A lamp includes a lamp base, a lamp cover fixedly connected to the lamp base, and a light source module electrically connected to the lamp base and housed in a space enclosed by the cover and the lamp base. The light source module includes a second plate electrically connected to the lamp base, a first plate connected to the second plate, a dot matrix light source disposed on a first surface of the first plate, and an optical cover covered on the first surface of the first plate. As the dot matrix light source is capable of displaying different preset patterns, the lamp of the invention can provide bright illumination while displaying a dynamic preset pattern according to the practical needs so that images of real objects to be simulated can be vividly presented, creating the certain specific atmosphere.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the technical field of illumination, and in particular to a lamp.

2. Description of Related Art

A lamp, the source of illumination that emits heat and glows through electricity, was invented by Henrys Goebbels (Edison actually found the suitable material, i.e. a practical incandescent lamp, whereas the lamp appears earlier in 1854). The traditional lamps only have lighting function. Although they can provide illumination for the life of people, some specific display effects may not be displayed, either to create certain specific atmosphere; if the candle used at the birthday celebration can be replaced, it will not only create a celebration atmosphere, but also solve many problems such as the large pollution of traditional flame candles and potential safety hazards; if the torch handle can be replaced in the team building, it will not only contribute to the atmosphere creation, but also avoid conflagration caused by traditional torch; therefore, it is desirable to develop a lamp for illumination and preset pattern display to create a special display effect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described in detail through several embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring toFIGS. 1-3andFIGS. 5-6, a lamp in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention includes: a lamp base10, a lamp cover20connected to the lamp cap1to define a receiving space for containing a light source module30. In the embodiment, the lamp cover11is in a shuttle type with a three-dimensional structure and is transparent. In practice, the lamp cover20may be manufactured in two parts, forming a two-stage type. The lamp base10has a screw cap which is capable of being screwed with a matched socket so that can be electrically connected to an external power source through a matched socket (InFIG. 3C, the screw cap is replaced by a cylinder).

The light source module30includes a second plate31connected to the lamp base10, a first plate32connected to the second plate31, a control circuit33fixed on the second plate31and electrically connected to lamp base10, and plural of LED sources or OLED light sources34to form a first dot matrix light source341and a second dot matrix light source342for illuminating and displaying preset patterns. The first LED dot matrix light source341is electrically connected to the control circuit33and fixed on a first surface321of the first plate32. The second LED dot matrix light source342is electrically connected to the control circuit33and fixed on a second surface322of the first plate32.

The first plate32is substantially a flat panel and is formed in a flame shape viewed in a direction perpendicular to the surfaces (the first and the second surfaces321,322) of the first plate32. The flame shape means that when the first plate32is viewed in a direction perpendicular to the surfaces of the first plate32, its shaped made its looked like a candle flame. In detail, a width of the first plate32gradually increases from a flame-shaped root portion323of the first plate32, and reaches the maximum in the middle part of the first plate32, and then begins to gradually shrink, so that the end (top portion) of the first plate has a slender tip. The second plate31extends integrally from a flame-shaped root portion323of the first plate32and is a rectangular plate. In the embodiment, the first and the first plate31,32are both printed circuit board, may be chosen from: a glass fiber circuit board, an aluminum-based circuit board, and a copper-based circuit board. In other embodiments, the first or the first plate may be a metal plastic bracket.

A first optical cover35is covered on the first surface321of the first plate32to received the first LED dot matrix light source341in a space defined by the first optical cover35and the first surface321. A second first optical cover36is covered on the second surface322of the first plate32to received the second LED dot matrix light source342in a space defined by the second optical cover36and the second surface322.

In the embodiment, both of the first optical cover35and the second optical cover36are made from epoxy resin containing scattering powder and are transparent or semitransparent. The first optical cover35and the second optical cover36may have a graded thickness with an thin edge and thickened intermediate, and both are dyed red mixed with orange for simulating flame color of a candle. In particularly, a periphery of the first and the second optical covers35,36are fixedly connected to a periphery of the two surfaces321,322of the first plate32respectively, and a middle of each of the first and the second optical covers35,36is convex with respect to the surface of the first plate32, and the middle of each of the first and the second optical covers35,36is in smooth transition to the periphery of the first and the second optical covers35,36.

The first first optical cover35and the second optical cover36are both spaced from the lamp cover20by a certain distance. In particular, the optical covers disposed on the front and back sides of the first plate are combined into a flame-shaped cover with a three-dimensional structure.

In the first embodiment, the second plate31in a rectangular shape with a flat structure and the first plate32having a flame shape with a flat structure are integrally formed as a one-piece printed circuit board. The lamp base10has a screw cap. The preset patterns that the dot matrix light source may display include, but not limited to a candle flame, a flower, a fireworks, et al. A dynamic flame effect may be realized by the control of the control circuit.

In a variation embodiment as shown inFIG. 4A, the second plate31′ and the first plate32′ may be independent parts with each other. Under this situation, the flame-shaped root portion of the first plate32′ may be connected to the lamp base directly and the second plate31′ may be received in the lamp base and electrically connected to the lamp base and the first plate32′ respectively, as shown inFIG. 4B. In other embodiments, the second plate may be omitted. In other embodiment, a part of the second plate may be attached on the first plate, or a terminal of the second plate may be connected to a flame-shaped root portion of the first plate.

Referring toFIG. 7, a lamp in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The differences between the lamp in the second embodiment and the lamp in the first embodiment are the shape of the lamp cover211and the type of the lamp base. In the second embodiment, the lamp base201has a bayonet used for electrically connected to a matched socket so as to be electrically connected to the external power supply. The lamp cover211is in a flame shape with a three-dimensional structure, which more intuitively shows the image of a real candle flame and can exhibit a more realistic candle flame effect.

Referring toFIG. 8, a lamp in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The differences between the lamp in the third embodiment and the lamp in the first embodiment is the shape of the lamp base. In the third embodiment, the lamp base301has a cylindrical shape to imitate a candle body. The control circuit on the second plate may be electrically connected to a power adapter fixed in the lamp base301, and the power adapter is capable of electrically connected to an external power supply. The shuttle-shaped lamp cover311protects the candle flame displayed on the first plate3207therein.

Understandably, in a variation example of the third embodiment, the lamp base301may defined a battery box therein. The first and the second LED dot matrix light sources are electrically connected to the control circuit, and the control circuit on the second plate is electrically connected to the battery box in the lamp base301. That is, the lamp may not be powered by external power supplies, but by batteries fixed in the lamp base.

Referring toFIG. 9, a lamp in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The differences between the lamp in the fourth embodiment and the lamp in the first embodiment is the shape of the lamp base. In the fourth embodiment, the lamp has a torch shape having a long handle4011and a column4012with a lager diameter than the long handle4011. The cover411protects the flame displayed on the first plate407therein. Similarly to the third embodiment and its variation example, the lamp in the fourth embodiment may be powered by an external power supply or internal batteries.

Referring toFIG. 10, a lamp in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The differences between the lamp in the fifth embodiment and the lamp in the first embodiment is the shape of the lamp base and the number of the lamp. In the fifth embodiment, the lamp base501has a column shape, and there are plural of lamps electrically connected in series into a light string. The lamp bases501are connected to each other, and the cover511protects the patterns displayed on the first plate507therein.

Referring toFIG. 11, a lamp in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The differences between the lamp in the sixth embodiment and the lamp in the first embodiment is the shape of the lamp base601and the number of the light source modules607fixed on the lamp base601. The lamp base601has a column shape, the enclosed space between the lamp base601and the cover611are provided with plural light source modules607similar to the light source module inFIGS. 5-6. Each light source modules607is used for displaying a preset pattern.

Referring toFIG. 12andFIG. 13, a lamp in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The differences between the lamp in the seventh embodiment and the lamp in the first embodiment is the shape of the lamp base701and a power supply to the light source module707. The lamp base701has a column shape and defines a receiving space for receiving a solar photovoltaic panel709electrically connected to the light source module707. The lamp cover711is transparent and the solar photovoltaic panel709can absorb natural light through the lamp cover711. The lamp base701may also has a battery box, so that batteries act as an auxiliary power supply.

From the first embodiment to the seventh embodiment, the dot matrix light sources are driven by the control circuit to display one or more preset patterns those can be dynamic if actually needed, so that images of a real object to be simulated can be vividly presented, creating the certain specific atmosphere. If the candle used at the birthday celebration can be replaced, it will not only create a celebration atmosphere, but also solve many problems such as the large pollution of traditional flame candles and potential safety hazards; if the torch handle can be replaced in the team building, it will not only contribute to the atmosphere creation, but also avoid conflagration caused by traditional torch. A variety of realistic atmospheres can be created without pollution and safety hazards. For the purpose of further enhancing the realistic effect of the simulated object, the two sides of the first plate are provided with LED dot matrix whose surface is covered by an optical cover with a double-sided dot matrix structure, so that the display effect of the object to be simulated can be viewed by 360° without dead angles, and the addition of the optical cover makes the preset pattern more transparent, real and natural.

In above embodiments, the first plate is substantially flat plate. It is understandably, the first plate may be a curved plate to simulate a flickering mode of a candle flame.

In other embodiment, there may be only one dot matrix light source fixed on one of the two surfaces of the first plate.

In other embodiments, other types of lamp beads may be used instead of the LEDs to form a dot matrix light source, as long as a preset pattern can be displayed.

In other embodiments, the shape of the first plate may be circular, polygonal, or the like, and the overall pattern formed by the dot matrix light source may be a flame shape, or may be rectangular, polygonal, or the like.

In other embodiments, the lamp base can be other types of cap that may be applied to a lamp.

In other embodiments, a dot matrix light source is disposed on one of the two surfaces of the first plate, and no light source is disposed on the other surface.

In other embodiments, the lamp cover may be omitted.

In other embodiments, the color of the optical cover may be different depending on the pattern to be displayed by the dot matrix light source.

In other embodiments, the periphery of the optical cover is fixedly connected to the periphery of the first plate, and the middle of the optical cover is convex with respect to the surface of the first plate; the middle of the optical cover is in smooth transition to the periphery of the optical cover, and the periphery of the optical cover is approximately parallel to the surface of the first plate.

In the above embodiment, the optical cover is separately formed (that is, independently formed with respect to other components). In other embodiments, a transparent or scattering-containing resin may be printed on the first plate and the dot matrix light source to form the optical cover, that is there is no space between the optical cover and the first plate or the dot matrix light source.

In other embodiments, the second plate and the first plate are separate, and the first plate is connected to the flame-shaped root of the second plate, and the two plates may be partially stacked or vertically fixedly connected.

In other embodiments, the control circuit may also be divided into two parts, respectively disposed on the front and back sides of the second plate.

In other embodiments, the power supply mode is AC, DC, battery or solar energy.

While the invention has been described in terms of several exemplary embodiments, those skilled on the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. In addition, it is noted that, the Applicant's intent is to encompass equivalents of all claim elements, even if amended later during prosecution.