Circuitry for Portable Lighting Devices and Portable Rechargeable Electronic Devices

a rechargeable electronic device and circuit technology, applied in the field of portable electronic devices, can solve the problems of stressing the filament, mechanical switches also do not permit automated or regulated modes of activating and deactivating flashlights, and prone to wear and tear

US20140070720A1Inactive Publication Date: 2014-03-13MAG INSTR INC
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
Publication Date
2014-03-13
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

A portable electronic device, such as a flashlight, with a circuit for reducing the initial surge of current that is sent through the lamp filament when a flashlight is turned on is provided. The circuit reduces the stresses placed on the lamp bulb when it is turned on, thereby extending the life expectancy of the lamp bulb. A flashlight with beacon mode that produces light according to a duty cycle of less than 11% is also disclosed.
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Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 373,802, filed Jan. 20, 2010, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 351,307, filed Feb. 8, 2006, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 007,771, filed Dec. 7, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,579,782. The foregoing applications are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The field of the present invention relates to portable electronic devices, including hand held portable lighting devices, such as flashlights, and their circuitry.BACKGROUND

[0003] Various hand held or portable lighting devices, including flashlight designs, are known in the art. Flashlights typically include one or more dry cell batteries having positive and negative electrodes. In certain designs, the batteries are arranged in series in a battery compartment of a barrel or housing that can be used to hold th...

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Embodiment Construction

[0048]To facilitate the description of the invention, any reference numeral representing an element in one figure will represent the same element in any other figure.

[0049]A flashlight 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in perspective in FIG. 1. The flashlight 10 incorporates a number of distinct aspects of the present invention. While these distinct aspects have all been incorporated into the flashlight 10, it is to be expressly understood that the present invention is not restricted to flashlight 10 described herein. Rather, the present invention is directed to each of the inventive features of the flashlight described below individually as well as collectively. Further, as will become apparent to those skilled in the art after reviewing the present disclosure, one or more aspects of the present invention may also be incorporated into other electronic devices, including cell phones, portable radios, toys, as well as other non-portable lighting d...