Long-range, handheld illumination system

A handheld searchlight having a lamp for efficiently producing a high intensity beam of light comprising:

• a printed circuit board having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface, and including circuitry to regulate and control power supplied to the lamp;
• a housing to contain the printed circuit board;
• and a heat sink mounted onto a portion of said first surface of said circuit board, the heat sink also coupled to the housing to dissipate heat generated by the printed circuit board, wherein the lamp is one of an arc lamp, incandescent lamp, and plasma lamp, further comprising a battery contained within the housing and electrically connected to the printed circuit board, wherein the battery supplies cower to the handheld searchlight wherein the battery has a first end and a second end and one or more elongated sides, and wherein the battery has electrical contacts located alternatively on one of the first end or the second end or one of the elongated sides, wherein the electrical contacts are sliding contacts.

A handheld searchlight having an elongated housing and a lamp for efficiently producing a high intensity beam of light output of the housing forward of the lamp, comprising:

• a printed circuit board extending longitudinally within the housing and having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface, and including circuitry to regulate and control power supplied to the lamp;
• a heat sink mounted onto a portion of said first surface of said circuit board, the heat sink also coupled to the housing to dissipate heat generated by the printed circuit board, and a battery to furnish power electrically coupled to said printed circuit board and located intermediate said second surface of said printed circuit board and an interior surface of said housing, wherein the lamp is one of an arc lamp, incandescent lamp, and plasma lamp.