Illumination – Self powered lamp – Rechargeable electrical source of with external connections
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-02
2001-09-11
Cariaso, Alan (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Self powered lamp
Rechargeable electrical source of with external connections
C362S020000, C362S490000, C362S545000, C315S077000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286976
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
In one aspect this invention relates to vehicle lighting systems. In a further aspect this invention relates to a vehicle interior lighting system with emergency backup power.
2. Prior Art
The present dome lights in military vehicles are a source of infrared radiation which is in turn a source of danger from enemy or terrorist forces since most military operations are equipped with at least some form of rudimentary infrared sensing devices. The more sophisticated detection systems can use the infrared radiation from a vehicle both as detection and targeting means. Thus, it is in the interest of troop safety to minimize the infrared signature emanating from the interior of a vehicle. The present interior, dome light structures use incandescent lamps as a light source. Such lamps create a high infrared signature, have high current requirements on the order of 500 milliamperes and have a relatively short life on the order of 500 hours. To ameliorate the signature problem, present military vehicles use blackout filters on interior dome lights when operating in a blackout mode. This structure requires carrying and using a separate filter and creates a possible hazardous condition if the filter is not deployed. In a hostile zone failure to properly deploy blackout filters can endanger the vehicle and occupants.
It would be desirable to have a dome light system that is designed to have a consistent low infrared signature with improved lamp life and low current requirements. It would be a further advantage to have a backup power source for the passenger compartment lighting that could allow the dome light to function if there is a loss of power from the vehicle electrical supply. This would allow personnel to locate their weapons and exit the vehicle even when there is a loss of power.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly the present invention provides a lowered infrared signature dome light assembly with reduced current requirements. The system has a backup power supply sufficient to provide a measure of emergency lighting to the vehicle passenger compartment should the primary vehicle battery system be disabled or discharged. In addition, the system provides a removable light source integrated with the backup power supply, which can be used to exit the vehicle. The removable light portion is an integrated as a part of the dome light assembly of this invention under normal conditions.
The present improved vehicle dome-emergency lighting system is normally mounted in a passenger compartment of a land vehicle having an electrical system containing at least one storage battery. The dome lighting system further includes a retention housing mounted on the roof of the vehicle the retention housing serving to hold the remainder of the components of the system in the desired configuration within the vehicle.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4739224 (1988-04-01), Geerlings
patent: 5984495 (1999-11-01), Roberts et al.
patent: 6022131 (2000-02-01), Morimoto et al.
Chopra Kewal K.
Monroe John W.
Cariaso Alan
Carter Clifford C.
Kuhn David L.
Soderling Gail S.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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