Abstract:
An illumination device is secured to an object, such as, but not limited to, one or more keys. The illumination device is provided with circuitry such that the bulbs are energized only upon a sufficient shaking force being provided. When the illumination device is located within a purse or carrying bag, shaking of the purse or carrying bag, causes, the illumination device to light up and allow a user to quickly locate his or her keys or other object secured to the illumination device within the purse or carrying bag, amongst the various other objects also contained within the purse or carrying bag.

Description:
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally related to illumination devices and particularly to an illumination device having an object secured wherein the illumination device is used for quickly location of the object. 
     2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Women frequently store their keys in a purse when they are out of their residence. In addition to their keys, many other objects are often stored in the purse at the same time. This often makes locating the keys within the purse difficult unless other items also contained in the purse are removed. The present invention is directed to overcoming the problem of quickly locating one&#39;s keys or another object within a purse, bag, handbag, case, enclosure, etc. (collectively referred to as “Portable Enclosure”) without first removing other items in the Portable Enclosure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally provides an illumination device that can be attached or secured to any item or object that one wishes to quickly locate when such item or object (collectively referred to as “Object”) is disposed within a Portable Enclosure with other items and objects, and thus, not easily viewable. The illumination device is provided with circuitry, that upon a sufficient shaking force on the Portable Enclosure by the user, power is provided to light up the illumination device or portions of the illumination device and thus make its location within the Portable Enclosure easily identifiable by the user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one non-limiting housing embodiment for the illumination device in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an end view of the housing of  FIG. 1  with the end removed to reveal inside of the housing; 
         FIG. 3  is side view of the housing of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is one non-limiting electrical schematic for the circuitry of the illumination device in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As seen in the present invention illumination device is shown and generally designated as illumination device  20 . Illumination device  20  includes a housing, which is shown as housing  30 . Housing  30  is only one non-limiting configuration, shape, etc. that can be used as the housing for illumination device  20  and the outer housing is not considered limited to any particular shape, configuration, design, material, etc. 
     A notch  23  or other securement device can be provided in or with housing  30  for securing housing to an Object, such as, but not limited to, a key ring. The Object can be anything, including, but not limited to, one or more keys, key ring, cell phone, wallet, garage remote, makeup, writing device, etc. In its preferred use, illumination device  20 , secured to a desired Object, is preferably disposed within the internal storage area of a Portable Enclosure. 
     One or more ribs  32  can be secured or otherwise connected to housing  30  as the preferred method for viewing light from lights  60 , when lights  60  are energized, which will be discussed in detail below. Lights  60  are in electrical communication with the other electrical components ( FIG. 4 ) of an electrical circuit that is used for operation of illumination device  20  in accordance with the present invention. The electrical circuit can be provided as a chip, circuit board, embedded circuit, etc. A battery  70  can be preferably provided as the power source for illumination device  20  and is in electrical communication with the electrical circuit. Battery  70  can be rechargeable or nonrechargeable. Furthermore, housing  30  can be constructed such that one end is removably secured to the rest of housing  30  to allow battery  70  to be accessed and replaced/recharged. In another embodiment, housing  30  is constructed such that it is intended not have any end removably secured, such that the battery is not replaced. Furthermore, if battery  70  is of a chargeable type and a portion of housing  30  is not removable to provide access within housing  70 , conventional mechanical or electrical connections/contacts can be provided such that the entire housing can be secured to a recharging device. 
     Ribs  32  are preferably translucent or transparent such that they permit at least some of the light emulating from lights  60  to be visible therethrough. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 4 , a non-limiting electrical schematic shows the details for one non-limiting electrical circuit  40  which can be used for operation of illumination device  20 . Battery  70  can be provided for supplying current to one or more lights  60 . In a non-limiting preferred embodiment, lights  60  can be a plurality of LEDs, such as, but not limited to super bright LEDs. Preferably, though not limiting, the number of lights (LEDs)  60 , chosen can correspond to the number of ribs  32  provided in connection with housing  30 , such that the LEDs can be arranged within housing  30  in order to light up the preferred translucent ribs  32 . Ribs  32  can be preferably manufactured from a material which is capable dissipating and refracting light such that the light is visible from a very broad angle in any direction and thus making lighted ribs  32  visible at any angle. 
     Circuit  40  preferably includes a shock sensing switch  42  with the remaining portions of the circuit provided to perform the desired functions of illumination device  20 . Battery  70  can be capable of supplying a relatively high current to illuminate the preferred super bright LEDs  60 . In a non-limiting, preferred embodiment shock sensing switch  42  can be activated when shocked with a minimum or threshold force of 10 Gs or about or substantially 10 Gs. Other minimum or threshold levels can be used for activating shock sensing switch  42  (closing of switch  42 ) and are all considered within the scope of the invention. 
     Circuit  40  can also preferably include a mini microprocessor or mini microcontroller  44  (collectively “miniprocessor”) that remains in a sleep mode until shock sensing switch  42  is closed by the user exceeding the shock force (i.e. shaking the Portable Enclosure containing the object to be located, etc.). The turning on of circuit  40  can be for any predetermined time interval programmed into miniprocessor  44 . Circuit  40  can also be provided with a voltage boosting section in order to achieve the intensity needed to visually locate an item in a dark bag (i.e. Portable Enclosure). Miniprocessor  44  can be programmed and/or configured such that LEDSs  60  flash in a time interval in order to conserve battery power and allow LEDs  60  to be operated at a higher current then rated. The off time of circuit  40  gives LEDs  60  time to cool to preserve their life. High intensity light from LEDs  60  can be dissipated through preferred highly efferent clear ribs  32  preferably located on the sides of housing  30  to optimize the intensity of LEDs  60 . 
     Preferably battery  70  can be a low voltage battery. One novel aspect of circuit  40  is its ability to have LEDs  60  illuminate very bright with low voltage battery  70  (i.e. 3-volts, etc.). In order to preferably extend the life battery  70 , circuit  40  can be designed such that power from battery  70  is not required to be drawn at all time. In one non-limiting embodiment, battery life for battery  70  can be extended through firmware used by miniprocessor  44  that can be provided with a unique code. The firmware code instructs miniprocessor  44  to go into a sleep mode drawing very little current when not in use. Upon waking (shocking—exceeding the shaking force—closing of switch  42 ) miniprocessor  44  can preferably turn on the voltage booster section of circuit  40  such that the boosted voltage is capable of driving the preferred six LEDs  60  at a relatively high current to achieve a very high intensity. In a non-limiting, preferred embodiment, the boosting circuit increases the battery voltage from 3 to 21 volts, contributing to the uniqueness and efficiency of circuit  40 . 
     Miniprocessor  44  can be programmed to energize LEDs  60  for a specific interval of time, such as, but not limited to, about ten seconds, though such is not considered limiting and other smaller or larger time periods can be selected and are considered within the scope of the invention. At the end of programmed “on” time period, point switch  42  can be opened again. Thus, with LEDs  60  energized the Object secured to illumination device  20  can be quickly located in a cluttered Portable Enclosure. Illumination device  20  can be attached or secured to any Object that one wishes to quickly locate within a Portable Enclosure with other items and objects, and thus, not easily viewable. Upon a sufficient shaking force on the Portable Enclosure power is provided to light up or energize LEDs  60  of illumination device  20  and thus make the location of the attached Object within the Portable Enclosure easily identifiable by the user. 
     In lieu of or in addition to ribs  32 , at least a portion of housing  30  can be made from a transparent or translucent material such that the light bulbs (i.e. LEDs) disposed within housing  30  can be seen through housing  30  when they are energized. If no ribs  32  are provided housing  30  can be provided without any apertures for where ribs  32  are normally inserted or disposed. 
     When using the mini microprocessor with software, the unit can be calibrated when initial supply current is applied (i.e. battery is installed). In one embodiment, when triggered or activated, the lighting pattern can be programmed to flash for a period of time, such as, but not limited to ten second or about ten second. 
     To increase or extend battery life, the processor is programmed so as to be in a “sleep” mode as much as possible. 
     In one non-limiting embodiment, the unit can be activated when pin  6  on miniprocessor/microprocessor  44  (i.e. PIC10F200, etc.) goes low. Preferably a spring type switch can be provided for switch  42 . Switch  42  can have its sensitivity manufactured into the switch. Upon a sufficient shock like motion a spring member of the switch touches a center rod which temporary brings pin  6  of IC chip  44  to ground to start the flashing process programmed into microprocessor  44 . Once completed for the programmed time period, the unit preferably goes into a sleep mode, which assists in conserving battery life. While in a sleep mode, in one embodiment only 2.5 uA are drawn. 
     When the unit is activated, current supplied to LEDs  60  can be determined by the value of resistor R 1 . One non-limiting formula that can be used to select the value for resistor R 1  can be: Resistor R 1  value=300÷desired current. The booster chip  45  (FAN5333B) shown in the schematic can be designed to provide a constant current. In one embodiment, the circuit of the present invention preferably uses about 20 mA in order to achieve a super brightness from LEDs  60 , which is another unique feature of the present invention. Booster chip  45  rises the voltage in order to maintain a constant current. In one embodiment, chip  45  permits lighting up to about 3.2 V LEDs in series, as it can boost a 3 volt battery to over 24 volts. It will however draw 120 ma (6 led&#39;s×20 ma). The flashing of the led&#39;s increase the life of battery  70  and the life of LEDs  60 . 
     In one non-limiting schematic embodiment six LEDs  60  can be provided and connected in series with about 20 mA and a converter efficiency of approximately 80%. In this embodiment, battery  70  should supply approximately 150 mA when LEDs  60  are on (i.e. energized). 150 mA operating for 3.04 hours over the course of the year should use a battery capacity of at least 456 mAh. In one embodiment, battery  70  can be CR2 capable of 850 maH, which should last well over a year in time. 
     Also for one non-limiting embodiment the following parts can be used for the components values shown in the non-limiting schematic of  FIG. 4 : 
     Capacitors 
     
         
         
           
             C1 Kemet C0805C104K5RACTU, 0.1 μF 50V ceramic (0805 package) 
             C2 Kemet C0805C106K9PACTU, 10 μF 6.3V ceramic (0805 package) 
             C3 Kemet C1210C105K5RACTU, 1 μF 50V ceramic (1210 package)
 
Diode
 
             D1 Fairchild BAT54 (SOT-23 package)—switching diode controls the magnetic field of the inductor to boost voltage.
 
Inductor
 
             L1 Murata LQH43CN100K03L, 10 pH (1812 package)—Inductor coil boost&#39;s voltage as power is turned on and off by the booster chip  45  (i.e. FAN5333)
 
Lights
 
             LED 1-6 Harvatek HT-T169NB-5538 Blue LED (PLCC-2 package)—supper bright Blue LEDs (reference number 60)
 
Resistors
 
             R 1  Xicon 292-15.8-RC (0805 package)—resistor value determines constant current from booster chip  45  (i.e. FAN5333) 
             R 2  Xicon 292-475K-RC (0805 package)
 
Activation Mechanism
 
             Spring/Vibration Sensor Switch  42 —Triggers micro processor
 
IC Chips
 
             U1—Microchip PIC10F200T-I/OT (SOT-23 package)—controls all functions including booster circuit (reference number 44). 
             U2—Fairchild FAN5333BSX—Boost voltage to light up 6 LEDs preferably at a constant current, it controls the switching of the diode to collapse the magnetic field of the inductor causing a controlled spike in voltage (reference number 45)
 
Battery
 
             CR2 3V Lithium Battery 
           
         
       
    
     All locations, sizes, shapes, measurements, amounts, angles, voltages, frequencies, component or part locations, configurations, temperatures, weights, dimensions, values, percentages, materials, orientations, etc. discussed above or shown in the drawings are merely by way of example and are not considered limiting and other locations, sizes, shapes, measurements, amounts, angles, voltages, frequencies, component or part locations, configurations, temperatures, weights, dimensions, values, percentages, materials, orientations etc. can be chosen and used and all are considered within the scope of the invention. 
     Dimensions of certain parts as shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purpose of clarity of illustration and are not considered limiting. Component values shown in the drawings, including the electrical schematics, are merely examples of component values and part numbers that can be used and the present invention is not considered limited to these specific component values and part numbers. 
     Unless feature(s), part(s), component(s), characteristic(s) or function(s) described in the specification or shown in the drawings for a claim element, claim step or claim term specifically appear in the claim with the claim element, claim step or claim term, then the inventor does not considered such feature(s), part(s), component(s), characteristic(s) or function(s) to be included for the claim element, claim step or claim term in the claim for examination purposes and when and if the claim element, claim step or claim term is interpreted or construed. Similarly, with respect to any “means for” elements in the claims, the inventor considers such language to require only the minimal amount of features, components, steps, or parts from the specification to achieve the function of the “means for” language and not all of the features, components, steps or parts describe in the specification that are related to the function of the “means for” language. 
     While the invention has been described and disclosed in certain terms and has disclosed certain embodiments or modifications, persons skilled in the art who have acquainted themselves with the invention, will appreciate that it is not necessarily limited by such terms, nor to the specific embodiments and modification disclosed herein. Thus, a wide variety of alternatives, suggested by the teachings herein, can be practiced without departing from the spirit of the invention, and rights to such alternatives are particularly reserved and considered within the scope of the invention.