Electro-optic flashlight electro-optically controlling the emitted light
US5424927A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 2, 1993 |
| Grant date | Jun 13, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 2, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/1334
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A flashlight is disclosed comprising a light source and a reflector for collimating the light emitted by the light source to form a collimated light beam. An electro-optically controlled region is disposed forwardly of the light source, the collimated light beam being incident upon and passing through the electro-optic region. The electro-optic region may be operated in at least two states. In a first embodiment, and in a first state, the electro-optic region does not substantially affect the collimation of the light beam incident thereon, and the flashlight produces a spot beam. Also in the first embodiment, and in a second state, the electro-optic region scatters forwardly the collimated beam incident thereon, and thus the flashlight produces a well-diffused flood beam.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.