Ever view your body as a power generator? This tiny flashlight does. The flashlight called Lumen has raised more than US $100,000 on Kickstarter with the figure growing. Designed by, Ross Zhuravskiy, an engineer with a big vision, the flashlight does not use any batteries and can function for a very long time if properly used. According to the founder, it’s an “eternal” flashlight that functions forever.

This flashlight needs no battery and glows when sensing temperature difference. (All Photo Courtesy of Lumen)

A thermoelectric Generator is installed to the flahlight to generate electric current.

Lumen uses TEG (Thermoelectric Generator), a small ceramic bar that produces electric current when sensing temperature difference though touch of the ceramic bar. The temperature difference is formed by the upper and lower parts of TEG, creating electric current to light up the light bulb of the flashlight. According to the designer, the temperature difference between human body (98°F) and the environment (82°F) is enough to generate power for a single LED bulb. The temperature difference enables Lumen to produce approximately 15 mA@3v and the power is stored if there is excessive energy. Lumen is installed with a 5 mm Cree LED with 3,000 mCd light output.

A look of the flashlight illuminated by temperature difference.

Another interesting feature of Lumen is that it lets you locate the tiny flashlight even in a completely dark room. Backers can choose from average Lumen and Lumen fitted with a glass tube of tritium gas. The tube of tritium can emit light for more than ten years.

In case you can't locate your Lumen, select the flashlight with tritium gas.

But one cannot help but wonder what happens if Lumen fell from height that could broke the glass, and leak a potentially radioactive gas. Better use this flashlight with caution.

Lumen is available in Aluminum and Titanium cases.

Lumen is available in two different cases, one is Aluminum and the other Titanium. Also, backers can choose whether they want to add tritium light to the flashlight or not.

The campaign set out to raise US $5,000 and has secured US $116,551 so far. According to the Kickstarter page, the US $30 early birds packages were fully backed and is expected to be shipped worldwide in February 2016.

(Author: Emma Chang, Editor, LEDinside)