U.S. patent application number 10/052958 was filed with the patent office on 2003-05-08 for compact light weight energy-efficient illumination module for integrated portable applications.
This patent application is currently assigned to Heart Linked Corporation Ltd. Invention is credited to Ip, Sum Ming.
Application Number | 20030086256 10/052958 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21981018 |
Filed Date | 2003-05-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030086256 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ip, Sum Ming |
May 8, 2003 |
Compact light weight energy-efficient illumination module for
integrated portable applications
Abstract
A compact, light weight and energy-efficient illumination module
is described for inclusion into a variety of portable products such
as an organizer, a book and a handbag. The illumination module
allows for convenient, energy-efficient viewing, reading or writing
with the portable products. The illumination module comprises a
light source, a standalone electrical power source such as a
battery, a switching electrical circuit having an integrated
user-operated switch, an enclosure and a mechanically adjustable
attachment for including the enclosure into the portable products.
Upon activation, the light source of the illumination module emits
a locally directed spatial illumination light pattern onto the
portable product for reading.
Inventors: |
Ip, Sum Ming; (Kowloon,
HK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
C. P. Chang
c/o Pacific Law Group LLP
Suite 290
2 North Second Street
San Jose
CA
95113
US
|
Assignee: |
Heart Linked Corporation
Ltd
469 Nathan Rd
Yau Ma Tei
HK
|
Family ID: |
21981018 |
Appl. No.: |
10/052958 |
Filed: |
November 2, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/98 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 19/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/98 |
International
Class: |
A47B 019/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination module
for inclusion into a wide variety of portable devices to provide
illumination for said portable devices, comprising: a light source;
a standalone electrical power source; a switching electrical
circuit having an integrated user-operated switching means for
switchably connecting the electrical power source to the light
source thereby causing said light source to emit a spatial
illumination light pattern; an enclosure means for holding and
protecting the light source, the standalone electrical power source
and the switching electrical circuit; and a mechanically adjustable
attachment means for inclusion of the enclosure means into the
portable devices whereby the portable devices are locally
illuminated with the spatial illumination light pattern for
convenient, privately directed, energy-efficient viewing, reading
or writing.
2. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination
module of claim 1 wherein the light source further comprises a set
of one or more Light Emitting Diodes (LED) to generate a reflected
color image of the portable devices with sufficient intensity and
contrast for useful viewing or reading of the said portable
products in a dark environment.
3. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination
module of claim 1 wherein the light source further comprises a set
of one or more LED to generate a color spectrum of the spatial
illumination light pattern approximating a visual sensation of
white light thus producing a reflected image of the portable
products with sufficient intensity and natural color for natural
viewing or reading of the said portable devices in a dark
environment.
4. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination
module of claim 1 wherein the light source further comprises a set
of one or more miniature incandescent lights, each having a
selected intensity whereby the resulting intensity of the spatial
illumination light pattern from the said light source produces a
reflected color image of the portable devices with sufficient
intensity and contrast for useful and natural viewing or reading of
the said portable products in a dark environment.
5. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination
module of claim 1 wherein the standalone electrical power source
further comprises a set of one or more user-replaceable
batteries.
6. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination
module of claim 5 wherein the standalone electrical power source
further comprises a set of one or more rechargeable batteries with
an optionally integrated recharging circuitry.
7. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination
module of claim 1 wherein the enclosure means is selected from a
group of structures consisting of a plastic case, a leather case, a
foam case, and a sheet metal case.
8. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination
module of claim 1 wherein said wide variety of portable devices
include, but not limited to, an organizer, an address book, an
accounting book, a notebook, a book, a file holder, a brief case, a
hand bag, a purse and a wallet.
9. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination
module of claim 8 wherein the mechanically adjustable attachment
means comprises a flexible closure and locking dual function arm
integrated with a cover of the organizer.
10. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination
module of claim 8 wherein the mechanically adjustable attachment
means comprises a flexible bookmark tab integrated with a cover of
the book.
11. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination
module of claim 8 wherein the mechanically adjustable attachment
means comprises a multi-axis adjustable and foldable cantilever
integrated with an inside cover of the book.
12. The compact, light-weight and energy-efficient illumination
module of claim 8 wherein the mechanically adjustable attachment
means comprises a repositionable valcrel integrated with an inside
surface of a handbag.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of
illumination of portable consumer products for the purpose of
viewing, reading or writing. More particularity, the present
invention discloses a compact, lightweight and energy-efficient
illumination module for inclusion into a wide variety of portable
consumer products to allow viewing, reading or writing with the
portable consumer products in a dark environment by a user.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The need and associated art of illumination for viewing in
the dark has been around for thousands of years in the human
history. A handheld burning torch is a primitive example. A set of
AC-powered kilowatt Xenon arc lamps for the illumination of a whole
baseball field can be a modern example. A handheld battery powered
flashlight is a modem example of illumination for a privately
directed viewing of objects in the dark. However, for the
convenient, privately directed, energy-efficient viewing of
portable consumer products such as an organizer or a handbag in the
dark there has been a general lacking of suitable products in the
market to date.
SUMMARY
[0003] The present invention is directed to an illumination module
for inclusion into a number of portable consumer products for the
convenient, privately directed viewing of such portable consumer
products in the dark.
[0004] The first objective of this invention is for the
illumination module to be low cost, compact and lightweight.
[0005] The second objective of this invention is for the
illumination module to be energy-efficient.
[0006] The third objective of this invention is for the
illumination module to be highly versatile so that it can be
included into a wide variety of portable consumer products.
[0007] Other objectives, together with the foregoing are attained
in the exercise of the invention in the following description and
resulting in the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] The current invention will be better understood and the
nature of the objectives set forth above will become apparent when
consideration is given to the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments. For clarity of explanation, the detailed
description further makes reference to the attached drawings
herein:
[0009] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B illustrate a first embodiment of the
present invention of an illumination module that is included into a
cover of an organizer via a flexible closure and locking dual
function arm;
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates the detailed internal construction of the
first embodiment of the present invention of the illumination
module;
[0011] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B illustrate a second embodiment of the
present invention of an illumination module that is included into a
cover of a book via a flexible book mark tab;
[0012] FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B illustrate a third embodiment of the
present invention of an illumination module that is included into
an inside cover of a book via a multi-axis adjustable and foldable
cantilever; and
[0013] FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B illustrate a fourth embodiment of the
present invention of an illumination module that is affixed onto
the interior of a hand bag via a repositionable valcrel
attachment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] In the following detailed description of the present
invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However,
it will become obvious to those skilled in the art that the present
invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other
instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and
circuitry have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessary
obscuring aspects of the present invention.
[0015] Reference herein to "one embodiment" or an "embodiment"
means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristics
described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at
least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the
phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the specification
are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are
separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other
embodiments.
[0016] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B illustrate a first embodiment of the
present invention. In FIG. 1A an illumination module 10 is shown to
be included into an organizer cover 102 of an organizer 100 via a
mechanically adjustable attachment 30 that is part of the
illumination module 10. As illustrated, the mechanically adjustable
attachment 30 is in a closed position locking the illumination
module 10 against an exterior surface of the organizer cover 102.
This is the non-operating position of the illumination module 10.
The details of the related locking mechanism is not shown as there
are many varieties of locking mechanisms well known in the art.
Upon opening of the organizer cover 102 and the mechanically
adjustable attachment 30 into its operating position, as
illustrated in FIG. 1B, an organizer page 104 of the organizer 100
can now be read by a user. Furthermore, the illumination module 10
can be switched on, with a means to be presently described, to emit
a spatial illumination light pattern 50 illuminating the organizer
page 104 to allow the viewing, reading or writing of the organizer
page 104 either in a dark environment by a user with a normal
vision or in a normal environment by a user with a weak vision. The
mechanically adjustable attachment 30 thus functions as a dual
function arm for flexibly linking and locking the illumination
module 10 against the organizer cover 102. As the illumination
module 10 is integrated with the organizer cover 102 a hands free
usage of the illumination module 10 is practical thus providing
operational convenience to the user. Additionally, the spatial
illumination light pattern 50 of the illumination module 10 only
needs to operate within a short distance of the illuminated
organizer page 104. Therefore, the spatial illumination light
pattern 50 can be designed to be of low power with relatively high
directionality thus effecting an energy-efficient operation with
good viewing privacy. By the same token, the illumination module 10
can also be made to be very compact and lightweight.
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates the same first embodiment of the present
invention of the illumination module 10 with details of its
internal construction revealed. To reveal the details of the
internal construction of the illumination module 10, the
mechanically adjustable attachment 30 is purposely shown to be bent
and broken into two pieces. Thus, inside the enclosure 20 of the
illumination module 10, the illumination module 10 further
comprises a light source 12 emitting the spatial illumination light
pattern 50, a standalone electrical power source 14 and a
user-operated switch 18 connected with a switching electrical
circuit 16. To be consistent with the intended application, the
light source 12 should be selected of a type that is compact,
lightweight and energy-efficient. For example, the light source 12
can be made up of a set of one or more high efficiency Light
Emitting Diodes (LED), each having a selected intensity and a
selected primary emissive color such as red, green and blue. For a
second example, the individual LED can itself be a composite color
from some of the primary emissive colors. In any case, depending
upon the primary spectral reflectivity of the organizer page 104,
the resulting intensity and color spectrum of the spatial
illumination light pattern 50 should produce a reflected color
image of the organizer page 104 with sufficient intensity and
contrast for useful viewing or reading in a dark environment by the
user. For a third example, the light source 12 can be made up of a
set of one or more LEDs, each having a selected intensity and a
selected primary emissive color or a composite color thereof such
that the resulting color spectrum of the spatial illumination light
pattern 50 approximates a visual sensation of white light thus
producing a reflected image of the organizer page 104 with
sufficient intensity and natural color for natural viewing or
reading in the dark. For a fourth example, the light source 12 can
be made up of a set of one or more miniature incandescent lights,
each having a selected intensity such that the resulting intensity
of the spatial illumination light pattern 50 produces a reflected
color image of the organizer page 104 with sufficient intensity and
contrast for useful and natural viewing or reading in the dark.
[0018] The standalone electrical power source 14, to be compact and
light weight, should preferably be made up of a set of one or more
electrically connected batteries. For convenience of usage, the
batteries should be designed to be user-replaceable. Alternatively,
the batteries can be selected to be the rechargeable type with an
optionally integrated recharging circuitry. The switching
electrical circuit 16, together with the user-operated switch 18
and the standalone electrical power source 14, function to turn on
or off the light source 12 by the user as desired.
[0019] Still referring to FIG. 2, an enclosure 20 is designed for
holding and protecting the light source 12, the standalone
electrical power source 14, the switching electrical circuit 16 and
the user-operated switch 18. To be compact and lightweight, the
enclosure 20 can be any one or a combination of a plastic case, a
leather case, a foam case of proper durometer or a sheet metal
case.
[0020] The mechanically adjustable attachment 30, for including the
enclosure 20 into the organizer 100 to be properly illuminated by
the spatial illumination light pattern 50, preferably should be
easily deformable for adjustment by the user while maintaining its
rigidity afterwards. As an example, the mechanically adjustable
attachment 30 can be constructed out of a deformable metal wire
frame that is further enclosed with a rubber-like skin for
esthetics.
[0021] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B illustrate a second embodiment of the
present invention of the illumination module 10 that is included
into a book cover 204 of a book 200 via a mechanically adjustable
attachment 30 that is, in this case, a flexible book mark tab. In
FIG. 3A the book cover 204 is shown in its closed position while
the illumination module 10 is purposely left open to show its light
source 12 and enclosure 20. An accompanying arrow is also shown to
illustrate the direction of movement to close the illumination
module 10 against the book cover 204 for storage in a non-operating
mode. In FIG. 3B, the book cover 204 is shown in its open position
revealing a book page 202 to be read by a user. Correspondingly,
the illumination module 10 is positioned in its operating position
via the mechanically adjustable attachment 30 that is, as mentioned
above, a flexible book mark tab. The light source 12, now switched
on although hidden from the view, of the illumination module 10
emits a spatial illumination light pattern 50 onto the book page
202 to be read in the dark.
[0022] FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B illustrate a third embodiment of the
present invention of the illumination module that is included into
the inside of a book cover 204 of a book 200 via a mechanically
adjustable attachment 30 that is a multi-axis adjustable and
foldable cantilever structure comprising a lower cantilever beam 31
and an upper cantilever beam 32. The lower cantilever beam 31 is
rotatably attached to the book cover 204 via a lower hinge 33 with
a double arrow headed arc illustrating the rotational adjustment of
the lower cantilever beam 31. The upper cantilever beam 32, holding
the illumination module emitting the spatial illumination light
pattern 50, is rotatably attached to the lower cantilever beam 31
via an upper hinge 34 with another double arrow headed arc
illustrating the rotational adjustment of the upper cantilever beam
32. In this way, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the spatial
illumination light pattern 50 can be linearly positioned and
angularly aimed, by a user, at a book page 202 of the book 200 for
proper reading in the dark. In FIG. 4A, the mechanically adjustable
attachment 30 of multi-axis adjustable and foldable cantilever
structure is shown folded flatly against the inside of the book
cover 204 in an unused position that is also non-obtrusive to
reading under, for example, normal daylight.
[0023] FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B illustrate a fourth embodiment of the
present invention of an illumination module 10 that is affixed onto
an inside surface 304 of a handbag 300 via a repositionable valcrel
attachment. FIG. 5A illustrates the handbag 300 with a handbag
cover 302 in its closed position for the handbag 300 to be carried
around by a user. With the handbag cover 302 opened up, FIG. 5B,
the enclosure 20 of the illumination module 10 is shown attached
onto the inside surface 304 of the handbag 300 via a repositionable
valcrel attachment 36. The detailed structure and function of the
repositionable valcrel attachment 36, being well known in the art,
is not illustrated here for simplicity. Thus, the location of a
spatial illumination light pattern 50 emitted by a light source 12
of the illumination module 10 can be properly positioned by a user
to view the contents of the handbag 300 in the dark.
[0024] As described with four exemplary cases of design, a compact,
light weight and energy-efficient illumination module for inclusion
into a number of portable products for convenient, privately
directed, energy-efficient viewing, reading or writing with the
portable products in the dark. The invention has been described
using exemplary preferred embodiments. However, for those skilled
in this field, the preferred embodiments can be easily adapted and
modified to suit additional applications without departing from the
spirit and scope of this invention. For example, the illumination
module can be adapted to include in an address book, an accounting
book, a notebook, a file holder, a brief case, a purse and a
wallet. Thus, it is to be understood that the scope of the
invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the
contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar
arrangements based upon the same operating principle. The scope of
the claims, therefore, should be accorded the broadest
interpretations so as to encompass all such modifications and
similar arrangements.
* * * * *