Hello, I'm from Russia and I design flashlights for firemen. My aim is to make a flashlight with the narrowest spot (maximize its throw), and minimize its flood, as the flood is useless in smoke. As this flashlight is supposed to be a chest firefighter's flashlight, it should be quite compact.
I have realized that it is better to use LED chips with the smallest square (Cree XP-G provides higher candlepower than Cree XHP) and I have tried many different types of optics. As firefighter's flashlight should be compact (especially chest flashlight, like Streamlight Survivor), it is impossible to use long parabolic reflector (besides it stills has flood). TIR optics still provides some flood (Streamlight Survivor has "smoke cutters" in its kit in order to minimize flood light) I started to use convex lenses, as it cuts off almost all flood light. Then I decided to use flat Fresnel lenses in order to minimize weight and size. Here is my current solution: LS-A2M flashlight www.sila-s.com/ls-a2m
Fresnel lens in 50 mm diameter and 35 mm focal lens (so total chest flashlight thickness is 50 mm).
Is there any way to improve it and to have even smaller light spot (or smaller optics size)? I have only found Laser LED flashlights (LEP flashlights), but it is a too expensive solution. The other way is to use a set of lenses (like in a camera lens), but it will increase product size.
Any advice would be highly appreciated
I have realized that it is better to use LED chips with the smallest square (Cree XP-G provides higher candlepower than Cree XHP) and I have tried many different types of optics. As firefighter's flashlight should be compact (especially chest flashlight, like Streamlight Survivor), it is impossible to use long parabolic reflector (besides it stills has flood). TIR optics still provides some flood (Streamlight Survivor has "smoke cutters" in its kit in order to minimize flood light) I started to use convex lenses, as it cuts off almost all flood light. Then I decided to use flat Fresnel lenses in order to minimize weight and size. Here is my current solution: LS-A2M flashlight www.sila-s.com/ls-a2m
Fresnel lens in 50 mm diameter and 35 mm focal lens (so total chest flashlight thickness is 50 mm).
Is there any way to improve it and to have even smaller light spot (or smaller optics size)? I have only found Laser LED flashlights (LEP flashlights), but it is a too expensive solution. The other way is to use a set of lenses (like in a camera lens), but it will increase product size.
Any advice would be highly appreciated
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