Abstract:
An illuminating device in combination with a microphone boom attached to a helmet worn by an operator. The illumination device is actuated by either lip action or push button. The brightness of the selected illumination is changeable by means of a potentiometer thumbwheel. The illumination device provides one spot and three flood light emitting diodes which may individually or as a group switched on or off. The illumination device has a universal clamping system permitting attachment to single or double boom microphone.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Applicants claim the priority benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/665,194, filed Mar. 28, 2005. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to portable illuminating devices, and more particularly to a lip actuated illuminating device. 
   There are presently on the market aviator&#39;s and military vehicle operator&#39;s night vision systems which enable pilots to fly helicopters or drive armored vehicles even in the darkest of night conditions without illumination. However, in order to be able to use the available night vision systems it is necessary to turn off the illuminating means for the various gauges used in the cockpit of a helicopter or vehicle. The reason for this is that the illuminating devices are so bright that the night vision goggles used would be blown out or otherwise adversely affected or compromised by the overloading of the illumination from the gauges. That is, the illumination from the gauges, when taken in directly by the goggles, overloads the light amplification circuitry in the goggles and thereby turns off the goggles. 
   Accordingly, an important problem for pilots and vehicle operators using a night vision system at night is that various gauges that must still be monitored during flight or vehicle operation cannot be seen in the dark. Also, even if the night vision goggles are turned off or taken off, it is still imperative that the illumination of the gauges does not enable the aircraft or vehicle to be seen at night from outside the aircraft or vehicle when used clandestinely. 
   There is, therefore, a need to provide illumination for pilots or armored vehicle personnel in confined spaces such as the cockpit of an aircraft or interior of an armored vehicle where the instrument lights provide reduced or impaired vision when used in conjunction with night vision glasses. Since the aircraft or vehicle requires two hands to operate, it is also important that such an illumination device be attached to the helmet mounted microphone of the pilot or vehicle operator for actuation by the lip or tongue. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an apparatus for illuminating a portion of the interior of an aircraft or vehicle. The apparatus comprises an LED unit worn by the pilot or vehicle operator for producing a light beam which is sufficiently bright so that an object located within the beam may be readily distinguished, yet is sufficiently low that it will not adversely affect the operation of a night vision imaging system. 
   The present invention extends the function, convenience and application beyond all other currently available lip lights. It allows the unit illumination to be actuated by either lip action or push button mode. Additionally, the present invention allows the brightness of the selected illumination to be changed using a potentiometer wheel. The present invention provides four LEDs which may all be switched on or off at the same time providing the best range of operating flexibility for the prevailing operating conditions. The present invention has a memory function which will bring the unit back into operation at its last used setting. The present invention&#39;s clamping system permits the invention to be easily attached to single or two boom microphone supports with a universal joint system which allows the invention light head to be easily positioned to suit each operator&#39;s personal needs. 
   These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a view of the invention attached to an operator&#39;s microphone. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the light head. 
       FIG. 3  is a rear view thereof. 
       FIG. 4  is a an exploded view of the universal joint system clamping module. 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the rearward clamping element. 
       FIG. 6  is a view of the lip light attached to a microphone boom. 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the electrical circuitry of the invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the electrical circuitry of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown a lip light  10  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. The lip light  10  is comprised of a light head  20  attached to a universal joint system  40  and interconnected by means of a wire  12  with a battery pack  11 . The battery pack  11  may be conveniently removably attached to the helmet  4 . The lip light  10  is attached to a microphone boom  5  attached to a helmet  4  worn by an operator  1 . As may be best seen in  FIG. 1 , the operator  1  has night vision goggles  3  attached to his helmet  4  and positioned in front of his face  2 . The microphone boom  5  is position so that a microphone  6  is positioned adjacent the operator&#39;s mouth area  7 . 
   The light head  20  is comprised of a housing  21  having a nominal top  22 , bottom  23 , connection side  24 , free side  25 , front  26 , rear  27 , and exterior surface  28 , said top, bottom, sides, front, and rear defining a housing interior  29 , said sides  24 ,  25  defining a housing longitudinal axis. The housing rear  27  is defined as that portion of the housing  21  closest to the operator&#39;s face  2 , and the housing front  26  as that portion of the housing  21  farthest from the operator&#39;s face  2 . The housing front  26  has one light emitting diode (LED) spot light  30  and three LED flood lights  31  mounted thereon and projecting through said exterior surface  28 . Other embodiment of the invention may have more or less lights. The housing front  26  has a push button  32  switch mounted thereon. The housing rear  27  has a lip/tongue actuated switch  33  mounted thereon. The housing top  22  has an optional potentiometer wheel  34  attached thereto said wheel  34  substantially contained within the housing interior  29  but partially protruding through the housing exterior  28 . 
   The light head housing connection side  24  has an elongated rod  35  with a longitudinal axis positioned substantially co-extensive with the housing longitudinal axis. The elongated rod terminates in a spherical protrusion  36 . An electrical cord  12  is also joined to the housing interior  29  through the housing connection side  24 . 
   The universal joint system  40  is comprised of a clamping module  41  pivotally attached to said housing spherical protrusion  36 . The clamping module  41  is comprised of a forward clamping element  50  and a rearward clamping element  60 . 
   The rearward clamping element  60  has a first end  61 , a second end  62 , an exterior surface  63 , an interior surface  64  and two opposite sides  65 . The interior surface  64  is defined as that portion of the rearward clamping element  60  facing forward clamping element  50 . The interior surface  64  has a flat channel  67  formed therein at the second end  62  extending from side  65  to side  65 . The channel  67  has a rounded depression  68  formed therein. The rearward clamping element  60  has two apertures  66  formed therein, one aperture near to said first end  61  and the second aperture adjacent said channel  67 , said apertures extending from the exterior surface  63  through the interior surface  64 . The exterior surface  63  has a rectangular channel  69  formed therein adjacent the first end aperture  66  and extending a designated distance toward the second end  62 . 
   The forward clamping element  50  has a first end  51 , a second end  52 , an exterior surface  53 , an interior surface  54  and two opposite sides  55 . The interior surface  54  is defined as that portion of the forward clamping element  50  facing the rearward clamping element  60 . The interior surface  54  has a flat channel  57  formed therein at the second end  52  extending from side  55  to side  55 . The channel  57  has a rounded depression  58  formed therein. The forward clamping element  50  has two apertures  56  formed therein, one aperture near to said first end  51  and the second aperture adjacent said channel  57 , said apertures extending from the exterior surface  53  through the interior surface  54 . The forward clamping element interior surface has a second channel  59  formed therein between said apertures  56 . The second channel  59  extends from side to side and has a side-to-side V-shaped profile. 
   The clamping module has two threaded screws  42 , each inserted into the rearward element apertures  66  from the exterior surface  63  through and out the interior surface  64 . The forward clamping element  50  is joined to the rearward clamping element  60  by engaging the screws  42  with the forward clamping element apertures  56 . Each screw  42  is threadingly engaged by a threaded nut  43  on the portion of the screw protruding past the forward clamping element exterior surface  53 . 
   The clamping module  41  receives the spherical protrusion  36  between the clamping elements&#39; second ends  52 ,  62  into the channel areas  57 ,  67  wherein the spherical protrusion  36  is seated between the rounded depressions  58 ,  68 . The boom microphone  5  is sandwiched between the clamping element interior surfaces  54 ,  64  in the interior surface areas between the apertures  56 ,  66 . The forward clamping element second channel  59  provides means for securely attaching the clamping module  41  to a single boom microphone. An optional patch  70  with a roughened surface  71  may be attached to the rearward clamping element interior surface  64  between the apertures  66  for increased gripping action. The threaded nuts  43  provides means for variable tightening on the microphone boom  5  and the light head housing spherical protrusion  36 . The present invention universal joint system  40  allows the invention light head  20  to be easily positioned to suit each operator&#39;s personal needs. 
   Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , there is shown schematic diagrams of two embodiments of the electrical circuitry of the invention. The electrical circuitry  13  is contained within the light head housing interior  29 . The circuitry  13  has as its heart a microprocessor  14  electrically connected to the lip/tongue switch  33 , indicated electronically as S 1 , and the push button mode switch  32 , indicated electronically as S 2 . The microprocessor  14  is electrically connected to the LED spot light  30 , indicated electrically as R 5  and driven by Q 1   a  and/or Q 2 . The microprocessor  14  is also electrically connected to the three LED flood lights  31 , indicated electrically as R 6 , R 7 , and R 8 , and driven by Q 1   b  and/or Q 3 . The electrical circuitry  13  is powered by two AA batteries in a battery pack  11  electrically interconnected to the circuitry  13  by the electrical cord  12 . 
   In the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , provision is made for directly changing the brightness of the selected illumination by using a potentiometer wheel  34  indicated electronically by CW and R 9  connected to the microprocessor. The alternate circuit embodiment shown in  FIG. 8  eliminates the potentiometer  34  and relies instead on the microprocessor  14  to modulate the LEDs thereby providing the appearance of brighter or dimmer settings. 
   In operation the lip switch  33  provides two modes of operation: “latching” and “momentary.” Commencing with the LED&#39;s OFF, tapping the lip switch  33  quickly will switch the LED&#39;s ON and remain “latched” ON after the switch has been released. Pressing the lip switch  33  again will turn the LED&#39;s OFF. Alternatively, if the lip switch  33  is held down for approximately one second or more when turning the LED&#39;s ON, the circuitry goes into the “momentary” mode and the LEDs will turn OFF when the switch is released. 
   The LED Mode Switch  32  operates with progressive looping action. Each time the switch is pushed, it will advance the illumination mode. If starting with one spot LED  30  on, the next push of the Mode Switch  32  will bring three flood LEDs  31  on; the next all LED&#39;s  30 ,  31  ON; and then following returning to the beginning of the loop of one spot LED  300 N. The lip light  20  “remembers” the last mode setting when powered down and will come ON with that setting the next time it is powered up again. 
   A thumbwheel potentiometer  34  may be provided which permits direct operator adjustment of the LED illumination brightness. At the lowest setting, the LED provides a fain glow to indicate that the unit is ON and that the batteries are being drained. 
   In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the LED brightness adjustment function is integrated into a LED illumination Mode Selection switch  32 . In this version, the function and operation of the Lip Switch  33  remains unchanged from the above description. That is, a quick tap of the lip switch  33  will result in an alternating ON/OFF illumination action of the LEDs. The first tap of the Lip Switch  33  will cause the LEDs to illuminate and remain ON. The next tap will turn the LEDs OFF. However, if the Lip Switch  33  is held longer than about ⅓ of a second, the LEDs will extinguish when the switch is released. 
   The operation of the Mode Switch  32  in this alternate embodiment acquires some of the characteristics of the Lip Switch  33 . That is, quick taps of less than ½ second in duration will cause the illumination Mode to be advanced in a loop from the Spot LED Mode, to three Flood LEDs, to all four LEDs together, back to the Spot LED again, and so forth. The LED illumination mode switching action occurs on the release stroke of the Mode Switch  32  tap. 
   Holding the Mode Switch  32  down for a longer period (approximately ½ second) changes the Mode Switch action to the adjustment of LED brightness. After the ½ second period has elapsed, a continued hold of the Mode Switch will result in a sweeping action of the LED brightness between the extremes of brightness and dimness, and this sweeping action will continue as long as the Mode Switch  32  is kept pressed. The moment of release of the Mode Switch is used to select the desired LED illumination brightness setting. 
   The following characteristics have been designed into the LED brightness adjustment feature to help with ergonomic convenience. The direction of the brightness change will always resume in the same direction as the last time that a brightness adjustment had been made. That is, if the brightness had been increasing that last time the brightness was adjusted, the next time the brightness will begin sweeping in the direction of increasing brightness. Similarly, if the brightness had been decreasing, it will resume by decreasing. When either the maximum or minimum brightness is reached, the lip light LEDs will blink to indicate to the user that this has occurred. The maximum or minimum brightness will continue to be held constant for about ⅓ of a second to facilitate capturing those settings. Release of the mode switch  32  after making a brightness adjustment will not effect the LED illumination mode. 
   The brightness setting as well as the LED illumination modes are stored in non-volitile memory within the microprocessor  14  and will return to the last setting the next time the Lip Light  10  is turned on with the Lip Switch  33 . These brightness and illumination mode settings are also not affected by power removal or battery changes. 
   It is understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of the application. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.