Abstract:
The present invention discloses a lamp structure for illuminating and displaying. The lamp structure includes a lamp support, an elevator module, a lighting-displaying module and a control module. The elevator module is combined with a rod of the lamp support. The lighting-displaying module is combined with the elevator module to elevate or lower with the movement of the elevator module and the control module is used to control the elevator module. The lighting-displaying module elevating with the elevator module to a first location is switched to an illumination mode for illuminating, while the lighting-displaying module lowering with the elevator module to a second location is switched to a display mode for displaying. The elevator module is controlled by the control module to elevate or lower so that the lighting-displaying module is at an appropriate location for illuminating or displaying to extend the application field of the lamp structure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to lamps, and more particularly, to a lamp structure, acting as a streetlamp, for illuminating and displaying. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  depicts a conventional streetlamp structure. As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the streetlamp structure comprises a lamp support  10 , a lamp housing  11 , and a lighting module  13 . The lamp support  10  is one typically used for streetlamps and the lamp housing  11  is connected with one end of the lamp support  10 . The lighting module  13  is an illuminant, such as an LED array, and is disposed in the lamp housing  11  to emit light downward, thereby providing illumination in the dusk and at night. 
         [0005]    However, since the lighting module  13  is fixedly assembled in the streetlamp structure, it functions for nothing but illumination. Besides, since the streetlamp structure only operates in the dusk and at night, the lighting module  13  is left idle in the daytime or when sunlight is sufficient. 
         [0006]    On the other hand, display boards using LED arrays for advertisement or traffic instruction are commonly provided beside the roads and serve only to present information. Both the aforementioned display boards and streetlamps only function for a respective purpose but fail to be applied in a versatile manner. However, since the lighting module  13  of a streetlamp and a display board are both constructed from light-emitting diodes, the combination of the both makes a versatile and thus extends the application of field of the lamp structure. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    One objective of the present invention is to provide a lamp structure for illuminating and displaying, wherein the lamp structure implements an elevator module to displace and position a lighting-displaying module so that the lighting-displaying module serves alternatively for illuminating and displaying. 
         [0008]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide a lamp structure for illuminating and displaying, wherein the lamp structure uses a control module to move an elevator module so that the elevator module is able to elevate or lower with time or ambient illumination conditions to move the lighting-displaying module and further allow the same to function for illuminating or displaying. 
         [0009]    To achieve these and other objectives of the present invention, the lamp structure comprises: a lamp support having a rod; an elevator module combined with the lamp support; a lighting-displaying module combined with the elevator module to elevate or lower with movements of the elevator module, wherein the lighting-displaying module elevating with the elevator module to a first location of the lamp support is for illuminating, while the lighting-displaying module lowering with the elevator module to a second location of the lamp support is for displaying; and a control module electrically connected with the elevator module for controlling the elevator module to elevate or lower and switching the lighting-displaying module between an illumination mode for illuminating and a display mode for displaying. 
         [0010]    By implementing the present invention, at least the following progressive functions can be achieved: 
         [0011]    1. The lamp structure uses the elevator module to displace and position the lighting-displaying module so that the lighting-displaying module is able to serve alternatively for illuminating and displaying; and 
         [0012]    2. The lamp structure uses the lighting-displaying module to provide illumination or display as needed so that the lighting-displaying module is efficiently and versatilely utilized. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when acquire in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional streetlamp structure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing of a lamp structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of a lamp structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of a lamp structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a circuit according to a first concept of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing operation of the circuit of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of a circuit according to a second concept of the present invention; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart showing operation of the circuit of  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a lamp structure for illuminating and displaying according to the present invention includes a lamp support  20 , an elevator module  30 , a lighting-displaying module  40 , and a control module  50 . 
         [0023]    As shown in the drawing, the lamp support  20  has a rod  21 , which may be a hollow rod including therein a chamber  241  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) for receiving the elevator module  30  and the control module  50 . The rod  21  has a first end  211  and a second end  212 . Therein, the first end  211  refers to the upper end of the rod  21  while the second end  212  refers to the lower end of the rod  21 . 
         [0024]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the rod  21  may further include a bent portion  213  extending from the first end  211  of the rod  21 , so that the rod  21  has an overhanging arm. Meantime, referring to  FIGS. 2 through 4 , the lamp support  20  may further comprise a base  22  that is connected with the second end  212  of the rod  21  so that the lamp support  20  can be placed on the ground stably on the strength of the base  22 . The base  22  may include therein an accommodating space  221  that is intercommunicated with the chamber  214  of the rod  21  so that the accommodating space  221  can also serve to accommodate the control module  50  and the elevator module  30 . 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the elevator module  30  is disposed in the lamp support  20 . The elevator module  30  may be a pneumatic elevator module  31 , a hydraulic elevator module  32 , or a motor transmission device  33 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the pneumatic elevator module  31  or the hydraulic elevator module  32  can be settled in the lamp support  20 . More particularly, the pneumatic elevator module  31  or the hydraulic elevator module  32  is received in the chamber  214  of the rod  21  and the accommodating space  221  of the base  22 , while an extending shaft  311  of the pneumatic elevator module  31  or the hydraulic elevator module  32  has one end abutting against a bottom of the base  22  so as to provide a hold to the extending shaft  311 . Besides, the pneumatic elevator module  31  or the hydraulic elevator module  32  may have a connecting portion  34 . The connecting portion  34  is attached to the extending shaft  311  and exposed outside the rod  21  to be connected with the lighting-displaying module  40  so that the lighting-displaying module  40  elevates or lowers with movements of the elevator module  30 . 
         [0027]    According to  FIG. 4 , the elevator module  30  may be alternatively a motor transmission device  33 , which includes a motor  331 , a transmission assembly  332 , and the connecting portion  34 . 
         [0028]    The motor  331  is installed in the lamp support  20 , and more particularly, in the chamber  214  of the rod  21  (not shown), or in the accommodating space  221  of the base  22  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0029]    The transmission assembly  332  has a wheel set  333  and a belt  334 . The wheel set  333  may include a plurality of gear wheels settled in the lamp support  20  to be driven to rotate by the motor  331 . In the embodiment where the lamp support  20  has only the rod  21  without the overhanging arm, the gear wheels of the wheel set  333  are disposed at the first end  211  and the second end  212  of the rod  21 . To state differently, the gear wheels of the wheel set  333  are disposed at two ends of the rod  21 , respectively (not shown). In the embodiment where the lamp support  20  has the bent portion  213  and the overhanging arm, the gear wheels of the wheel set  333  have to be disposed at the bent portion  213  in addition to the first end  211  and the second end  212  of the rod  21 . That is, in addition to the upper end and the lower end of the rod  21 , the bent portion  213  of the lamp support  20  has to be equipped with the gear wheel of the wheel set  333 . 
         [0030]    The belt  334  may be a drive belt or a chain to be mounted around the wheel set  333  so that the belt  334  moves along with the wheel set  333 . In other words, the motor  331  rotates the wheel set  333  to drive the belt  334  so that the gear wheels act as turning points of the movements of the belt  334 . 
         [0031]    The connecting portion  34  is provided on the belt  334  and exposed outside the rod  21  to be connected with the lighting-displaying module  40  so that the lighting-displaying module  40  elevates or lowers with movements of the belt  334  of the elevator module  30 . 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the lighting-displaying module  40  may be an LED lighting-displaying module that has a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged as an LED array. Thereby, the lighting-displaying module  40  serves to not only provide competent brightness of illumination, but also display information on the strength of the display variety of the LED array. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the lighting-displaying module  40  is connected with the elevator module  30  so as to elevate or lower with movements of the elevator module  30 . Moreover, the lighting-displaying module  40  elevating to a first location  23  along the lamp support  20  is switched to give illumination while the lighting-displaying module  40  lowering to a second location  24  along the lamp support  20  is switched to display information. The first location  23  of the lamp support  20  is near the first end  211  of the rod  21 , or at the bent portion  213  of the rod  21 , or at the upper end of the rod  21 , so that the lighting-displaying module  40  is hung overhead the rod  21  by the overhanging arm extending from the bent portion  213 , and provides illumination with the illuminating angle conforming to the applicable regulations. On the other hand, the second location  24  of the lamp support  20  is generally at the middle portion of the rod  21  and equal to the height of normal road users&#39; sighting line, so that the information displayed by the lighting-displaying module  40  is conspicuous to road users. 
         [0034]    According to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the control module  50  is electrically connected with the elevator module  30  so as to control the elevator module  30  to move. Moreover, when the lighting-displaying module  40  is at the first location  23 , the control module  50  switches the lighting-displaying module  40  to an illumination mode for illuminating. When the lighting-displaying module  40  is at the second location  24 , the control module  50  switches the lighting-displaying module  40  to a display mode for displaying. Besides, the control module  50  may have a display control unit (not shown) for controlling contents to be displayed by the lighting-displaying module  40  in a display mode. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the control module  50  may have a timer  51 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the control module  50  having the timer  51  is able to perform the following steps: acquiring a time signal S 10 ; generating a control signal S 20 ; elevating or lowering the elevator module according to the control signal S 30 ; and switching the lighting-displaying module into the illumination mode or the display mode S 40 . 
         [0036]    In the step of acquiring the time signal S 10 , referring to  FIG. 5 , the timer  51  of the control module  50  is preprogrammed with at least one time signal T so that the control unit  50  acquires the time signal T from the timer  51  and controls the elevator module  30  to move according to the time signal T. For instance, the time signal T may be set differently according to different sunlit durations in different seasons so that the control unit  50  can switch the lighting-displaying module  40  for illuminating after sunset. Or, the control unit  50  can switch the lighting-displaying module  40  for displaying when sunlight is sufficient. 
         [0037]    In the step of generating the control signal S 20 , the control unit  50  generates the control signal Ctrl according to the time signal T, as shown in  FIG. 5 . That is, the control unit  50  generates the control signal Ctrl depending on its receipt or the contents of the time signal T. 
         [0038]    In the step of elevating or lowering the elevator module according to the control signal S 30 , the control unit  50  elevates the elevator module  30  to the first location  23  or lowers the elevator module  30  to the second location  24  according to the control signal Ctrl, so that the elevator module  30  positions the lighting-displaying module  40  at an appropriate location for illuminating or displaying. 
         [0039]    In the step of switching the lighting-displaying module into the illumination mode or the display mode S 40 , since the lighting-displaying module  40  needs to be switched between the modes for illuminating or displaying, when the lighting-displaying module  40  is at the first location  23 , the control module  50  switches the lighting-displaying module  40  into the illumination mode for illuminating, and when the lighting-displaying module  40  is at the second location  24 , the control module  50  switches the lighting-displaying module  40  into the display mode for displaying. 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the control module  50  may have a light sensor  52 . The light sensor  52  may also be settled on the lamp support  20 , as shown in  FIG. 2  for detecting the intensity of ambient sunlight. The light sensor  52  generates a light-sensing signal PS for the control module  50  to refer and elevate or lower the elevator module  30  accordingly. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the control module  50  having the light sensor  52  is able to perform the following steps: acquiring a light-sensing signal S 50 ; generating a control signal S 60 ; elevating or lowering the elevator module according to the control signal S 70 ; and switching the lighting-displaying module into the illumination mode or the display mode S 80 . 
         [0042]    In the step of acquiring the light-sensing signal S 50 , referring to  FIG. 7 , the light sensor  52  of the control module  50  serves to generate the light-sensing signal PS by detecting the intensity of ambient sunlight. For example, when sunlight is sufficient, the light-sensing signal PS has a high value and when sunlight is insufficient, the light-sensing signal PS has a low value. 
         [0043]    In the step of generating the control signal S 60 , the control module  50  generates the control signal Ctrl according to the light-sensing signal PS. For example, when the light-sensing signal PS is higher than a preset threshold, it is indicated that sunlight is sufficient and no additional illumination is needed. Thus, the control signal Ctrl generated by the control module  50  makes the elevator module  30  lower to the second location  24 . On the contrary, when the light-sensing signal PS is lower than the preset threshold, it is indicated that sunlight is insufficient and additional illumination is needed. Thus, the control signal Ctrl generated by the control module  50  makes the elevator module  30  elevate to the first location  23 . 
         [0044]    In the step of elevating or lowering the elevator module according to the control signal S 70 , the control module  50  elevates the elevator module  30  to the first location  23  or lowers the elevator module  30  to the second location  24 . Thereby, the elevator module  30  in turn drives the lighting-displaying module  40  to move and position the lighting-displaying module  40  at an appropriate location for illuminating or displaying. 
         [0045]    In the step of switching the lighting-displaying module into the illumination mode or the display mode S 80 , since the lighting-displaying module  40  needs to be switched between the modes for illuminating or displaying, when the lighting-displaying module  40  is at the first location  23 , the control module  50  switches the lighting-displaying module  40  into the illumination mode for illuminating, and when the lighting-displaying module  40  is at the second location  24 , the control module  50  switches the lighting-displaying module  40  into the display mode for displaying. 
         [0046]    The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments and it is understood that the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Moreover, as the contents disclosed herein should be readily understood and can be implemented by a person skilled in the art, all equivalent changes or modifications which do not depart from the concept of the present invention should be encompassed by the appended claims.