Protective lighting system and methods
AssigneeInfinity X1 LLC
InventorDennis K. Bertken
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Touch-based protective lighting system and methods may be used. Portable lighting devices and/or modes of operation may pose safety risks. High-lumen output, focused light output, and/or overheating components may damage, burn, or ignite surrounding materials or the user. Various modes of operation of the portable lighting device may include modes designed to increase the safety of the portable lighting device. In certain operating modes or configurations, user touch/presence/control, distance to an illumination target, temperature of an illumination target, and/or device temperature may be used to determine whether to use the operating mode or instead to enter a protective/safe mode. Safe mode may be characterized by a lower light output/power mode or may power off the portable lighting device.
Claims28
A lighting apparatus, comprising:
- one or more lighting devices;
- a distance sensor;
- a temperature sensor configured to sense an internal temperature of the lighting apparatus;
- a controller coupled to the one or more lighting devices, the distance sensor, and the temperature sensor;
- and
- a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that when executed by the controller cause the lighting apparatus to:
- determine a distance from a target illuminated by the one or more lighting devices;
- determine a threshold light output based on the distance from the target;
- determine whether a light output of the one or more lighting devices exceeds the threshold light output;
- convert the internal temperature to an estimated surface temperature;
- monitor a surface temperature of the lighting apparatus based on the estimated surface temperature;
- determine the surface temperature exceeds a threshold surface temperature;
- and
- reduce the light output of the one or more lighting devices based on:
- the surface temperature exceeding the threshold surface temperature and the light output exceeding the threshold light output.
A lighting apparatus, comprising:
- one or more lighting devices;
- a distance sensor;
- a temperature sensor;
- a controller coupled to the one or more lighting devices, the distance sensor, and the temperature sensor;
- and
- a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that when executed by the controller cause the lighting apparatus to:
- determine a distance from a target illuminated by the one or more lighting devices;
- monitor a surface temperature of the lighting apparatus;
- determine a threshold light output based on the distance from the target;
- determine whether a light output of the one or more lighting devices exceeds the threshold light output;
- reduce the light output of the one or more lighting devices based on the light output exceeding the threshold light output;
- monitor an updated surface temperature;
- monitor an updated distance to an updated target illuminated by the one or more lighting devices;
- and
- increase the light output of the one or more lighting devices based on the updated surface temperature and the updated distance.
A lighting apparatus, comprising:
- one or more lighting devices;
- a distance sensor;
- a temperature sensor;
- a controller coupled to the one or more lighting devices, the distance sensor, and the temperature sensor;
- and
- a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that when executed by the controller cause the lighting apparatus to:
- determine a distance from a target illuminated by the one or more lighting devices;
- monitor a surface temperature of the lighting apparatus;
- determine a threshold light output based on the distance from the target;
- determine whether a light output of the one or more lighting devices exceeds the threshold light output;
- reduce the light output of the one or more lighting devices based on the light output exceeding the threshold light output;
- determine a plurality of updated surface temperatures over a first threshold time period;
- determine the plurality of updated surface temperatures are below a threshold surface temperature for the first threshold time period;
- determine a plurality of updated distances over a second threshold time period;
- determine the plurality of updated distances are above a threshold distance for the second threshold time period;
- and
- increase the light output of the one or more lighting devices based on the plurality of updated surface temperatures are below the threshold surface temperature for the first threshold time period and the plurality of updated distances are above the threshold distance for the second threshold time period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.