Abstract: A lighting device with improved optical performance and efficiency is provided. The lighting device includes a source of energy, a light source, a reflector and a holder. The reflector has a first open end, a second end, and a parabolic profile extending between the first open end and second end. The focus of the parabolic profile is located outside of the profile. The reflector may also be movable relative to the light source. The lighting device may include a circuit that delivers a pulsed or thermally compensated pulsed current to the light source. The light device may also include a heat sink housing.

Abstract: A user electronically interacts with a flashlight via a computer and application software once the flashlight has been inserted into, and engages, a smart cradle configured with a printed circuit board (“PCB”) that can communicate electronically with both the flashlight and the computer. Application software allows the user to access a mode control circuit for changing operational modes available on the flashlight without having to manipulate a manual control of the flashlight, monitor battery life, access data files relating to the flashlight, and load information into memory of the PCB.

Abstract: A rechargeable lighting device has a rechargeable power source with a positive electrode located at its rear end, a main power circuit that powers a light source and includes the positive electrode, a charging circuit configured to be enabled when the lighting device engages a charging device, and at least one charging contact located on the exterior of the lighting device at or near its tail end. A microcontroller and switch are located at the rear end and the microcontroller wakes up to either turn on the main power circuit and isolate the charging contract from a charging ground path or turn on the charging circuit in which case the charging contact acts as part of the charging ground path.

Abstract: One electrical lead from an LED package is soldered to an inner electrically conductive member positioned and electrically isolated from an outer electrically conductive member by electrically insulating material while a second electrical lead and a neutral lead from the LED are soldered to the outer electrically conductive member so that heat is transferred from an LED die within the LED package to the outer electrically conductive member and then to a thermally conductive outer casing with a thermal path that minimizes thermal resistance.

Abstract: A light emitting diode (“LED”) module with improved thermal characteristics is provided. The module includes an LED, a first circuit board, a second circuit board, a lower insulator, an upper insulator, a lower contact, upper contacts, and a heat sink. Preferably, the heat sink comprises an outer housing and a contact ring. The LED and the heat sink are attached to the first circuit board via solder. In addition to serving as a substrate for the LED, the first circuit board (which contains a plurality of thermally conductive layers connected by vias) facilitates the transfer of heat away from the LED to the heat sink. The module also has improved mechanical and electrical properties, including redundant electrical connections, stable mechanical connections, and a shock-absorbing lower contact. The lower insulator can also be configured to prevent misalignment of the power source with the lower contact when the module is used in a flashlight or other lighting device.

Abstract: A flashlight has housing with a first mechanical spiral engagement system, a head assembly with a second mechanical spiral engagement system that engages the first mechanical spiral engagement system when the head assembly is coupled to the housing, an LED light source module fixedly held by a heat sink fixedly held by the housing, a power source held within the housing, and a switch assembly, wherein light provided by the LED light source module may be varied by rotating the head assembly relative to the housing while the heat sink, the switch assembly and the power source remain stationary.

Abstract: A process for recharging a rechargeable flashlight in a motor vehicle places a recharging cradle into a cup holder, connects the recharging cradle to a cigarette lighter port in the motor vehicle and inserts a bottom end of the rechargeable flashlight into an opening in the cradle configured to snugly receive and support the rechargeable flashlight in an upright position within the recharging cradle so that a pair of contact leads of the recharging cradle make electrical contact with a pair of electrical contacts of the rechargeable flashlight configured for recharging the rechargeable flashlight.

Abstract: Battery corrosive electrolyte leak is reduced by using spacers (which can be made of a shock absorbing material) between each pair of three or more batteries held in a series configuration so that a resilient contact provides an electrical contact between the pair of batteries and the thickness of the spacer prevents a second end of a first battery from contacting the first end of the second battery.

Abstract: A flashlight uses a reverse battery protection circuit to prevent current from flowing in a power control circuit when at least one battery is held in a reversed orientation, rather than a correct orientation, in a battery compartment of the flashlight.

Abstract: A multi-mode flashlight includes a housing with a source of power, a light source located at a forward end of the housing, and a tail cap located at the tail end of the housing, the tail cap including a switch and at least two icons, each of which is associated with a mode of operation of the flashlight, wherein the mode of operation is selected by orienting the housing so that the icon associated with the desired mode of operation is positioned in a predetermined manner and the switch is depressed to turn the flashlight on and the switch is depressed for at least a predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: One electrical lead from an LED package is soldered to an inner electrically conductive member positioned and electrically isolated from an outer electrically conductive member by electrically insulating material while a second electrical lead and a neutral lead from the LED are soldered to the outer electrically conductive member so that heat is transferred from an LED die within the LED package to the outer electrically conductive member and then to a thermally conductive outer casing with a thermal path that minimizes thermal resistance.

Abstract: A flashlight has housing with a first mechanical spiral engagement system, a head assembly with a second mechanical spiral engagement system that engages the first mechanical spiral engagement system when the head assembly is coupled to the housing, an LED light source module fixedly held by a heat sink fixedly held by the housing, a power source held within the housing, and a switch assembly, wherein light provided by the LED light source module may be varied by rotating the head assembly relative to the housing while the heat sink, the switch assembly and the power source remain stationary.

Abstract: A flashlight stores a user selection of a desired mode of operation in a temporary storage medium so that it can be retrieved by a controller when an electrical circuit is interrupted for less than a preselected period of time.

Abstract: A light emitting diode (“LED”) module with improved thermal characteristics is provided. The module includes an LED, a first circuit board, a second circuit board, a lower insulator, an upper insulator, a lower contact, upper contacts, and a heat sink. Preferably, the heat sink comprises an outer housing and a contact ring. The LED and the heat sink are attached to the first circuit board via solder. In addition to serving as a substrate for the LED, the first circuit board (which contains a plurality of thermally conductive layers connected by vias) facilitates the transfer of heat away from the LED to the heat sink. The module also has improved mechanical and electrical properties, including redundant electrical connections, stable mechanical connections, and a shock-absorbing lower contact. The lower insulator can also be configured to prevent misalignment of the power source with the lower contact when the module is used in a flashlight or other lighting device.

Abstract: One electrical lead from an LED package is soldered to an inner electrically conductive member positioned and electrically isolated from an outer electrically conductive member by electrically insulating material while a second electrical lead and a neutral lead from the LED are soldered to the outer electrically conductive member so that heat is transferred from an LED die within the LED package to the outer electrically conductive member and then to a thermally conductive outer casing with a thermal path that minimizes thermal resistance.

Abstract: A flashlight stores a user selection of a desired mode of operation in a temporary storage medium so that it can be retrieved by a controller when an electrical circuit is interrupted for less than a preselected period of time.

Abstract: A portable lighting device with a main power circuit for electrically connecting a light source to a portable source of power, the main power circuit including an electric power switch disposed electrically in series with the light source, there also being an inertial sensor and a controller electrically coupled to the portable source of power, the controller including an output for providing a control signal for controlling the flow of power through the electronic power switch and the light source in the main power circuit, the controller also being electrically connected to the inertial sensor, wherein the controller is configured to control the flow of power through the electronic power switch based on one or more signals received from the at least one output of the inertial sensor.

Abstract: A flashlight having a LED directly mounted to a top surface of a heat sink without the use of a printed circuit board and two mechanical spiral engagement systems, one in the housing, the other in a head assembly, such that the LED is turned on when power from an electrical circuit is applied to the heatsink which is thermally connected to a first electrically conductive member of the LED and a second electrically conductive member of the LED which is insulated within the heatsink from the heatsink, and the light provided by the LED may be varied by rotating the head assembly relative to the housing while the heat sink, the switch assembly and the power source remain stationary.

Abstract: One electrical lead from an LED package is soldered to an inner electrically conductive member positioned and electrically isolated from an outer electrically conductive member by electrically insulating material while a second electrical lead and a neutral lead from the LED are soldered to the outer electrically conductive member so that heat is transferred from an LED die within the LED package to the outer electrically conductive member and then to a thermally conductive outer casing with a thermal path that minimizes thermal resistance.

Abstract: A flashlight has housing with a first mechanical spiral engagement system, a head assembly with a second mechanical spiral engagement system that engages the first mechanical spiral engagement system when the head assembly is coupled to the housing, an LED light source module fixedly held by a heat sink fixedly held by the housing, a power source held within the housing, and a switch assembly, wherein light provided by the LED light source module may be varied by rotating the head assembly relative to the housing while the heat sink, the switch assembly and the power source remain stationary.