Motion activated utility light

Abstract

A utility light is provided. The utility light comprises a first array of light sources having a first color facing in a first direction, a second array of light sources having a second color facing in a second direction that substantially opposes the first direction, a motion sensor, and an electronic controller to receive a rotation motion input from the motion sensor, wherein the rotation motion input provides an indication of rotation of the utility light about an axis substantially vertical to the surface of the earth, to determine a first state based on the rotation motion input, to operate the first array of light sources in the first state, to determine a second state based on the rotation motion input, and to operate the second array of light sources in the second state.

1 . A utility light, comprising:
 a first array of light sources having a first color facing in a first direction;   a second array of light sources having a second color facing in a second direction that substantially opposes the first direction;   a motion sensor; and   an electronic controller to receive a rotation motion input from the motion sensor, wherein the rotation motion input provides an indication of rotation of the utility light about an axis substantially vertical to the surface of the earth, to determine a first state based on the rotation motion input, to operate the first array of light sources in the first state, to determine a second state based on the rotation motion input, and to operate the second array of light sources in the second state.   
     
     
         2 . The utility light of  claim 1 , further comprising a third array of light sources having a third color facing in the first direction, wherein in a third state the electronic controller alternately operates the first array of light sources and operates the third array of light sources. 
     
     
         3 . The utility light of  claim 1 , further comprising
 one light of the first color facing in the second direction; and   one light of the second color facing in the first direction,   wherein the electronic controller operates the one light of the first color facing in the second direction in the first state and operates the one light of the second color facing in the first direction in the second state.   
     
     
         4 . The utility light of  claim 3 , further comprising one light of a third color facing in the second direction, wherein the electronic controller operates either the one light of the first color or the one light of the third color facing in the second direction in the first state and operates the one light of the second color facing in the first direction in the second state. 
     
     
         5 . The utility light of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller switches on the first array of light sources and switches off the second array of light sources in the first state and switches off the first array of light sources and switches on the second array of light sources in the second state. 
     
     
         6 . The utility light of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller determines a fourth state based on the rotation motion input received from the motion sensor to turn off both the first and second arrays of light sources. 
     
     
         7 . The utility light of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller determines a fourth state based on the rotation motion input received from the motion sensor to turn on a position alerting light source. 
     
     
         8 . The utility light of  claim 1 , further comprising a control switch, wherein the electronic controller controls the utility light based on being in one of a first operation mode, a second operation mode, a third operation mode, and a fourth operation mode and transitions from the first operation mode to the second operation mode in response to an activation of the control switch, transitions from the second operation mode to the third operation mode in response to an activation of the control switch, transitions from the third operation mode to the fourth operation in response to an activation of the control switch, and transitions from the fourth operation mode to the first operation mode in response to an activation of the control switch. 
     
     
         9 . The utility light of  claim 8 , wherein an activation of the control switch for a time duration less than a first predefined time interval causes the controller to transition between modes and an activation of the control switch for a duration greater than the predefined time interval causes the controller to power off the utility light. 
     
     
         10 . The utility light of  claim 8 , further comprising a secondary control switch, wherein the electronic controller controls one or more secondary operation modes within any of the primary first, second, third, and fourth operation modes. 
     
     
         11 . A method of directing traffic, comprising:
 positioning a motion activated utility light to achieve a first state of the motion activated utility light, wherein in the first state the motion activated utility light radiates a green light in a first direction; and   rotating the motion activated utility light through at least a predefined amount of angular displacement about an axis substantially vertical to the surface of the earth to achieve a second state of the motion activated utility light, wherein in the second state the motion activated utility light radiates a red light in the first direction.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the utility light automatically adjusting a brightness of the green light radiated in the first state based on a sensed ambient light intensity and adjusting a brightness of the red light radiated in the second state based on the sensed ambient light intensity. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising strapping the motion activated utility light to the hand. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising slipping the motion activated utility light over the hand. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein in the first state of the motion activated utility light, a green light indicator is radiated in a second direction and in the second state of the motion activated utility light, a red light indicator is radiated in the second direction, wherein the second direction is substantially opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising turning on a spotlight of the motion activated utility light. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising adjusting the brightness of the spotlight. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the brightness of the spotlight is adjusted by actuating a trigger switch of the motion activated utility light. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising selecting an operating mode of the motion activated utility light by actuating a power switch of the motion activated utility light, wherein the power switch is different from a trigger switch of the motion activated utility light. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the motion activated utility light promotes at least four operating modes and wherein actuating the power switch causes the motion activated utility light to transition to a different one of the at least four operating modes.