Patent ID: 6866400
Filing Date: 2005-03-15
Classification: F21L,H01J

Abstract:
1. A hand-held flashlight comprising: a metal halide arc lamp, said lamp operating between 8 and 22 watts, said lamp having an arc gap of between 0.7 and 1.4 mm and a color temperature at or above 5000° Kelvin, said lamp containing a fill gas including mercury and indium in percentages wherein said lamp produces a point source of white light capable of penetrating dense smoke and fog; a reflector containing said arc lamp and providing a collimated beam of high intensity white light; and, circuit means for providing a high starting voltage to the lamp and a lower operating voltage after sustaining said lamp, said circuit means including a battery, a ballast, and a microprocessor for monitoring said lamp and said battery, said microprocessor providing a discernible output signal indicative of the lamp on-time and battery voltage, said microprocessor controlling the application of the starting voltage from said ballast to said lamp to prevent misstarting of the lamp.