ViReN
Flashlight Enthusiast
Concept: Solid State Flashlight with electronically Controllable Beam.
Date: 24/03/2006
Background: Ever since I got a Mini Mag 2AA Light with a Focusable feature, I had always dreamt of something similar without the mechanical aspect. The mechanism is clumsy and makes an ugly donut hole when we require a wide beam. Also the beam quality is very poor. To conquer this, some manufacturers have spluttered the reflector. This has although increased the beam quality to some extent the fragile Focusing mechanism still remains. With the advent of new Light Emitting Diode technologies, the problem of fragile filament bulb has also been solved. Today we see more and more bright LED Lights, with spluttered reflectors and same old mechanical focusing.
I attempt to address the mechanical focusing problem with a simple but yet radical innovative concept. Imagine a light with total solid-state devices and no mechanical components at the business end of the flashlight. A flashlight with no moving parts yet gives you full control on the quality of beam including adjustable focus.
Definitions:
The Concept: So far, the only way to control the beam of flashlight was the mechanical way i.e. by moving the reflector away or near to the emitter of light that is placed near the focal point of parabola. Adjusting the location of reflector would cause light being out of focus and cause the beam to widen. However, in this concept, instead of adjusting location of reflector, I intend to modify the light that is emitted.
Emitter Type 1:
Consider the following image.
As you have noticed, there are circular rings emitting light of varying intensity. Controlling intensity of each ring, we can alter the beam angle, hotspot and falloff giving you complete control over the beam quality.
We may need technological advancements to make this concept possible. I believe that with current technology, we can create such a light source. Using the multi layer microprocessor chip technology to 'print' the concentric circles of light emitting material over the controller chip.
Emitter Type 2:
With the color of beam also being a concern, we could use a RGB Matrix of nano dots to emit light in concentric circles with desired light color (including white light). The nano RGB dots with today's technology could be of the size of 90 x 90 nm (Nano Meters). However with enhancements of technology in future the size of dots could be as low as 1 nm giving more fine control and resolution of the light.
The Type 2 emitter light can also be used as a source of projector flashlight (a flashlight that can project images / video) with use of a Lens Attachment.
Emitter Type 3:
An inverted cone emitter with type 2 features. The shape of emitter will give better control and a wider beam angles. This emitter currently is not possible to build however with advancement of nano technology building, it would be possible to build such an emitter.
Emitter Electronics:
The emitter is a self-contained multiplayer microprocessor with top layer of light emitting material. The layer just below the light layer would be controlling the intensities of individual nano dots / rings. The emitter control circuit communicates with peripheral intelligent components through a 'light bus' of 32 or 64 bit width. On-chip peripheral components will include a blue-tooth controller and wireless IEEE 802.11 a/b/g controller to talk wirelessly to for external wireless control of the emitter. Since the emitter will be self-contained with control circuit, only external components will be power supply, wireless antenna and interface components.
I have skipped all the internal details and above is presented only as a concept for general understanding here.
It's just a concept... open for free discussions.... and hope anyone would not 'steal' this concept making way to any patent... we already have got enough from MAG LED...
let this be a free and fair idea...let's discuss and let it evolve in to a new product family / class.. rather than just in books or topic for some book / records.
Date: 24/03/2006
Background: Ever since I got a Mini Mag 2AA Light with a Focusable feature, I had always dreamt of something similar without the mechanical aspect. The mechanism is clumsy and makes an ugly donut hole when we require a wide beam. Also the beam quality is very poor. To conquer this, some manufacturers have spluttered the reflector. This has although increased the beam quality to some extent the fragile Focusing mechanism still remains. With the advent of new Light Emitting Diode technologies, the problem of fragile filament bulb has also been solved. Today we see more and more bright LED Lights, with spluttered reflectors and same old mechanical focusing.
I attempt to address the mechanical focusing problem with a simple but yet radical innovative concept. Imagine a light with total solid-state devices and no mechanical components at the business end of the flashlight. A flashlight with no moving parts yet gives you full control on the quality of beam including adjustable focus.
Definitions:
- Emitter: A solid-state source of light.
- Intensity: The intensity of light at its point of origin affects how brightly the light illuminates an object. A dim light cast on a brightly colored object shows only dim colors. Intensity at any given point is expressed in Lux / Candelas (unit of light).
- Attenuation: Light diminishes over distance. Objects far from the light source appear darker; objects near the source appear brighter. This effect is known as attenuation.
- Beam: in a flashlight, the rays of light directed by a combination of Parabolic Reflector and a light emitter forms a cone of light.
- Beam Angle: The angle that is formed by the rays of light in the beam from the source of light. Beam angle is expressed in degrees.
- Hotspot: Intense circle of high intensity light produced by the beam of light.
- Falloff: the light rays surrounding the hotspot as a result of source of light not being a point.
The Concept: So far, the only way to control the beam of flashlight was the mechanical way i.e. by moving the reflector away or near to the emitter of light that is placed near the focal point of parabola. Adjusting the location of reflector would cause light being out of focus and cause the beam to widen. However, in this concept, instead of adjusting location of reflector, I intend to modify the light that is emitted.
Emitter Type 1:
Consider the following image.
As you have noticed, there are circular rings emitting light of varying intensity. Controlling intensity of each ring, we can alter the beam angle, hotspot and falloff giving you complete control over the beam quality.
We may need technological advancements to make this concept possible. I believe that with current technology, we can create such a light source. Using the multi layer microprocessor chip technology to 'print' the concentric circles of light emitting material over the controller chip.
Emitter Type 2:
With the color of beam also being a concern, we could use a RGB Matrix of nano dots to emit light in concentric circles with desired light color (including white light). The nano RGB dots with today's technology could be of the size of 90 x 90 nm (Nano Meters). However with enhancements of technology in future the size of dots could be as low as 1 nm giving more fine control and resolution of the light.
The Type 2 emitter light can also be used as a source of projector flashlight (a flashlight that can project images / video) with use of a Lens Attachment.
Emitter Type 3:
An inverted cone emitter with type 2 features. The shape of emitter will give better control and a wider beam angles. This emitter currently is not possible to build however with advancement of nano technology building, it would be possible to build such an emitter.
Emitter Electronics:
The emitter is a self-contained multiplayer microprocessor with top layer of light emitting material. The layer just below the light layer would be controlling the intensities of individual nano dots / rings. The emitter control circuit communicates with peripheral intelligent components through a 'light bus' of 32 or 64 bit width. On-chip peripheral components will include a blue-tooth controller and wireless IEEE 802.11 a/b/g controller to talk wirelessly to for external wireless control of the emitter. Since the emitter will be self-contained with control circuit, only external components will be power supply, wireless antenna and interface components.
I have skipped all the internal details and above is presented only as a concept for general understanding here.
It's just a concept... open for free discussions.... and hope anyone would not 'steal' this concept making way to any patent... we already have got enough from MAG LED...
let this be a free and fair idea...let's discuss and let it evolve in to a new product family / class.. rather than just in books or topic for some book / records.