EP2171345A1 - Self-charging flashlight - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a self-charging flashlight (1) with an electric coil (4) and a permanent magnet (5), wherein the permanent magnet (5) is movable within the coil (4) by shaking the flashlight and by the movement of the permanent magnet (5) past electric contact points of the coil (4) an electric charge can be generated. An electronic circuit (9) can be connected to the contact points of the coil (4), allowing an electric energy storage device to be charged via the electronic circuit (9). The flashlight (1) comprises a power-LED light-source assembly (10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3) that can operate in at least two different luminous colors. In addition, the flashlight (1) comprises connecting elements for the connection of the power-LED light-source assembly (10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3) to the electric energy storage device and/or to the electric coil (4). The flashlight (1) comprises switching means (11) for the operation of the power-LED light-source assembly (10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3) in one of the two or more different luminous colors.

Description

 description

Self-charging flashlight Technical area

The present invention relates to a self-charging flashlight. In particular, the present invention relates to a self-charging flashlight with a permanent magnet which is movable by means of a shaking movement through a coil.

State of the art

In the prior art various embodiments of flashlights are known. Flashlights are very handy tools to improve the visibility of a work area, for example, in the dark or in poor lighting conditions. Flashlights can be used in darkness or poor lighting but atch for signaling. For example, in the dark with a white light of a flashlight, a Morse code can be transmitted over very large distances. But also by the color of the flashlight signals can be transmitted over long distances. For example, flashlights can include retractable filters so that the flashlight can be used to emit a red light, for example to signalise a stop for vehicles, a flashing yellow light, for example, as a warning signal in traffic or a green light, for example for the signaling of a free-to-drive street. In the prior art flashlights can be equipped with a battery. However, it is a disadvantage that with a long storage of the flashlight, for example as Notbeleu- htungs- or Notsignalisierungsmittel in a car, the battery can discharge itself and therefore can not be used after a storage of two or three years without that first the battery must be replaced. This leads to a great effort by such a flashlight which is carried for example in a car, must be regularly monitored for functionality. If the functionality of the flashlight is not checked regularly, there is a risk that the flashlight will not be sanctioned in use because the battery is depleted. Self-rechargeable flashlights are known in the art. A self-rechargeable flashlight may include an electrical coil and a permanent magnet which is movable by shaking motion through the electrical coil. By the Movement of the permanent magnet can be generated via contact points of the coil, an electrical voltage which is used for charging a capacitor. Due to the stored energy in the capacity of a white Leuhtkörper the flashlight can be operated. Such a flashlight is described in document US 6,220,719. It is a disadvantage of the prior art that with such flashlights no conventional signaling can be performed. Although it can be attached to such a flashlight, for example, a red or a green filter. However, such filters can lead to an unfavorable yield of light energy, which limits the visibility of signals from such a flashlight over long distances.

Presentation of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel self-rechargeable flashlight, which does not have the disadvantages of the prior art. The new self-rechargeable flashlight is intended in particular to ensure that it is always ready for operation when used and that it can also be used for signaling purposes at the same time.

According to the present invention, these objects are achieved in particular by the elements of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are also evident from the dependent claims and the description.

In particular, these objects are achieved by the invention in that in the flashlight, a power LED Leuhtanordnung, which is operable with at least two different Leuhtfarben is arranged that in the flashlight connecting means for connecting the power LED Leuhtanordnung with the electric Energy storage and / or are arranged with the electric coil, and that are arranged in the flashlight switching means for operating the power LED Leuhtanordnung with one of the at least two different Leuhtfarben. Such a self-rechargeable flashlight has the particular advantage that the flashlight auh after a prolonged storage by a simple shaking motion is ready for use and for Beleuhtungs- and signaling tasks.

In one embodiment, the energy storage comprises an electrical capacitor and / or an electrical accumulator. Such a flashlight has in particular the advantage that the energy storage can be formed by means of proven and widely used means. Thus, in particular by the use of a capacity can be achieved that the flashlight is ready for use quickly and it can be achieved by the use of a rechargeable battery that a determinable operating performance is available during a suitable time interval.

In another embodiment, at least parts of the housing are the

Flashlight transparent and / or performed in ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) and / or in a material of a definable color. Thus, it can be achieved in particular by the use of a transparent material in an area associated with the power LED lighting arrangement that a user of the flashlight is oriented in a simple and clear way, with which color the power LED Leuhtanordnung is operated. By choosing ABS, at least parts of the housing are made particularly impact-resistant and the flashlight can be designed for particularly tough applications. By a certain color of the housing, such as yellow or red, for example, an easy findability of the flashlight can be guaranteed.

In a further embodiment, the switching means for operating the power LED Leuhtanordnung comprise means for operation in a continuous operation and / or in a flashing mode. Thus, by selecting a continuous operation and / or a flashing operation, a signalization and / or ligation optimally adapted to a particular situation can be achieved.

In another embodiment, the at least two different Leuhtfarben the power LED Leuhtanordnung include at least the colors white, red, yellow, green and / or blue. With such a choice of the rental colors, in particular with white light Suharbeiten, repairs, snow chains and much more can be supported. In addition, with red, yellow, green and / or blue light in particular signaling can be performed, which are automatically understood correctly in daily life by many observers.

In a further embodiment variant, the switching means are designed for the

Operate the power LED light assembly in one traffic light, for continuous operation with white or green light color, for a flashing operation with yellow light color or for continuous operation with red light color. Thus, a stop or blocked passage / passage can be signaled with red, with yellow blinking caution, slow or obstacle can be signaled and with green can free Transit / passage or drive please be signaled. These colors and thus the signaling effect are all self-explanatory and unequivocal by years of impressing all road users from the traffic lights ago. In another embodiment variant, the power LED Leuhtanordnung comprises a single, multi-color operable power LED. By using a single multi-color operable power LED, the number of components of the flashlight can be minimized. In a further embodiment variant, the power LED Leuhtanordnung comprises a plurality of monochrome, each operable in a determinable color power LEDs. By using several monochrome power LEDs, a particularly high efficiency in terms of light output can be achieved.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below by way of examples. The examples of the embodiments are illustrated by the following attached figure:

FIG. 1 shows a self-charging flashlight according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a power LED Leuhtanordnung consisting of several monochrome, each operable in each case a determinable color power LEDs.

Figure 3 shows a power LED Leuhtanordnung which consists of a single body.

Figure 4 shows a prism ring, which can be placed on a power LED Leuhtanordnung.

Way (s) for carrying out the invention

In Figure 1, the reference numeral 1 refers to a self-charging flashlight. The flashlight 1 may comprise a handle part 2 and a head part 3. As shown in FIG. 1, an electric coil 4 and a permanent magnet 5 may be mounted in the grip part 2. The permanent magnet 5 is free to move in a hollow cylinder 6 from a first end to a second end of the hollow cylinder 6. In this case, the permanent magnet 5 can be designed in particular as a cylinder, which can slide freely within the hollow cylinder 6. At the ends of the hollow cylinder Abfederungselemente 7 may be attached. By this arrangement of a permanent magnet 5 within a grip part 2, the permanent magnet 5 can freely move between the first end of the hollow cylinder and the second end of the hollow cylinder 6. So leads in particular a corresponding shaking in that the permanent magnet 5 moves from the first end of the hollow cylinder 6 to the second end of the hollow cylinder 6. The Abfederungselemente 7 may be made of a resilient material such as rubber or a coil spring, so that the permanent magnet 5 is attenuated respectively when hitting the first or the second end of the hollow cylinder 6 and thus no damage to the permanent magnet 5 or the ends of the hollow Cylinder 6 is done. As shown in FIG. 1, the permanent magnet 5 includes a north pole N and a south pole S. By arranging the coil 4 and moving the permanent magnet 5 in the hollow cylinder 6, the permanent magnet aixh is moved within the coil 4. Such a movement causes an electrical voltage to be generated at contact points of the coil 4, for example at the ends of the coil 4. By means of an electrical connection 8, these contact points of the coil 4 can be connected to an electronic circuit 9. The circuit 9 may in particular comprise a rectifier and an electrical energy store. The electrical energy store may in particular comprise a capacitor or a capacitor and / or an electrical accumulator. By the voltage generated at the contact points of the coil 4 and by the rectifier, the capacity and / or the accumulator electrical energy can be supplied and the capacity and / or the accumulator can be charged. Thus, the rectifier may comprise a common uncontrolled rectifier formed of four corresponding diodes. The capacity may be designed as a conventional electrolytic capacitor of a desired capacity. The accumulator may be formed of different individual cells and may be designed, for example, for a rated voltage of 6 V. The circuit 9 may be connected to a power LED Leuhtanordnung 10 (LED: Light Emitting Diode). For this purpose, the sound 9 may in particular include means such as transistors or resistors for the optimal control of a power LED. The power LED lighting assembly 10 may include a single power LED with the capability of setting multiple colors. The power LED Leuhtanordnung 10 may include auh but several power LEDs, the multiple power LEDs can be configured for the emission of different Leuhtfarben. On an outside of the flashlight 1, for example on an outside of the head part 3 of the flashlight, a switch 11 may be attached. The switch 11 may be configured to turn on certain colors of the power LED 10 or the multiple power LED array 10 in a flashing mode to put on or off. In particular, the switch 11 may comprise five switch positions for the states "off", "white light", "red light", "yellow flashing light", and "green light." In order to switch on a flashing operation of a power LED 10, the circuit 9 can Such an electronic multivibrator may, for example, be formed by means of an integrated chip of the A5688 type.

In Figure 2, the reference numerals 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3 relate to three examples of power LED Leuhtanordnungen consisting of several monochrome, each operable in a determinable color power LEDs. In Figure 2, such power LED Leuhtanordnungen are each outlined by a side view and a plan. Thus, the power LED Leuhtanordnung 10.1 four power LEDs include, for example, a power LED 10.11 with the color white, a power LED 10.12 with the color red, a power LED 10.13 with the color green and a power LED 10.14 with the color yellow. In a similar manner, the power LED assembly 10.2 may include five power LEDs, for example, a power LED 10.11 having the color white, a power LED 10.22 having the color blue, a power LED 10.23 having the color red, a power - LED 10.13 with the color green and a power LED with the color yellow. As outlined in the view of the power LED Leuhtanordnung 10.3, the power LED Leuhtanordnung can include a white, a red, a green and a yellow power LED 10.31, 10.32, 10.33 and 10.34, the individual power LED with each other a specific Have distance. By choosing the distance between the power LED 10.31, 10.32, 10.33 and 10.34 in particular the Leume effect of the power LED can be optimized. As outlined in the power LED Leuhtanordnung 10.1 and 10.2, the power LED can be offset from each other. Thus, for example, the white power LED 10.11 or 10.21 be arranged so that there is a particularly effective Leuhtwirkung for this power LED. Such a mutually offset arrangement can be between 1 - 5 mm, depending on the size of the power LED.

In Figure 3, the reference numeral 10.4 refers to a power LED

Leuhtanordnung, which consists of a single body and is operable in four Leuhtfarben. In Fig. 3, reference numeral 10.5 refers to a power LED lighting assembly consisting of a single body and operable in five colors. The Power LED Leuhtanordnungen 10.4 and 10.5 are each in a Aufssicht (upper row), a side view (middle row) and a bottom view (lower row) sketched. The power LED lighting assemblies 10.4 and 10.5 may consist of a compact, clear body in which the corresponding four or five power LEDs are arranged in a symmetrical manner. For example, a white power LED 10.41 or 10.51 can be located in the center of the power LED Leuhtanordnung 10.4 or 10.5 and it can colored power LED, for example, the colors red 10.42, yellow 10.43 and green 10.44 respectively red 10.52, yellow 10.53, green 10.54 and blue 10.55 may be arranged symmetrically around the white power LEDs 10.41 and 10.51, respectively. In order to achieve an optimal light output, the white power LED as outlined in Figure 3 can be offset from the other, colored power LED, so that, for example, the pn junction of the white power LED is just flush with an upper end of the other, colored Power LED. In the lower row of Figure 3 is a bottom view of the power LED Leuhtanordnung 10.4 and 10.5 sketched. As can be seen from this bottom view, a pole, for example, a minus pole, the white and the other, colored power LED can be connected within the compact, crystal-clear body, so that for driving the individual colors of the power LED Leuhtkörpers the five respectively six Pins 10,411, 10,412, 10,421, 10,431, 10,441, and 10,511, 10,512, 10,521, 10,531, 10,541, 10,551, respectively. In Figure 4, the reference numeral 11.1 refers to a prism ring, which can be placed on a power LED Leuhtanordnung consisting of four power LEDs. In Figure 4, the reference numeral 11.2 refers to a prism ring, which can be placed on a power LED Leuhtanordnung consisting of five power LEDs. The prism ring 11.1 or 11.2 may comprise a plate or a carrier 11.10 or 11.20, as well as various suitably manufactured prisms 11.11, 11.12, 11.13, 11.4 and 11.21, 11.22, 11.23, 11.24, 11.25. The prism ring 11.1 or 11.2, for example, be set up so that it can be used for a power LED Leuhtanordnung consisting of four respectively five individual power LEDs or auh for a power LED Leuhtanordnung, which consists of a single body. The prism ring 11.1 or 11.2 can be set up so that it can be plugged or glued onto a power LED lamp assembly, for example. The prism ring 11.1 or 11.2 can be made of glass or of acrylic glass, for example. In FIG. 4, a top view of the prism ring 11.1 or 11.2 is sketched in the upper row. In Figure 4, a side view of the prism ring 11.1 and 11.2 is sketched in the lower row. As in the side views of the prism ring 11.1 respectively sketched 11.2, the prism ring 11.1 respectively 11.2 suitably inclined and / or suitably ground surfaces, which cause the light emitted by the power LED light is emitted in a desired manner and is evenly distributed to a lens of the flashlight. Such a lens of the flashlight is sketched in FIG. Of course, the power LED Leuhtanordnung auh be designed so that the power LED Leuhtanordnung and the prism ring is made of a single body.

Claims

claims Self-charging flashlight (1), with an electrical coil (4) and a Permanent magnet (5), wherein the permanent magnet (5) by means of a shaking movement of the flashlight within the coil (4) is movable, wherein due to the movement of the permanent magnet (5) via electrical contact points of the coil (4), an electrical voltage can be generated, wherein a electronic circuit (9) with the contact points of the coil (4) is connectable, wherein by means of the electronic circuit (9) an electrical energy storage is chargeable, characterized in that in the flashlight (1) a power LED lighting arrangement (10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3), which is operable with at least two different luminous colors, is arranged that in the flashlight (1) connecting means for connecting the power LED lighting arrangement (10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3) with the electrical energy storage and / or with the electrical coil (4) are arranged, and that in the flashlight switching means (11) for operating the power LED lighting arrangement (10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3) mi t one of the at least two different luminous colors are arranged. Flashlight (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the Energy storage comprises an electrical capacitor and / or an electrical accumulator. Flashlight according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that at least parts of the housing of the flashlight are made transparent and / or in ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) andf or in a material of a definable color. Flashlight (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the switching means (11) for the operation of the power LED lighting arrangement comprise means for operation in a continuous operation and / or in a flashing operation. Flashlight (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least two different luminous colors of the power LED lighting arrangement (10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3) at least the colors white, red, yellow, green and / or blue. Flashlight (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the Switching means (11) are designed for operating the power LED lighting arrangement (10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3) in a traffic light function, namely for a continuous operation with white or green luminescent color, for a flashing operation with yellow luminescent color or for a continuous operation with red luminous color. Flashlight (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the power LED lighting arrangement (10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3) comprises a single multi-color operable power LED. Flashlight (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the power LED lighting arrangement (10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3) comprises a plurality of monochrome, each operable in a definable color power LEDs.