Abstract: An electrical switch and a flashlight employing the switch may comprise a base having three electrical conductors thereon and an electrically conductive flexible dome adjacent the base. The flexible dome has plural longer legs extending from its dome and in electrical contact with a first conductor, has a shorter leg extending from its dome and overlying a second conductor, and has its dome overlying a third conductor. A spring may extend from the base of the switch. A pushbutton may be moved to apply sufficient force to cause the shorter leg to contact the second conductor and the dome to contact the third conductor. A spring may be between the pushbutton and the flexible dome to couple force to the flexible dome.

Abstract: An electronic circuit and/or method that determines a type and/or size of a battery in a light and controls operation of a light source may comprise: a circuit measuring the voltage of the battery; and a processor for determining the measured battery voltage. The processor may compare the measured battery voltage and a predetermined voltage and set an operating condition of the light source based upon the difference between the measured battery voltage and the predetermined voltage. The processor may apply a predetermined load to the battery for a predetermined time and measure battery voltage during the predetermined time; and determine the difference between the measured voltage of the battery and the measured battery voltage during the predetermined time.

Abstract: A portable light or device may comprise: a light source or operative element; a switch for controlling energization of the light source or operative element; and a housing supporting the light or operative element and the switch. The housing has a compartment having a relatively larger transverse dimension in one region for receiving a battery having a corresponding larger transverse dimension and has a relatively smaller transverse dimension at least at one end thereof for receiving a battery having a corresponding smaller transverse dimension. At least one electrical contact in the compartment is movable for making electrical connection to batteries having a relatively shorter length and a relatively longer length.

Abstract: An electrical light or flashlight may comprise: a housing for receiving a battery; an electrical light source in the housing; an electrical switch including an electrically conductive flexible dome providing a switch contact; a controller for selectively energizing and de-energizing the electrical light source, wherein said controller is programmable responsive to closures or openings or both of the electrical switch, or to a time therebetween, or to continuous closure or opening thereof, or to a combination thereof, for operating the light source in predetermined operating states.

Abstract: A system may comprise a portable light and a receiver therefor. The portable light for illuminating may comprise: a light source, a housing supporting the light source, a processor selectively energizing the light source from an electrical power source to produce illumination, a switch controlling the processor, and a memory storing data relating to the portable light, wherein the processor modulates the light source responsive to the stored data. The receiver receiving data transmitted by the portable light may comprise: a receiver housing including a light sensitive receiver receiving data emitted by the light source; and a receiver processor reproducing a representation of the data stored in the memory and providing the decoded received data for perception by a human and/or for use by a computing device.

Abstract: An electrical light or flashlight may comprise: a housing for receiving a battery; an electrical light source in the housing; an electrical switch including an electrically conductive flexible dome providing a switch contact; a controller for selectively coupling electrical power from a battery to the electrical light source, responsive to the electrical switch for selectively energizing and de-energizing the electrical light source, wherein said controller is programmable responsive to closures or openings or both of the electrical switch, or to a time therebetween, or to continuous closure or opening thereof, or to a combination thereof, for operating the light source in predetermined operating states, and wherein the light source is selectively energizable and de-energizable in predetermined operating states responsive to the electrical switch.

Abstract: An electrical switch and a flashlight employing the switch may comprise a base having three electrical conductors thereon and an electrically conductive flexible dome adjacent the base. The flexible dome has plural longer legs extending from its dome and in electrical contact with a first conductor, has a shorter leg extending from its dome and overlying a second conductor, and has its dome overlying a third conductor. A spring may extend from the base of the switch. A pushbutton may be moved to apply sufficient force to cause the shorter leg to contact the second conductor and the dome to contact the third conductor. A spring may be between the pushbutton and the flexible dome to couple force to the flexible dome.

Abstract: An electronic circuit and/or method that determines a type and/or size of a battery in a light and controls operation of a light source may comprise: a circuit measuring the voltage of the battery; and a processor for determining the measured battery voltage. The processor may compare the measured battery voltage and a predetermined voltage and set an operating condition of the light source based upon the difference between the measured battery voltage and the predetermined voltage. The processor may apply a predetermined load to the battery for a predetermined time and measure battery voltage during the predetermined time; and determine the difference between the measured voltage of the battery and the measured battery voltage during the predetermined time.

Abstract: A portable light or device may comprise: a light source or operative element; a switch for controlling energization of the light source or operative element; and a housing supporting the light or operative element and the switch. The housing has a compartment having a relatively larger transverse dimension in one region for receiving a battery having a corresponding larger transverse dimension and has a relatively smaller transverse dimension at least at one end thereof for receiving a battery having a corresponding smaller transverse dimension. At least one electrical contact in the compartment is movable for making electrical connection to batteries having a relatively shorter length and a relatively longer length.

Abstract: An electrical switch and a flashlight employing the switch may comprise a base having electrical conductors thereon and an electrically conductive flexible dome. The flexible dome has plural longer legs extending from its dome and in electrical contact with a first conductor, has a shorter leg extending from its dome and overlying a second conductor, and has its dome overlying a third conductor. A pushbutton may be moved to apply actuation force to cause the shorter leg to contact the second conductor and the dome to contact the third conductor.

Abstract: An electrical light or flashlight may comprise: a housing for receiving a battery; an electrical light source in the housing; an electrical switch including an electrically conductive flexible dome providing a switch contact; a controller for selectively coupling electrical power from a battery to the electrical light source, responsive to the electrical switch for selectively energizing and de-energizing the electrical light source, wherein said controller is programmable responsive to closures or openings or both of the electrical switch, or to a time therebetween, or to continuous closure or opening thereof, or to a combination thereof, for operating the light source in predetermined operating states, and wherein the light source is selectively energizable and de-energizable in predetermined operating states responsive to the electrical switch.

Abstract: An electrical switch comprises first and second switch elements each including a respective electrically conductive flexible dome for selectively making an electrical connection. The second switch element is adjacent the first switch element. An actuator is movable for exerting force on the first and second switch elements, wherein the flexible dome of the first switch element makes connection to a first electrical conductor when the actuator moves a first distance and the flexible dome of the second switch element makes the electrical connection to a second electrical conductor when the actuator moves a second distance in addition to the first distance.

Abstract: A system may comprise a portable light and a receiver therefor. The portable light for illuminating may comprise: a light source, a housing supporting the light source, a processor selectively energizing the light source from an electrical power source to produce illumination, a switch controlling the processor, and a memory storing data relating to the portable light, wherein the processor modulates the light source responsive to the stored data. The receiver receiving data transmitted by the portable light may comprise: a receiver housing including a light sensitive receiver receiving data emitted by the light source; and a receiver processor reproducing a representation of the data stored in the memory and providing the decoded received data for perception by a human and/or for use by a computing device.

Abstract: An electrical switch and a flashlight employing the switch may comprise a base having electrical conductors thereon and an electrically conductive flexible dome. The flexible dome has plural longer legs extending from its dome and in electrical contact with a first conductor, has a shorter leg extending from its dome and overlying a second conductor, and has its dome overlying a third conductor. A pushbutton may be moved to apply actuation force to cause the shorter leg to contact the second conductor and the dome to contact the third conductor.

Abstract: An LED light may comprise a light emitting diode selectively energizable for producing light; an electronic circuit for selectively energizing the light emitting diode; and a heat sink of a thermally conductive material, wherein the light emitting diode is thermally bonded to the heat sink; and wherein the electronic circuit is attached to the heat sink. The light may have a pair of contact springs extending from the heat sink and the electronic circuit may include thermal conductivity enhancing features.

Abstract: An electrical switch and a flashlight employing the switch may comprise a base having three electrical conductors thereon and an electrically conductive flexible dome adjacent the base. The flexible dome has plural longer legs extending from its dome and in electrical contact with a first conductor, has a shorter leg extending from its dome and overlying a second conductor, and has its dome overlying a third conductor. A spring may extend from the base of the switch. A pushbutton may be moved to apply sufficient force to cause the shorter leg to contact the second conductor and the dome to contact the third conductor. A spring may be between the pushbutton and the flexible dome to couple force to the flexible dome.

Abstract: An electrical switch and a flashlight employing the switch may comprise a base having three electrical conductors thereon and an electrically conductive flexible dome adjacent the base. The flexible dome has plural longer legs extending from its dome and in electrical contact with a first conductor, has a shorter leg extending from its dome and overlying a second conductor, and has its dome overlying a third conductor. A spring may extend from the base of the switch. A pushbutton may be moved to apply sufficient force to cause the shorter leg to contact the second conductor and the dome to contact the third conductor. A spring may be between the pushbutton and the flexible dome to couple force to the flexible dome.

Abstract: An electrical switch comprises first and second switch elements including respective first and second electrically conductive flexible domes for selectively making electrical connections. The second switch element is disposed adjacent the first switch element with an electrical conductor therebetween. An actuator is movable for exerting force on the second switch element via a spring, and for exerting force on the first switch element via the spring and the second switch element. The second flexible dome may have an actuating force that is less than the actuating force of said first flexible dome.

Abstract: An electrical switch may comprise a base having three electrical conductors thereon and an electrically conductive flexible dome adjacent the base. The flexible dome has plural longer legs extending from its dome and in electrical contact with a first conductor, has a shorter leg extending from its dome and overlying a second conductor, and has its dome overlying a third conductor. A pushbutton must be moved over a distance substantially greater than an actuation distance of the flexible dome to apply sufficient force to cause the shorter leg to contact the second conductor and the dome to contact the third conductor. A spring between the pushbutton and the flexible dome couples force to the flexible dome.

Abstract: An LED light may comprise a light emitting diode selectively energizable for producing light; an electronic circuit for selectively energizing the light emitting diode; and a heat sink of a thermally conductive material, wherein the light emitting diode is thermally bonded to the heat sink; and wherein the electronic circuit is attached to the heat sink. The light may have a pair of contact springs extending from the heat sink and the electronic circuit may include thermal conductivity enhancing features.