# US 8,147,089 B2 · Switchable light sources

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,147,089 B2
- Document ID: US8147089B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/248,704
- Filed: 2008-10-09
- Published: 2010-04-15
- Granted: 2012-04-03
- Earliest claimed: 2008-10-09
- Assignees: SureFire, LLC
- Inventors: John W. Matthews; Michael D. Picciotta; William Wells
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8147089B2

## CPC

- F21V 23/0414: {specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices}
- F21L 4/027: {the light sources being a LED}
- F21V 14/065: {in portable lighting devices}
- F41G 1/35: for illuminating the target
- F41G 1/36: with infrared light source
- F21Y 2113/30: {of visible and non-visible spectrum}
- F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED]
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21L: LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF, BEING PORTABLE OR SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR TRANSPORTATION
- F41G: WEAPON SIGHTS; AIMING (optical aspects thereof G02B)
- F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED

## Abstract

Various structures are provided that may be advantageously used in one or more illumination device designs. In one example, a lens is movable among a plurality of light sources to facilitate selection of which light source is used to provide light for the illumination device. In another example, electric power is provided only to the light source that is used to provide light for the illumination device. Rotation of a bezel of the light source can determine which light sources provides light for the light source and which light source receives electric power.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device comprising:
a plurality of light sources;
a bezel offset from a centerline of the device and configured to rotate eccentrically about the centerline; and
a lens substantially concentric with the bezel and configured to rotate with the bezel eccentrically about the centerline from a first position proximate a first one of the light sources to a second position proximate a second one of the light sources, wherein the lens is configured to receive light from the first one of the light sources when in the first position and receive light from the second one of the light sources when in the second position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the lens moves in an arc as the lens is rotated and wherein the light sources are disposed generally upon the arc.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the lens comprises a total internal reflection lens.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second light sources have different outputs.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second light sources have different wavelengths of outputs.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the first light source has a substantially white light output and the second light source has a substantially infrared output.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the bezel is configured to switch electric power between the light sources when the bezel is rotated.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising
at least one Hall effect sensor configured to sense a position of the bezel to facilitate switching of electric power between the light sources.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising:
at least one Hall effect sensor; and
a magnet attached to the bezel such that rotation of the bezel moves the magnet so as to cause the at least one Hall effect sensor to switch electric power between light sources.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1,
wherein the bezel is configured to rotate so as to facilitate which light source receives electric power; and
wherein the device further comprises a lock ring that is configured to inhibit rotation of the bezel when the lock ring is in a first position and that is configured to facilitate rotation of the bezel when the lock ring is in a second position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the light sources and the lens at least partially define a head.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the light sources and the lens at least partially define a flashlight head.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the light sources and the lens at least partially define a head that is configured to mount to a weapon.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the light sources comprise LEDs.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the lens comprises a single substantially conical lens.

### Claim 16

A device comprising:
a plurality of light sources;
a bezel offset from a centerline of the device and configured to rotate eccentrically about the centerline;
a lens substantially concentric with the bezel and configured to rotate with the bezel eccentrically about the centerline from a first position proximate a first one of the light sources to a second position proximate a second one of the light sources, wherein the lens is configured to receive light from the first one of the light sources when in the first position and receive light from the second one of the light sources when in the second position;
a magnet attached to the bezel; and
at least one Hall effect sensor configured to sense a position of the magnet to facilitate switching of electric power between the light sources.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The device of claim 16, wherein the at least one Hall effect sensor comprises two Hall effect sensors that are configured to sense two different positions of the magnet so as to facilitate switching of electric power between the first and second light sources.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The device of claim 16, wherein the light sources comprise LEDs.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the lens comprises a total internal reflection lens.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the lens comprises a single substantially conical lens.

### Claim 21

A method for switching between light sources of a device, the method comprising:
rotating a bezel of the device, wherein the bezel is offset from a centerline of the device and configured to rotate eccentrically about the centerline;
wherein the rotating the bezel causes a lens of the device to rotate with the bezel eccentrically about the centerline from a first position proximate a first one of the light sources to a second position proximate a second one of the light sources; wherein the lens receives light from the first one of the light sources when in the first position and receives light from the second one of the light sources when in the second position; and
wherein the lens is substantially concentric with the bezel.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein rotating the bezel switches electric power from the first light source to the second light source.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the light sources comprise LEDs.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the lens comprises a total internal reflection lens.

### Claim 25 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the lens comprises a single substantially conical lens.