Patent Publication Number: US-11022285-B2

Title: Light assembly

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a divisional application of U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 15/173,605, filed Jun. 3, 2016 and entitled “LIGHT ASSEMBLY”, which claims the benefit of the U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/170,678, filed Jun. 3, 2015. The U.S. Nonprovisional Application and the U.S. Provisional Application, including any appendices or attachments thereof, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section. 
     A conventional light assembly typically includes a frame, a light socket to hold a light source and allow for its replacement, and an electrical connection to a power source. The light source produces visible light by the flow of electric current. However, many conventional light assemblies merely generate visible light but fail to control the various properties of the generated light. Many conventional light assemblies also lack aesthetic appeal. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, an arm of a light assembly includes a frame with a sleeve configured to receive a first hinge support, wherein the sleeve and the first hinge support define a first groove, a magnet coupled to the first hinge support, and a hinge mounted on the magnet, wherein the hinge is movable along the first groove. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a lighting control unit of a light assembly includes a first plate, a power circuit board configured to receive power for the light assembly, a light blender configured to transform movement information into one or more control signals to control one or more lighting parameters associated with a light source of the light assembly, and a second plate with a first side, wherein the light blender is mounted on the first side, and the second plate is rotatable in relation to the first plate. 
     In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a light assembly includes an arm and a lighting control unit. The arm includes a frame, a hinge, and a magnet, wherein the hinge is in contact with the magnet and is movable along a groove within the frame. The lighting control unit includes a first plate, a power circuit board configured to receive power for the light assembly, a light blender configured to transform movement information into one or more control signals to control one or more lighting parameters associated with a light source of the light assembly, and a second plate with a first side, wherein the light blender is mounted on the first side, and the second plate is rotatable in relation to the first plate. 
     The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an example light assembly; 
         FIG. 2A and 2B  illustrate alternative configurations of an arm of a light assembly; 
         FIG. 3A  is an exploded view of an example arm of a light assembly; 
         FIGS. 3B, 3C, and 3D  are side views of an example light assembly in different positions to illustrate the movement of its hinges; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of an example lighting control unit of a light assembly; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are top and bottom views of an example first plate of a lighting control unit; and 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are top and bottom views of an example second plate of a lighting control unit, all arranged in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of an example light assembly  100 , arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. The light assembly  100  includes an arm  110  and a lighting control unit  120 . The arm  110  includes a frame  111 , a first hinge  112 , a second hinge  114 , and a light source  116 . Some examples of the light source  116  include, without limitation, a light-emitting diode (LED) lamp, a halogen lamp, an incandescent light bulb, and others. The lighting control unit  120  includes at least a base  121  and a cover  123 , together forming an enclosure. The cover  123  also includes a light blender  127  and a power button  129 . In some embodiments, the light blender  127  may include multiple components, which will be further described in subsequent paragraphs and in junction with  FIG. 4 . 
     In some embodiments, the first hinge  112  and the second hinge  114  may be strips of a bendable and magnetic material, so that the hinges can be attracted to magnets. For example, the strips may be made of galvanized iron. Also, the first hinge  112  and the second hinge  114  may correspond to two ends of a single strip (as shown in  FIG. 3A ). Alternatively, the first hinge  112  and the second hinge  114  may correspond to physically separate strips. Details of the hinge movement will be further described in subsequent paragraphs and in junction with  FIG. 3 . 
     The frame  111 , which includes a first joint  117  and a second joint  119 , is configured to bend or straighten at the two joints. 
     In some embodiments, the light source  116  may be configured to electrically connect to a power source through a wired connection (not shown) in the frame  111 . The wired connection may be placed in the base  121 . Some examples of the power source include, without limitation, alternative current (AC) power supply, batteries, and others. Alternatively, the light source  116  may be configured to electrically and wirelessly connect to a power source. The power source may be external to the light assembly  100  (e.g., AC wall socket) or inside the lighting control unit  120  (e.g., batteries). 
     In some embodiments, the cover  123  can be rotated in either a counterclockwise direction or a clockwise direction as represented by an arrow  125 . The rotation of the cover  123  may occur while the base  121  remains stationary. When the arm  110  is coupled to the cover  123 , the rotation of the cover  123  and the rotation of the arm  110  and the light source  116  would occur in tandem. 
       FIG. 2A and 2B  illustrate some alternative configurations of the arm  110 , arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. In  FIG. 2A , the arm  110  is shown to mount on a wall  210  and may be movable between, for example, a first position  212  and a second position  214 . In  FIG. 2B , the arm  110  is shown to couple to a floor-standing base  230 . Any technically feasible mechanism may be employed to attach the arm  110  to the wall  210  and the floor-standing base  230 . 
     In alternative embodiments, the lighting control unit  120  may not be coupled to the arm  110 . For example, the lighting control unit  120  may be mounted on a wall structure and may be used to control ambient lighting in a room. The lighting control unit  120  may also come in other shapes, such as a square, a rectangle, and others. 
       FIG. 3A  is an exploded view of an example arm of a light assembly, arranged in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The example arm shown in  FIG. 3A  corresponds to the arm  110  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The frame  111  includes three separate sections, which are connected by the first joint  117  and the second joint  119 . A first section of the frame  111 , located near one end of the frame, includes a first sleeve  340 , which is configured to receive a first hinge support  313 . Similarly, a second section of the frame  111 , located near the other end of the frame, includes a second sleeve  341 , which is configured to receive a second hinge support  315 . 
     In some embodiments, the first hinge support  313  and the second hinge support  315  may be inserted into the first sleeve  340  and the second sleeve  341 , respectively. To provide stability to the light assembly, the first hinge support  313  may be heavier than the second hinge support  315 . The width of the first hinge support  313  may be greater than the width of the first sleeve  340 . Therefore, after inserting the first hinge support  313  into the first sleeve  340 , the first hinge support  313  may be secured to the first sleeve  340 . Similarly, the width of the second hinge support  315  may also be greater than the width of the second sleeve  341  so that the second hinge support  315  may be secured to the second sleeve  341  after the insertion of the support into the sleeve. 
     In some embodiments, a first magnet  330  may be directly coupled to the first hinge support  313 , and a second magnet  331  may be directly coupled to the second hinge support  315 . Alternatively, if the first hinge  112  and the second hinge  114  are made of a material that responds weakly to the first magnet  330  and the second magnet  331  (e.g., a material with heavy coating), respectively, the first magnet  330  and the second magnet  331  may be enclosed in a first case  320  and a second case  321 , respectively. The first case  320 , which is mounted on the first hinge support  313 , and the second case  321 , which is mounted on the second hinge support  315 , may be made of a ferromagnetic material, such as, without limitation, galvanized iron. 
     In some embodiments, the first hinge  112  is configured to be in contact with the first magnet  330 , and the second hinge  114  is configured to be in contact with the second magnet  331  to take advantage of the magnetic force. The first hinge  112  includes a first hook  350  at one end of the first hinge  112 . The first hinge  112  is configured to move in a first groove  310 , a confined space defined by the sleeve  340  and the first hinge support  313 , between a first end  360  and a second end  370  of the first groove  310 . Similarly, the second hinge  114  also includes a second hook  351  at one end of the second hinge  114 . The second hinge  114  is configured to move in a second groove  311 , a confined space defined by the sleeve  341  and the second hinge support  315 , between a first end  361  and a second end  371  of the second groove  311 . 
       FIGS. 3B, 3C, and 3D  are side views of an example light assembly in different positions to illustrate the movement of its hinges, arranged in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In conjunction with  FIG. 3A , in  FIG. 3B , the frame  111 , the first hinge support  313 , and the second hinge support  315  remain in a substantially straight line position. In this position, the first hook  350  of the first hinge  112  is at the first end  360  of the first groove  310 , and the second hook  351  of the second hinge  114  is at the second end  371  of the second groove  311 . 
     In conjunction with  FIG. 3A , in  FIG. 3C , the frame  111  bends in relation to the lighting control unit  120 . As a result of the bending motion, the first hook  350  of the first hinge  112  moves from the first end  360  towards to the second end  370  of the first groove  310 . The frame  111  will not be able to bend any further at the joint  117  once the first hook  350  reaches the second end  370 . 
     In conjunction with  FIG. 3A , in  FIG. 3D , the light source  116  bends in relation to the frame  111 . As a result of the bending motion, the second hook  351  of the second hinge  114  moves from the second end  371  towards the first end  361  of the second groove  311 . The light source  116  will not be able to bend any further at the joint  119  once the second hook  351  reaches the first end  361 . 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of an example lighting control unit of a light assembly, arranged in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The example lighting control unit shown in  FIG. 4  corresponds to the lighting control unit  120  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     In some embodiments, the lighting control unit  120  includes the cover  123  and the base  121 . An anti-skit pad  490  may be attached to the base  121 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the cover  123  and the base  121  form the enclosure, which houses at least a disc  440 , a power circuit board  520 , a first plate  401 , a shim  450 , a second plate  402 , the light blender  127  of  FIG. 1 , which may include a position-to-signal converter  610  and a position generator  460 . 
     The first plate  401  complements a second plate  402 . The first plate  401  defines a first opening  410 , a first channel  420 , and a second channel  430 . The second plate  402  includes a cylindrical rod (not shown here but shown in  FIG. 6A ) configured to engage with the first opening  410  and a disc  440 , so that the second plate  402  can rotate in relation to the first plate  401 , and the first plate  401  and the second plate  402  can be held together. Subsequent paragraphs will provide additional details of the relationships among the first plate  401 , the second plate  402 , and the disc  440 . The disc  440  may be made of a soft or elastic material, for example, rubber, plastic, and others. The shim  450  is configured to be disposed in the second channel  430 . 
     In some embodiments, the power circuit board  520  may be disposed on one side of the first plate  401 , and the position-to-signal converter  610  may be mounted on one side of the second plate  402 . The power circuit board  520  is electrically connected to a power source of the light assembly and is configured to regulate the current for the light source  116 . The position-to-signal converter  610 , coupled to the position generator  460 , is configured to influence various lighting parameters, such as, without limitation, brightness and correlated color temperature of the light source  116 . Subsequent paragraphs will provide additional details for the position-to-signal converter  610 . 
       FIG. 5A  is top view of the first plate  401  of the lighting control unit  120 , arranged in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In conjunction with  FIG. 4 , the shim  450  may be disposed in the second channel  430  on a top side of the first plate  401  to decrease the friction between the first plate  401  and the second plate  402 . The shim  450  may be made of a soft or elastic material, for example, rubber, plastic, and others. In some embodiments, the first plate  401  may have a circular region  550 , which defines the first opening  410 . 
       FIG. 5B  is bottom view of the first plate  401  of the lighting control unit  120 , arranged in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In conjunction with  FIG. 4 , the power circuit board  520  may be disposed on a bottom side of the first plate  401 , and the power circuit board  520  may include an AC/DC port  530  and a USB port  540 . Any wiring coupled to the power circuit board  520  may come through the first opening  410 . As shown, the thickness of the circular region  550  is less than the thickness of the outer rim of the first plate  401 . 
       FIG. 6A  is a bottom view of the second plate  402  of the lighting control unit  120 , arranged in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the second plate  402  includes a stud  412  and a cylindrical rod  411 . In conjunction with  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5A , the stud  412  is configured to be disposed in the first channel  420  of the first plate  401 . The stud  412  may move along the first channel  420  to facilitate the rotation between the first plate  401  and the second plate  402 . The cylindrical rod  411  may be hollow, and when the cylindrical rod  411  is inserted through the first opening  410  of the first plate  401 , a path  620  through the first plate  401  and the second plate  402  can be defined. 
     For the second plate  402  to rotate while remaining coupled to the first plate  401 , in some embodiments, in conjunction with  FIG. 4 , the disc  440  may be disposed on the bottom side of the first plate  401 , with its protrusion  441  inserted in the path  620 . To hold the first plate  401  and the second plate  402  together, in conjunction with  FIG. 4 , the disc  440  may have four holes that match the four holes on the cylindrical rod  411  as shown in  FIG. 6A , and with the protrusion  441  inserted in the path  620 , the disc  440  may be secured to the cylindrical rod  411  with screws through the four holes. 
     To enable a smooth rotation motion between the first plate  401  and the second plate  402 , in some embodiments, the height of the cylindrical rod  411  is greater than the thickness of the circular region  550 . To illustrate, in conjunction with  FIG. 5A  and FIG.  6 A, after inserting the cylindrical rod  411  through the first opening  410  so that the complementary first plate  401  and the second plate  402  are coupled, a portion of the cylindrical rod  411  would extend above the surface of the circular region  550 . Thus, when the disc  440  is secured on the cylindrical rod  411 , the disc  440  is not in contact with the surface of the circular region  550 . Without this physical contact, the second plate  402  could rotate about the cylindrical rod  411  as an axis smoothly. 
       FIG. 6B  is a top view of the second plate  402  of the lighting control unit  120 , arranged in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In  FIG. 6B , the position-to-signal converter  610  is configured to blend the brightness and the correlated color temperature (CCT) of the light source  116 . In some embodiments, the position-to-signal converter  610  includes a control circuit board  611  and a plurality of variable resistors  612 . In conjunction with  FIG. 4 , the position-to-signal converter  610  is coupled to the position generator  460 . The illustrated position generator  460  includes tracks  471 , which are configured to engage with hinge supports  613  and  614  of the variable resistors. Thus, in response to finger movement of a user touching the position generator  460 , the movements of the position generator  460  may change the positions of the hinge supports  613  and  614 . For example, in response to a movement along the longitudinal direction by the light blender, the hinge supports  613  may change their positions along the longitudinal direction while the hinge supports  614  remain still. In response to another movement along the transverse direction by the light blender, the hinge supports  614  may change their positions along the transverse direction while the hinge supports  613  remain still. 
     In some embodiments, the control circuit board  611  may be configured to generate a first control signal to control one lighting parameter (e.g., the brightness) of the light source  116  based on the positions of the hinge supports  613  and generate a second control signal to control another lighting parameter (e.g., the CCT) of the same light source  116  based on the positions of the hinge supports  614 . By modifying multiple lighting parameters, the effect of blending brightness and lighting temperature is enhanced. The control circuit board  611  may be electrically connected to the light source  116  via a wired connection, which passes through the first opening  410  and the path  620 . In response to the first control signal and the second control signal, the light source  116  may change multiple lighting parameters, such as the brightness and CCT, at the same time. Alternatively, the generated control signals are sent to the power circuit board  520 , and the output of the power circuit board  520  is adjusted based on the control signals before delivering to the light source  116 . 
     In alternative embodiments, the position generator  460  is free of the tracks  471 . The position generator  460  may correspond to a computer mouse or a touchscreen, wherein the various positions generated by the moving the computer mouse or touching different parts of the touchscreen may be used by the position-to-signal converter  610  to generate control signals to blend the brightness, CCT, and other lighting parameters. 
     While the forgoing is directed to embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claim that follow.