Abstract: A heat sink assembly has a base of non-conductive heat sink material which provides good heat transfer (e.g., aluminum nitride) and two electrical pathways are integrally formed with, and separated by, the base. An LED assembly is thermally and electrically bonded to the top surface of the heat sink assembly.

Abstract: A tactical flashlight with a raised tactical switch and a support hand tactical grip integrally formed with the flashlight barrel to provide multiple gripping positions for use in a flashlight shooting technique where the thenar of a user can be used to turn the flashlight on/off.

Abstract: A flashlight or portable light source has a battery power source, a light source, a circuit powered by the battery power source which causes the light source to emit light in an on state, a switch which causes the circuit to alternate between the on state and an off state in which the light source does not emit light when the switch is actuated by a user, a controller for causing light emitted from the light source to emit at two or more modes other than the off state, and an automatic dimmer residing within the flashlight which causes light emitted from the light source to dim without any activation of the switch after a first preselected amount of time.

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 tactical flashlight provides an improved tactical advantage useful in life-threatening situations by being configured so that it will operate in a disorientingly bright mode while pressure is applied to its finger activated electronic switch but then automatically switch to a strobe mode when pressure is released from the electronic switch.

Abstract: A portable rechargeable lighting device uses software in a microcontroller to turn on a charger protection circuit when a charging circuit is activated, to monitor at least one electrical characteristic relative to a rechargeable battery, to control at least one charging parameter of the charging circuit, and to alert a user of a low battery condition before light emitted from the device terminates.

Abstract: A portable rechargeable lighting device uses software in a microcontroller to turn on a charger protection circuit when a charging circuit is activated, to monitor at least one electrical characteristic relative to a rechargeable battery, to control at least one charging parameter of the charging circuit, and to alert a user of a low battery condition before light emitted from the device terminates.

Abstract: A tactical flashlight provides an improved tactical advantage useful in life-threatening situations by being configured so that it will operate in a disorientingly bright mode while pressure is applied to its finger activated electronic switch but then automatically switch to a strobe mode when pressure is released from the electronic switch.

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 portable rechargeable lighting device uses software in a microcontroller to turn on a charger protection circuit when a charging circuit is activated, to monitor at least one electrical characteristic relative to a rechargeable battery, to control at least one charging parameter of the charging circuit, and to alert a user of a low battery condition before light emitted from the device terminates.

Abstract: A portable rechargeable lighting device uses software in a microcontroller to turn on a charger protection circuit when a charging circuit is activated, to monitor at least one electrical characteristic relative to a rechargeable battery, to control at least one charging parameter of the charging circuit, and to alert a user of a low battery condition before light emitted from the device terminates.

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 flashlight or portable light source has a battery power source, a light source, a circuit powered by the battery power source which causes the light source to emit light in an on state, a switch which causes the circuit to alternate between the on state and an off state in which the light source does not emit light when the switch is actuated by a user, a controller for causing light emitted from the light source to emit at two or more modes other than the off state, and an automatic dimmer residing within the flashlight which causes light emitted from the light source to dim without any activation of the switch after a first preselected amount of time.

Abstract: A method for increasing battery life in a lighting device powered by a battery source in which an electronic circuit is caused to provide a declining power supply to a light emitting diode (“LED”) as a power profile of the battery source declines.

Abstract: A storage compartment for a flashlight with a cylindrical barrel, a tail cap and a conductive spring fitted to the tail cap. The conductive spring is removed from the tail cap and fitted to the barrel end of a cylindrical compartment which has an outer diameter substantially the same as that of the barrel and then the tail cap is threaded into a tail cap end of the cylindrical compartment, thus sealing off an inner compartment.

Abstract: A flashlight or portable light source has a battery power source, a light source, a circuit powered by the battery power source which causes the light source to emit light in an on state, a switch which causes the circuit to alternate between the on state and an off state in which the light source does not emit light when the switch is actuated by a user, a controller for causing light emitted from the light source to emit at two or more modes other than the off state, and an automatic dimmer residing within the flashlight which causes light emitted from the light source to dime without any activation of the switch after a first preselected amount of time.

Abstract: A lighting device with a light source powered by batteries connected in series utilizes a current-limited load switch which regulates current delivered to the light source from the batteries through use of a controller electrically coupled in series with a mechanical power switch so that when the mechanical power switch is opened, the controller is not powered by the batteries, the controller including an output for providing a control signal for controlling the opening and closing of the current-limited load switch, and current delivered to the light source by the current-limited load switch is set by a resistor connected to an ISET pin of the current-limited load switch.

Abstract: Battery corrosive electrolyte leakage is reduced by absorbing forces generated during impact of a device holding the batteries and preventing such forces from being transferred to terminal contacts of batteries held in a series configuration. Contacts of batteries connected in series are protected by use of shock absorbing spacers while a terminal end shock absorber is positioned so that the terminal end will be cushioned when a force is applied to the series configuration causing the batteries to move relative to the terminal battery.

Abstract: A method for increasing battery life in a lighting device powered by a battery source in which an electronic circuit is caused to provide a declining power supply to a light emitting diode (“LED”) as a power profile of the battery source declines.

Abstract: A portable rechargeable lighting device uses software in a microcontroller to turn on a charger protection circuit when a charging circuit is activated, to monitor at least one electrical characteristic relative to a rechargeable battery, to control at least one charging parameter of the charging circuit, and to alert a user of a low battery condition before light emitted from the device terminates.