Portable electrical devices with integrated chargers

Abstract

The present invention discloses a portable electrical device, such as an electric lighting device, including a charging channel configured to direct power from the electrical device to a separate electrical device connected via the charging channel (e.g., a charging port). When the charging port is not in use, the electrical device generates an output (e.g., a lighting output) at a first output power level (e.g., a first brightness). The portable electrical device also includes an onboard controller configured to monitor the charging channel. Upon detecting an electrical device connected via the charging channel, the onboard controller reduces the output power to a second output power level (e.g., a second brightness) to conserve energy.

Description

Background Art

[0001] As portable electrical devices become more common, consumers are constantly looking for new power sources that can be used to charge portable electrical devices. For example, it is possible to utilize the onboard power source (e.g., battery) of other portable electrical devices such as flashlights, lanterns, radios, speakers (e.g., The invention relates to a method for charging a separate electrical device (such as a connected speaker) by connecting the separate electrical device to a charging channel (such as a charging port) of the electrical device to charge the rechargeable power supply of the connected separate electrical device (such as a mobile phone). For consumers who frequently use electrical devices without other power sources (such as wall outlets), incorporating charging ports into some electrical devices is particularly beneficial. For example, campers, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts may often use various devices (such as mobile phones and / or camping lights) away from grid-based power sources. Therefore, these users may seek out auxiliary power sources that can be utilized to charge some electrical devices. However, the onboard power supplies of these electrical devices have limited power capacity and can only output a limited amount of power in the form of current. Therefore, users of these devices must decide how to use the auxiliary power source: for primary use (such as for use as a flashlight, speaker and / or the like), or as a charging power source for other devices.

[0002] Therefore, there is a need to provide electrical device features that enable a user to charge other devices without significantly reducing the functionality of the electrical device for other purposes. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing a portable electrical device (such as a flashlight, lantern, etc.) having an integrated charging channel port, which can be used to charge a separate electrical device (such as a mobile phone, a handheld computing device, etc.). The electrical device may have an onboard power supply (such as one or more batteries), which is configured to provide power to an output device (such as an integrated lighting device) and the integrated charging channel port. The electrical device may have an onboard controller, which is configured to monitor the power usage of the electrical device and automatically throttle and / or redirect power flow from the onboard power supply to one of the output devices and / or the integrated charging channel port. For example, upon detecting an external device connected via the integrated charging channel port, the controller may reduce the amount of power provided to the output device (such as the lighting device) to save power used to charge the connected device.

[0004] Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to a portable electrical device comprising: a power supply; an output device configured to generate an output power of power between a minimum output power and a maximum output power; a charging channel configured to transfer current from the power supply to a separate electrical device; and an onboard controller configured to reduce the maximum output power of the output device when a separate electrical device connected via the charging channel is detected.

[0005] In some embodiments of the present invention, the output device of the portable electrical device is a lighting device configured to generate a light output having a brightness between a minimum brightness and a maximum brightness, and the onboard controller is configured to reduce the maximum output brightness upon detecting the presence of a separate electrical device connected via the charging channel. Furthermore, the charging channel may include a charging port configured to receive a charging cable electrically connected to the separate electrical device.

[0006] In some embodiments of the present invention, the output device is configured to generate an output at a first output power; the onboard controller is configured to detect a separate electrical device connected via a charging channel; and adjust the output power of the output generated by the output device to a second output power that is less than the first output power. In addition, the output device may be configured to generate an output at one of a plurality of discrete output power levels, the plurality of discrete output power levels including at least a minimum output power level and a maximum output power level. The onboard controller may be configured to disable the maximum output power level upon detecting a separate electrical device connected via the charging channel. In various embodiments of the present invention, reducing the maximum output power of the output device includes reducing the output power of the output from the first discrete output power level to a second discrete output power level.

[0007] In some embodiments of the present invention, the onboard controller includes at least two output profiles, including: a first output profile defining a first minimum output power level and a first maximum output power level, wherein the onboard controller is configured to implement the first output profile when no separate electrical device is detected connected via the charging channel; and a second output profile defining a second minimum output power level and a second maximum output power level, wherein the onboard controller is configured to implement the second output profile when a separate electrical device is detected connected via the charging channel, the second maximum output power level being less than the first maximum output power level. Furthermore, the power source may include one or more onboard batteries.

[0008] Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to an electrical device controller configured to control the output of a portable electrical device. In various embodiments of the present invention, the electrical device controller is configured to: transmit power from a power source of the electrical device to an output device of the electrical device, such that the output device generates an output having an output power between a minimum output power and a maximum output power; monitor a charging channel of the electrical device to determine whether a separate electrical device is connected to the electrical device via the charging channel; and, upon detecting a separate electrical device connected via the charging channel, reduce the maximum output power level of the output device.

[0009] In some embodiments of the present invention, the output device is a lighting device, and the lighting device is configured to generate a light output having a brightness between a minimum brightness and a maximum brightness. The electrical device controller is configured to reduce the maximum output brightness when the presence of an independent electrical device connected via a charging channel is detected. In addition, the electrical device controller may also be configured to detect an electrical device connected via a charging channel when the output device generates an output at a first output power; and adjust the power transmitted from the power supply to the output device to reduce the output power of the output to a second output power that is less than the first output power. In some embodiments of the present invention, transmitting power from the power supply to the output device includes throttling the power to one of a plurality of discrete output power levels, the plurality of discrete output power levels including at least a minimum output power level and a maximum output power level. In addition, the electrical device controller may also be configured to disable the maximum power level when a separate electrical device connected via a charging channel is detected. In various embodiments of the present invention, the electrical device controller is further configured to: alternatively implement at least two output profiles, the at least two output profiles including: a first output profile defining a first minimum output power level and a first maximum output power level, the electrical device controller being configured to: implement the first output profile when no separate electrical device is detected to be connected via the charging channel; and a second output profile defining a second minimum output power level and a second maximum output power level, the electrical device controller being configured to: implement the second output profile when a separate electrical device is detected to be connected via the charging channel, the second maximum output power level being less than the first maximum output power level.

[0010] Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing a method for operating an electrical device, comprising: transmitting power from a power source of the electrical device to an output device of the electrical device so that the output device generates an output having a power level between a minimum output power level and a maximum output power level; monitoring a charging channel of the electrical device to determine whether a separate electrical device is connected to the electrical device through the charging channel; and when a separate electrical device connected through the charging channel is detected, reducing the maximum output power level of the output device.

[0011] In various embodiments of the present invention, the output device is a lighting device configured to generate a light output having a brightness between a minimum brightness and a maximum brightness. The operating method of the present invention further includes reducing the maximum output brightness upon detecting the presence of a separate electrical device connected via the charging channel. Furthermore, the operating method of the present invention may further include detecting an electrical device connected via the charging channel while the output device generates an output at a first output power level; and regulating power transmitted from the power source to the output device to reduce the output power level to a second output power level, the second output power level being less than the first output power level.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present invention, transferring power from the power source to the output device includes throttling the power to one of a plurality of discrete output power levels, wherein the plurality of discrete output power levels includes at least a minimum output power level and a maximum output power level. Furthermore, the operating method may further include transferring power from the power source to the output device according to a first output profile when no separate electrical device is detected to be connected via the charging channel, wherein the first output profile defines a first minimum output level and a first maximum output level. When a separate electrical device is detected to be connected via the charging channel, transferring power from the power source to the output device according to a second output profile, wherein the second output profile defines a second minimum output power level and a second maximum output power level, wherein the second maximum output power level is less than the first maximum output power level. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not drawn strictly to scale, wherein:

[0014] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electrical device (embodied as a lighting device) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2 Shown is a schematic diagram of various electronic components of an exemplary lighting device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 3 Shown is a functional flow chart of an exemplary lighting device according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The following describes various embodiments of the present invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that this specification illustrates and describes some, but not all, embodiments of the present invention. In practice, the embodiments may take different forms. Therefore, the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments disclosed in this specification, which are provided solely for the purpose of ensuring that the disclosure satisfies applicable legal requirements. Throughout this specification, like reference numerals denote like elements.

[0018] The embodiments described herein can be incorporated into a power supply incorporated into an electrical device (e.g., a lighting device) that can be used as an auxiliary power source to transmit current to one or more separate electrical devices (e.g., a cell phone, tablet computer, portable computer, flashlight, fan, speaker, cable, etc.). In some embodiments of the present invention, electrical devices can be connected to each other to transmit current to one electrical device, through one electrical device to another electrical device (e.g., a cell phone can be connected to a cable, which can be connected to a portable electrical device serving as an auxiliary power source). Thus, the user is provided with the functionality of an auxiliary power source that can be used to charge (and / or recharge) electrical devices that have corresponding onboard power sources, eliminating the need for the user to carry additional devices beyond those used when hiking away from the power grid.

[0019] As discussed herein, a charging channel (e.g., a charging port) is incorporated into a portable electrical device that has other functions besides providing an auxiliary power source. For example, a portable electrical device may include one or more output devices configured to generate one or more outputs (e.g., light signals, sound signals, radio signals, etc.), such as light emitted from a lighting device or sound emitted from a speaker. To conserve energy in the portable electrical device and balance the electronic device's function as a power source with its alternative output functions (e.g., generating outputs such as light signals), the electronic device may include an onboard controller configured to, upon detecting a separate electrical device connected via the charging channel, limit the flow of power (e.g., current) used by the one or more output devices to generate the corresponding outputs. The onboard controller monitors the charging channel and, upon detecting the connection of a separate electrical device (e.g., by detecting a triggering event of a physical switch and / or an electrical switch), reduces the power delivered to the output devices to generate the outputs. For example, an onboard controller in a camping lantern with an integrated charging port may be configured to dim the light emitted by the camping lantern when a separate electrical device (e.g., a charging cable that can be connected to a mobile phone) is connected to the integrated charging port. As yet another embodiment of the present invention, an onboard controller in a speaker with an integrated charging port may be configured to reduce the output volume of the speaker when a separate electrical device is connected to the integrated charging port.

[0020] Portable electrical equipment

[0021] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a portable electrical device 10 is shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the portable electrical device 10 may be a portable electric lantern. The portable electric lantern is configured to emit light output and has various electronic components located within a housing 11. However, it should be understood that the portable electrical device 10 may also be a flashlight, a speaker, a radio, a display device, a fan, a heater, a humidifier, a dehumidifier, or any of a variety of electrical appliances that include a power source (e.g., a portable power source).

[0022] Please continue to refer to Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 11 includes a lens head 12 and an integrated handle 13. The lens head 12 can be transparent or translucent so that light generated by a light source 15 located within the lens head 12 can be emitted through the lens head 12 and discerned by the user. In addition, the light source 15 can include one or more light emitters (such as light emitting diodes (LEDs)), which can be configured for simultaneous illumination and / or alternative illumination to provide a variety of alternative lighting modes. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the light source 15 can include a red LED and one or more white LEDs, the red LED being configured to provide a lower level of red light and the white LED being configured to provide a higher level of white light. In some embodiments of the present invention, the portable electric lantern can be configured to activate the red LED via a first lighting mode (such as a red light mode), or to activate one or more white light LEDs (such as a plurality of white LEDs) via a second lighting mode (such as a white light mode).

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, the portable electrical device 10 includes a user interface ( Figure 1A user interface (in the illustrated embodiment, a power switch 16) is configured to accept user input to select from a plurality of usage states for the portable electrical device 10. The user interface may include one or more buttons, one or more sliders, one or more switches, one or more interface wheels, one or more capacitive sensors, and the like. In various embodiments of the present invention, the user interface enables a user to select an "on" state (e.g., a single "on" state at an unselectable power level) and an "off" state. In some embodiments of the present invention, the user interface may enable selection between a plurality of "on" states corresponding to various output modes (e.g., a red light mode or a white light mode) and / or various output power levels (e.g., various brightness levels emitted by the light source 15 of the illustrated lantern). A single-button user interface may allow a user to cycle between the "off" state and various "on" states upon sequential activation of the button. For example, pressing the button once turns the light on to a first lighting mode (e.g., a red light mode), pressing the button again changes the light to a second lighting mode (e.g., a white light mode) at a first brightness level, pressing the button a third time changes the light to a second brightness level in the second lighting mode, and pressing the button again cycles the light back to the off state. Some exemplary embodiments of the present invention include only a single lighting mode, so multiple presses of the user interface button may cycle the light through brightness levels within the single lighting mode (eg, within a white light mode).

[0024] In addition, if Figure 1 As shown, the portable electrical device 10 includes at least one charging channel, and the at least one charging channel is configured to provide power from the portable electrical device 10 to a separate electrical device 50 connected via the charging channel (e.g., Figure 2 shown). Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the charging channel is a charging port 20 (e.g., a USB port, a micro-USB port, a mini-USB port, a lightning charger port, etc.), which is configured to receive an electrical device 50 (e.g., a charging / data cable, including an appliance with an onboard, rechargeable power source, etc.). However, the charging channel can also be any power communication interface, such as a wireless inductive charging interface, an electromagnetic power port, and a two-pin power outlet.

[0025] like Figure 2 As shown, the portable electrical device 10 includes a power source 14, which may be an onboard power source including one or more batteries (such as replaceable primary batteries or rechargeable secondary batteries (integrated in the portable electrical device 10 or replaceable secondary batteries)) or other power storage devices. For example, Figure 1The portable lighting device 10 shown, embodied as an electric lantern, can include an onboard power source of four D-cell batteries, and the electric lantern can produce a light output of at least about 1000 lumens. As another embodiment of the present invention, the power source 14 can include one or more power converters (e.g., connectable to an external continuous power source) and / or the like.

[0026] The power supply 14 supplies power to an output device configured to generate an output (e.g., a lighting device 15 configured to generate a light output) and at least one charging channel (e.g., a charging channel port 20) via a controller 17. In some embodiments of the present invention, the controller 17 is an integrated circuit configured to direct power (e.g., current) from the power supply 14 to the output device and / or the at least one charging channel. The controller 17 communicates with the user interface 16 to direct power from the power supply 14 to the output of the portable electrical device based on input provided by a user, so as to provide an output having an output power level desired by the user.

[0027] The controller 17 also forms a feedback loop with the charging channel to detect when a separate electrical device 50 is connected so as to be charged from the portable electrical device 10. In some embodiments, the charging channel is a charging channel port 20, and the charging channel port 20 may include a presence sensor for detecting when the portable electrical device 10 is connected to the charging channel port 20. For example, the charging channel port 20 may include a presence sensing pin, and when it is detected that a separate electrical device 50 is connected, the presence sensing pin sends a signal to the controller 17 to indicate that the separate electrical device 50 is electrically connected to the charging channel port 20. A specific embodiment of the charging channel port 20 is a 5-pin USB connector. According to other embodiments of the present invention, the charging channel may include a mechanical switch, a magnetic switch, and a current sensor for detecting the presence of a separate electrical device 50 (such as a cable connected via the charging channel), etc.

[0028] The onboard controller 17 is configured to control the electrical power consumed by the portable electrical device 10 to generate output through the output device (e.g., the lighting device 15) and to charge the separate electrical device 50 via the charging channel. In some embodiments of the present invention, the onboard controller 17 may be configured to throttle the electrical power provided to the output device (e.g., the lighting device 15) (e.g., by reducing the maximum allowed constant current provided to the output device, or by reducing the width of the power pulses provided to the output device via pulse-width modulation) to reduce the output power level emitted by the output device upon detecting that the separate electrical device 50 is connected via the charging channel. For example, the onboard controller 17 may be configured to implement a maximum constant current level to be provided to the output device that is less than the maximum constant current level implemented when no separate electrical device 50 is connected via the charging channel, thereby reducing the output power level generated by the output device (e.g., dimming the output light emitted by the lighting device 15). As another embodiment of the present invention, the onboard controller 17 may be configured to provide pulse-width modulated current pulses to the output device at shorter power intervals than the length of the power intervals provided when no separate electrical device 50 is connected via the charging channel, thereby reducing the output power level generated by the output device. Specifically, when it is detected that a separate electrical device 50 is connected via the charging channel, if the output device is activated when the electrical connection is made with the separate electrical device 50 via the charging channel, the onboard controller 17 reduces the power provided to the output device, and / or the onboard controller 17 reduces the maximum output power level available to the onboard output device (such as the lighting device 15). Figure 3 A flow chart of a portable electrical device 10 embodied as a lantern is provided according to one embodiment of the present invention, illustrating exemplary functionality of the portable electrical device 10. In some embodiments of the present invention, the onboard controller 17 is configured to reduce power provided to an output device if the output device is active in a particular operating mode among a plurality of operating modes. For example, in some embodiments, the portable electrical device 10 is a lighting device that includes a red LED (e.g., when activated to provide a first, red light mode of operation) and one or more white LEDs (e.g., when activated to provide a second, white light mode of operation). When the portable electrical device 10 is active in the second, white light mode of operation, the onboard controller 17 can be configured to dim the output. The first, red light mode of operation itself can provide a sufficiently low current draw (e.g., less than the second, white light mode of operation after dimming) such that dimming of the red LED does not affect the amount of power available for at least one charging channel.

[0029] Please refer to Figure 3As shown, as indicated by block 31, the portable electrical device 10 receives user input from the lighting device. The user input may select a desired operating mode and / or a desired power / brightness / output power level between a minimum and maximum power / brightness / output power level. For example, one of a plurality of discrete output power level options may be selected, an output power level may be selected within an infinitely adjustable range between a minimum and maximum output power level, or an available "on" power level may be selected. The controller 17 directs current from the power source 14 to the lighting device 15 to emit light at a first brightness level (first lighting output power level) based on the selected power level, as indicated by block 32. The controller 17 also monitors the charging channel to detect if / when a separate electrical device 50 is connected for charging. When the lighting device is in an activated state (as indicated by block 33), upon detecting a connection (e.g., physical connection, electrical connection, etc.) with the separate electrical device 50 via the charging channel, the controller adjusts the current delivered to the lighting device 15 to reduce the emitted brightness level to a second brightness level (second lighting output power level), as indicated by block 34. This brightness level adjustment may be performed without interacting with the user interface 16. As previously described, the power output can be adjusted when the lighting device is activated in one of multiple operating modes, and when the lighting device is activated in a second mode of the multiple operating modes, the lighting output level can remain at least substantially constant (e.g., no adjustment is made).

[0030] The controller 17 may continue to monitor the at least one charging channel, and when the lighting device 15 is in the active state (as shown in block 35), if it is detected that the individual electrical device 50 has been removed (e.g., the individual electrical device 50 has been disconnected from the charging channel), the controller 17 may increase the power provided to the lighting device 15 to increase the brightness level (e.g., to the first brightness / illumination output power level, to a third brightness / illumination output power level between the first brightness / illumination output power level and the second brightness / illumination output power level, as shown in block 36. As just one example of the present invention, the controller 17 may increase the power provided to the lighting device 15 to increase the brightness level to a third brightness level that is greater than the dimmed brightness level provided when the external electrical device is connected, but less than (dimmed) the first brightness level emitted before the external electrical device is connected. As a specific example of the present invention, the controller 17 may increase the power provided to the lighting device 15 to increase the brightness level to a user-selectable "low" brightness level. Through the user interface, the controller 17 may provide the user with the option to return to a brighter, "high" user-selectable brightness level.

[0031] As an example of the present invention, the controller 17 can reduce the brightness of the lighting device 15 by more than 50%, for example, by about 90%-99% relative to the first brightness level emitted when no separate electrical device 50 is connected via the charging channel (such that the brightness emitted after dimming is approximately 1%-10% of the brightness emitted before dimming). Reducing the brightness emitted by the lighting device 15 can save energy from the power supply for charging the connected separate electrical device 50 and extend the time the lighting device can emit light based on the power stored in the power supply 14.

[0032] In some embodiments of the present invention, upon detecting a separate electrical device 50 connected to the charging channel, the controller 17 can reduce the maximum available brightness level (e.g., maximum output power level) that the lighting device 15 can emit. While connected to the separate electrical device 50, the controller 17 can achieve maximum brightness, regardless of whether the lighting device 15 is activated. However, upon later activation of the lighting device 15 (e.g., in response to user input provided to a user interface), while the separate electrical device 50 remains connected via the charging channel, the controller 17 limits the amount of power provided to the lighting device 15 based on the achieved maximum value. Thus, while the separate electrical device 50 remains connected to the charging channel, the maximum brightness level that the lighting device 15 can emit can be limited.

[0033] As described above, the portable electrical device 10 can enable the user to select a desired brightness level when activating the lighting device 15. In this case, the controller 17 can be configured to adjust the maximum brightness level available to the user via the user interface 16 and enable the user to select a brightness level between a minimum brightness level (e.g., an "off" state) established by the controller 17 and a maximum brightness level upon detecting the presence of a separate electrical device 50 connected via the charging channel. In some embodiments, the controller 17 can disable any brightness level above the maximum brightness level while leaving the other brightness level options unchanged. For example, in embodiments where the portable electrical device 10 enables the user to select between multiple discrete brightness levels, the controller 17 can disable brightness levels above the maximum brightness level. In other embodiments of the present invention, the controller 17 can adjust the brightness levels emitted at the various brightness level options available to the user. For example, the controller 17 can proportionally adjust the brightness level emitted at each brightness level option available to the user (e.g., each brightness level can be reduced by a certain percentage). As another embodiment of the present invention, upon connecting an electrical device, the controller 17 can limit the emitted brightness to a level less than the maximum brightness level of any of the user-selectable brightness levels.

[0034] When a separate electrical device 50 is connected via the charging channel, by reducing the power level provided to the output device of the portable electrical device 10, the portable electrical device 10 allocates a larger percentage of available electrical power (such as stored by the onboard power supply 14) to charge the connected independent electrical device 50, and increases the operating time of the output device of the portable electrical device 10 based on the power provided by the onboard power supply 14.

[0035] As an example, for a power source 14 including four D-size batteries, the controller 17 may be configured to direct approximately 0.7A-5A of current to the charging channel and approximately 25-35mA of current to the output device 15 when the electrical device 50 is connected to the charging channel. The total amount of current available and the amount of current directed to the charging channel may depend on the type of batteries provided in the power source 14. For example, for alkaline D-size batteries, the amount of current flowing to the charging channel may be approximately 0.5-2A (e.g., approximately 700-900mA).

[0036] in conclusion

[0037] With the benefit of the foregoing description and the teachings of the associated drawings, those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous modifications and other embodiments. Therefore, it should be understood that this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and modifications and other embodiments based on this application are also intended to be included within the scope of the claims. Although this application employs specific terms, these specific terms are used only in a general and descriptive sense and do not limit this application.

[0038] As described above, the portable electrical device 10 can be any one of a lighting device, a speaker, a display device, or a portable electrical device with an integrated charging channel. The concept of the present application can be implemented by any portable electrical device 10 including the onboard controller 17 discussed in the present application, which is configured to limit the output power provided to the output device of the portable electrical device 10 (limit the output power generated by the output device) when the separate electrical device 50 is electrically connected to the charging channel. As a non-limiting example, when the separate electrical device 50 is connected to the charging channel of the speaker, the maximum volume of the speaker can be reduced. When the separate electrical device 50 is connected to the charging channel of the fan, the maximum rotation speed of the fan can be reduced. When the separate electrical device 50 is connected to the charging channel of a display device, etc., the maximum display brightness can be reduced.

[0039] Furthermore, in embodiments including multiple charging channels (e.g., multiple charging ports 20), the onboard controller 17 can monitor each of the multiple charging channels and can adjust the output of an output device (e.g., a lighting device) based on the number of connected electrical devices 50. For example, the onboard controller 17 can be configured to adjust the brightness to a first, dimmed brightness level when only one electrical device 50 is connected, and can adjust the brightness to a second, dimmed brightness level when two electrical devices 50 are connected. Similarly, the onboard controller 17 can be configured to monitor the current drawn from each connected electrical device 50 and can adjust the dimmed brightness level based on the amount of current drawn on at least one charging channel. For example, as the current flowing through the charging channel increases, the dimming amount of the lighting device can increase (e.g., proportionally or stepwise between discrete dimmed brightness levels).

Claims

1. A portable electrical device comprising: power supply; an output device configured to generate an output at one of a plurality of discrete output power levels, the plurality of discrete output power levels including at least a minimum output power level and a maximum output power level; a charging channel configured to transfer electrical current from a power source to a separate electrical device; as well as An onboard controller is configured to reduce a maximum output power level of the output device upon detecting a separate electrical device connected via the charging channel.

2. The portable electrical device according to claim 1, wherein The output device is a lighting device configured to generate a light output having a brightness between a minimum brightness and a maximum brightness, and the onboard controller is configured to reduce the maximum output brightness when a separate electrical device connected via the charging channel is detected.

3. The portable electrical device according to claim 1, wherein The charging channel includes a charging port configured to receive a charging cable electrically connected to the separate electrical device.

4. The portable electrical device according to claim 1, wherein The output device is configured to generate an output at a first output power level; The onboard controller is configured to: Detecting individual electrical devices connected via the charging channel; and The output power of the output generated by the output device is adjusted to a second output power level that is less than the first output power level.

5. The portable electrical device according to claim 1, wherein The onboard controller is configured to disable the maximum output power level upon detecting a separate electrical device connected via the charging channel. The portable electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein: Reducing the maximum output power of the output device includes reducing the output power of the output from a first discrete output power level to a second discrete output power level.

7. The portable electrical device according to claim 1, wherein The onboard controller includes at least two output configuration files, and the at least two output configuration files include: a first output profile defining a first minimum output power level and a first maximum output power level, the onboard controller being configured to implement the first output profile if no separate electrical device is detected connected via the charging channel; and The second output profile defines a second minimum output power level and a second maximum output power level, and the onboard controller is configured to implement the second output profile upon detecting a separate electrical device connected via the charging channel, the second maximum output power level being less than the first maximum output power level.

8. The portable electrical device according to claim 1, wherein The power source includes one or more onboard batteries.

9. An electrical device controller configured to control the output of a portable electrical device, the electrical device controller being configured to: transferring electrical power from a power source of the electrical device to an output device of the electrical device so that the output device produces an output having an output power between a minimum output power and a maximum output power, including at least regulating the power to one of a plurality of discrete output power levels, wherein The plurality of discrete output power levels includes at least one minimum output power level and a maximum output power level; monitoring a charging channel of the electrical device to determine whether a separate electrical device is connected to the electrical device through the charging channel; as well as When a separate electrical device connected via the charging channel is detected, the maximum output power level of the output device is reduced.

10. The electrical device controller according to claim 9, wherein: The output device is a lighting device configured to generate a light output having a brightness between a minimum brightness and a maximum brightness, and the electrical device controller is configured to reduce the maximum brightness when detecting the presence of a separate electrical device connected via the charging channel.

11. The electrical device controller according to claim 9, further configured to: detecting an electrical device connected through the charging channel when the output device generates an output at a first output power level; and Power delivered from the power source to the output device is regulated to reduce an output power level of the output to a second output power level that is less than the first output power level.

12. The electrical device controller of claim 9, further configured to disable the maximum output power level upon detecting a separate electrical device connected via the charging channel.

13. The electrical device controller according to claim 9, further configured to: implement at least two output profiles alternatively, wherein: At least two output profiles include: a first output profile defining a first minimum output power level and a first maximum output power level, the electrical device controller being configured to implement the first output profile when no separate electrical device connected via the charging channel is detected; and a second output profile defining a second minimum output power level and a second maximum output power level, the electrical device controller being configured to implement the second output profile upon detecting a separate electrical device connected via the charging channel, the second maximum output power level being less than the first maximum output power level.

14. A method for operating an electrical device, comprising: transferring electrical power from a power source of the electrical device to an output device of the electrical device so that the output device generates an output having a power level between a minimum output power level and a maximum output power level, including at least regulating the power to one of a plurality of discrete output power levels, the plurality of discrete output power levels including at least one minimum output power level and a maximum output power level; monitoring a charging channel of the electrical device to determine whether a separate electrical device is connected to the electrical device through the charging channel; as well as When a separate electrical device connected via the charging channel is detected, the maximum output power level of the output device is reduced.

15. The method for operating an electrical device according to claim 14, wherein: The output device is a lighting device, which is configured to generate a light output having a brightness between a minimum brightness and a maximum brightness. The operating method further includes: reducing the maximum output brightness when a separate electrical device connected via a charging channel is detected.

16. The method for operating an electrical device according to claim 14, further comprising: detecting an electrical device connected via the charging channel while the output device generates an output at a first output power level; as well as Power delivered from the power source to the output device is regulated to reduce the power level of the output to a second output power level that is less than the first output power level.

17. The method for operating an electrical device according to claim 14, further comprising: transferring power from the power source to the output device according to a first output profile when no separate electrical device connected via the charging channel is detected, the first output profile defining a first minimum output power level and a first maximum output power level; as well as When a separate electrical device connected via the charging channel is detected, power is transferred from the power source to the output device according to a second output profile, the second output profile defining a second minimum output power level and a second maximum output power level, the second maximum output power level being less than the first maximum output power level.

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