Frequently, homes, offices and industrial plant facilities experience many types of emergency situations involving power failures where an interior or exterior area is rendered without light. Such power failures may result from electrical short circuits, brownouts, fire, accidents, natural disasters (e.g., floods, hurricanes, tornados, etc.) or a planned shutdown of electricity within a facility or dwelling. Automotive commuters also frequently find themselves without power following accidents, vehicle break downs, and the like.
In each of the circumstances above, it would be desirable for person to possess a portable light device that is adapted to provide a source of local illumination and electrical power. However, the preferred type or mode of illumination may change depending upon the specific power outage circumstance. For example, it is generally preferable to have a broadly ranging flood-light type of illumination to reveal a person's path as they attempt to transit a darkened room or corridor. Alternatively, it is generally preferable to have a compact spot-light type of illumination to reveal a person's work area as they attempt to fix a flat-tire along a darkened road side.
In view of the above, a need exists to provide a portable light device that is capable of activation in response to a disruption of power. It would be desirable for the device to be compact and lightweight such that it can be moved simply and quickly from location to location. It is further desirable for the device to be efficiently powered by a battery pack such that it is capable of constant illumination lasting for several days or even weeks. It is further desirable that the portable light device be readily adapted to provide a spot-light mode of illumination, a flood-light mode of illumination, or a combination thereof. Finally, the device should provide real-time battery life information to a user such that the performance of the device may be tailored to extend or shorten expected battery life as needed.