Illumination device capable of adjusting light brightness and method thereof

An illumination device includes a light sensor, a light-emitting unit, a switch unit and a processing unit. The light sensor is configured for sensing ambient light intensity and providing results based on the sensed light intensity. The switch unit is configured for controlling the electrical connection between the light-emitting unit and a power unit. The processing unit includes a control module and a light adjusting module. The controlling module is configured for turning off the switch unit to cut off the electrical connection between the light-emitting unit and the power unit during the sensing of the light intensity. The light adjusting module is configured for adjusting the brightness of the light-emitting unit according to the results provided by the light sensor. A related method is also provided.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to illumination devices and, particularly, to an illumination device capable of self adjusting the brightness and a method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

Nowadays, illumination devices with light sensors are very popular. The light sensor can sense the ambient light intensity and the device can adjust the brightness of a light-emitting element according to the sensed ambient light intensity. However, the light provided by the light-emitting element may affect the sensed ambient light intensity, resulting that the device may not accurately adjust the brightness of the light-emitting element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, an illumination device1includes a light sensor11, a processing unit12, a light-emitting unit14, and a power unit13. The light sensor11is configured for sensing the ambient light intensity and providing results to the processing unit12based on the sensed ambient light intensity. The light-emitting unit14, such as a light-emitting diode (LED), is configured for providing light. The power unit13is configured for providing power to the illumination device1.

The illumination device1further includes a switch unit15. The switch unit15is configured for controlling the electrical connection between the light-emitting unit14and power unit13. The illumination device1further includes a timer16. The timer16has a default setting or a user-selected setting. The timer16may count-up or count-down.

The processing unit12includes a control module120and a light adjusting module121. The control module120is configured for controlling the operation of the light sensor11and the switch unit15. The control module120turns on the switch unit15for a first predetermined duration to power the illumination device1by employing the timer16to time the first predetermined duration, thus the light-emitting unit14lights within the first predetermined duration. During the first predetermined duration, the control module120controls the light sensor11to stop working, that is, it disables the light sensor11. After the first predetermined duration elapses, the control module120turns off the switch unit15and enables the light sensor11to sense the ambient light intensity for a second predetermined duration by employing the timer16to time the second predetermined duration. Therefore, during the second predetermined duration, the light-emitting unit14is turned off and does not affect the results of the light sensor11. In this embodiment, the control module120alternately turns on/off the switch unit15for the first predetermined duration and then the light sensor11is enabled for the second predetermined duration. In this embodiment, the first predetermined duration is longer than the second predetermined duration.

The first predetermined time duration may be prolonged to avoid unexpected occurrences, the unexpected occurrences can include an obstacle blocking out the ambient light suddenly for a very short time. In order to eliminate the negative effect to humans caused by turning off the light-emitting unit14, the second predetermined duration can be preset to be less than the retention of vision.

The light adjusting module121is configured for adjusting the brightness of the light-emitting unit14according to the results provided by the light sensor11within the second time duration.

The processing unit12further includes a computing module122. The computing module122is configured for computing the average value of the results. The light adjusting module121adjusts the brightness of the light-emitting unit14according to the average value.

Referring toFIG. 2, a flowchart of a method for adjusting light brightness in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is shown.

In step S20, the control module120turns on the switch unit15for a first predetermined duration and disables the light sensor11during the first predetermined duration. In this embodiment, the control module120employs the timer16to time the first predetermined duration.

In step S21, after the first predetermined duration, the control module120turns off the switch unit15and enables the light sensor11to sense the ambient light intensity for a second predetermined duration by employing the timer16to time the second predetermined duration.

During the second predetermined duration, the light-emitting unit14is turned off to avoid affecting the sensed results.

In one embodiment, the first predetermined duration is longer than the second predetermined duration. The first predetermined duration may be prolonged to avoid unexpected occurrences, which can include an obstacle blocking out the ambient light suddenly for a very short time. In order to eliminate the negative effect to humans caused by turning off the light-emitting unit13, the second predetermined duration can be preset to be less than the retention of vision.

In step S22, the light adjusting module123adjusts the brightness of the light-emitting unit13according to the sensed results. Specifically, the computing module122computes the average value of the sensed results, and the light adjusting module121adjusts the brightness of the light-emitting unit13according to the average value. After the second predetermined duration, the procedure returns to step S21.

It is understood that the present disclosure may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present examples and embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the disclosure is not to be limited to the details given herein.