Multi-mode Portable Lighting Device with Battery Charging Circuitry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable lighting devices lack integration of monitoring sensors and auxiliary battery capacity, limiting their functionality in providing user information and power to external devices, especially in remote or power-failure scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A multi-mode portable lighting device with a rechargeable battery, battery charging and control circuitry, wireless communication circuitry, and sensors such as GPS, temperature, and accelerometer, which can transmit battery condition and sensor data to external devices, and supply power to external devices when the battery is above a predetermined threshold, using a USB-C, micro-USB, or Lightning connector port.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If portable lighting devices integrate monitoring sensors and auxiliary battery capacity, then the device functionality and user information provision are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (lighting, power bank, sensor monitoring, wireless communication) into a single integrated portable device. The housing contains both the light source and battery charging circuitry, with sensors embedded to monitor various parameters. This merging approach resolves the contradiction by achieving high versatility through functional integration while managing complexity through unified system design.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable lighting device is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both a light source and a power bank for charging external devices. The battery charging circuitry can both charge the internal battery and provide auxiliary power to external devices through the power connector port. Sensors provide additional monitoring capabilities, making the device universally applicable for lighting, power supply, and environmental monitoring tasks.
2Loss of information
If the device transmits battery condition and sensor data to external devices, then user information reception is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless communication circuitry transmits data periodically or on-demand rather than continuously. Battery condition information and sensor data are transmitted at intervals or when significant changes occur, reducing energy consumption while still providing users with timely information about device status and environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The device provides feedback to users about battery condition and sensor data through wireless communication. This feedback mechanism allows users to monitor device status without requiring constant power transmission, as data can be transmitted efficiently when needed and the system can operate in low-power modes between transmissions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the device supplies power to external devices when battery is above threshold, then auxiliary power capability is improved, but the lighting device's own operation may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The battery charging circuitry monitors battery charge capacity and changes operational parameters based on threshold levels. When battery capacity falls below the predetermined threshold, the circuitry automatically prevents power transmission to external devices, ensuring sufficient power remains for the lighting function. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting power supply behavior to maintain reliable lighting operation while providing auxiliary power when available.
Data Source
AI summary
Portable lighting devices, systems and methods are provided. The portable lighting devices may include a light source, a rechargeable battery, a battery charging and control circuitry, a power connector port and a wireless communication circuitry. The battery charging and control circuitry may be configured to control transmission of current from the rechargeable battery to the light source, and transmission of current from the rechargeable battery through the power connector port and onto an external device. The transmission of current to the external device may occur when the rechargeable battery has a charge capacity above a predetermined threshold level and terminates when the charge capacity of the rechargeable battery is at or below the predetermined threshold level. The wireless communication circuitry may be configured to transmit a battery condition information of the rechargeable battery to an external communication device through a wireless link.