Lamp with proximity sensing

Abstract

A lamp having a head with a light source and at least one support arm supporting the head at a joint. The joint allows relative motion between the at least one support arm and the head. The joint includes a sliding electrical contact and a torque insert. The at least one support arm is electrically conductive, and a ground wire is grounded to the support arm, the support arm being in electrical contact with the torque insert.

1 . A lamp, comprising:
 a head having a primary light source, the head connected to a support, the support comprising:
 a first support portion at least partially comprising an electrically conductive material; 
 a second support portion at least partially comprising an electrically conductive material; 
 a first joint comprising a torque insert formed with a conductive exterior housing, the first joint connecting the first support portion to the second support portion to allow relative movement between the first support portion and the second support portion; 
   wherein the first joint provides two current conducting paths from the first support portion to the second support portion,   wherein a first current conducting path comprises electrically charging the first support portion, and contact conduction from the electrically conductive material of the first support portion to the electrically conductive material of the second support portion through the exterior housing of the torque insert, and   wherein a second current conducting path comprises a sliding electrical contact electrically isolated from the conductive material of the first support portion, the conductive material of the second support portion, and the torque insert.   
     
     
         2 . The lamp of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first support portion and the second support portion is an elongated arm that does not have a constant cross section along a length thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The lamp of  claim 2 , wherein the elongated arm comprises at least one channel along an outside thereof for receiving a wire. 
     
     
         4 . The lamp of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one cover sheet attached to the arm for hiding the wire. 
     
     
         5 . The lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the head comprises electronics including a proximity sensor operable to detect an approaching user, the proximity sensor comprising a heat sinking housing of the head. 
     
     
         6 . The lamp of  claim 5 , wherein the primary light source is configured to provide illumination in a first direction relative to the housing, and the head further comprises at least one indicator light source, wherein the indicator light source is at least partially controlled by the proximity sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The lamp of  claim 6 , further comprising a capacitance sensor in addition to the proximity sensor, wherein the capacitance sensor is operable to at least partially control the at least one primary light source. 
     
     
         8 . The lamp of  claim 7 , wherein the capacitance sensor includes a track pad positioned in the head adjacent to the at least one indicator light source. 
     
     
         9 . The lamp of  claim 7 , further comprising a motion sensor configured to extinguish the primary light source when no motion is present for a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         10 . The lamp of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring counterbalance system. 
     
     
         11 . The lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the first joint comprises a torque insert. 
     
     
         12 . The lamp of  claim 11 , wherein the first joint further comprises a spacer having a body formed from an electrically conductive material,
 wherein an exterior housing of the torque insert at least partially comprises an electrically conductive material,   wherein the first current conducting path extends at least from the conductive material of the first support portion, into the exterior housing of the torque insert, then through the conductive material of the spacer, then into the conductive material of the second support portion.   
     
     
         13 . The lamp of  claim 12 , wherein the spacer further comprises an insulating portion and a lead, the lead being adjacent to the insulating portion to be electrically isolated from the body, where the lead forms half of the sliding electrical contact. 
     
     
         14 . The lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding electrical contact comprising a wave washer rotatable with respect to and in pressing contact with an annular contact. 
     
     
         15 . The lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the support further comprises:
 a third support portion at least partially comprising an electrically conductive material; and   a second joint connecting the second support portion to the third support portion to allow relative movement between the second support portion and the third support portion;   wherein the second joint also provides two current conducting paths from the second support portion to the third support portion,   wherein the first current conducting path comprises electrically charging the second support portion, and contact conduction from the electrically conductive material of the second support portion to the electrically conductive material of the third support portion, and   wherein the second current conducting path comprises a second sliding electrical contact electrically isolated from the conductive material of the second support portion and the conductive material of the third support portion.   
     
     
         16 . A lamp, comprising:
 a head having a light source; and   at least one support arm supporting the head at a joint, the joint configured to allow relative motion between the at least one support arm and the head,   wherein the joint comprises a sliding electrical contact and a torque insert, and   wherein the at least one support arm is electrically conductive, and a ground wire is grounded to the support arm, the support arm being in electrical contact with the torque insert.   
     
     
         17 . The lamp of  claim 16 , wherein the sliding electrical contact comprises a wave washer contacting with an annular contact as the wave washer rotates relative to the annular contact. 
     
     
         18 . The lamp of  claim 17 , wherein the head comprises a housing made at least partially from an electrically and thermally conductive material;
 the light source is positioned within the housing such that the housing dissipates heat generated by the light source, the light source configured to emit light in a first direction relative to the housing;   wherein the head further comprises at least one indicator light source positioned relative to the housing to emit light in a second direction relative to the housing, the second direction being substantially opposite the first direction; and   a first sensor electrically connected to the housing, wherein the first sensor is a proximity sensor that triggers illumination of the at least one indicator light source when a user's hand approaches the housing.   
     
     
         19 . A lamp, comprising:
 a head having a primary light source, the head connected to a support, the support comprising:
 a first support portion at least partially comprising an electrically conductive material; 
 a second support portion at least partially comprising an electrically conductive material; 
 a third support portion at least partially comprising an electrically conductive material; 
 a first joint comprising a first torque insert formed with a conductive exterior housing, the first joint connecting the first support portion to the second support portion to allow relative movement between the first support portion and the second support portion; and 
 a second joint comprising a second torque insert formed with a conductive exterior housing, the second joint connecting the second support portion to the third support portion to allow relative movement between the second support portion and the third support portion; 
   wherein the first and second joints provide two current conducting paths from the first support portion to the third support portion,   wherein a first current conducting path comprises electrically charging the first support portion, and contact conduction from the electrically conductive material of the first support portion to the electrically conductive material of the second support portion through the exterior housing of the first torque insert and contact conduction from the electrically conductive material of the second support portion to the electrically conductive material of the third support portion through the exterior housing of the second torque insert,   wherein a second current conducting path comprises a first sliding electrical contact electrically isolated from the conductive material of the first support portion, the conductive material of the second support portion, and the first torque insert, and a second sliding electrical contract electrically isolated from the conductive material of the second support portion, the conductive material of the third support portion, and the second torque insert,   wherein the first joint further comprises a spacer having a body formed from the electrically conductive material, an insulating portion, and a lead, wherein the lead is adjacent to the insulating portion to be electrically isolated from the body, where the lead forms half of the first sliding electrical contact.