Lighting device with staggered light sources responsive to a single user control
Various lighting devices and related methods of operation are provided which may be used to adjust brightness levels of a plurality of light sources in a staggered fashion in response to a single user control. In one example, a lighting device includes a plurality of light sources. Each light source is adapted to exhibit an associated current brightness level within a range of brightness levels associated with each light source extending from an associated minimum brightness level to an associated maximum brightness level. The lighting device also includes a user control adapted to selectively adjust the current brightness levels exhibited by the light sources in a staggered fashion such that the light sources exhibit different current brightness levels from each other over at least a range of positions of the user control.
1. A lighting device comprising:
a plurality of light sources, wherein each light source is adapted to exhibit an associated current brightness level within a range of brightness levels associated with each light source extending from an associated minimum brightness level to an associated maximum brightness level; and
a user control adapted to selectively adjust the current brightness levels exhibited by the light sources in a staggered fashion such that the light sources exhibit different current brightness levels from each other over at least a range of positions of the user control.
2. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the user control is adapted to adjust a current brightness level of a first one of the light sources from a first minimum brightness level to a first maximum brightness level as the user control is adjusted over a first range of positions extending from a first position to a second position; and wherein the user control is adapted to adjust a current brightness level of a second one of the light sources from a second minimum brightness level to a second maximum brightness level as the user control is adjusted over a second range of positions extending from a third position to a fourth position.
3. The lighting device of claim 2 , wherein a portion of the first range overlaps with a portion of the second range.
4. The lighting device of claim 2 , wherein the first and second ranges do not overlap with each other.
5. The lighting device of claim 1 , further comprising a control circuit adapted to provide a plurality of light control signals to control the light sources in the staggered fashion in response to a user control signal received in response to an adjustment of the user control.
6. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein a first one of the light sources is adapted to emit a different beam pattern than a second one of the light sources.
7. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein a first one of the light sources is adapted to emit different wavelengths than a second one of the light sources.
8. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the user control is a single knob.
9. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the user control is a single slider.
10. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the lighting device is a headlamp.
11. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the lighting device is a flashlight.
12. A method of operating a lighting device comprising a user control and a plurality of light sources, wherein each light source is adapted to exhibit an associated current brightness level within a range of brightness levels associated with each light source extending from an associated minimum brightness level to an associated maximum brightness level, the method comprising:
detecting an adjustment of the user control; and
selectively adjusting the current brightness levels exhibited by the light sources in a staggered fashion in response to the detecting such that the light sources exhibit different current brightness levels from each other over at least a range of positions of the user control.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the adjusting comprises:
adjusting a current brightness level of a first one of the light sources from a first minimum brightness level to a first maximum brightness level as the user control is adjusted over a first range of positions extending from a first position to a second position; and
adjusting a current brightness level of a second one of the light sources from a second minimum brightness level to a second maximum brightness level as the user control is adjusted over a second range of positions extending from a third position to a fourth position.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein a portion of the first range overlaps with a portion of the second range.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first and second ranges do not overlap with each other.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the detecting comprises detecting a user control signal received in response to the adjustment of the user control; and
wherein the adjusting comprises providing a plurality of light control signals to control the light sources in the staggered fashion in response to the user control signal.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein a first one of the light sources is adapted to emit a different beam pattern than a second one of the light sources.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein a first one of the light sources is adapted to emit different wavelengths than a second one of the light sources.
19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the user control is a single knob.
20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the user control is a single slider.
21. The method of claim 12 , wherein the lighting device is a headlamp.
22. The method of claim 12 , wherein the lighting device is a flashlight.