Abstract:
A spotlight ( 20 ) that utilizes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) ( 44, 46 ). The spotlight ( 20 ) converges light beams (B 1 , B 2 ) from the LEDs ( 44, 46 ) to a concentrated beam of light ( 300 ) of a defined width. Each LED ( 44, 46 ) has its own parabolic reflector ( 34, 36, 38 ). The parabolic reflectors ( 34, 36, 38 ) are focused so that bright, collimated light beams (B 1 , B 2 ) from the parabolic reflectors ( 34, 36, 38 ) are converged and collocated at a defined distance to give the appearance of a single, narrow intense beam of light ( 300 ).

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/916,714, filed May 8, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A spotlight is a light designed to direct a narrow intense beam of light on a small area. Often, spotlights utilize halogen lamps because of their bright intensity. A downside to the use of halogen lamps is that they require a lot of amperage for operation. Thus, a halogen spotlight that utilizes batteries may require frequent recharging or replacement of the batteries. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description of some embodiments that are presented later. 
         [0004]    In accordance with an embodiment, a spotlight is provided that utilizes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The spotlight converges the light beams from the LEDs to a concentrated beam of light of a defined width. The LEDs may be, for example, high intensity white LEDs. 
         [0005]    In accordance with an embodiment, the spotlight includes at least two LEDs, each LED having its own parabolic reflector. The parabolic reflectors are focused so that bright, collimated light beams from the parabolic reflectors are converged and collocated at a defined distance to give the appearance of a single, narrow intense beam of light. As an example, the light beams from the parabolic reflectors may be converged so a diameter of the beam may be, for example, 75 centimeters at a three meter distance from the spotlight. The light beams may be converged by having the beams side by side and touching at the defined distance, the light beams may overlap, or the light beams may be very close to one another. 
         [0006]    In accordance with an embodiment, the light beams from the multiple parabolic reflectors may be aligned in a number of different ways so that the light beams may properly converge. In one embodiment, each LED is provided on a separate circuit board and a corresponding parabolic reflector for the LED is directed to the appropriate location, and the LED is mounted perpendicular to the parabolic reflector. The parabola of the parabolic reflector is configured to collimate light from the LED and direct it in a direction so that it may converge with the light beams from other parabolic reflectors for the LED spotlight. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, multiple LEDs are provided on a common, flat circuit board. Each LED includes an angled spacer so as to direct a light from the LED in a desired direction. A parabolic reflector for each LED is mounted perpendicular to the LED, and directs collimated light from the LED in the desired direction. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, multiple LEDs are mounted on a common flat circuit board with the LEDs mounted flat to the circuit board. Each parabolic reflector, instead of being perpendicular to its respective LED, is aligned to collimate light from the LED and direct it in the desired direction, which in an embodiment is slightly angled from perpendicular with the LED. Optics of each of the parabolic reflectors are modified to collimate the light from the LED and direct the collimated light beam in the desired direction. 
         [0009]    In still another alternative, the LEDs and associated parabolic reflectors may be arranged so that collimated light beams from the parabolic reflectors are collimated with each other. Thus, the distance between center portions of the light beam remain constant as the light beams move away from the LED spotlight. The diameter may increase slightly due to natural light dissemination as the distance increases from the spotlight, but the light beam for each parabola is not focused inward so as to converge the multiple light beams. In this embodiment, parabolic reflectors are spaced apart from one another so that proper collocation of the light beams occurs at the desired distance through the natural dissemination of the bright spots of the light beams. 
         [0010]    In still another embodiment, lens optics may be used to converge multiple light beams. 
         [0011]    Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a LED spotlight in accordance with an embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the LED spotlight of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of a reflector for use in the spotlight of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a front, side, perspective view of the reflector of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a representation of a LED and parabolic reflector combination that may be used in accordance with an embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a representation of a LED and parabolic reflector combination that may be used in accordance with another embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a representation of a LED and parabolic reflector combination that may be used in accordance with yet another embodiment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a representation of convergence of light by multiple LEDs and parabolic reflectors in accordance with an embodiment; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a representation of a light pattern generated by a spotlight, such as the spotlight of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a representation of yet another embodiment of a LED and parabolic reflector combination; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a representation of a spotlight and the spotlight&#39;s beam pattern in accordance with an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    In the following description, various embodiments of the present invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the embodiment being described. In addition, to the extent that orientations of the embodiments are described, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “right,” and the like, the orientations are to aid the reader in understanding the embodiment being described, and are not meant to be limiting. 
         [0024]    Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  shows an LED spotlight  20  in accordance with an embodiment. The LED spotlight  20  includes a handle  22  attached to a housing  24  for the LED spotlight. The housing  24  shown in the drawings is shaped as a cylinder, with a light coming out of one end of the cylinder. The handle  22  extends perpendicularly downward from the housing  24  so that it may be grasped such as a pistol. This arrangement permits a user to grasp the handle into the palm of a hand with the forearm extending parallel to a central axis of a light beam emanating from the housing. A trigger  26  is provided on the handle to turn on the LED spotlight. In addition, if desired, a lock feature may be provided for locking the trigger and LED spotlight  20  in an “on” position. 
         [0025]    The LED spotlight  20  includes a lens  28  mounted on the outside of a reflector  30 . As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the reflector  30  has a concave face  32  and a series of parabolic reflectors  34 ,  36  and  38  equally spaced around the face. The number of parabolic reflectors in the embodiment shown in the drawings is three. However, two parabolic reflectors or more than two parabolic reflectors may be utilized. However, three or more are preferably used so that a combined converged pattern will have more intense light output. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the reflectors  34 ,  36 ,  38  are positioned to provide three light beams defining corners of an equilateral triangle. 
         [0026]    The parabolic reflectors  34 ,  36  and  38  are utilized in a manner known in the art to collimate light from light emitting diodes (LEDs). If desired, collimators other than parabolic reflectors may be used to collimate light from the LEDs. For example, a collimator-style lens may be positioned over an LED. A collimator lens (without a parabolic reflector) mounted just above the LED collimates light from an LED to a very tight hot spot. Multiple collimator lenses may be angled to converge light from multiple LEDs. 
         [0027]    In accordance with an embodiment, the housing  24  is formed of a suitable plastic material, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The lens  28  may also be formed of a plastic, such as a clear polycarbonate material. The lens  28  and the housing  24  are preferably sealed in a water tight manner. A battery, such as a rechargeable battery, may be utilized for powering of the LED spotlight  20 . In an embodiment, the battery is a 12 volt sealed lead acid rechargeable battery. However, other batteries may be used. 
         [0028]    LEDs (multiple embodiments are described below) are mounted at the base of the parabolic reflectors  34 ,  36 , and  38 . Each of the parabolic reflectors  34 ,  36 , and  38  is configured and arranged so as collimate light from an LED so as to produce a focused, bright intensity light beam in which the majority of light from the beam is focused on a bright center. Preferably, the collimated light beams may be illuminated a great distance without significant light dispersion of the bright center. In accordance with an embodiment, the bright centers of light beams from the multiple parabolic reflectors  34 ,  36  and  38  are converged to a single bright spot. To determine proper convergence, this bright spot may be defined, for example, by a diameter of the converged light beams at a particular distance from the front of the LED spotlight  20 . For example, in an embodiment, a LED spotlight, such as the LED spotlight  20 , produces a converged light beam of approximately 75 centimeters in diameter at a three meter distance from the front of the LED spotlight  20 . Other converged sizes may be utilized, but in general, the light beams from the LEDs are maintained in a tight pattern as far as possible so that the beam maintains a limited cross section even at a remote distance from the spotlight  20 . 
         [0029]    As is known, LEDs typically have a 90 to 120 degree cone of light output emanating directly out of the front of the LED. In an embodiment, each parabolic reflector  34 ,  36  and  38  collimates the light from its LED into a bright center beam light beam with most light extending parallel to a central axis for the reflector, and at the same time aims that light beam at a desired location so the light beams from the combined reflectors are converged. Typically, for collimation, an LED is mounted perpendicular to a central axis of a parabolic reflector. For example,  FIG. 5  shows one arrangement for providing converged light beams in which LEDs  44 ,  46  are mounted perpendicular to the central axes of parabolic reflectors  48 ,  50 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , two separate printed circuit boards  40 ,  42  each include a single LED  44 ,  46 , respectively. The LEDs  44 ,  46  and the printed circuit boards  40 ,  42  are mounted at an angle α (to perpendicular with the longitudinal axis of the housing  24 . The light beam of the spotlight  20  extends parallel to this longitudinal axis. The angle α (is set with respect to a radial axis emanating from the center of the LED spotlight  20 , so that the tilted angle causes the light beam from the associated LED  44 ,  46  to focus inward towards a longitudinal axis of the housing  24  to converge light at the desired distance. 
         [0030]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , parabolic reflectors  48 ,  50  are mounted perpendicular to the LEDs  44 ,  46 , respectively. These parabolic reflectors direct light to a converged position. As can be understood, the angle α (is exaggerated in the drawings so that concepts described herein are made clearer to a reader, but in actuality the angle α (may be very small. 
         [0031]    A plurality of LEDs and parabolic reflectors may be arranged as shown in  FIG. 5  to provide a desired collimation of light beams from the LEDs. In an embodiment, three such light beams are converged in a triangular pattern  300  as shown in  FIG. 8 . The three beams may extend very close to each other so as to give an illusion of a single beam, may overlap each other completely or in part, or may be slightly spaced from each other. Applicants have found that defining a position 3 meters away in which the light beams are adjacent to each other so that they touch, but not overlap each other, provides a desired effect. 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  shows an alternate embodiment of a method of and structure for providing convergence of multiple light beams from multiple LEDs. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , a single printed circuit board  140  is utilized with two LEDs  144 ,  146 . Each of these LEDs  144 ,  146  is mounted with an angled spacer  152 ,  154 . These angled spacers cause the LEDs  144 ,  146  to be set at the angle α relative to perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing  24 . The corresponding parabolic reflectors  148 ,  150  are arranged perpendicular to the LEDs and thus direct light beams from the LEDs in the appropriate direction; i.e., generally parallel to a projection of the longitudinal axis of the housing. 
         [0033]    In an alternate embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , two LEDs  244 ,  246  are arranged on a single circuit board  240 . The two LEDs are arranged so that they direct light straight outward. The parabolic reflectors  248 ,  250  for these two LEDs  244 ,  246  are tilted at the angle α from perpendicular to the LEDs  244 ,  246 . In this manner, light from the LEDs  244 ,  246  is directed in an appropriate manner so that the light beams are converged as described above. Because the parabolic reflectors are not mounted perpendicular to the LEDs  244 ,  246 , the optics of the parabolic reflectors may be altered to ensure the light beams from the LEDs are properly collimated and aimed. Such parabolic reflectors may be designed using computer modeling techniques known in the art. 
         [0034]    As can be seen in  FIG. 8 , a representation of light beams B 1  and B 2  is shown coming from two reflectors R 1  and R 2 . These light beams are converged a suitable distance from one another at a distance X from the front of the spotlight  20 . An example light pattern  300  of the bright spots of three such beams  294 ,  296 , and  298  is shown in  FIG. 9 . As can be seen, these light beams  294 ,  296 , and  298  slightly touch one another at the location X. The light beams shown may represent the bright, central light beams provided by three conical reflectors, two of which may be the conical reflectors R 1  and R 2 . Such convergence of light beams may be provided by any of the three embodiments shown in  FIGS. 5-7 . 
         [0035]    In accordance with another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 10 , one or more LEDs  344 ,  346  may be mounted under parabolic reflectors  348 ,  350  that direct beams straight outward. These reflectors may direct light to a lens  328  that includes optic features that bend light beams from the reflectors  348 ,  350  so that they converge an appropriate distance apart at a distance X from the front of the spotlight to provide a desired light pattern as described above. 
         [0036]    In yet another embodiment, three LEDs may be mounted on three parabolic reflectors so that the parabolic reflectors direct three light beams straight outward and parallel to one another. In this embodiment, the reflectors are spaced from one another a distance so that at the distance X from the front of the spotlight  20  (e.g., three meters), each of the collimated central bright beams from the reflectors have become wide enough (i.e., have large enough diameters), through normal dispersion of collimated light, so that the bright centers touch, creating a central, focused light beam, such as the combined light beam  300 , at the distance X. In this embodiment, the LEDs and the parabolic reflectors do not need to be aimed toward a central location for convergence to provide the spotlight effect. 
         [0037]    For example, as shown in  FIG. 11 , a spotlight  400  includes three reflectors  402 ,  404 , and  406 . Each of these reflectors includes a light beam  408 ,  410 , and  412 , respectively. The light beams  408 ,  410 ,  412  are generally the width of the reflectors  402 ,  404 ,  406  when leaving the spotlight  400 . However, during normal dispersion over a particular length, or by patterning the parabolic reflectors accordingly, the light beams increase in width until they touch at a distance Z from the spotlight  400 . This distance may be any desired distance, but in an embodiment is three meters from the spotlight. 
         [0038]    The LED spotlight  20  of the present invention provides a very bright spotlight, for example, providing light output similar to one million candle power halogen spotlight. By utilizing high powered bright white LEDs and a 12 volt rechargeable battery, a bright beam may be provided for several hours via the LED spotlight  20 , in comparison to a very short time period for existing halogen spotlights. In addition, less heat is generated by the LEDs, thus providing a much safer spotlight. 
         [0039]    Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. 
         [0040]    The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0041]    Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.