Abstract:
A reading light comprises a frame for supporting the reading light adjacent to a user&#39;s face and a first light source mounting member a first end of which is coupled to the frame, wherein a second end of the first light source mounting member is moveable with respect to the frame in combination with a first light emitting diode coupled to the second end of the first light source mounting member so that movement of the second end of the first light source mounting member relative to the frame redirects light emitted by the first light emitting diode.

Description:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a reading light assembly which allows a user to read or perform other functions in the absence of sufficient ambient light. Devices have been designed to be mounted on the head or on eyeglasses, but these inventions have proved overly cumbersome and/or heavy. Furthermore, the intensity of light generated is often low while an undesirable amount of heat is produced.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention is directed to a reading light comprising a frame for supporting the reading light adjacent to a user&#39;s face and a first light source mounting member a first end of which is coupled to the frame, wherein a second end of the first light source mounting member is moveable with respect to the frame in combination with a first light emitting diode coupled to the second end of the first light source mounting member so that movement of the second end of the first light source mounting member relative to the frame redirects light emitted by the first light emitting diode. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0003]    [0003]FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a reader donning the present invention;  
         [0004]    [0004]FIG. 2 is a top view of the preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a circuit system; and  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 5 shows a side view of a lens system according to an embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0008]    The present invention may be further understood with reference to the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and the related appended drawings, wherein like elements are provided with the same reference numerals.  
         [0009]    FIGS.  1 - 3  show an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The device  8  consists of a frame  12  that may, for example, mimic the frames of typical half-glasses, or the lower half of the frames of regular eyeglasses. The part of the frame  12  that is positioned in front of the user&#39;s face is comprised of a pair of semi-loops  14 , coupled in a side-by-side substantially coplanar fashion. Of course, those skilled in the art will understand that the shape of the frame  12  may be changed in any way so long as, when the frame  12  is worn by the user, the light source is directed toward a desired position relative to the user&#39;s eyes. The semi-loops  14  are connected by nose pads  15  that rest on the bridge of the user&#39;s nose. The end of each of the semi-loops  14  forms a arm  16 . Each of the arms  16  is attached to an outer end of a corresponding one of the semi-loops  14  by a hinge  30 . Each of the hinges  30  also acts as a switch for an LED light  21  (discussed in detail below). Similar to the hinges on a standard pair of glasses, the hinges  30  allow the arms  16  to be folded in any position from a folded position substantially parallel to the semi-loops  14  to an open position substantially perpendicular to the semi-loops  14 . The ends of the arms  16  opposite the hinges  30  may optionally consist of a pair of arcs  18  that rest on or grip the user&#39;s ears. As is known in the art, the combination of the nose pads  15  and the arms  16  hold the device  8  in position before the eyes of the user to direct the emitted light toward a focal point of the user&#39;s eyes. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the relative shape and size of the frames may be modified in order to maximize comfort for all users, to reduce manufacturing costs or to achieve a desired look, etc.  
         [0010]    The present invention uses two white light emitting diodes (LEDs)  21  to supply light in the absence of ambient light or in situations where the ambient light is insufficient. The LEDs  21  may be, for example, standard ultra bright T-1¾ (5 mm) white LEDs available from Nichia America Corporation of Mountville, Pa. or a surface mount LED, e.g., Nichia America&#39;s part number #NSCW100. Each of the LEDs  21  is coupled to a power source (e.g., a AAA battery supplying 1.5 volts of direct current) via a circuit system which will be described below. As a large portion of the energy generated by the LEDs  21  radiates within the visible spectrum, the LEDs  21  provide increased light emitting efficiency while requiring a reduced power supply. Furthermore, this efficiency reduces the heat generated by the light source of the present invention and results in an increased time of operation with a lighter power source. In addition, the useful lifespan of LEDs  21  is also longer than that of standard light bulbs. The light from LEDs  21  is substantially focused in one direction. For example, when supplied with 20 milliAmps (mA), at a voltage of, for example, between 3.6 and 4.0 volts, a luminous intensity ranging from 320 milliCandles (mcd) to 380 mcd and a directivity of approximately 105 degrees to 110 degrees may be produced. The LEDs  21  described above are also small and light—approximately 3 millimeters (mm) in length, 2 mm in width and 1.2 mm in height. Each of these LEDs  21  may also include an electrical connection such as, for example, a soldering pad at a proximate end thereof.  
         [0011]    Each of the LEDs  21  is attached to the frame  12  near one of the corresponding hinges  30  via a hollow, flexible LED holder  23  covered by an LED shroud  22 . The LED shroud  22  protects the LED  21  from damage resulting from impact, abrasion, etc. Each flexible LED holder  23  houses the LED  21  at a distal end thereof facing away from the user. A proximal end of each flexible LED holder  23  is connected to the corresponding arm  16  and a first terminal of the LED  21  is coupled to the power source compartment  26 . A second terminal of the LED  21  is coupled to ground  50 . The flexible LED holders  23  may, for example, be made of a flexible rubber with a bendable wire mounted therein, as is well known in the art. Preferably, as will be understood by those of skill in the art, the material will retain a shape into which it is bent by a user so that the user may adjust the direction and focus of the light emitted from the LEDs  21 . This allows users to effectively utilize the emitted light while minimizing the projection of light into areas where it is not wanted. In addition, the bendable wire mounted within the flexible rubber of the LED holders  23  may be used as a conductor to connect one of the first and second terminals of the LED  21  to either the power source compartment  26  or to ground while a wire extending through a central lumen of the LED holder  23  is coupled between the other of the first and second terminals and ground  50 .  
         [0012]    Coupled to each arm is an integrated voltage converter  25  and a power source compartment  26  receiving a power source  24  therein. The voltage converter  25  may be a standard DC-DC converter, for example, available from MAXIM Integrated Products of Sunnyvale, Calif. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the specs for such standard DC-DC converters may be obtained from any manufacturer, including MAXIM Integrated Products. The converter is coupled to the power source  24  via a switch  30  to power the corresponding LED  21 . The power source compartment  26  may comprise connectors, as are known in the art, to electrically couple the terminals of the power source  24  to the circuit to provide power therefrom to the rest of the circuit system and, consequently to the LED  21  when the corresponding switch  30  has been closed. For example, the power source compartment  26  may include a coiled spring contact within a substantially cylindrical compartment to maintain a cylindrical battery (e.g., AAA battery) in a desired position therein abutting a second contact. The arrangement of components and the circuit for each of the LEDs  21  may be substantially identical for each of the arms  16 .  
         [0013]    The power source  24  may be connected to the LED  21  via a circuit system as exemplified in FIG. 4. The power source is connected to the switch  30  which activates the LED  21  upon completing the circuit connection. In order to supply the proper current and voltage to the LED  21  from a 1.5 volt power source, the circuit may, for example, include two capacitors  110 - 115  in the circuit system, each of which may have a capacitance of 10 microFarads (μF) and three resistors  120 ,  125 , and  130  having values of resistance, e.g., of 3.3 MegaOhms (MΩ), 1.1 MΩ, and 150 Ω, respectively. The circuit system may also consist of an inductor  140  with an exemplary inductance of 47 microhenry (μH). The power source  24 , the capacitors  110 - 115 , the voltage converter  25 , the LED  21 , and the resistor  125  may also be connected to ground  50  as shown in FIG. 4. The output voltage may be preset to 3.3V or may be adjusted from +2V to +5.5V. If, for example, there are three resistors as depicted in FIG. 4 with the above described values of resistance, the output voltage resulting from the circuit may be 5.0V.  
         [0014]    The power source  24  may be connected to one terminal of the switch  30 , while a second terminal thereof is coupled to the capacitor  110  and the inductor  140  as shown in FIG. 4. The inductor  140  is also connected to the converter  25 . The resistor  130  is positioned between the “OUT” and “FB” pins of the converter  25  and the resistor  125  is attached to the resistor  130  at one end and to the ground  50  at the other. The resistor  130  is also connected to the second capacitor  115 , which is also grounded. Finally the resistor connects the capacitor  115  to the LED  21  which is also grounded. Those skilled in the art will understand that the circuit diagram and the values presented in FIG. 4 only represent an exemplary model, and that there are other configurations which will be apparent to those of skill in the art in which the same functionality depicted in FIG. 4 may be obtained.  
         [0015]    As described above, each of the arms  16  is connected to the front of the frame  12  by hinge  30 . As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the user is free to move the arms  16  from a position substantially parallel to the frame  12 , i.e. closed, to a position substantially perpendicular to the frame  12 , i.e., open. When the arms  16  are placed in the open position, opposing surfaces of the arms  16  and the frame  12  forming contacts of the switches  30  come into contact closing the switches  30  and connecting the power source  24  to the LEDs  21  to illuminate the LEDs  21 . Thus, movement of the arms  16  relative to the frame  12  acts as an automatic switch to ensure that when a user puts the device  8  on, the LEDs  21  automatically light and, when a user folds the arms  16  into the closed position, the LEDs  21  are extinguished. Those skilled in the art will understand that each of the LEDs  21  is activated independently of the other and, if the arm  16  on the right side is moved to the open position while the arm  16  on the left side remains in the closed position, only the LED  21  on the right side will be lit. When the user opens the glasses in order to place them on, the switches  30  on both sides are activated and both of the LEDs  21  are turned on. However, those skilled in the art will understand that a simple modification of the above described circuit may be employed which would prevent either of the LEDs  21  from being illuminated unless both switches  30  are closed (i.e., the arms  16  are both fully open). Furthermore, an apparatus may be produced, for example, which provides the required light with only one LED  21  or more than one LED  21  mounted on one side or the center of the frame.  
         [0016]    In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the system according to the present invention may include a lens assembly  40  allowing the user to focus the light from the LEDs  21  at a desired distance therefrom. Specifically, as will be understood by those of skill in the art, a lens holding member  42  may be coupled to a lens  44  so that the lens holder  42  extends around the LED holder  23  to which the LED  21  is coupled. The lens holding member  42  is mounted to the LED holder  23  so that it may be moved proximally and distally therealong to bring the lens  44  closer to and further from the LED  21 . As discussed above, in this example, the LED  21  is illustrated as a T-1¾ (5 mm) LED. To couple the lens holding member  42  to the LED holder  23 , for example, the lens holding member  42  may include a threaded interior lumen which mates with a corresponding threaded exterior portion  48  of the LED holder  23  so that rotating the lens holding member relative to the LED holder  23  moves the lens  44  relative to the LED  21 .  
         [0017]    As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the description presented above. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, including the size, shape, form, materials, assembly and use are readily apparent and the relationships presented in the figures and detailed in the description above are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.  
         [0018]    In the preceding specification, the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made there unto without departing from the broadest spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, therefore, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.