IP Library Granted Patent US 9,699,865
Granted Patent B2
US 9,699,865 · App. 15/254,248 · Granted Jul 4, 2017

Spotlight and method of controlling thereof

Inventors: Kyle Harvey (Wauwatosa, WI); Alan Amundson (Milwaukee, WI); Ross McIntyre (Milwaukee, WI)
Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
H05B37/0218F21V14/003F21V14/006H05B33/0845H05B33/0854H05B37/0227H05B37/0272F21Y2115/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,699,865
App. No.
15/254,248
Granted
Jul 4, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A spotlight and a method of controlling the spotlight with an external device. The spotlight includes a first light source, a second light source, and a power supply. The spotlight also includes a transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with the external device and a processor. The processor is operable to receive a first input from the external device specifying a first amount of power to be provided to the first light source, and receive a second input from the external device specifying a second amount of power to be provided to the second light source. The processor is also operable to control the power supply to provide the first amount of power to the first light source in response to the first input, and control the power supply to provide the second amount of power to the second light source in response to the second input.

Claims (42)

1. A spotlight configured to be controlled by an external device, the spotlight comprising:

a first light source and a second light source;

a power supply providing power to the first light source and the second light source;

a transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with the external device; and

a processor electrically coupled to the first light source, the second light source, the power supply, and the transceiver and operable to:

receive a first input from the external device specifying a first amount of power to be provided to the first light source,

receive a second input from the external device specifying a second amount of power to be provided to the second light source,

control the power supply to provide the first amount of power to the first light source in response to the first input, and

control the power supply to provide the second amount of power to the second light source in response to the second input.

2. The spotlight of claim 1 , further comprising:

a lens positioned over one or both of the first light source and the second light source; and

a film applied to the lens and electrically coupled to the power supply, wherein the processor is further operable to receive a third input from the external device specifying an amount of current to be provided to the film, wherein an opacity of the film is varied by the amount of current provided to the film.

3. The spotlight of claim 1 , further comprising an ambient light sensor electrically coupled to the processor, wherein the ambient light sensor is operable to sense ambient light, and wherein the processor is operable to adjust the first amount of power and the second amount of power based on the ambient light sensed by the ambient light sensor.

4. The spotlight of claim 1 , further comprising a distance sensor electrically coupled to the processor, wherein the distance sensor is operable to detect a distance between the spotlight and an object at which the spotlight is pointed, and wherein the processor is operable to adjust the first amount of power and the second amount of power based on the distance between the spotlight and the object.

5. The spotlight of claim 1 , further comprising a housing, wherein the first light source and the second light source are supported on the housing.

6. The spotlight of claim 5 , further comprising:

a first variable switch supported by the housing and electrically coupled to the processor, the first variable switch operable to adjust the first input; and

a second variable switch supported by the housing and electrically coupled to the processor, the second variable switch operable to adjust the second input.

7. The spotlight of claim 1 , wherein the first input and the second input are received from the external device via the transceiver.

8. The spotlight of claim 1 , wherein the first input is a percentage of maximum amount of power capable of being provided to the first light source, and wherein the second input is a percentage of a maximum amount of power capable of being provided to the second light source.

9. The spotlight of claim 1 , wherein the first input and the second input are complementary percentages of a maximum amount of power capable of being provided to the spotlight.

10. The spotlight of claim 1 , wherein the first light source and the second light source include light emitting diodes.

11. A system comprising:

the spotlight of claim 1 ; and

an external device that wirelessly communicates with the transceiver of the spotlight, the external device operable to send the first input and the second input to the spotlight.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the external device includes a portable electronic device.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the external device includes a user interface providing a first variable switch and a second variable switch, the first variable switch operable to set the first input and the second variable switch operable to set the second input.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the external device includes a user interface providing a single variable switch that sets both the first input and the second input.

15. A method of controlling a spotlight having a first light source, a second light source, and a power supply, the method comprising:

receiving a first input from an external device specifying a first amount of power to be provided to the first light source;

receiving a second input from the external device specifying a second amount of power to be provided to the second light source;

controlling, via a processor of the spotlight, the power supply to provide the first amount of power to the first light source in response to the first input; and

controlling, via the processor, the power supply to provide the second amount of power to the second light source in response to the second input.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the spotlight further includes a lens positioned over one or both of the first light source and the second light source, and a film applied to the lens, and further comprising receiving a third input from the external device specifying an amount of current to be provided to the film, wherein an opacity of the film is varied by the amount of current provided to the film.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

detecting, using an ambient light sensor of the spotlight, ambient light; and

adjusting, via the processor, the first amount of power and the second amount of power based on the ambient light sensed by the ambient light sensor.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

detecting, using a distance sensor of the spotlight, a distance between the spotlight and an object at which the spotlight is pointed; and

adjusting, via the processor, the first amount of power and the second amount of power based on the distance between the spotlight and the object.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first input is a percentage of maximum amount of power capable of being provided to the first light source, and wherein the second input is a percentage of a maximum amount of power capable of being provided to the second light source.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first input and the second input are complementary percentages of a maximum amount of power capable of being provided to the spotlight.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 20, 2016
From: HARVEY, KYLE; AMUNDSON, ALAN; MCINTYRE, ROSS
To: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039800/0343 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 62237776 · Oct 6, 2015
Provisional Application 62214172 · Sep 3, 2015
Related Publication 20170071045A1 · Mar 9, 2017