Motorized Flashlight Lighthead for One-Handed Beam Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional flashlights require significant physical contact and force to adjust the light beam direction, often necessitating the use of two hands to ensure accurate and stable beam redirection, which can be cumbersome and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A motorized directional lighthead assembly in a flashlight that allows for beam adjustment with minimal force and one-handed operation, utilizing a gearbox/motor drive assembly and user-operable switches to rotate the lighthead up to ninety degrees, enabling precise direction control with reduced risk of displacing the unit from its desired location.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual adjustment mechanisms are used to redirect the light beam, then the beam direction can be changed, but significant physical force and two-handed operation are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam direction adjustmentVSAvoidphysical force required

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an electric motor-driven system. The motor rotates the lighthead assembly electronically based on user input from a control device, eliminating the need for manual physical force to redirect the light beam.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a sensor to detect the user's head position and automatically adjusts the lighthead direction to follow the head movement, eliminating the need for direct manual intervention in beam direction control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If manual adjustment mechanisms are used to redirect the light beam, then the beam direction can be changed, but accurate and stable beam redirection requires two hands

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam direction accuracyVSAvoidnumber of hands required

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The electric motor provides precise rotational control of the lighthead assembly through electronic control, achieving accurate beam direction without requiring two-handed manual stabilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor provides feedback on head position, allowing the control system to automatically adjust the lighthead direction with precision while the user maintains natural head positioning without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the lightbeam follows the user's head, then hands-free operation is achieved, but effective illumination of the work area is prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehands-free operationVSAvoidwork area illumination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides dynamic control where the lighthead can automatically follow head movement for hands-free operation, or remain stationary to provide stable illumination of a specific work area, allowing the user to switch between modes as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control device enables multiple operating modes: automatic head-following mode for hands-free portability, and stationary mode for stable work area illumination, making the system adaptable to different usage scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 effortless beam direction adjustment with minimal physical effort, allowing for hands-free operation and reduced risk of accidental displacement, enhancing usability in various work scenarios by allowing remote or voice control options.

Implementation Method 1

A portable illuminating device with a powered pivotable lighthead assembly where the powered pivotable lighthead assembly uses a power transmission means to direct said lighthead assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS8662700B2Flashlight with motorized directional lighthead for lightbeam placement

Publication Date: 2014.03.04 OSULLIVAN PAUL

AI summary

A flashlight has a casing, designed for hand-carrying, housing a motor connected to a lighthead by a mechanical linkage, one or more power sources configured to supply power to the lighthead and to the motor, and a user-operable control device configured to control a motion of the lighthead. The lighthead contains or is attached to a lighting element, the user-operable control device includes a switching assembly, and the lighthead is rotatable about an axis. The mechanical linkage is configured to translate a motive force from the motor into motion of the lighthead. Operation of the switching device rotates the lighthead, easily adjusting the direction of the light beam emitted by the flashlight at the touch of a finger.