Abstract:
A lighting assembly has a light source main body and a light source control module. The light source main body has a light source that generates light. The light source control module includes a power switch, a housing removably coupled to the light source main body, and a modulation circuit retained inside the housing. The modulation circuit is electrically connected to the power switch for making the light source flash with a frequency when the power switch is turned on.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a light source control module, and in particular, to a light source control module having a modulation switch for controlling the light source to emit beams with different modulated frequencies.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     In a conventional light source device, such as a conventional flashlight, LED flashlight or a laser generator, a conventional switch having simple on/off function is used. Since only the simple on/off function is provided, the light source has a limited purpose. As one example, conventional flashlights are turned on and off by a switch so that the flashlight is provided only for emitting light. However, in certain special conditions, it may be desirable to use the flashlight for flashing purposes, such as to provide a continuous flash for getting attention or as a messaging means. In such conditions, the flashlight must be continuously switched on and off, which will shorten the service life of the switch. As another example, laser sights are commonly used at rifle and golf clubs, with a flashlight-type or pen-type laser generator continuously emitting a laser beam with a specific spectrum.  
         [0005]     A conventional laser generator is shown in  FIG. 1A . A back cover device  20  is engaged with the tail of a laser main body  10   a  in which a laser generator  101   a  and a battery  102   a  (providing power for the laser generator  101   a ) are disposed. The back cover device  20  has a cover body  21  and a screw thread  211  capable of engaging a screw thread  11   a  defined on the laser main body  10   a.  Thus, the cover body  21  is removably engaged to the tail of the laser main body  10   a.  The cover body  21  has a power switch  25  or a power cable  241  connected to an external power switch  24  (see  FIG. 1B ). One end of the power switch  24  or  25  is electrically connected to a contact  232  on a circuit board  23  of the back cover device  20 . The contact  232  is electrically connected to a battery  102   a  positioned in the laser main body  10   a.  The power switch  24  or  25  is used to turn the power on and off.  
         [0006]     As described above, the power switches  24 ,  25  are simple mechanical switches providing simple on and off functions. Such functions cannot satisfy a user&#39;s demand in certain particular conditions. For example, for a laser sight used in a gun, when people shoot in a shooting field, a user can hardly recognize the laser spot of his gun from so many different laser spots. To resolve such a problem, it is desirable to use a light source control module that can vary the flash frequency of the laser spot to distinguish it from other lasers.  
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0007]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a light source control module capable of being engaged with a light source main body for making the light source flash with different frequencies.  
         [0008]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a light source control module capable of replacing the conventional back cover device and compactly engaging with the light source main body for achieving portable use, and reducing volume and cost.  
         [0009]     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a light source control module that is capable of pre-setting and saving the modulation mode in order to control the light source main body to emit a particular flash light for communication purposes.  
         [0010]     In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, the present invention provides a lighting assembly having a light source main body and a light source control module. The light source main body has a light source that generates light. The light source control module includes a power switch, a housing removably coupled to the light source main body, and a modulation circuit retained inside the housing. The modulation circuit is electrically connected to the power switch for making the light source flash with a frequency when the power switch is turned on. The modulation circuit can have a plurality of modulation modes modulated by an analog method or a digital method. As a result, the light emitted from the light source can have different frequencies.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are exploded perspective views of two conventional laser sights.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a light source control module in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the light source control module of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the light source control module of  FIG. 2  engaging the light source main body. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.  
         [0016]     The light source control module  30  of the present invention can be used for various types of light sources. A laser main body  10  is described as a light source. The light control module  30  of the present invention can be used with the laser main body  10  as a power switch. A laser generator  101  and a battery  102  (providing power for the laser generator  101 ) are disposed in the laser main body  10 . The laser generator  101  can be a conventional laser generator.  
         [0017]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the light source control module  30  has a housing that includes a cover  31  and a connection sleeve  39 . Receiving spaces  312  and  392  are defined inside the cover  31  and the connection sleeve  39 , respectively. A power cable  341  is connected to the cover  31  and a power switch  34 . Screw threads  311  and  391  are defined on the inner wall of the cover  31  and the outer wall of the connection sleeve  39 , respectively. A plurality of grooves  393  are defined on the outer wall of the connection sleeve  39  for receiving one or more rings  394 . External screw threads  397  are defined on the other end of the connection sleeve  39  for engaging corresponding internal screw threads  11  in the laser main body  10 .  
         [0018]     A modulation circuit board  36  is disposed in the cover  31 . The power switch  34  is electrically connected to the modulation circuit board  36  for turning the laser main body  10  on and off to-emit modulated laser beam. The modulation circuit board  36  contains a modulation circuit (which can be conventional circuitry) that is designed to control the laser generator  101  to emit different modulated beams. The modulation circuit can also be provided on the circuit board  33  described below. The modulation circuit has multi-frequency adjusting function for modulating the laser beam to have various flashing frequencies. The modulation circuit board  36  is driven by the battery  102  disposed in the laser main body  10 . In addition, an independent power supply device may be used to provide power for the modulation circuit board  36 . The modulation method of the modulation circuit  36  can either be analog modulation or digital modulation, which are well known in the art.  
         [0019]     The connection sleeve  39 , a conducting spring  35 , the modulation circuit board  36 , and a pressing ring  37  are disposed inside the receiving space  312 . A contact  361 , a plurality of batteries  32 , a battery tube  38 , a conducting spring  331 , a circuit board  33  and a contact  332  are disposed inside the receiving space  392  of the connection sleeve  39 . The conducting spring  35  is disposed at the proximal-most end of the receiving space  312 , with the modulation circuit board  36  pressed against the conducting spring  35 , and the pressing ring  37  pressed against the modulation circuit board  36 . The power cable  341  passes through the cover  31  and is electrically connected to the contact  361  on the modulation circuit board  36 .  
         [0020]     The circuit board  33  is positioned at the distal-most end of the receiving space  392 , with the conducting spring  331  disposed on one side of the circuit board  33  facing the cover  31 , and the contact  332  disposed on the other side of the circuit board  33 . An opening  396  is defined on the distal end of the connection sleeve  39 . The contact  332  may extend through the opening  396  by a predetermined distance H measured from the distal end of the connection sleeve  39 .  
         [0021]     One or more batteries  32  are placed in the receiving space  392 . The positive end  321  of the distal-most battery  32  contacts the conducting spring  331  and the negative end  322  of the proximal-most battery  32  contacts the contact  361  disposed on the modulation circuit board  36 . The connection sleeve  39  is received from the distal end of the cover  31  into the receiving space  312 . The ring(s)  394  can be used to seal the screwed cover  31  and connection sleeve  39 . The pressing ring  37  is pressed by the edge  395  of the connection sleeve  39  to ensure that the modulation circuit board  36  contacts the conducting spring  35  for electrical conduction therebetween. The batteries  32  are pressed by the conducting spring  331  to ensure that the batteries  32  constantly engage the contact  361 .  
         [0022]     As best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the light source control module  30  can be engaged with the tail of the laser main body  10  via the screw thread  397 . The exposed contact  332  can contact the corresponding contact disposed on the tail of the laser main body  10  for electrical conduction between the light source control module  30  and the laser main body  10 . The laser main body  10  is then turned on and off by the power switch  34 . When the power switch  34  is turned on, the laser generator  101  emits a flashing laser beam.  
         [0023]     The power switch  34  can be either externally disposed and connected to the cover  31  via the power cable  341 , or can be directly disposed on the cover  31 .  
         [0024]     Although the present invention is applicable to a laser main body as described herein, the principles of the present invention can also be applicable to other light sources such as a flashlight. The modulation circuit of the present invention can control the flashlight to emit various flashes. In addition, various modulation modes such as Morse codes may be stored into the modulation circuit in advance so that the flashlight can be used as a communication instrument.  
         [0025]     As described above, the modulation switch of the present invention replaces the conventional on/off switch so that the light source can be used not only for lighting purposes, but also for communication, warning and signal transmission purposes. The modulation circuit is removably secured in a housing to simplify the structure, and allow it to be compatible with conventional light sources.  
         [0026]     While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.