Bringing A Little Light To The World™ – Update 1

simonvoodoolight

You may recall I started work on my FlashLight about 6 years ago. You can read about it at Voodoo Flashlight and also at Bringing A Little Light To The World™. You can also read about the Fast Pitch I did at Emergency FlashLight™.

So how are things progressing? Well Hurricane Florence has convinced me more than ever of the need. About two months ago I completed an analog version of the circuit suitable for mounting in a custom case. I’m working with some engineers at Rockford MakerSpace to get a prototype case designed. The case will be small so you can hold it in your hand.

I have also designed a digital version which will be roughly 20% more efficient in both flashing and on modes. I have the board design done and I’m held back by not enough money to buy parts. I don’t need much (right now). $45 in parts will allow me to build 4 prototypes. They should fit in the same case as the analog version, although that is not strictly necessary as the plan is to 3D print the first few cases. Adjustments can be made. If you want to donate ($1 and up) my Paypal is here:





Any extra money donated will go towards paying the material costs for the 3D printing. And keeping me above water wouldn’t hurt either.

The digital version is a prototype (discrete chips) of a version I’d like to reduce to a custom chip for mass production. I can reduce the case size some with a custom chip.

So how about some general specifications? The digital version of the light will shine for at least 100 hours on two fresh AA cells (accurate life tests need to be done). It will flash for 10 years with those two cells. It will start up with near dead batteries (1 volt each) and still provide a few hours of life. It will run the batteries down to .825 volts each or less. Once it starts up it will maintain internal voltages until the batteries are totally dead. It may work a little different on low batteries than the analog version described elsewhere. I need to make some boards and do some tests. So why “flashing” and “on” modes? You will be able to find it in the dark if you lose power.

I keep imagining a stadium full of people with their lights flashing. The video should be spectacular.

Besides the design part which is daunting in itself I will need to set up a sales organization. I do have some plans. And as you will note (here and at the links) I have already developed some marketing memes and branding schemes.

My plans are to keep this totally made in America. The costs may be a little higher but the quality will be well controlled. I want your light to work when you need it.

Happiness can be found in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on a light.™

Oh. Yes. If you have some design ideas, I can produce your design even if you only have a general outline of what you want. (We will do a design plan with specifications) I do analog and digital hardware. And software. I also have a software guy who can help with more extensive software demands. My rates are good because I’m nominally retired. I can also help with feasibility studies. I can hand build prototypes so you can avoid large NREs until the design is proved for production.

Lets talk about it.

Update: 21 September 2018 1621z

I have been working over the circuit and have come up with a slight modification (moving the circuit position of two resistors and one capacitor and changing their values) that will allow the circuit to start up with a total battery voltage of .8 volts (two batteries that are .4 volts each) by pressing the on button.The circuit will start up automatically for batteries of a little over 1 volt each.

As is true for my previous circuit the light will stay on (or flash) until the batteries are drained to about .2 volts each.

Electronic tests will have to be done to verify all that. The new board layout is already done so I will need another $15 to get 6 produced. That way I can test both designs. And produce 4 more for pre-production and user tests.


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2 responses to “Bringing A Little Light To The World™ – Update 1”

  1. […] He said, “Space-Time makes miracles.” I hope so. […]

  2. Simon Avatar

    Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence.

    Three times means the project gets funded.