Help with NEW eternaLight design...

[MrEternaLight]

Hi all! We've changed micro's in the latest eternaLight design and are completely rewriting the code. Comments from many of you have echoed through to this and now we would like some comments on particular details as we build the new code. Any participation will be greatly appreciated and will give you the opportunity to help guide the design. Please keep to the topic and this specific question, tangent thoughts may detract from our focus here.

Project code name:Micron

First question: many of you have requested that the On/Dim mode remember it's last setting. In one scenario, the Timer mode is still first and would operate the same. But, when flipping to the On/Dim mode, the unit would immediately return to your last setting - is that sufficient?

 

[Saaby]

Heres a scheme I dreamed up...

It's nice that when it just comes on it goes into timer mode...that way if it gets bumped or if your cell phone rings

the lights isn't on forever. I thought that (if possible) what would be nice is something like this...


Now this has nothing to do with the "user interface" but it would be nice to have some sort of reflector/shield over the LEDs on the top of the light. Take a 3x5 card and tape it to the top of the Eternalight (The side with the buttons) and you'll see what I mean. Some people have complained that when they use the light the exposed LEDs glare in their eyes. I don't think you are redesigning the body right now though and I understand how expensive it is to buy a new mold.


Press power button--Goes into timer mode.

Press power button and hold for about 2 seconds--LEDs come on in dimmer mode at last preset. Once the LEDs come on you know that you can release the button.


That way you have a nice combination of safeguarding the light and batteries (Even though they'll run for a loooooooooong time) but still be able to get to dimmer mode easily.

 

[Gandalf]

I'd like to see the 'momentary' function *not* be the last function; I use it far, far more than the srobe, flashing, SOS, etc.

I hate having to go throgh *all* of the other functions before I can use the momentary function.

Your suggestion on the 'memory dim' function is excellent, as well.

I *really like* my Elite X-ray, (and Marine, and G/W EternaLights); the only thing I don't like about them is where in the 'menu' the momentary function is.

Hey, I have more posts than my member number!

 

[Roy]

I also like the idea of having the "pulse"(momentary) mode first.

Remembering the dimness levell is also a good idea.

Could a super bright mode be added?

 

[McGizmo]

Tom,
Thanks for asking and giving us a chance to participate. In my experience, it is nice to have the light on a timer mode so that itdoesn't stay on all the time but I don't find the ability to change the actual amount of time it's on as that important.

Would it be possible to have the first or reset mode be the timer mode but have that fixed at say 5 minutes? If so, I suggest that the first two modes be timer and then constant on. I also suggest that the adjust feature for both of these modes be the dimmer function.

I.E. You turn the light on and it is in timer mode but at the brightness level which was last selected. If you want the light to stay on, you press the mode button one more time and it goes into always on mode but at the same brightness level. In either of the first two modes, you can re adjust the brightness level to a new setting if desired.

If you have set the light to a dimm level for whatever reason, it is frustrating to turn the light off and then back on and receive full brightness.

One of the main reasons we all agree on recalling the same brightness levels is the desire to return to that. An anology is if you have a clock radio that always comes on at full volume, you would toss it!!!!!

I hope I have explained my thoughts here clearly.
- Don

 

[Joe Talmadge]

Well, if we all disagree, it's more fun for Mr EternaLite

I agree that your proposal is exactly the best one. Power-on = full brightness timer mode. Hit mode button = dimmer mode w/ memory.

[edit - actually, it sacrifices simplicity, but having the dimmer work for both timer and dimmer mode isn't a horrible idea, with separate memories for each. I personally would keep the timer at full brightness, and dimmer at very low brightness. But I can see the usefulness of having full dimming capability so that people can set them how they want. The only problem is yet more added complexity. I'd be very happy with just the original proposal -- Joe]
I also agree that pulse mode is useful and should not be last. It should be third, right behind timer and dimmer.

Joe

 

[bucken]

IMHO, I agree with McGizmo...

Would also like to see at least a momentary super bright function available.

Oh Yeah, and the whole package should be MUCH smaller. I find the old standard model to be much more functional that the newer, curvier model (that won't fit anything or sit on anything).

 

[Joe Talmadge]

Yep, I also suggested that in another thread, a super-bright mode would be astoundingly useful.

And I guess in my edited comments, I'm agreeing w/ McGizmo, too.


Joe

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

McGizmo's suggestion sounded good to me at first too, but after thinking about it, I mildly prefer the original idea (regular timer mode, then dimmable with memory feature).

Reasons? Being able to access full power mode easily is pretty important. If someone were to set the dimmable mode fairly low (or roughly in the middle), it might take them awhile to cycle back to full power, which might be a real problem. Of course, this is primarily a problem if you have a lot of dimness settings, as currently. If you only had two, it wouldn't matter. Or if you could very quickly reach full power in some other way.

In the original scheme, if you want to start up the light in your typical dim mode, and don't want it blasting away at full power, you can cover the leds with your hand while quickly pressing the appropriate buttons (1-2).

Mind you, either scheme would be a significant improvement.

Edited to add: Yes, separate dim modes for timer & regular modes w/memory would address my issue as well.

 

[McGizmo]

Tom,
Probably a dumb question but since this thing is programable what the heck. I agree with certain reseverations as the time from full bright to max dim seems long due to the multiple levels of dimness; handy yet cumbersome. Is it possible that on the adjust button a simple depression on the button could cycle you through say 3 gross levels of brightness such as Full, Med and Max Dim. Whereas, if the adjust button was held down, it would, in finer increments take you from one of the gross adjust levels to the next gross adjust level? If there were possible, then getting to where you wanted to be could be quicker in whatever strategy you chose to adapt.

- Don

 

[Saaby]

Well it takes about 2 seconds to change from off to timer to dimmer anyway right...? So why not just hold down the button (Maybe 1.5 seconds instead??) when you want it to go into dimmer-memory mode?

 

[txwest]

Since Darell isn't here, I'll put in his 2 cents: I want OFF-ON, & DIM (1 dim only), and that's it! Anymore is to much to keep up with....

Now for serious suggestions: No changes on the 1st short push, timer mode. 2nd quick push, dimmer mode. 3rd quick push will take you to the momentary mode. This would put all the "flashlight functions" at the beginning & all the blinker modes at the end.

Now, when you 1st turn on the light, if you press & hold for 1.5-2 seconds, it goes to your previously used dimmer level. Instead, if you went through the timer mode & then into the normal dimmer mode at high level, and wanted to go to the dimmest 4 light level, push & hold for 1.5-2 seconds. It'll automaticly switch to dimmer level 9 & be ready to start turning off LED's with pushes on the adjust button. I could also cut out where you can light up each single LED. If you just want 1 on, you don't generally care which one it is. The last dim level is 1 LED. TX

 

[Saaby]

Sounds complex! Add a new page to the manual! But seriously I think that that's the best solution so far txwest. Hey Mr.Eternalight? Wanna be a guest on CPF chat

 

[Eppe's Corner]

Hello Tom:

As a company who helped put the
EternaLight 3M Marine on the map
through "Popular Mechanics" magazine,
and
the fact that a family who's
boat capsized off the California coast
was saved by the SOS mode of the
EternaLight, don't start making the
controls three handed operation.

99% of the operation should be operated
with one hand.

I have heard now and then from people
who mentioned the glare sometimes, but not
a big deal.

If a "Glare Shield" were added it would
need to keep the light shirt pocket size
and if removable, the connection would need to be very strong, especially if the light
is used in an emergency or by emergency
people.

Some firefighters use this light as a
back-up and carry it in the pocket
of their turn-out coats.

If the operation and manual of
the EternaLight becomes so complicated,
you will need a Philadelphia lawyer
to sort it all out.

Most people won't buy a light this complicated !!!

Eppe's Corner looks forward to adding
yet another of the Geniuses creation
to our stable.

Don't Let The LED Bugs Bite !

Gary Turk
Eppe's Corner

 

[txwest]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Saaby:
Sounds complex! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Not really. Actuall, very little changed. If you're turning it on & want to go to your previous setting, press & hold for 2 seconds. If you're in the dimmer mode & want to go to the dimmest 4 light setting, press & hold for 2 seconds. All other operations stay the same (except cutting out the extra single LED positions). TX

 

[Brock]

I have to go with McGizmo's (Don's) first idea having it start with auto off at whatever level it was at last.

Personally I use light's a lot at night and it is to bright when it first comes on. I hate to say it but I use a PAL for that reason, it starts dim and ramps up.

Here is another crazy thought; can you make this option somehow user programmable? If the end user could somehow make it come on full, or last level? Maybe when you shut it off if you hold the "off" button for 2 seconds it will remember it's last level, but if you just do a quick press off it "resets" itself?

Another big wish for me would to be able to dim down and up, wouldn't that be cool, when I pass the dimmest level I have to go around again, instead I could just go "up" from full, to the dimmest level.

 

[McGizmo]

I think Brock hit on something that was alluded to in the first thread on the Eternalight where we discussed the wish for KISS. *IF* it were possible for the middle button to serve as both the on/ off as well as mode select button (different lengths of depression time; long for on or off, short for mode cycle) *THEN* the left button could ba a down button and the right button an up button. It is frustrating not being able to "back up".

Tom, just stich a USB port on the dam thing and then we can down load whatever we want for features

You may have asked a simple question but danged if we'll give you a simple answer

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I have never operated, much less owned, an EternaLight. I could never see the usefulness of the non-standard form factor and always thought a flashlight should be shaped like, well, a flashlight. And the variety of modes, along with the almost code-like knowledge to which one must become accustomed in order to effectively use the light to its full potential, always put me off.

But I realize now that it's just like the old, "Who needs color TV? We already gots us a black-and-white", adage. In perusing this thread it occurred to me that it might be nice to have a flat package slipping easily into one's coat or baggy pants pocket. And that it might be nice to have a single light perform the function(s) of several.

My personal opinion is that first and foremost, a light should possess the ability to be activated quickly, into its most basic phase which the majority of users initially require -- that of immediate illumination. First and foremost. And if that is already the primary mode of the EternaLight line, then I apologize for my ignorance.

It should activate into a usable but not necessarily its brightest output level, with an additional push or hold on the button increasing its lumens. How it then proceeds into its other modes is of no real concern to me.

Think I'll traipse on over to BrightGuy.com now and take a look at getting me a nice basic model to acquaint myself...

And BTW, I do agree with the comment on shielding sidespill light. It's one of the more annoying traits of the Photons, and even they have now incorporated projections above and below the led, presumably to ameliorate this very real glare problem.

 

[hotfoot]

So many excellent observations and comments here! Here's my 2cents:

1) Tom, the last-used mode memory feature would be excellent.

2) I too, would prefer it if the timer mode came on in the dimmest setting. This would save batteries in a true accidental-activation situation, plus it would allow the user a useful amount of illumination to start with without ruining night vision, then ramping up to the desired level.

3) As for the KISS methodology, removing the strobe and dazzle modes would help.

4) Can momentary mode be an always-available simultaneous 2-button operation? That way it can be immediately accessible anytime, but the 2-button requirement would lower the possibilty of it being accidentally activated when packed in a bag or in a pocket.

5) While the SOS mode is undoubtedly good to have IMHO, the Eternalight is not a true emergency light. Real emergency equipment typically only have one obvious function that is always available. Of course, no one will want to have SOS as the first mode, so if you focus on the Micron's first use in life (ie. a pocket flashlight), it should be easier to relegate the SOS to the *last* function in the cycle mode. It would still be available when needed, but not get in the way when the flashlight is operating in its everyday modes.

6) I've always liked the night beacon feature, but turning it on and off adds another paragraph to the user's manual and it risks being a forgotten feature for someone who buys the Xrays. Since it takes so little power (I'm happily sure about this since I have one hanging in my bathroom in constant-beacon mode since March and still lights up brightly today in full-power mode), why not just leave it on permanently. This eliminates one more thing for the user to remember since its already always there.

In summary, the Eternalight range are fantastic products, just a little to complex for most folks - which puts them off the buying. As an engineer myself, it would seem wasteful too if every ounce of CPU cycle were not used, hence the want to cram in as many modes as possible. Truth is, most ppl don't even *want* so many modes. So, IMVHO, the Micron can be a simplified every-mans flashlight, but the Eternlights can continue to be the full-meal swiss-army-knife of the Techass range.

 

[Empath]

My Xray of course has the same functions as the other models, plus one; the little internal LED that can be turned on or off, or made to blink. The other functions are simple to recall, since it has the instruction set for the modes listed under the mode button. The little night/finder light has no such notation, and operating that feature requires remembering the proper button sequence. I find myself stumbling when I want to change that function, since it isn't used often.

My Photon 3 has an extensive function library, but since it isn't listed on the product, and isn't used often enough to recall the proper sequence easily, I leave the setting as is and ignore it's other functions.

Please, whatever is done, continue the on product listings for those of us that don't carry around the instruction manual. I don't even remember where my manual is, although I know it's printed on your website.