Portable lamp with a light mode circuit and method for setting up and controlling such a lamp

Abstract

A portable light, namely a pocket lamp or headlamp (11), comprising a housing (2), a light source unit (3), and a control unit (7) having at least one sensor (8) for registering movement data of the portable light (1), an evaluation unit (9) for evaluating the movement data, and a microcontroller (10) for controlling different lighting modes of the light source unit (3) depending on the registered movement data. The evaluation unit (9) is configured, by means of evaluation logic stored thereon, to distinguish between use-specific movement data and operation-specific movement data. Use-specific movement data are generated during the intended use of the portable light (1) and operation-specific movement data are generated during operation of the portable light (1) by tapping or striking the housing (2) at any location.so that the different lighting modes of the portable lamp (1) can be selected exclusively by tapping or striking the housing (2).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable lamp, namely a pocket lamp or headlamp, comprising a housing, a light source unit and a control unit which has at least one sensor for registering movement data of the portable lamp, an evaluation unit for evaluating the movement data and a microcontroller for controlling different lighting modes of the light source unit depending on the registered movement data.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for setting up and controlling such a portable lamp.

[0003] Portable lights, namely pocket lamps and headlamps of the type mentioned above, are known from the prior art and are usually designed for a variety of applications. In order to adapt the emitted light to the intended application, light mode switches are provided, which allow selection between different light modes. These include, for example, light modes with different light intensities, light colors, and also flashing patterns, such as strobe lighting or the emission of an SOS signal in Morse code. Differently focused light cones can also be selected within the framework of known light mode switches. To select the light mode, conventional pocket lamps or headlamps have a switch on the housing that allows you to change the light mode by pressing it multiple times if necessary.

[0004] Depending on the intended use, operating such a flashlight or headlamp, i.e. switching between lighting modes, can sometimes be cumbersome. Craftsmen, especially automotive mechatronics technicians or the like, require both hands for many tasks, which is why operating a switch on a headlamp accurately is not always possible. Even when cycling, operating a headlamp is only possible if at least one hand is removed from the handlebars to operate the switch(es) to change the lighting mode. Operating such a light therefore carries an increased risk of accidents, especially on rough terrain.

[0005] From US 2019 / 0 150 249 A1, GB 2498442 A and US 2018 / 0 209 628 A1, generic portable lights are known, each of which can be operated by means of gestures.

[0006] Based on this, the object of the present invention is to simplify the operation of such a portable lamp, in particular a pocket lamp or headlamp.

[0007] This object is achieved by the portable light according to claim 1 and by the method according to claim 10. According to the invention, the evaluation unit is configured, by means of evaluation logic stored thereon, to distinguish use-specific movement data from operation-specific movement data. Use-specific movement data arise during intended use—i.e., during application—of the portable light, and operation-specific movement data arise during operation of the portable light by tapping or striking the housing at any point. As a result, the different lighting modes of the portable light can be selected exclusively by tapping or striking the housing. The desired lighting mode can be set exclusively by tapping or striking the housing with the hand or a finger, without the need to laboriously locate or feel for a provided switch.A distinction between use-specific movement data and operation-specific movement data is possible because the accelerations occurring differ significantly from one another, particularly in terms of their direction, magnitude, and temporal progression. The portable lamp according to the invention and the method according to the invention therefore enable significantly faster, safer, more convenient, and thus simpler operation.

[0008] Advantageous further developments of the present invention are specified below and in the subordinate patent claims.

[0009] According to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the sensor is an inertial sensor, in particular an acceleration sensor, which measures the acceleration of the portable lamp in three linearly independent spatial directions (x, y, z). Such an inertial sensor can be used to register movements of the portable lamp resulting from its intended use or from tapping / hitting the housing.

[0010] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the portable light comprises a selection device and / or a digital selection menu with which the intended use of the portable light can be selected from a menu of preset applications. The different applications are linked to different use-specific movement data. Different selectable applications include, for example, cycling, hiking, jogging, skiing, or climbing, where specific and distinguishable movement data are recorded.

[0011] Alternatively and / or additionally, it is provided that the selection device and / or the digital selection menu can be used to select an operating movement from a menu of preset operating movements, with different operating movements being linked to different operation-specific movement data. This makes it possible, for example, to set the lighting mode to change when the housing is tapped or struck once or twice within a short period of time, for example, less than 1 second. It is also possible to set the tapping or striking to set or change the lighting mode exclusively on the left, right, or front side of the housing, which largely avoids incorrect input commands that could result from a misinterpretation of the usage-specific movement data.

[0012] Preferably, the selection device or the digital selection menu is designed to activate / deactivate the motion-dependent operating mode and / or to activate or deactivate preset lighting modes individually or in groups. Firstly, the sensitive operating mode can be fully activated or deactivated in this way. Furthermore, the user can only activate the lighting modes that they usually select and use during intended use, which in most applications prevents the lighting mode from having to be changed disproportionately often in order to switch from a current lighting mode to the desired lighting mode. In many applications, only two or three different brightness levels are activated as lighting modes, so that when switching between the lighting modes, no other lighting modes, such as strobe or a different light color, are briefly activated.

[0013] Within the scope of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the selection device comprises one or more switches arranged on the housing of the portable lamp and connected to the control unit. Such switches can be designed, for example, as slide or rotary switches.

[0014] Alternatively, within the scope of a further preferred embodiment, the portable light has a digital interface that allows a wireless or wired connection between the control unit and an external control unit and is configured to change settings of the portable light. An external control unit can be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, or a notebook on which an application (app) for setting up the portable light is installed. In this context, it is preferably provided that the aforementioned digital selection menu for selecting the intended use of the portable light and / or for selecting the operating movement can be operated with the external control unit via the interface.

[0015] Within the scope of a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that use-specific and / or operation-specific movement data are predefined and / or individually teachable. For teaching individual use-specific or operation-specific movement data, a learning mode is provided, which can be selected via the external control unit and generates individual use-specific and / or operation-specific movement data from the movement data recorded by the sensor. The learning mode is preferably a component of the control unit because the necessary computing capacity is available there.

[0016] Specific embodiments of the present invention are explained below with reference to the figures. They show: Fig. 1a, b perspective views of portable lamps and Fig. 2 a flowchart of a method for setting up and controlling a portable lamp.

[0017] The Fig. 1a, b each show a specific embodiment of a portable lamp 1 according to the invention in the form of a headlamp 11. The lamp 1 has a housing 2, a light source unit 3, and a headband 4, which is designed to attach the lamp 1 to the head of a user. The lamp 1 has, in a conventional manner, an on / off button 5 and operating elements 6 for manually operating the lamp 1. Furthermore, the lamp 1 has a separate control unit 7, which has a sensor 8 for recording movement data of the lamp 1, an evaluation unit 9 for evaluating the movement data, and a microcontroller 10 for controlling different lighting modes of the light source unit 3 depending on the recorded movement data. In the illustrated embodiment, the sensor 8 is designed as an inertial sensor 81, which measures accelerations of the lamp 1 in the three spatial directions x, y, z.The evaluation unit 9 is configured by means of an evaluation logic stored thereon to differentiate use-specific movement data from operation-specific movement data, wherein use-specific movement data arise during the intended use of the portable lamp 1 and operation-specific movement data arise during operation of the portable lamp 1 by tapping or striking the housing 2 at any point, so that the different lighting modes of the portable lamp 1 can be selected by tapping or striking the housing 2 with the finger of a hand 12 in the direction of the arrow 13, 13', 13''.

[0018] The Fig. The lamp 1 shown in Figure 1a has a selection device 14 in the form of two slide switches 141, 142, with which both the application of the portable lamp 1 can be selected from a menu of preset applications and the operating movement from a menu of preset operating movements. Different applications are linked to different use-specific movement data, and different operating movements are linked to different operation-specific movement data. The selection device 14 is also designed to activate / deactivate the movement-dependent operating mode. In the illustrated embodiment, to deactivate the movement-dependent operating mode, switch 141 must be set to "0." The remaining digits symbolize different selectable operating movements.

[0019] The Fig. The embodiments of a lamp 1 shown in Figures 1a, b have a digital interface 15 that allows a wireless or wired connection between the control unit 7 and an external operating unit 16 and is configured to change settings of the portable lamp 1. The embodiment according to Fig. 1b shows in comparison to the embodiment according to Fig. 1a has only a limited selection device 14 with which the motion-dependent operating mode can be activated and deactivated. With this luminaire 1, the operator can access a digital selection menu via the digital interface 15 and, using the menu, set the application for which the luminaire 1 is used. Furthermore, the operator can set the menu-driven operating movement to change a set lighting mode, such as tapping the housing 2 once or twice within a short period of <1 second.

[0020] A concrete procedure for setting up and controlling a portable lamp is described in Fig. 2. According to this, the sensitive operating mode, i.e., the motion-controlled lighting mode switching, is initially provided for activation or deactivation. When the sensitive operating mode is activated, it is then possible to select which application is planned and which operating movement should trigger the change in the lighting mode. When the light is used as intended, movement data is then recorded and evaluated. The control unit can differentiate between application-specific movement data and operation-specific movement data, with the recording of operation-specific movement data triggering the change in the lighting mode. Operation-specific movement data is triggered, for example, by tapping or striking the housing with a finger.

[0021] In addition to the permanently installed applications, a learning mode for application-specific movements is provided, which can be activated separately. When the learning mode is activated, application-specific movement data is recorded and evaluated during intended use. This data set can then be saved as a custom application, which can then be selected from the application menu.

[0022] Similarly, a learning mode for operator-specific movement data is also provided, which can also be activated. This mode records, evaluates, and saves operator-specific movement data as an individual operation, allowing the individual operation to be selected from the menu of operator movements. Reference symbol 1 portable light 11 Headlamp 2 housings 3 Light source unit 4 Headband 5 On / off button 6 controls 7 Control unit 8 Sensor 81 Inertial sensor 9 Evaluation unit 10 microcontrollers 12 hands 13, 13', 13" arrow direction 14 Selection device 141 slide switches 142 slide switches 15 Interface 16 external control unit

Claims

[1] Portable lamp, namely a pocket lamp or headlamp (11), comprising a housing (2), a light source unit (3) and a control unit (7) which has at least one sensor (8) for registering movement data of the portable lamp (1), an evaluation unit (9) for evaluating the movement data and a microcontroller (10) for controlling different lighting modes of the light source unit (3) depending on the registered movement data, characterized bythat the evaluation unit (9) is set up by means of an evaluation logic stored thereon to differentiate use-specific movement data from operation-specific movement data, wherein use-specific movement data arise during the intended use of the portable lamp (1) and operation-specific movement data arise during operation of the portable lamp (1) by tapping or striking the housing (2) at any point, so that the different lighting modes of the portable lamp (1) can be selected exclusively by tapping or striking the housing (2). [2] Portable lamp according to claim 1, characterized by that the sensor (8) is an inertial sensor (81), in particular an acceleration sensor, which measures the acceleration of the portable lamp in three linearly independent spatial directions (x, y, z). [3] Portable lamp according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized bythat the portable lamp (1) has a selection device (14) and / or a digital selection menu with which a) the application of the portable lamp (1) can be selected from a menu of preset applications, with different applications being linked to different usage-specific movement data, and / or b) the operating movement can be selected from a menu of preset operating movements, with different operating movements being linked to different operation-specific movement data. [4] Portable lamp according to claim 3, characterized by that the selection device (14) and / or the digital selection menu is designed to a) to activate / deactivate the motion-dependent operating mode and / or b) to activate or deactivate preset lighting modes individually or in groups. [5] Portable lamp according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized bythat the selection device (14) has one or more switches (141, 142) which are arranged on the housing (2) of the portable lamp (1) and are connected to the control unit (7). [6] Portable lamp according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by a digital interface (15) which allows a wireless or wired connection between the control unit (7) and an external operating unit (16) and is configured to change settings of the portable lamp (1). [7] Portable lamp according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized by that the selection menu can be connected to the external control unit (16) via the interface (15) and can be operated in a menu-controlled manner. [8] Portable lamp according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that use-specific and / or operation-specific movement data are predefined and / or can be individually learned. [9] Portable lamp according to claim 8, characterized bythat a learning mode is provided for learning individual use- and movement-specific movement data, which can be selected by means of the external control unit (16) and which generates individual use-specific and / or operation-specific movement data from movement data registered by the sensor (8). [10] Method for setting up and controlling a portable lamp (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a housing (2), a light source unit (3) and a control unit (7) which has at least one sensor (8) for registering movement data of the portable lamp (1), an evaluation unit (9) for evaluating the movement data and a microcontroller (10) in order to control different lighting modes of the light source unit (3) depending on the registered movement data, characterized bythat the evaluation unit (9) distinguishes use-specific movement data from operation-specific movement data by means of an evaluation logic stored thereon, wherein use-specific movement data arise during the intended use of the portable lamp (1) and operation-specific movement data arise during operation of the portable lamp (1) by tapping or striking the housing (2) at any point, so that the different lighting modes of the portable lamp (1) are selected exclusively by tapping or striking the housing (2).

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