Abstract: A lighting device is mounted onto a support structure, e.g., helmet. The lighting device includes a light body having forward facing light sources including a visible white light source, visible colored light source, an infrared light source and a side facing IFF light source. The light body includes switches for activating the visible light sources and a three-position switch for activating the IR and light sources. The light body mounts onto a mount assembly and includes a connector arrangement for slidably connecting to a platform of the mount assembly. A base member of the mount assembly includes a clamp that connects to a support structure. The light body and platform member may be swivelly moved relative to the base member by forcing the light body and platform member away from the base member and rotating the same. Also disclosed is boost circuitry, battery chemistry detection and control modes.

Abstract: A system includes a power source (102), a power supply (103), and an electrical appliance (106). The power supply (103) uses power from the power source (102) to supply power to the electrical appliance (106). The devices carry out one or more of operations such as power converter disconnect, load shifting, power supply capability determination, and load prioritization operations.

Abstract: A battery charger (100) includes a base (102) which selectively receives first (104a) and second (104b) battery pods. The battery pods (104a, 104b), which are adapted to receive one or more batteries (212) for charging, have a form factor which facilitates the handling of the pods (104) and the batteries (212) received therein. Charging energy may be allocated between the pods (104) as a function of the temporal sequence in which the pods (104) are received by the base (102). Charging energy may also be allocated among the batteries (212) so that the batteries (212) are substantially charged at about the same time.

Abstract: An energy storage system includes battery cells and a controller. The battery cells include first and second cells. The controller controls a current to the first and second cells, such that a first charging method is utilized when a voltage potential of the first and second cells is less than a first voltage potential threshold, and a second charging method is utilized when the voltage potential of the first and second cells is equal to or greater than the first voltage potential threshold. The first charging method charges at least one of first and second cells at a greater rate than second charging method, and first charging method is utilized to charge first cell prior to being utilized to charge said second cell when said voltage potential of first cell is below the first voltage potential threshold and greater than the voltage potential of the second cell.

Abstract: A method for determining an end of life of a battery includes determining a discharge capacity of the battery at a given moment in time, determining a discharge capacity at a functional endpoint of the battery, and determining a fuel remaining in the battery at the given moment in time as a function of both the discharge capacity at the given moment in time and the discharge capacity of the battery at the functional endpoint of the battery. The determined fuel remaining is indicative of an end of life of the battery.

Abstract: A battery powered cigarette lighter having a switch which is activated by a change in air pressure or air flow is described. The change in air pressure or air flow, which is caused by the consumer forcing air through the air permeable cigarette, causes the switch to close thereby allowing the lighter's direct current power supply to increase the temperature of the lighter's heating element above the cigarette's ignition point.

Abstract: An electrical device (100) includes a housing (102), a battery receiving region (104), device electrical circuitry (112), an energy converter (110), and an energy limiter (108). The battery receiving region (104), the circuitry (112), the energy converter (110) and the energy limiter (108) are located within the housing (102). The energy converter (110) has an input dynamic range for supplied electrical energy and converts the energy to a level suitable for powering the device circuitry (112). The energy limiter (108) limits the supplied electrical energy.

Abstract: The use extender device (100) and method (700) thereof is provided, wherein the device (100) includes a housing (102) with a top cover (108) having a back side wall, front side wall, and lateral side walls. The device (100) further includes a bottom cover (106) operably attached to the top cover (108), and a battery cavity (130). The housing (102) can also include a circuit board cavity (116) defined by at least one of the top cover (108) and the bottom cover (106), a closing mechanism (114) attached to the top cover (108) and removably attaching the top cover (108) to the bottom cover (106), such that the battery cavity (130) is accessible, and at least one aperture (110) defined by at least one of the top cover (108) and bottom cover (106), wherein air flow into the battery cavity (130) is regulated by the aperture (110).

Abstract: A device (100) such as a battery charger includes a body (102), a movable member (104, 402), and a plurality of battery bays (108). Moving the member (104, 402) toward a first position increases a distance between respective first (132) and second (114) battery contacts so that a battery may be inserted with zero or substantially zero insertion force. Moving the member (104, 402) in the second direction decreases the distance between the first and second battery contacts. In one implementation, the device (100) is polarity agnostic.

Abstract: A battery charger (100) includes a plurality of battery receiving bays (108) for receiving batteries to be charged. A user interface (120) includes a display which displays information indicative of batteries received in the various bays (108) in graphical and textual form. The displayed information includes the number of batteries received in the charger, as well as their size, good/bad state, and state of charge.

Abstract: An appliance, such as a flashlight, accepts first and second batteries. The appliance also includes an electrical load, such as a light source. A first circuit, such as a DC to DC converter, receives power from the first battery and supplies power to the load. A second circuit, such as a DC to DC converter, receives power from the second battery and supplies electrical power to the load. In one embodiment, the appliance accepts batteries having multiple physical sizes.

Abstract: An intrinsically safe battery powered device (100) includes a housing (102), a battery receiving region (104), an intrinsically safe power supply (108, 110), and device electrical circuitry (112). The power supply (108, 110) uses energy from batteries (106) received in the batter receiving region (104) of the device (100) to power the circuitry (112). In one implementation, the power supply includes an intrinsically safe charge pump circuit.

Abstract: A lighting device (100) includes a housing (100), a battery receiving region (108), an active electrical circuit (202), and a light source (118). The active electrical circuit (202) uses energy from batteries (110) received in the batter receiving region (110) of the flashlight (100) to power the light source (118). The electrical circuitry of the flashlight (110) is energy limited so that the flashlight is intrinsically safe for use in hazardous locations.

Abstract: A portable battery powered appliance accepts at least first and second batteries. The appliance also includes a load. a first circuit. and a second circuit. The first circuit receives power from the first battery and provides a first power. The second circuit receives power from the second battery and provides a second power. The load receives at least one of the first power and the second power.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a light source, a substrate, a temperature-based controller and an insulator. The light source is mounted to the substrate. The temperature-based controller is electrically coupled to the light source and causes the light source to provide a relatively constant light output. The insulator is positioned proximate the temperature based controller.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a first electrical contact (5212) that receives power and a second electrical contact (5304) that provides access to the received external power. An electrical contact support component (5210) is used to configure the orientation of the first electrical contact (5212) with respect to the second electrical contact (5304) and connect the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact. A portable lighting appliance receiving region (5310) receives and provides power to a received portable lighting appliance (5206). An interface (5226) receives an input indicative of a first operation of the received portable lighting device (5206) when the power is available and a second operation of a received portable lighting device (5206) when the power is unavailable.

Abstract: An intrinsically safe flashlight (100) includes a housing (100), a battery receiving region (108), an active electrical circuit (202), and a light source (118). The active electrical circuit (202) uses energy from batteries (110) received in the batter receiving region (110) of the flashlight (100) to power the light source (118). The electrical circuitry of the flashlight (110) is energy limited so that the flashlight is intrinsically safe for use in hazardous locations.

Abstract: An apparatus includes electrical contacts coupled to a LED. The apparatus further includes a positive temperature coefficient resistor in operative thermal communication and electrically in series with the LED. A resistance of the PTC resistor varies as a function of a temperature of the LED.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing having a first wall and a sliding tray having a second wall that is generally parallel to the first wall. The sliding tray slides between a retracted position and an extended position in which the first and second walls define a battery receiving region in the sliding tray. The apparatus further includes a first battery contact provided in the first wall and a second battery contact proximate to the second wall. The first and second battery contacts electrically communicate with battery charging circuitry, and the second battery contact slides relative to the second wall in a direction that changes a battery receiving distance between the first and second battery contacts.

Abstract: A system includes a power device and an electronic device. The electronic device includes a rechargeable power source and device electrical circuitry. The power device supplies power to the rechargeable power source according to at least one of a charging mode, an extended use mode, and a defined energy mode.