 35 or 36.

38. A set of lamps each of which is in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 25 and 35 to 37.

39. A set of lamps each of which includes a respective capacitive sensor arranged to sense a human and in response to sensing a human change the state of the set.

40. The lamp of any one of claims 1 to 22 and 35 to 37, or the set of claim 38 or 39, when mounted to illuminate the tray of a utility vehicle.

41. The device of any one of claims 23 to 34 being an electrical outlet including one or more receiving portions into which a power-consuming device may be plugged to be powered.

42. The device of claim 41 wherein the logic arrangement is configured to cut power to the power-consuming device in response to the engine being cranked.

43. The device of claim 41 wherein the logic arrangement is configured to apply protection-logic to electrical-power supplied to the power-consuming device to identify a variation, in the electrical-power, indicative of the electrical-power source having less than a predetermined state of charge; and in response to the electrical-power source having less than the predetermined state of charge, automatically cut power to the power-consuming device to protect the electrical power source.

44. The device of claim 43 being configured to restore power to the power-consuming device in response to the engine being cranked.

45. The device of any one of claims 41 to 44 wherein the one or more receiving portions include a 12V cigarette-lighter-type socket.

46. A device, being an electrical outlet, including one or more receiving portions into which a power-consuming device may be plugged to be powered by an electrical power source; and a logic arrangement configured to apply protection-logic to electrical-power supplied to the power-consuming device to identify a variation, in the electrical-power, indicative of the electrical-power source having less than a predetermined state of charge; and in response to the electrical-power source having less than the predetermined state of charge, automatically cut power to the power-consuming device to protect the electrical power source; wherein the one or more receiving portions include a 12V cigarette-lighter-type socket.

47. The device of claim 43, 44 or 46 wherein the protection-logic includes determining, a protection threshold, based on at least one parameter of the electrical- power supplied to the power consuming device; and comparing at least one other parameter of the electrical-power supplied to the power consuming device to the protection threshold.

48. A logic arrangement, for protecting an electrical power source to which a load is applicable, configured to apply protection-logic to electrical-power supplied to the load to identify a variation, in the electrical-power, indicative of the electrical power source having less than a predetermined state of charge; and in response to the electrical power source having less than the predetermined state of charge, at least reduce the load to protect the electrical power source; wherein the protection-logic includes determining, a protection threshold, based on at least one parameter of the electrical-power supplied to the power consuming device; and comparing at least one other parameter of the electrical-power supplied to the power consuming device to the protection threshold.

49. An electrical outlet, including a barrel having a barrel axis and defining a 12V cigarette-lighter-type socket; a body into which the barrel is rearwardly inserted; and a clip embracing an exterior of the barrel; the barrel and the clip including barrel-retaining portions co-operable to limit forward movement of the barrel through clip; the clip and the body including clip-retaining portions co-operable to limit forward movement of the clip relative to the body, the clip and the body including further clip-retaining portions co-operable to limit rearward movement of the clip relative to the body; and at least either one of a) the clip-retaining portions of the clip and the body and b) the further clip-retaining portions of the clip and the body is configured to urge the clip at least one of fore or aft to control rattling.

50. The electrical outlet of claim 49 wherein the further clip-retaining portions include projections arranged to resiliently deform, when the clip is rearwardly moved into engagement with the body, to forwardly urge the clip to control rattling.

51. The outlet of claim 49 or 50 wherein at least either one of the i) clip-retaining portions of the clip, and ii) the clip-retaining portions of the body, include lead-in portions along which the other of i) and ii) slide, when the clip is rearwardly inserted.

52. The outlet of claim 51 wherein the one of i) and ii) includes stop-portions following the lead-in portions and positively engageable by the other of i) and ii) to so limit forward movement of the clip relative to the body.

53. The outlet of claim 47 wherein the clip-retaining portions of the clip include rearwardly-projecting barbed projections.

54. The outlet of any one of claims 49 to 53 wherein the retaining clip at least predominantly consists of an integral body of material.

55. A clip for an electrical outlet, the electrical outlet having a barrel defining a 12V cigarette-lighter-type socket; and a body into which the barrel is rearwardly inserted; and the clip being configured to embrace an exterior of the barrel and including barrel-retaining portions co-operable with the barrel to limit forward movement of the barrel through clip; clip-retaining portions, in the form of rearwardly-projecting barbed projections, co- operable with the body to limit forward movement of the clip relative to the body; and further clip-retaining portions to limit rearward movement of the clip relative to the body; the further clip-retaining portions including projections arranged to resiliently deform, when the clip is rearwardly moved into engagement with the body, to forwardly urge the clip to control rattling.

56. An electrical outlet, including a lamp; a body carrying the lamp; a 12V cigarette-lighter-type socket accessible from a front of electrical outlet; one or more wires routable, from within the body, through a hole in a planar portion of sheet material to which the electrical outlet is mountable; a resilient element at least predominantly consisting of an integral body of material and shaped to engage a) the planar portion, and b) a periphery of a rear of the body, to at least impede the exit of light from, and the ingress of water into, the rear of body; and shield the wires from the edge of the hole.

57. The electrical outlet of claim 56 including a barrel projecting from the rear of the body to project through the hole in the planar portion of sheet material; and defining the 12V cigarette-lighter-type socket accessible from a front of the electrical outlet.

58. The electrical outlet of claim 57 wherein resilient element includes a tubular portion for carrying the barrel and the wire(s) through the hole.

59. An electrical outlet, including a body; a barrel projecting from the rear of the body to project through a hole in a planar portion of sheet material to which the electrical outlet is mountable; and defining the 12V cigarette-lighter-type socket accessible from a front of the electrical outlet; one or more wires routable, from within the body, through a hole in a planar portion of sheet material to which the electrical outlet is mountable; a resilient element at least predominantly consisting of an integral body of material and including a tubular portion for carrying the barrel and the wire(s) through the hole.

60. A method, of manufacturing a lamp, including defining a sealed cavity at least partly between a printed circuit board and a portion of a cover; then potting a rear of the printed circuit board; the printed circuit board carrying a light-emitting portion for forwardly projecting light through the portion of the cover.

61. A method of detecting an engine being cranked; the engine at least one of having and being associated with a starter motor for cranking the engine; and an electrical power source for supplying a voltage to the starter motor; the method including a logic arrangement applying logic to automatically identify a variation, in the voltage, indicative of the engine being cranked.

62. A method, of protecting an electrical power source to which a load is applicable, including applying protection-logic to electrical-power supplied to the load to identify a variation, in the electrical-power, indicative of the electrical power source having less than a predetermined state of charge; and in response to the electrical power source having less than the predetermined state of charge, at least reducing the load to protect the electrical power source; wherein the applying protection-logic includes determining, a protection threshold, based on at least one parameter of the electrical-power supplied to the power consuming device; and comparing at least one other parameter of the electrical-power supplied to the power consuming device

to the protection threshold.