초록 ▼

An autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system includes a set of one or more self-standing rechargeable lighting fixtures (luminaries) removably supported on a recharging and support member. The luminaries each include a light diffusor that may resemble a candle to the from that turn on when removed f

An autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system includes a set of one or more self-standing rechargeable lighting fixtures (luminaries) removably supported on a recharging and support member. The luminaries each include a light diffusor that may resemble a candle to the from that turn on when removed from the recharging and support member. The luminaries may also turn on when power to the recharging and support member is turned off, turning the luminaries on automatically as during a power failure. The luminaries may each be inductively coupled to the recharging and support member, which enables to provide an aesthetically pleasing interface free of electrical contacts. Relative rotation of luminary cover and foot members may be used to controllably alter the characteristics of the illumination, such as dimming/brightening.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system providing comparatively high luminosity in a manner that is portable and suitable for indoor and outdoor use, comprising: a charger module adapted to mate with and receive a lantern module, including a first circuit coupled to said

What is claimed is: 1. An autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system providing comparatively high luminosity in a manner that is portable and suitable for indoor and outdoor use, comprising: a charger module adapted to mate with and receive a lantern module, including a first circuit coupled to said received lantern module operative in response to supplied AC power to provide a charge signal to the lantern module received thereby; and a lantern module rotatable about its axis of extension that is received by said charger module, the lantern module including at least one light emitting element connected to a rechargeable battery pack via a second circuit operative in one mode to charge said rechargeable battery pack and to de-light said at least one light emitting element in response to receipt of the lantern module on the charger module and to activate said at least one light emitting element in response to removal of the lantern module from said charger module and operative in another mode to controllably alter the light emitting characteristics of the at least one light emitting element in response to rotation of the lantern module about its axis of extension. 2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the second circuit in said other mode controllably dims/increases the intensity of the at least one light emitting element in response to rotation of the lantern module about its axis of extension. 3. The invention of claim 1, wherein the lantern module includes a bulbous translucent cover inside which an array of comparatively bright white LED's is disposed to provide said at least one light emitting element. 4. The invention of claim 1, wherein the lantern module has a handle at a top end that provides easy portability. 5. The invention of claim 1, wherein said lantern module includes relatively rotatable cover and foot portions, and said second circuit includes at least one circuit element responsive to relative rotation therebetween to provide a signal representation of relative rotation. 6. The invention of claim 1, wherein said second circuit includes at least one circuit element responsive to receipt or removal of the lantern module on or off said charger module to provide a signal representation of whether or not the lantern module is seated on the charger module. 7. The invention of claim 1, wherein said second circuit operative in said one mode to charge said rechargeable battery pack and to de-light said at least one light emitting element in response to receipt of the lantern module on the charger module and to activate said at least one light emitting element in response to removal of the lantern module from said charger module is further operative to light the at least one light emitting element in response to non-detection of the charge signal resulting from lack of AC power, either due to a power failure or unplugging the charger module. 8. An autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system providing comparatively high luminosity in a manner that is portable and suitable for indoor and outdoor use, comprising: a charger module adapted to receive the bottom end of a lantern module rotatable about its axis of extension, including a first circuit coupled to said received bottom end operative in response to supplied AC power to provide a charge signal to the lantern module received thereby irrespective of a state of angular rotation of the lantern module; and a lantern module elongated about an axis of extension having a foot member at its bottom end that is received by said charger module and a translucent lantern cover member upstanding from and rotatable relative to said foot member about the axis of extension including an array of white light LED's and a rechargeable battery pack connected to a controller mounted inside said lantern module operative in one mode to charge said rechargeable battery pack and to de-light said array in response to receipt of the foot member of the lantern module on the charger module and to activate said array in response to removal of the lantern module from said charger module and operative in another mode to controllably alter the light emitting characteristics of the array in response to relative rotation of the translucent cover and foot members of the lantern module about its axis of extension. 9. The invention of claim 8, wherein said controller in said controllably altering mode controllably alters the intensity by progressively dimming and brightening the intensity of the array of white light LED's in response to clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the translucent cover relative to the foot members about the axis of extension of the lantern module. 10. The invention of claim 8, wherein a seat sensor supplies a seat signal representative of whether said foot member of said lantern module is received on the charger module or the lantern module is removed therefrom. 11. The invention of claim 10, wherein a potentiometer supplies a signal representative of relative rotation of the translucent cover and foot members of the lantern module about the lantern module axis of extension. 12. An autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system providing comparatively high luminosity in a manner that is portable and suitable for indoor and outdoor use, comprising: a charger module having a first circuit; and a lantern module having at least one light emitting element connected to a rechargeable battery pack, a second circuit, and a potentiometer, wherein the lantern module is removably receivable and supportable by the charger module, the charger module first circuit is coupled to the lantern module when received thereon, the first circuit is operative in response to supplied AC power to provide a charge signal to the lantern module when received on the charger module, the lantern module second circuit is operative in one mode to charge said rechargeable battery pack and to de-light said at least one light emitting element in response to receipt of the lantern module on the charger module and to activate said at least one light emitting element in response to removal of the lantern module from said charger module and operative in another mode to controllably alter the light emitting characteristics of the at least one light emitting element, the lantern module and charger module have engaging structure to adjust the lantern module potentiometer by rotation of the lantern about an axis of extension thereof when received by the charger module, and the potentiometer alters the light emitting characteristics in response to rotation of the lantern module about its axis of extension.