Thermoelectrically powered portable light source

• Main Authors: Makosinski, Arthur, Makosinski, Ann
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 08.01.2019
• Subjects: BLASTING; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTINGELECTRIC POWER; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMSTHEREOF; GENERATION; HEATING; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21Sand F21V, RELATING TO THEFORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THELIGHT EMITTED; LIGHTING; LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF, BEING PORTABLE ORSPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR TRANSPORTATION; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHERARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY; WEAPONS

Provided is a portable, thermoelectrically powered device, such as a flashlight or headlamp. The device comprises at least one thermoelectric generator for extracting body heat from a user, the Thermoelectric generator located on and extending through an elongated open ended outer shell, a heat sink in contact with an inner surface of the thermoelectric generator and configured to provide an elongated first cooling channel therethrough, circuitry in electrical communication with the thermoelectric generator, the circuitry comprising a transistor oscillator, a step-up transformer and a decoupling capacitor, the circuitry in electrical communication with a power sink, such that in use, a temperature gradient across the thermoelectric generator is sufficient to result in generation of at least about 25 μW of power.