Micro-LED glow purse for elusive keys, pens, diaphragms

Jerril

#1 – 8:39 AM August 15, 2008

Egad. I want this for my BACKPACK, never mind purses.

zuzu

#2 – 9:07 AM August 15, 2008

Yeah... that's it Jerril... it's not a doll, it's an action figure... not a diary, but a journal... not a purse, but a backpack. :p

bardfinn

#3 – 9:08 AM August 15, 2008

Just make the light sensor triggering the microLEDs sensitive to the IR range human skin radiates, and the MicroLEDs not emit that range, and you're set. Aside from the size of the components, I've got that same circuit sitting on a nightlight in my kid's room and built one when I was twelve.

CRAFT + MAKE = WIN.

jayell

#4 – 9:20 AM August 15, 2008

Somebody didn't do much homework.

The Purse Brite (As Seen On TV) has been widely available for a while now.
http://www.purse-brite.com/

And if you want a DIY version, without the pocket organizing system, check out:
http://www.iheartswitch.com/projects/purse_light_panel_1/

Never send a dude to write a lady's blog post.

Waterlilygirl

#5 – 9:39 AM August 15, 2008

#4, you rock because I was going to say the same thing! Boys, do your girly homework before sighing that it's just a concept. We girls have had these things around for a while.

robofunk

#6 – 9:42 AM August 15, 2008

Reminds me of the glowing briefcase from Pulp Fiction.

Mike Estee

#7 – 9:45 AM August 15, 2008

If you run a bunch of LEDs behind a white liner it creates a nice diffused backlight and illuminates the interior quite nicely. It's easy to make a bag liner to retrofit to an existing bag, or to make your own.

in addition to iheartswitch, check out Leah Buechley's wearable tech pages. She done a great deal of research in the area of 5v couture, including some stuff you can order for your own projects from sparkfun

(i've also got my own illuminated messenger bag projects)

dculberson

#8 – 10:44 AM August 15, 2008

@#6, Is that what I think it is??

Rodney

#9 – 11:38 AM August 15, 2008

I'm waiting for a real LED umbrella. Not one of those stupid Blade Runner ones that will guarantee that you're blinded while being mugged. No. I want one with bright LEDs in the tips of the spines that point down so I'm walking in a pool of light, but not blind.

Rob Cockerham

#10 – 2:01 PM August 15, 2008

I saw LED garden umbrellas at Lowe's hardware two weeks ago. Built for the patio I guess. No less than 26 LED bulbs in them, although I'd be skeptical of their actual lumen output.

Mister Staal

#11 – 4:17 PM August 15, 2008

I keep a small clip-on LED light ($1.69CDN) inside my backpack and satchel, two on my toolbelt, and one clipped to my belt. A plethora of LED lights sure does make casting Magic Missile against the darkness a thing of the past.

Anonymous Anonymous

#12 – 5:59 AM August 18, 2008

I wonder if I can call prior art on this...in elementary school for the science fair or inventor contest or whatever it was we had, my submission consisted of a pocket flashlight affixed to the inside of a purse. Sure it's no micro-LEDs(they didn't exist at my budget range of free in 1989) but it can definitely be called the "prototype". On a side note I recall being laughed out of the running because it was such an "impractical" idea. Guess I was just 20 years ahead of everyone else. :)

Anonymous Anonymous

#13 – 7:03 AM June 3, 2009

You can make your own light up purse here:
http://www.iheartswitch.com/blog/project-make-light-purse