Battery Pack with Integrated Light Source for Standalone Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs lack the functionality to serve as standalone lighting devices with sufficient illumination, limiting their use beyond powering battery-operated devices.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack with a built-in light source, such as a flashlight, UV light, or worklight, that can be manually activated and powered by the battery, allowing it to function as a standalone lighting device, while also being compatible with standard battery compartments and featuring rechargeable or non-rechargeable electrochemical cells, with electrical connections and status indicator lights for charging and power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a battery pack is designed solely for powering battery-operated devices, then it maintains simple structure and standard compatibility, but it lacks standalone lighting functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a light source with the battery pack housing, merging two separate functions (powering devices and providing illumination) into a single integrated unit. The light source is mounted within the housing and powered by the battery, eliminating the need for separate flashlight or lighting devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack is designed to perform multiple functions: it can power battery-operated devices when inserted into a device compartment, and it can also serve as a standalone lighting device when the light source is activated. This multi-functionality increases adaptability without requiring multiple separate devices.
2Loss of information
If indicator lights are added to show charge status, then user information is improved, but the light level is insufficient for external illumination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent differentiates between indicator lights (for showing charge status) and the main light source (for external illumination). The indicator lights remain in their original locations to provide information feedback, while the main light source is positioned and configured to provide directed external illumination, allowing each light to serve its specific local function effectively.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a light source is integrated into the battery pack, then standalone lighting capability is achieved, but the battery pack size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed to accommodate the light source in a space-efficient manner, potentially using thin-walled structures or optimized geometries that minimize the additional volume and weight required for the lighting component while maintaining structural integrity and light output capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the battery pack to provide effective external illumination and power battery-operated devices, offering improved functionality by combining lighting capabilities with standard battery pack functionality.
Implementation Method 1
A battery, such as one or more electrochemical battery cells, is disposed within the housing
Implementation Method 2
A light source is mounted to the housing and is operably coupled to the battery such that the light source is selectably powered by the battery
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack comprises a housing shaped to fit into a battery compartment of a battery-operated device. A battery is disposed within the housing. A light source emitting at least 50 lumens is mounted to the housing and is operably coupled to the battery such that the light source is selectably powered by the battery via a manually operated switch and the battery pack is configured to operate as a lighting device so that the battery pack can be used as a stand-alone lighting device. The battery pack has electrical connections for electrically connecting to the battery-operated device when the battery pack is inserted into the battery compartment of the battery-operated device. The battery pack includes a positive battery terminal and a negative battery terminal disposed on the housing and configured to contact a mating positive terminal and negative terminal of the battery-operated device.