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: A portable lighting device that provides different user interfaces that may be selected by the user. Each user interface may provide one or more operational modes, such as on mode, power save mode, strobe mode or momentary mode. After a user interface is selected, the user may select on of the operational modes. The portable lighting device may be a flashlight.

Abstract: A method for controlling a portable lighting device. The device has a switched-mode power supply, a light source, a high frequency switch, a controller controlling the operation of the light source and a user interface for inputting commands to the controller. A DC power source has a negative pole that is connected by only one single electric contact with the lighting device tail. The method for controlling a portable lighting device includes connecting a DC power source, an inductor, a light source, a high frequency switch and a resistor in series, measuring a voltage across the resistor, and controlling the high frequency switch dependent on the voltage measured across the resistor.

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.

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 and a tail cap is used to create a snug mechanical fit between a bottom surface of a metal can of a terminal battery held within the outer casing and the a surface of the tail cap.

Abstract: A method for controlling a portable lighting device. The device has a switched-mode power supply, a light source, a high frequency switch, a controller controlling the operation of the light source and a user interface for inputting commands to the controller. A DC power source has a negative pole that is connected by only one single electric contact with the lighting device tail. The method for controlling a portable lighting device includes connecting a DC power source, an inductor, a light source, a high frequency switch and a resistor in series, measuring a voltage across the resistor, and controlling the high frequency switch dependent on the voltage measured across the resistor.

Abstract: A flashlight having a locking mechanism for securing a head skirt to a head assembly is disclosed. A circuit for temporarily remember the mode of operation of the flashlight is also disclosed.

Abstract: Battery corrosive electrolyte leak is reduced by using spacers (which can be made of a shock absorbing material) between each pair of batteries held in the 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 lighting apparatus with a LED lamp and a power source mounted within an outer housing, a temperature sensing device, and electronics for controlling current delivered to the LED lamp based upon temperature sensed by the temperature sensing 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 and a tail cap is used to create a snug mechanical fit between a bottom surface of a metal can of a terminal battery held within the outer casing and the a surface of the tail cap.

Abstract: A flashlight has a lock out feature that prevents it from being turned on which is activated or deactivated by pointing the flashlight in a first direction (e.g., upward) prior to turning it on, depressing a switch to turn it on, tilting the flashlight in a second direction (e.g., downward) while continuously depressing the switch, and releasing the switch.