| CPC G02B 6/001 (2013.01) [G01J 1/0425 (2013.01); G01J 1/4204 (2013.01)] | 10 Claims |
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1. A multifunction total internal reflection (TIR) light device, comprising: a light source,
the light comprising the visible spectrum, infrared and combinations thereof;
a light source driver;
a light sensor that detects ambient sunlight,
said light sensor of a high speed type, said high speed comprising response times on the order of 100 microseconds or less,
said light sensor primarily detects near infrared light,
said near infrared light is a proxy for sunlight,
said primary near infrared detection operative to minimize artificial light detection and enhance sunlight detection;
a programmable microcontroller,
said microcontroller comprising timers, POR (power on reset), ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) and I/O (inputs/outputs);
an information storage device that retains data through power cycling,
a light conduit conveys light via total internal reflection (TIR),
wherein the light conduit facilitates bidirectional light transmission;
said bidirectionality used to both emit light source light out of the distal end and convey ambient sunlight to a light sensor at the proximal end;
a module located at the proximal end of the light conduit, said module comprising the light source that emits light as well as the light sensor,
the light source driver is controlled by the microcontroller and the light sensor detects ambient sunlight conveyed from the distal end of the light conduit, said microcontroller measures ambient sunlight by turning the light driver off, thereby measuring the ambient sunlight via the light sensor and turning the light on through the driver;
in one of the operating modes, the on-off-on sequence of operation of the light source involves a dark flash,
said dark flash duration is an order of magnitude or more below the Critical Flicker Fusion (CFF) threshold of humans,
wherein the dark flash is shorter than 10 milliseconds,
said dark flash is imperceptible because it is too short in duration to be perceived by the human visual system, thereby it is perceived as continuous light;
said dark flash further configured to prevent on-off oscillation of the light source due to light source and light sensor feedback,
said prevention comprising the light source being turned off when ambient light sensing is performed;
the plurality of operating modes that can selectable by a user,
wherein the operating modes are set by inputs to and indicated by the microcontroller, said operating modes comprising storage in the information storage device; and wherein the operating modes comprise an SOS mode.
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