IP Verse

Broad View Headlamp

Patent No. US11852311 (titled "Broad View Headlamp") was filed by Infinity X1 Llc on May 31, 2022.

What is this patent about?

’311 is related to the field of headlamps, specifically those designed to provide hands-free lighting. Traditional headlamps typically offer a focused beam for forward illumination, but often lack adequate peripheral or downward lighting. This limitation requires users to constantly adjust their head position to illuminate different areas of interest. The patent addresses the need for a headlamp that offers a combination of forward, peripheral, and downward lighting options to enhance overall visibility.

The underlying idea behind ’311 is to create a headlamp with multiple light sources, each optimized for a specific direction, and a control system to selectively activate these sources. This allows the user to customize the lighting pattern based on their needs. The key inventive insight is the combination of multiple LEDs, each with its own lens and reflector , to create distinct, directed beams that, when combined, offer a significantly wider field of illumination than traditional headlamps.

The claims of ’311 focus on a headlamp comprising multiple light sources, each with a dedicated LED, lens, and reflector, to illuminate distinct areas. Claim 1 emphasizes the ability to selectively activate these light sources in various modes to create a total combined view area wider than any single light source could achieve. Claim 11 focuses on adjusting the light spread based on proximity, and Claim 16 focuses on adjusting power consumption based on voltage.

In practice, the headlamp utilizes multiple lighting compartments within its housing, each containing one or more LEDs, reflectors, and optical lenses. These components work together to direct light to specific areas, such as forward, peripheral, or downward. A lighting control module, operated by multifunctional switches, allows the user to select from various lighting modes, activating different combinations of light sources to achieve the desired illumination pattern. The housing is designed to be water-resistant or waterproof, ensuring reliable operation in various environmental conditions.

Unlike traditional headlamps that offer limited beam direction and wide-angle headlamps that lack focused lighting and selective activation, ’311 provides a versatile solution. The use of individual lenses and reflectors for each LED allows for precise control over the direction and spread of light. The ability to selectively activate different light sources enables the user to tailor the lighting to their specific needs, whether it's focused forward illumination, wide peripheral vision, or downward lighting for close-up tasks. This customizable lighting distinguishes it from prior art.

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical landscape at the time

In the early 2020s when ’311 was filed, headlamps typically used a combination of spot and flood beams for forward illumination. At a time when such systems commonly relied on simple switching mechanisms to control light modes, hardware or software constraints made complex control schemes non-trivial.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The examiner approved the claims because the prior art did not teach or suggest a headlamp with: (1) a first light source (LED, lens, reflector) illuminating a first fixed direction, a second light source (LED, lens, reflector) illuminating a second fixed direction, and a control module selectively activating the light sources to create a combined view area wider than either individual view area; (2) a lighting control module selecting a mode based on a switch, a proximity sensor sensing distance, and the control module adjusting light spread based on distance; and (3) a control module selecting a mode based on a switch, a voltage sensor sensing power source voltage, and the control module adjusting power consumption based on voltage.

Claims

This patent contains 20 claims, with independent claims 1, 11, and 16. The independent claims generally focus on a headlamp with multiple light sources and lighting modes, a headlamp with a proximity sensor that adjusts light spread, and a headlamp with a voltage sensor that adjusts power consumption. The dependent claims generally elaborate on the features and configurations described in the independent claims, such as specific light source arrangements, lighting modes, sensor types, and power source configurations.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
Lighting control module
(Claim 1, Claim 11)		“Light sources 35, 40, 45, 50, 52, 55 and switches 80, 85 are in electrical communication with a lighting control module (not shown) within headlamp 5. The lighting control module is configured to receive, interpret, and execute user commands input by way of switches 80, 85. Circuitry and other mechanisms for operating a device using switches are known to those skilled in the art and can be carried out in a number of ways.”A component that selectively activates the light sources according to different lighting modes.
Multifunctional switch
(Claim 11, Claim 16)		“Multifunctional switches 80, 85 are used to power-on/off and operate headlamp 5. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in the figures, switches 80, 85 are push-button switches. Switches for operating electronic devices are known to those skilled in the art and can be embodied in a number of ways other than that as illustrated. As such, other types of switches (other than those shown) could be employed with the present invention without deviating from the scope of the invention.”A switch that allows selection of different lighting or operating modes.
Plurality of light sources
(Claim 1, Claim 11, Claim 16)		“With reference to FIGS. 1-5, headlamp 5 includes housing 10 having multiple lighting compartments 15, 20, 25, 30, each housing one or more light source 35, 40, 45, 50, 52, 55. Light sources 35, 40, 45, 50, 52, 55 are preferably comprised of one or more LEDs. In an embodiment, one or more of the lighting compartments 15, 20, 25, 30 contain, in addition to the LED(s), one or more reflectors to gather and direct light generated by the LED(s) to an area adjacent to, e.g., in front of, beside, behind, and/or below, headlamp 5.”Multiple light sources, each potentially having a light emitting diode, lens, and reflector, to illuminate different view areas.
Proximity sensor
(Claim 11)		“A distance/proximity sensor may be used to detect nearby objects and determine distance to target. Based on the distance to target determined by the sensor, the control module is configured to increase or decrease light intensity. For example, if the light(s) is/are directed to a close-proximity manual being read by the user, the control module would reduce the light intensity and increase spread, based on proximity information from the sensor.”A sensor that measures the distance to a target.
Voltage sensor
(Claim 16)		“A voltage detection sensor may be used to monitor real-time voltage levels of the battery(ies). The control module is configured to compare real-time battery voltage information received from the voltage detection sensor to battery threshold values stored in memory to determine if a current mode of operation needs to be adjusted. In an embodiment, the control module is configured to automatically adjust power consumption of headlamp 5, based on remaining battery life measured by the control module.”A sensor that measures the voltage of a power source.

Litigation Cases New

US Latest litigation cases involving this patent.

Case NumberFiling DateTitle
3:25-cv-01281Jul 18, 2025Infinity X1 LLC v. Coast Cutlery Co. et al
2:25-cv-04549May 20, 2025Infinity X1 Llc V. Coast Cutlery Co.

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US11852311

INFINITY X1 LLC
Application Number
US17804749
Filing Date
May 31, 2022
Status
Granted
Expiry Date
May 8, 2041
External Links
Slate, USPTO, Google Patents