Abstract:
Touch-free lighting systems are described. In one embodiment, a touch-free lighting system may include a light, a battery housing, a pod coupled to the light and the battery housing, and a touch-free sensor coupled to the pod. The touch-free sensor may be configured to adjust a brightness of the light when activated. Methods of operating a touch-free lighting system are described. In one embodiment, a method may include adjusting a brightness of a light by activating a touch-free sensor coupled to the light.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/531,465, filed Jun. 22, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/499,699, filed Jun. 22, 2011, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Loupe lights are lights attached to dental loupes or other eyewear to illuminate an area of interest. Loupe lights may be coupled by a wire to a battery pack or other power source. 
         [0003]    Loupe lights may be turned on and off by a user. Loupe lights may also need to have a brightness adjusted. Power and brightness controls may allow a user to do these things. 
         [0004]    However, a user may not be able to operate the power and brightness controls by touching the controls. The user&#39;s hands may be holding instruments. The user&#39;s hands may be soiled, and the user may wish to avoid soiling the battery pack and/or the user&#39;s clothing. The user&#39;s eyes may be focused on an area of interest, and the user may find it disadvantageous to look away from the area of interest to operate controls on the battery pack. Often, the user may have another person such as an assistant operate the controls. 
         [0005]    What is needed is a light which may be turned on and off by a user without using the user&#39;s hands or without touching the controls. What is also needed is a light which may be adjusted in brightness by a user without using the user&#39;s hands or without touching the controls. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Touch-free lighting systems are described. In one embodiment, a touch-free lighting system may include a light, a battery housing, a pod coupled to the light and the battery housing, and a touch-free sensor coupled to the pod. The touch-free sensor may be configured to adjust a brightness of the light when activated. 
         [0007]    Methods of operating a touch-free lighting system are described. In one embodiment, a method may include adjusting a brightness of a light by activating a touch-free sensor coupled to the light. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1A  shows one embodiment of a hands-free lighting system  100 . 
           [0009]      FIGS. 1B-1C  show front and back views of one embodiment of battery housing  120 . 
           [0010]      FIGS. 1D-1F  show alternative embodiments of power switch  140 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 1G  shows brightness control  150  combined with power switch  140  into a single button  144 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 2A  shows another embodiment of a hands-free lighting system  200 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 2B  shows a front view of one embodiment of battery housing  220 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 2C  shows a front view of another embodiment of battery housing  220 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  shows yet another embodiment of a hands-free lighting system  300 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3B  shows power switch  240  as both pod buttons  234 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 3C  shows power switch  240  as a first pod button  234 , and brightness control  250  as a second pod button  234 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 4A  shows still another embodiment of a hands-free lighting system  400 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 4B  shows power switch  240  as button  244  used as an on button and pod button  234  used as an off button. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4C  shows power switch  240  as button  244  and brightness control  250  as button  234 . 
           [0021]      FIGS. 5A-5C  show one embodiment of a touch-free lighting system  500 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 5D  shows one embodiment of a light  510  having a touch-free sensor  560 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 5E  shows one embodiment of a battery housing  520  having a touch-free sensor  560 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]      FIG. 1A  shows one embodiment of a hands-free lighting system  100 . Hands-free lighting system  100  includes a light  110 , a battery housing  120 , a power switch  140 , and a brightness control  150 . 
         [0025]    Light  110  is shown as a loupe light, but may be any light for which hands-free operation is desired. Light  110  may include a wire  112  for connecting to a battery or power source. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 1B-1C  show front and back views of one embodiment of battery housing  120 . Battery housing  120  is configured to contain a battery. Battery housing  120  may be sealed. Alternatively, battery housing  120  may be able to be opened to install or replace a battery. A light connector  122  may be located on battery housing  120  for connecting wire  112  of light  110 . Alternatively, wire  112  of light  110  may be non-removably coupled to battery housing  120 . Battery housing  120  may include a recharging port  123  for connecting to a power source to charge rechargeable batteries. Battery housing  120  may include an attachment  126  so that battery housing  120  may be worn by a user. Attachment  126  may be a belt clip, a belt loop, a hook-and-loop fastener, a strap, or any other suitable device which allows battery housing  120  to be worn by a user. 
         [0027]    Battery housing  120  may have a slim or flat profile when worn against the user. Battery housing  120  may be worn on the side of the torso of the user, such as at the waist or under the armpit. Alternatively, battery housing  120  may be worn on the thigh of the user or any other suitable location. Battery housing  120  has an outer surface  128  which faces away from the user when worn by the user. 
         [0028]    Power switch  140  allows a user to turn light  110  on and off.  FIG. 1B  shows power switch  140  as a rocker switch  141  located on outer surface  128  of battery housing  120 . Power switch  140  is configured to be operated by a part of the arm of the user other than the hands. Power switch  140  may be operated by the inside of the elbow of the user. Alternatively, power switch  140  may be operated by the wrist, forearm, upper arm, or any other part of the arm of the user other than the hands. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 1D-1F  show alternative embodiments of power switch  140 .  FIG. 1D  shows power switch  140  as a larger rocker switch  142 . Larger rocker switch  142  may facilitate operation using a part of the arm other than the hands.  FIG. 1E  shows power switch  140  as a power button  144 . Power button  144  may be pushed once to turn on light  110 . Alternatively, power button  144  may be pushed and held down for a period of time to turn on light  110 , or pushed two or more times to turn on light  110 . Power button  144  may be used in the same or different way to turn off light  110 .  FIG. 1F  shows power switch  140  as a touch-sensitive device  146 . Touch-sensitive device  146  may include a capacitive surface responsive to touch and/or near-touch. Touch-sensitive device  146  may be responsive to bare and/or clothed skin. Touch-sensitive device  146  may be configured to be touched or near-touched for a period of time before turning on or off light  110  to prevent inadvertent operation. For example, touch-sensitive device  146  may need to be touched or near-touched for 0.5 sec to 1 sec before turning on or off light  110 . Touch-sensitive device  146  may be substantially flush with outer surface  128 . Touch-sensitive device  146  may be made any suitable size or shape. Touch-sensitive device  146  may be used alone or in conjunction with another power switch  140 . Touch-sensitive device  146  may be used to control brightness. Touch-sensitive device  146  or additional touch-sensitive devices may be used instead of some or all of the buttons or switches for any of the devices described herein. 
         [0030]    Brightness control  150  allows a user to adjust the brightness of light  110 .  FIGS. 1B-1E  show brightness control  150  as a plus button  152  and a minus button  154  for increasing and decreasing, respectively, a brightness of light  110 . Plus button  152  and minus button  154  may be textured differently, be convex or concave, or otherwise have different profiles to allow a user to distinguish between the two without looking. Alternatively, brightness control  150  may be a single button which increases the brightness of light  110  with each push, and returns to the lowest brightness when the button is pushed after the maximum brightness is reached. Brightness control  150  may be located on a surface of battery housing  120  other than outer surface  128  to avoid inadvertent operation of brightness control  150 .  FIG. 1G  shows brightness control  150  combined with power switch  140  into a single button  144  which turns on or increases the brightness of light  110  with each push, and returns light  110  to off when the button is pushed after the maximum brightness is reached. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2A  shows another embodiment of a hands-free lighting system  200 . Hands-free lighting system includes a light  210 , a battery housing  220 , a pod  230 , a power switch  240 , and a brightness control  250 . 
         [0032]    Light  210  is shown as a loupe light, but may be any light for which hands-free operation is desired. Light  210  may include a wire  212  for connecting to a battery or power source. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2B  shows a front view of one embodiment of battery housing  220 . Battery. housing  220  is configured to contain a battery. Battery housing  220  may be sealed. Alternatively, battery housing  220  may be able to be opened to install or replace a battery. A light connector  222  may be located on battery housing  220  for connecting to wire  212  of light  210 . Alternatively, wire  212  of light  210  may be non-removably coupled to battery housing  220 . Battery housing  220  may include a recharging port  223  for connecting to a power source to charge rechargeable batteries. Battery housing  220  may include an attachment  226  so that battery housing  220  may be worn by a user. Attachment  226  may be a belt clip, a belt loop, a hook-and-loop fastener, a strap, or any other suitable device which allows battery housing  220  to be worn by a user. 
         [0034]    Battery housing  220  may have a slim or flat profile when worn against the user. Battery housing  220  may be worn on the side of the torso of the user, such as at the waist or under the armpit. Alternatively, battery housing  220  may be worn on the thigh of the user or any other suitable location. Battery housing  220  has an outer surface  228  which faces away from the user when worn by the user. 
         [0035]    Pod  230  is connected to battery housing  220  by a wire  232 . Pod  230  may be removably or non-removably connected to battery housing  220 . Pod  230  includes a pod button  234 . Pod  230  may also include an attachment  236  similar to attachment  226  on battery housing  220 , so that pod  230  may be worn by a user. 
         [0036]    Power switch  240  allows a user to turn light  210  on and off.  FIG. 2B  shows power switch  240  as a button  244  used as an on button located on outer surface  228  of battery housing  220 , and pod button  234  used as an off button. Alternatively, power switch  240  may be button  244  used as an off button, and pod button  234  used as an on button. Power switch  240  is configured to be operated by a part of both arms of the user other than the hands. Power switch  240  may be operated by the insides of the elbows of the user. Alternatively, power switch  240  may be operated by the wrists, forearms, upper arms, or any other parts of the arms of the user other than the hands. 
         [0037]    Battery housing  220  and pod  230  may be worn on both sides of a body of a user so that button  244  and pod button  234  may be operated by a part of both arms of the user other than the hands. One arm may operate button  244  while the other may operate pod button  234 . Button  244  or pod button  234  used as an on button may be pushed once to turn on light  210 . Alternatively, button  244  or pod button  234  used as an on button may be pushed and held down for a period of time to turn on light  210 , or pushed two or more times to turn on light  210 . Button  244  or pod button  234  used as an off button may be used in the same or different way to turn off light  210 . 
         [0038]    Brightness control  250  allows a user to adjust the brightness of light  210 .  FIG. 2B  shows brightness control  250  as a plus button  252  and a minus button  254  for increasing and decreasing, respectively, a brightness of light  210 . Plus button  252  and minus button  254  may be textured differently, be convex or concave, or otherwise have different profiles to allow a user to distinguish between the two without looking. Brightness control  250  may be located on a surface of battery housing  220  other than outer surface  228  to avoid inadvertent operation of brightness control  250 .  FIG. 2C  shows brightness control  250  as pod button  234 , and power switch  240  as button  244 . Brightness control  250  may increase the brightness of light  210  with each push of pod button  234 , and returns to the lowest brightness when pod button  234  is pushed after the maximum brightness is reached. Alternatively, brightness control  250  may be button  244 , and power switch  240  may be button  234 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 3A  shows yet another embodiment of a hands-free lighting system  300 . Hands-free lighting system  300  is similar to hands-free lighting system  200 , with two pods  230 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 3B  shows power switch  240  as both pod buttons  234 , with a first pod button  234  turning on light  210  on and a second pod button  234  turning off light  210 . Brightness control  250  is located on battery housing  220 .  FIG. 3C  shows power switch  240  as a first pod button  234 , and brightness control  250  as a second pod button  234 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 4A  shows still another embodiment of a hands-free lighting system  400 . Hands-free lighting system is similar to hands-free lighting system  200 , with a light connector  122  on pod  230  for connecting wire  212  of light  110 . Alternatively, wire  212  of light  210  may be non-removably coupled to pod  230 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 4B  shows power switch  240  as button  244  used as an on button and pod button  234  used as an off button. Alternatively, power switch  240  may be button  244  used as an off button, and pod button  234  used as an on button. 
         [0043]      FIG. 4C  shows power switch  240  as button  244  and brightness control  250  as button  234 . Alternatively, power switch  240  may be button  234 , and brightness control  250  may be button  244 . 
         [0044]      FIGS. 5A-5C  show one embodiment of a touch-free lighting system  500 .  FIG. 5A  shows a side view of touch-free lighting system  500 .  FIG. 5B  shows a front view of touch-free lighting system  500 .  FIG. 5C  shows a top view of touch-free lighting system  500 . 
         [0045]    Touch-free lighting system  500  may include a light  510 . Light  510  is shown as a loupe light, but may be any light for which hands-free and/or touch-free operation is desired. 
         [0046]    Touch-free lighting system  500  may include a battery housing  520 . Battery. housing  520  may be configured to contain a battery. Battery housing  520  may include an attachment  526  so that battery housing  520  may be coupled to a user. Attachment  526  may include a clip, a loop, a hook-and-loop fastener, a strap, or any other suitable device which allows battery housing  520  to be coupled to a user. 
         [0047]    Battery housing  520  may be configured to be coupled to piece of clothing or accessory worn by a user. For example, battery housing  520  may be configured to be clipped to a back of a collar worn by a user. As another example, battery housing  520  may be configured to be attached to an eyewear retainer or necklace worn by a user. 
         [0048]    Touch-free lighting system  500  may include a pod  530 . Pod may include an attachment  536 . Attachment  536  may include a clip, a loop, a hook-and-loop fastener, a strap, or any other suitable device which allows pod  530  to be coupled to a user. 
         [0049]    Pod  530  may be configured to be coupled to eyewear and/or clothing worn by a user. For example, pod  530  may be configured to be clipped to a temple of eyewear worn by a user. As another example, pod  530  may be attached to a collar of a piece of clothing worn by a user. 
         [0050]    Light  510 , battery housing  520 , and pod  530  may be connected by one or more wires  512  in any suitable arrangement. For example, a wire  512  may connect light  510  to battery housing  520 . As another example, a wire  512  may connect light  510  to pod  530 , and another wire  512  may connect pod  530  to battery housing  520 . As yet another example, a wire  512  may connect light  510  to battery housing  520 , and another wire  512  may connect pod  530  to battery housing  520 . 
         [0051]    Light  510 , battery housing  520 , and pod  530  may be discrete or combined into one or more devices. For example, light  510  and pod  530  may be combined into a single device. 
         [0052]    Touch-free lighting system  500  may include a power switch  540 . Power switch  540  may be coupled to one or more of light  510 , battery housing  520 , pod  530 , or any other part of touch-free lighting system  500 . Power switch  540  may be configured to to turn light  510  on and off. Power switch  540  may include a rocker switch  542 . Power switch  540  may include one or more buttons, switches, or any other suitable device. 
         [0053]    Touch-free lighting system  500  may include a brightness control  550 . Brightness control  550  may be coupled to one or more of light  510 , battery housing  520 , pod  530 , or any other part of touch-free lighting system  500 . Brightness control  550  may be configured to adjust a brightness of light  510 . Brightness control  550  may include one or more buttons  552 . 
         [0054]    Touch-free lighting system  500  may include at least one touch-sensitive sensor  560 . Touch-sensitive sensor  560  may be coupled to one or more of light  510 , battery housing  520 , pod  530 , or any other part of touch-free lighting system  500 . Touch-sensitive sensor  560  may be configured to turn light  510  on and off when touched. Touch-sensitive sensor  560  may be configured to adjust a brightness of light  510  when touched. Touch-sensitive sensor  560  may be configured to change a brightness of light  510  with each touch. Touch-sensitive sensor  560  may be configured to turn light  510  on and off, as well as adjust a brightness of light  510 . For example, when light  510  is off, a first touch of touch-sensitive sensor  560  may turn on light  510  to a low brightness, and each successive touch may increase a brightness of light  510 . When light  510  reaches a high or maximum brightness, a touch of touch-sensitive sensor  560  may turn off light  510 . As another example, when light  510  is off, a first touch of touch-sensitive sensor  560  may turn on light  510  to a high or maximum brightness, and each successive touch may decrease a brightness of light  510 . When light  510  reaches a low or minimum brightness, a touch of touch-sensitive sensor  560  may turn off light  510 . 
         [0055]    Touch-sensitive sensor  560  may be configured to be responsive to touch and/or near-touch. Touch-sensitive sensor  560  may be responsive to bare and/or clothed skin. Touch-sensitive sensor  560  may be configured to be touched or near-touched for a period of time before turning on or off light  510  to prevent inadvertent operation. For example, touch-sensitive sensor  560  may need to be touched or near-touched for 0.5 sec to 1 sec before turning on or off light  510 . Touch-sensitive sensor  560  may be made any suitable size or shape. Touch-sensitive sensor  560  may be used alone or in conjunction with power switch  540  and/or brightness control  550 . Touch-sensitive sensor  560  may include a capacitive touch sensor  562  or any other suitable touch-sensitive sensor. 
         [0056]    Touch-free lighting system  500  may include at least one touch-free sensor  570 . Touch-free sensor  570  may be activated without being touched. Touch-free sensor  570  may be coupled to one or more of light  510  (as shown in  FIG. 5D ), battery housing  520  (as shown in  FIG. 5E ), pod  530  (as shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C ), or any other part of touch-free lighting system  500 . Touch-free sensor  570  may be configured to turn light  510  on and off when activated. Touch-free sensor  570  may be configured to adjust a brightness of light  510  when activated. Touch-free sensor  570  may be configured to change a brightness of light  510  with each activation. Touch-free sensor  570  may be configured to turn light  510  on and off, as well as adjust a brightness of light  510 . For example, when light  510  is off, a first activation of touch-free sensor  570  may turn on light  510  to a low brightness, and each successive activation may increase a brightness of light  510 . When light  510  reaches a high or maximum brightness, an activation of touch-free sensor  570  may turn off light  510 . As another example, when light  510  is off, a first activation of touch-free sensor  570  may turn on light  510  to a high or maximum brightness, and each successive activation may decrease a brightness of light  510 . When light  510  reaches a low or minimum brightness, an activation of touch-free sensor  570  may turn off light  510 . 
         [0057]    Touch-free sensor  570  may include an infrared (IR) sensor  572 . IR sensor  572  may have a field of view that is fixed or adjustable. IR sensor  572  may be configured to activate when it detects an appropriate gesture by a part of the body, such as a hand gesture, in its field of view. 
         [0058]    IR sensor  572  may be configured to activate when a part of the body such as a hand is waved through its field of view. IR sensor  572  may be configured to distinguish between a part of the body waved quickly and waved slowly through its field of view. IR sensor  572  may be configured to activate only when a part of the body is waved quickly through its field of view, and to have no response when a part of the body is waved slowly through its field of view. For example, a quick wave may take approximately 1 second or less to pass through a field of view of IR sensor  572 . IR sensor  572  may be configured to activate only when a part of the body is waved slowly through its field of view, and to have no response when a part of the body is waved quickly through its field of view. For example, a slow wave may take approximately 2 to 5 seconds to pass through a field of view of IR sensor  572 . IR sensor  572  may be configured to activate only when a part of the body is waved from left to right, right to left, up to down, down to up, nearer to farther, farther to nearer, or any other direction, or any sequence or combination of directions. 
         [0059]    IR sensor  572  may be configured to activate when the fingers of a hand are waved through its field of view. IR sensor  572  may be configured to recognize the pattern of the individual fingers of a hand being waved through its field of view. For example, IR sensor  572  may be configured to recognize or count one, two, three, four, or five fingers being waved through its field of view, and to have no response when not enough fingers are waved through its field of view. IR sensor  572  may be configured with a suitable field of view, such as on the order of a width of a finger and/or a distance between adjacent fingers when spread out. 
         [0060]    IR sensor  572  may be configured to activate when a part of the body such as a hand is held at a predetermined distance away from IR sensor  572  in its field of view. For example, IR sensor  572  may be configured to activate when a part of the body is held at a distance of ______ mm to ______ mm in its field of view. IR sensor  572  may be configured to activate when a part of the body such as a hand is held for a predetermined period of time in its field of view. For example, IR sensor  572  may be configured to activate when a part of the body such as a hand is held for approximately 1 second or more in its field of view. IR sensor  572  may be configured to activate when a part of the body such as a hand is held at a predetermined distance away from IR sensor  572 , and for a predetermined period of time in its field of view. 
         [0061]    IR sensor  572  may include a passive and/or an active IR sensor. Touch-free sensor  570  may include an ultrasonic sensor, microwave sensor, optical sensor, or any other suitable sensor which does not require touch or contact to activate. 
         [0062]    While the foregoing has been with reference to particular embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes in these embodiments may be made without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention.