U.S. patent application number 12/271848 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-12 for wireless battery compartment adapter cap for control of electric power and device equipped therewith.
Invention is credited to Timothy D.F. Ford, Stephane Gascon.
Application Number | 20090067166 12/271848 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36756320 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090067166 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ford; Timothy D.F. ; et
al. |
March 12, 2009 |
WIRELESS BATTERY COMPARTMENT ADAPTER CAP FOR CONTROL OF ELECTRIC
POWER AND DEVICE EQUIPPED THEREWITH
Abstract
A signalling device comprising an emission module operative on
the application of battery power from a battery pack for the
emission of a signal from at least one electromagnetic radiation
emitting element, a battery compartment and a cap for retaining
said battery pack in said battery compartment. The cap comprises a
wireless receiver operationally connected to a switch for
controlling the application of battery power.
Inventors: |
Ford; Timothy D.F.;
(Beaconsfield, CA) ; Gascon; Stephane; (Mascouche,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GOUDREAU GAGE DUBUC
2000 MCGILL COLLEGE, SUITE 2200
MONTREAL
QC
H3A 3H3
CA
|
Family ID: |
36756320 |
Appl. No.: |
12/271848 |
Filed: |
November 15, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11056088 |
Feb 14, 2005 |
7459666 |
|
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12271848 |
|
|
|
|
60544180 |
Feb 13, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
362/208 ;
362/157 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60Q 3/88 20170201; F21L
4/08 20130101; F21V 23/0414 20130101; F21Y 2115/10 20160801; F21L
4/027 20130101; F21V 23/006 20130101; F21V 23/0442 20130101; F21V
23/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/208 ;
362/157 |
International
Class: |
F21L 4/00 20060101
F21L004/00 |
Claims
1. A signalling device comprising: a battery pack; an emission
module operative on the application of battery power and comprising
at least one light emitting element, a light emitting element
controller and a multi-position switch for selecting one of a
plurality of predetermined control signatures; a battery
compartment; and a battery compartment cap comprising a wireless
receiver and a switch for controlling said application of battery
power; wherein said switch is actuated on reception of a wireless
signal and further wherein when said switch is closed, said
controller illuminates said at least one illuminating element
according to said selected control signature.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein said wireless receiver comprises
an RF receiver and said transmitter comprises an RF
transmitter.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein said wireless receiver comprises
an infra red receiver and said transmitter comprises an infra-red
transmitter.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one light emitting
element emits visible light.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one light emitting
element emits infra-red light.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein said multi-position switch is a
rotary switch.
7. A cap for retaining a battery pack in a battery compartment of a
device operative on the application of battery power for the
emission of light from at least one light emitting element, the cap
comprising: a wireless receiver; and an electronic switch for
controlling said application of battery power, wherein said switch
is actuated when said receiver receives a wireless signal from a
transmitter.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein said wireless receiver comprises
an RF receiver and said transmitter comprises an RF
transmitter.
9. The device of claim 7, wherein said wireless receiver comprises
an infra red receiver and said transmitter comprises an infra-red
transmitter.
Description
[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 11/056,088 entitled BATTERY COMPARTMENT ADAPTER CAP FOR CONTROL
OF ELECTRIC POWER AND DEVICE EQUIPPED THEREWITH, filed on Feb. 14,
2005 and which claimed priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.
60/544,180, filed Feb. 13, 2004. The entire contents of the
foregoing Patent Applications are hereby incorporated by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a wireless battery
compartment adaptor cap for control of power and devices equipped
with the battery compartment adaptor cap.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The prior art reveals a variety of light emitting devices
not only for the purposes of illumination but also for
notification, alerting and identification. Recent improvements in
high-intensity light emitting diodes (LEDs) have allowed arrays of
small high-intensity lights of differing colours or wavelengths to
be combined in a single signalling device.
[0004] A drawback of these prior art inventions is that they
typically provide on limited functionality, thereby limiting their
use to a small number of applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In order to address the above and other drawbacks there is
disclosed a signalling device comprising a battery pack, an
emission module operative on the application of battery power and
comprising at least one light emitting element, a light emitting
element controller and a multi-position switch for selecting one of
a plurality of predetermined control signatures, a battery
compartment and a battery compartment cap comprising a wireless
receiver and a switch for controlling the application of battery
power. The switch is actuated on reception of a wireless signal.
When the switch is closed, the controller illuminates the at least
one illuminating element according to the selected control
signature.
[0006] There is also disclosed a cap for retaining a battery pack
in a battery compartment of a device operative on the application
of battery power for the emission of light from at least one light
emitting element. The cap comprises a wireless receiver and an
electronic switch for controlling the application of battery power.
The switch is actuated when the receiver receives a wireless signal
from a transmitter.
[0007] Other objects, advantages and features of the present
invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following
non-restrictive description of illustrative embodiments thereof,
given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a raised front perspective view of a device in
accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present
invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a front schematic view of a device in accordance
with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of a device in accordance with an
illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and
[0011] FIGS. 4A through 4C provide embodiments of adapter caps for
adapting different classes of batteries for powering a device;
[0012] FIGS. 5A and 5B provide embodiments of adapter caps for
adapting different non battery power sources for powering a device
in accordance with alternative and second alternative illustrative
embodiments of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 6 provides an embodiment of an adapter cap including a
rechargeable power source and charger in accordance with a third
alternative illustrative embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 7 provides an embodiment of an adapter cap for
providing a sealed interconnect between a device and an electrical
junction box in accordance with a fourth alternative illustrative
embodiments of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 8 provides an embodiment of an adapter cap comprising a
supplementary power source and voltage conditioning electronics in
accordance a fifth alternative illustrative embodiments of the
present invention; and
[0016] FIG. 9 provides an embodiment of an adapter cap comprising a
laser module in accordance with a sixth alternative illustrative
embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0017] As is well known in the art, the battery compartment caps of
many devices, in particular but not limited to those which emit
light such as flashlights and the like, traditionally serve a dual
purpose: firstly sealing the battery compartment thereby providing
protection against the infiltration of moisture and dirt into the
compartment; and secondly providing a point (or points) of
electrical contact between the battery or batteries contained
within the compartment and the electronics which are powered by the
batteries.
[0018] Typically, the inside surface of the battery compartment cap
is equipped with a raised biased contact plate or helical spring
manufactured from a conductive material for contact with the anode
(or cathode) of a battery. Additionally, the raised or biased
contact plate or helical spring is also in electrical contact with
the conductive casing of the battery compartment cap. Thus, placing
batteries into the battery compartment and securing the battery
compartment cap to the device is all that is necessary to complete
an electronic circuit, thereby providing power to the electronics
of the device (which also may or may not include an additional
on/off switch for interrupting the flow of electrical power to the
electronics).
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 1, a device 10, such as a conventional
flashlight, equipped with a battery compartment 12 for housing a
single battery 14 for powering an emission module comprising a
controller (not shown) which, controls one or more electromagnetic
radiation emitting elements 16, such as LEDs, lasers, incandescent
lights, thermal emitters, xenon strobes, etc., is disclosed. A
battery compartment cap 18 is screwed on to the threaded end 20 of
the battery compartment 12 thereby preventing the egress of
moisture and dirt into the compartment 12. The device 10 may also
include a multi-position rotary switch 21. Selection of a
particular position on the rotary switch 21 causes the
electromagnetic radiation emitting elements 16 to be activated,
when power from the battery 14 is applied to the controller,
according to a selected one of a multiple of control signatures
which are stored in memory (not shown). Using the signatures, the
electronics control the electromagnetic radiation emitting elements
16 to emit radiation (such as visible light) according to a
predefined sequence, for example by flashing repeatedly or
according to a recognised pattern, such as the Morse Code for SOS,
which is repeated.
[0020] Referring now to FIG. 2, the threaded end 20 of the battery
compartment is manufactured from a conductive material such as
brass and is mounted on a first conductive pad 22 etched into the
surface of a printed circuit board (PCB) 24 onto which are also
mounted the electronics (not shown) and the elements 16. Similarly,
the closed end 26 of the battery compartment 12 is manufactured
from a conductive material such as brass and is mounted to a second
conductive pad 28 etched into the surface of a printed circuit
board (PCB) 24. Both the threaded end 20 and the closed end 26 are
mounted to the PCB 24 using, for example, a conductive solder.
[0021] The battery compartment cap 18 includes a threaded portion
30, manufactured from a conductive material such as brass, and
adapted to mate with the threaded end 20 of the battery compartment
12. The threaded portion 30 is in electrical contact with a
conductive helical spring 32. As will now be apparent to a person
of ordinary skill in the art, when a battery 14 is inserted into
the battery compartment 12 and the cap 18 screwed onto the threaded
end 20 of the of the battery compartment 12, the threaded portion
30 of the cap 18, and thus the helical spring 32 and the anode 34
of the battery 14 (or cathode 36, depending on the orientation of
the battery 14), is in electrical contact with the threaded end 20
of the battery contact and thus with the first conductive pad 22.
Similarly, the biasing action of the helical spring 32 forces the
cathode 36 (or anode depending on the orientation of the battery
14) into electrical contact with the closed end 26 of the battery
compartment, and thus with the second conductive pad 28.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 3 in addition to FIGS. 1 and 2, a
battery compartment adapter cap, generally referred using the
reference numeral 100, in accordance with an illustrative
embodiment of the present invention will be described. The battery
compartment adapter cap 100 is intended to replace conventional
battery compartment caps, such as the battery compartment cap 18.
The adapter cap 100 comprises a threaded portion 102, manufactured
from a conductive material such as brass, and adapted to mate with
the threaded end 20 of the battery compartment 12 thereby allowing
electrical energy to flow between the threaded portion 102 and the
threaded end 20 of the battery compartment 12. A dielectric insert
104 fabricated from a non conductive material is inserted into the
mouth 106 of the adapter cap 100 which is defined by the threaded
portion 102. Alternatively, the inside of threaded portion 102
could be coated with a dielectric material. In this manner, the
dielectric insert 104 maintains the anode 34 (or cathode 36
depending on orientation) of a battery 14 held in the battery
compartment 12 normally isolated from the conductive threaded
portion 102 of the adapter cap.
[0023] Still referring to FIG. 3, as the adapter cap 100 is screwed
onto the threaded end 20 of the battery compartment 12, a biasing
means 108, such as spring, manufactured from a conductive material
such as steel, engages the anode 34 (or cathode 36 depending on
orientation) of the battery 14, thereby biasing the battery 14
toward the closed end 26 of the battery compartment 12 thus holding
the battery 14 securely therein. The biasing means 108 is in turn
fastened to a contact plate 110 encapsulated within the
non-conductive cover 112 of the adapter cap 100, manufactured from
a conductive material such as brass, by means of a fastener 114
(such as a bolt, screw, rivet, or the like), also manufactured from
a conductive material such as steel. As a result, the anode 34 (or
cathode 36 depending on orientation) of the battery 14 is in direct
electrical contact with the conductive contact plate 110, but not,
as in the case of the conventional battery compartment cap 18, with
the threaded end 20 of the battery compartment 12.
[0024] Referring back to FIG. 2, severing direct contact between
the anode (or cathode 36 depending on orientation) of the battery
14 from the threaded end 20 of the battery compartment 12, and thus
the PCB 24 onto which are mounted the electronics (not shown) and
the elements 16, allows the device 10 to be adapted to a variety of
different uses by providing a series of adapter caps which carry
out different functions. For example, referring back to FIG. 3, a
simple two conductor cable with a first conductor soldered to the
contact plate 110 and a second conductor soldered to a contact
surface 116 of the threaded portion 102, with a single pole switch
attached between the far ends of the first conductor and the second
conductor, would allow the electronic device 10 to be activated
from remote position by simply flipping the switch and closing the
circuit.
[0025] Alternatively, still referring to FIG. 3, for example,
illustratively a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 118 could be
encapsulated within the cap, the PCB 118 having conductive traces
(not shown) etched therein as well as conductive pads (also not
shown) for mounting electronic switch electronics as in 120 and the
like using, for example, conductive solder. Additionally, in order
to supply the electronics 120 mounted on the PCB 118 provision is
made by way of a conductive plate 122 located at the closed end 26
of the battery compartment 12. An insulated conductor 124, such as
a wire or conductive strip, is also provided to interconnect the
conductive plate 122 and the PCB 118. Of course, given that the
polarity of the battery may be reversed during operation, provision
must also be made within the electronics 120 of a battery polarity
converting device (not shown) to ensure that the correct voltage
and current is provided to the electronics. Alternatively, the
electronics 120 on the PCB 118 could be supplied with power from a
dedicated source, such as a small mignon cell or other types of
batteries (all not shown) with provision of suitable adaptations to
the adaptor cap 10. As will now be apparent to a person of ordinary
skill in the art, by interconnecting the contact plate 110 and the
contact surface 116 via the electronics mounted on the PCB 118,
sophisticated devices can be developed for switching the electronic
device 10 on and off, for example by sensing or detecting changes
in the devices immediate environment. Such device environment
changes include, for example, a change in pressure, change in light
incident on the device, sensing of noxious gasses, detection of
movement, sensing of sound, submersion of the device in water, etc.
Additionally, provision can made for operating the device remotely,
for example though provision of a wireless interface. A variety of
possible configurations are possible. The following is a
non-limiting series of possible embodiments: [0026] A photodiode
126 or similar light sensitive device could be mounted in the
non-conductive cover 112 allowing the device 10 to automatically
actuate the switch by completing the circuit between the contact
plate 110 and the contact surface 116, thus powering up the
electronic device 10 when the amount of light incident on the
photodiode 126 falls below (or rises above) a pre-determined level;
[0027] alternatively, the photodiode 126 could be replaced by a
water sensor, (along with suitable adaptation of the electronics on
the PCB 118 of course), thereby allowing the device 10 to
automatically actuate the switch by completing the circuit between
the contact plate 110 and the contact surface 116 for example when
the device 10 is submerged in water; [0028] the photodiode 126
could be replaced by a device sensitive to infra-red light (along
with suitable adaptation of the electronics on the PCB 118),
thereby allowing the switch to be actuated by remotely completing
the circuit between the contact plate 110 and the contact surface
116 using an infra-red emitter; [0029] the photodiode 126 could be
replaced by a motion detector (along with suitable adaptation of
the electronics on the PCB 118), thereby allowing the switch to be
actuated automatically by completing the circuit between the
contact plate 110 and the contact surface 116 when an object moves
within range of the device 10; [0030] the photodiode 126 could be
replaced by a small microphone (along with suitable adaptation of
the electronics on the PCB 118), thereby allowing the switch to be
actuated automatically by completing the circuit between the
contact plate 110 and the contact surface 116 when a triggering
sound, for example sound in a particular frequency range exceeding
a predetermined decibel level, is detected in the vicinity of the
device 10; [0031] the photodiode 126 could be replaced by a
pressure sensor, (along with suitable adaptation of the electronics
on the PCB 118), thereby allowing the switch to be actuated
automatically by completing the circuit between the contact plate
110 and the contact surface 116 when the ambient pressure exceeds
or is under a predetermined value; [0032] the photodiode 126 could
be replaced by a gas sensor, for example for carbon monoxide,
(along with suitable adaptation of the electronics on the PCB 118),
thereby allowing the switch to be actuated automatically by
completing the complete the circuit between the contact plate 110
and the contact surface 116 when the particular gas is detected in
the vicinity of the device 10; [0033] the photodiode 126 could be
replaced by a switch adapted for attachment to a trip-wire (along
with suitable adaptation of the electronics on the PCB 118). In
this embodiment, the circuit between the contact plate 110 and the
contact surface 116 would be completed when the switch was is
closed by a triggering tension applied to the trip wire. The switch
could be biased normally open, for example using a spring, such
that once a triggering tension is removed from the trip wire, the
switch returns to its normally open position. Additionally, a sound
emitting device, such as a piezo electric membrane, could also be
built into the adapter cap 100 to provide an audible warning;
[0034] a RF-receiver could be mounted on the PCB 118 along with the
requisite electronics, thereby allowing the circuit between the
contact plate 110 and the contact surface 116 to be completed
remotely using a RF transmission; etc.
[0035] On the other hand, the provision of an adapter cap 100 can
also be used to provide other features not otherwise available with
the electronic device 10.
[0036] In the present illustrative embodiment, the electromagnetic
radiation emitting sources 16 as well as the electronics which
drive them can be powered from powers sources having a variety of
different output voltages. It will be apparent to a person of
ordinary skill in the art that the battery 14 used to illustrate
the present invention is a battery of the 123A type having a
nominal output voltage of 3 volts. Referring now to FIGS. 4A
through 4C, by providing different caps, adapted to different
battery sizes, batteries other than those of the 123A type, and
even multiple batteries, can be used to power the device 10.
[0037] Referring now to FIG. 5a, in an alternative embodiment a car
lighter adapter 150 is attached to the adapter cap which, via
electronics as in 152 mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) 154
provides power to the device 10. In this regard, the output of a
car battery is typically 12 volts and therefore the electronics
would include, for example, an isolated DC/DC converter providing a
3V DC output.
[0038] Similarly, in FIG. 5b, in a second alternative embodiment a
120 VAC transformer 156 having a 3V DC output uses mains current to
supply the device via an adapter cap 18' comprised of a hollow plug
158 manufactured from a dielectric material isolating a central
conductor 160.
[0039] Referring now to FIG. 6, in a third illustrative embodiment
the adapter cap can be modified to house a rechargeable battery
162, for example a rechargeable 3.6V lithium battery, and battery
charger circuit 164. Power for the battery charger circuit 164
could be provided, for example, via a car lighter adapter 150 which
would plug into a socket 166 located in the adapter cap 18'.
[0040] Referring now to FIG. 7, in a fourth illustrative
embodiment, the adaptor cap provides a sealed interconnect 168
between a signalling device as in 10 and, for example, an
electrical junction box 170, or the like. Typically foreseen for
use in harsh environments, when device 10 has been activated, for
example by rotation of the rotary switch 172 to a predefined
signalling position, interconnection of the ends of the insulated
conductive wires 174, 176 provides current to the device 10,
thereby causing it to emit signals according to the selected switch
position. By placing a switch 178, for example a proximity sensor,
gas sensor or the like, between the ends of the conductive wires
174, 176, the device 10 can be used in a variety of signalling
applications.
[0041] Referring now to FIG. 8, in a fifth illustrative embodiment,
the adaptor cap 18 is replaced by a power module 180 comprised of a
supplementary battery compartment 182 for holding a supplementary
DC power source 184, such as a battery or battery pack. The
supplementary battery compartment 182 is manufactured from a
similar non-conductive material as the housing of the device 10
and, in operation, is simply screwed onto the threaded end 20 of
the battery compartment 12. The power module 180 also includes an
electronic converter 186 for converting/conditioning the voltage
output of the supplementary power source 184 to match the nominal
voltage output of the battery 14. Such converter electronics
comprise, for example, a diode bridge as known in the art and, as
necessary, a DC/DC converter or other circuits for conditioning the
output voltage and current, such as a charge pump, voltage booster,
staged voltage multiplier circuit or the like. As known in the art,
charge pumps, voltage boosters, staged voltage multiplier circuits
and the like are able to generate output voltages which differ from
their input voltages, in its simplest form allowing the voltage to
be doubled by driving a circuit comprised of capacitors and diodes
using a square wave. Other circuits, which are typically in the
form of single-chip integrated packages, allow for accurate setting
of the output voltage to predetermined values.
[0042] Still referring to FIG. 8, in operation, and as discussed
above, the output voltage of the converter 186 is conditioned to
match a nominal voltage output (i.e. the rated or characteristic
operating voltage) of the battery 14. The output voltage of the
converter 186 is attached in parallel with the battery 14 (via the
provision of suitable interconnections such as insulated conductors
as in 188 between the power module 180 and the battery 14) between
the first conductive pad (reference 22 on FIG. 2) and the second
conductive pad (reference 28 on FIG. 2). It will now be apparent to
a person of ordinary skill in the art that provision of the power
module 180 allows the device 10 to be powered by a variety of
alternative DC power sources, such as batteries of different
voltages or battery packs comprised of a plurality of individual
cells and the like (all not shown) without removing the battery 14
from the battery compartment 12. Of course, the use of batteries or
battery packs having different shapes in the power module 180 will
require similar changes in the supplementary battery compartment
182.
[0043] Referring now to FIG. 9, in a sixth illustrative embodiment,
the adaptor cap is replaced by a laser module 190 which can be
mounted on the threaded end 20 of the battery compartment 12. The
laser module 190 emits laser light through an aperture located at
an emitting end 192 and can include a power source (not shown) or,
alternatively, with provision of appropriate interconnections, can
also be powered by the battery 14. Additionally, the laser module
190 can be combined with the power module 180 to provide a self
power laser module which also can be used to power the device
10.
[0044] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its application to the details of construction and parts
illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described hereinabove.
The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being
practised in various ways. It is also to be understood that the
phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of
description and not limitation. Hence, although the present
invention has been described hereinabove by way of preferred
embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the
spirit, scope and nature of the subject invention as defined in the
appended claims.
* * * * *