Electro-optic flashlight electro-optically controlling the emitted light

A flashlight, comprising:

• (a) a flashlight housing, the housing being suitable for at least one of receiving therein and mounting thereon at least one DC voltage source;
• (b) a lamp housing connected to the flashlight housing, the lamp housing comprising a light source for emitting light and a reflector for collimating the emitted light forwardly therefrom along an optical axis;
• (c) a first electrical circuit comprising a first switch for selectively connecting the light source across the DC voltage source;
• (d) an electro-optic region disposed forward of the light source along the optical axis and having two states, wherein in a first state light emitted from the light source and passing through the electro-optic region is formed into a spot beam, and in a second state light emitted from the light source and passing through the electro-optic region is formed into a flood beam;
• (e) a second electrical circuit comprising a second switch for selectively providing at least one signal to the electro-optic region, the electro-optic region changing to one of the first state and the second state in response thereto, and
• (f) a three-position switch electrically connected to the first switch and the second switch, the light source not being electrically connected across the DC voltage source when the three position switch is in a first position, the light source being electrically connected across the voltage source and the electro-optic region being in the first state when the three-position switch is in a second position, and the light source being electrically connected across the voltage source and the electro-optic region being in the second state when the three-position switch is in a third position,
• wherein the flashlight is of such compact size and low weight as to be suitable for single-handed portable operation by a user, the flashlight further having the purpose of providing general purpose illumination.