Patent Publication Number: US-11655949-B2

Title: Clamping lamp and light controlling method applying the same

Description:
This application claims the benefit of People&#39;s Republic of China application Serial No. 202011537351.8, filed Dec. 23, 2020, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates in general to a clamping lamp, and more particularly to a clamping lamp that is able to clamp a monitor. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Sometimes, only the lighting in front of the monitor is provided when the monitor is used. At this time, there is a great brightness difference between the display screen brightness of the monitor plus the environment brightness and the illuminance of the wall behind the monitor. This causes that a user is prone to be fatigued due to the high brightness contrast. In view of this, it is necessary to propose a new lamp for a monitor to solve the problem. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates in general to a clamping lamp for clamping a monitor and a light controlling method applying the same, thereby providing a beneficial eye-protection effect when people looks at a screen of the monitor. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, a clamping lamp for clamping a monitor is provided. The monitor has a front surface, a back surface and an top surface connecting with the front surface and the back surface. The clamping lamp comprises a first light source and a clamping body. The clamping body comprises a second light source, a first clamping component and a second clamping component. The first clamping component includes a first clamping portion and a lamp connection portion connecting with the first clamping portion. The lamp connection portion connects with the first light source. The second clamping component includes a second clamping portion. The first clamping portion is configured to lean against the front surface and the second clamping portion is configured to lean against the back surface when the clamping lamp clamps the monitor, such that the first light source is located above the top surface and the second light source is located below the top surface. The first light source is configured to emit light toward a first zone that the front surface faces toward when the first light source is turned on. The second light source is configured to emit light toward a second zone that the back surface faces toward when the second light source is turned on. A plane formed by a periphery of the second clamping portion that is adjacent to the second light source is substantially parallel to the front surface when the clamping lamp clamps the monitor. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, another clamping lamp for clamping a monitor is provided. The monitor has a front surface, a back surface and an top surface connecting with the front surface and the back surface. The clamping lamp comprises a first light source and a clamping body. The clamping body comprises a second light source, a first clamping component and a second clamping component. The first clamping component includes a first clamping portion and a lamp connection portion connecting with the first clamping portion. The lamp connection portion connects with the first light source. The second clamping component includes a second clamping portion. The first clamping portion is configured to lean against the front surface and the second clamping portion is configured to lean against the back surface when the clamping lamp clamps the monitor, such that the first light source is located above the top surface and the second light source is located below the top surface. The first light source is configured to emit light toward a first zone that the front surface faces toward when the first light source is turned on. The second light source is configured to emit light toward a second zone that the back surface faces toward when the second light source is turned on. The second light source is disposed inside the second clamping component, and the second clamping component further includes a light-transmitting cover configured to cover the second light source and to allow light emitted by the second light source to pass through. 
     According to a third aspect of the present invention, a light controlling method applying the clamping lamp according to the first aspect is provided. The light controlling method comprises making the clamping lamp clamp the monitor; sensing a illuminance value of an environment where the monitor is used; calculating a luminous intensity of the first light source according to the illuminance value of the environment; controlling the first light source to emit light toward the first zone that the front surface faces toward; determining whether an illuminance value of the first zone meets a predetermined threshold or not; controlling the second light source to emit light toward the second zone that the back surface faces toward if the predetermined threshold is met; sensing a distance between the back surface and a reference object that the back surface faces toward; controlling a luminous intensity of the second light source according to the distance to make the luminous intensity of the second light source have a positive correlation with the distance; and calculating the luminous intensity of the first light source according to the illuminance value of the first zone if the predetermined threshold is not met. 
     The invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a side view showing that a clamping lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention is disposed on a monitor. 
         FIG.  2    is a back view showing that the clamping lamp according to the embodiment of the present invention is disposed on the monitor. 
         FIG.  3    is a back view showing some components of the clamping lamp according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a 3D diagram showing some components of the clamping lamp according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  5    is a function block diagram showing some components of the clamping lamp according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  6    is a flow chart showing steps for a light controlling method of the clamping lamp according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Please refer to  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   .  FIG.  1    is a side view showing that a clamping lamp  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention is disposed on a monitor  10 , and  FIG.  2    is a back view showing that the clamping lamp  100  according to the embodiment of the present invention is disposed on the monitor  10 . 
     The monitor  10  has a front surface  10   f , a back surface  10   b  and a top surface  10   t , and the top surface  10   t  connects with the front surface  10   f  and the back surface  10   b . The clamping lamp  100  comprises a first light source  110  and a clamping body  120 . The clamping body  120  comprises a second light source  121 , a first clamping component  122  and a second clamping component  123 . The first clamping component  122  includes a first clamping portion  1221  and a lamp connection portion  1222 , and the lamp connection portion  1222  connects with the first clamping portion  1221 . The first light source  110  connects with the lamp connection portion  1222 , and the first light source  110  may be pivoted relative to the lamp connection portion  1222  to adjust the light-emitting angle of the first light source  110 . The second clamping component  123  includes a second clamping portion  1231 . In an embodiment, the first clamping portion  1221  and the second clamping portion  1231  are movably connected, for example, they may move relatively through a hinge or a sliding manner. In an embodiment, the second light source  121  may be optionally disposed on the second clamping portion  1231 ; however, the second light source  121  may also be disposed on the first clamping portion  1221  if the length of the structure of the clamping body  120  is changed (for example, the first clamping portion  1221  is extended to the back surface  10   b  or the second light source  121  is changed to a structure that is able to adjust the emitting direction. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the first clamping portion  1221  is configured to lean against the front surface  10   f  and the second clamping portion  1231  is configured to lean against the back surface  10   b  when the clamping lamp  100  clamps the monitor  10 , such that the first light source  110  may be located above the top surface  10   t  and the second light source  121  may be located below the top surface  10   t , wherein the Z axis in the  FIG.  1    represents the reference direction of up and down. The front surface  10   f  of the monitor  10  faces toward a first zone Z 1  to provide a display screen for users. The first light source  110  of the clamping lamp  100  is configured to emit light toward the first zone Z 1  to provide illumination in front of the monitor  10  when the first light source  110  of the clamping lamp  100  is turned on. The back surface  10   b  of the monitor  10  faces toward a second zone Z 2  and is separated from a reference object (such as a wall R) that is in the second zone Z 2  by a distance D. The second light source  121  of the clamping body  120  is configured to emit light toward the second zone Z 2  to provide illumination behind the monitor  10  when the second light source  121  is turned on. 
     It should be noted that when the environment where the monitor  10  is used is darker, if the illumination is only provided in the first zone Z 1 , there is a great brightness difference between the front and rear of the monitor  10 , thereby causing that human eyes are stimulated too much and human eyes are easy to fatigue. Compared with the condition that the illumination is only provided in the first zone Z 1 , the condition that the first light source  110  of the clamping lamp  100  emits light in the first zone Z 1  and the second light source  121  of the clamping body  120  emits light in the second zone Z 2  at the same time can reduce the brightness difference between the front and rear of the monitor  10 , thereby relieving the discomfort for human eyes to the light-dark contrast. 
     The first light source  110  is designed to be located above the top surface  10   t  of the monitor  10  in order to provide illumination in the main reading zone (i.e. the first zone Z 1 ) and prevent the display screen of the monitor  10  from be blocked. The second light source  121  is configured to supplement light to reduce the brightness difference behind the monitor  10  (i.e. the second zone Z 2 ), so the position of the second light source  121  is designed to be located below the top surface  10   t  of the monitor  10 . In response to that the first light source  110  is used in a reading environment with higher brightness requirements, the luminous intensity of the first light source  110  should be set higher than the luminous intensity of the second light source  121 , and the luminous intensity of the first light source  110  is proportional to the luminous intensity of the second light source  121 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the second clamping component  123  may optionally includes a light-transmitting cover  1232 , the light-transmitting cover  1232  is configured to cover the second light source  121  such that the second light source can be disposed inside the second clamping component  123 , thereby protecting the second light source  121  from damage due to contact with the external environment. Also, the light-transmitting cover  1232  has light-transmittance to allow light emitted by the second light source  121  to pass through. Therefore, the light-transmitting cover  1232  does not affect the lighting behind the monitor  10  and can also provide waterproof and dustproof function. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , an illumination field IR of the second light source  121  is broader than a contour PR of the back surface  10   b  of the monitor  10 , so as to effectively reduce the brightness difference between the front and rear of the monitor  10 . On the contrary, if the illumination field IR is too narrow, most of light emitted by the second light source  121  will be blocked by the back surface  10   b  of the monitor  10 , thereby failing to form an effective light supplement. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   .  FIG.  3    is a back view showing the second clamping component  123  and the second light source  121  of the clamping lamp  100  according to the embodiment of the present invention.  FIG.  4    is a 3D diagram showing the second clamping component  123  and the second light source  121  of the clamping lamp  100  according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     It should be noted that the light-transmitting cover  1232  of  FIG.  1    is omitted in  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  4    in order to clearly show the internal configuration of the second clamping component  123 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , the second light source  121  includes a first light-emitting array  1211 , a second light-emitting array  1212  and a third light-emitting array  1213 . The first light-emitting array  1211  is arranged in parallel with the second light-emitting array  1212 . One end of the third light-emitting array  1213  is connected with the first light-emitting array  1211 , and the other end of the third light-emitting array  1213  is connected with the second light-emitting array  1212 . Specifically, the clamping lamp  100  further includes a weight component  130  disposed inside the second clamping component  123 . The first light-emitting array  1211  and the second light-emitting array  1212  are respectively arranged on two sides of the weight component  130 , namely arranged on the first side surface  130   s   1  and the second side surface  130   s   2 . The third light-emitting array  1213  is arranged on a side connected between said two sides of the weight component  130 , namely a third side surface  130   s   3 . In other words, the third light-emitting array  1213  is disposed between the first light-emitting array  1211  and the second light-emitting array  1212 . The third light-emitting array  1213  may be, but is not limited to, perpendicular to the first light-emitting array  1211  and the second light-emitting array  1212  to form a U-shaped arrangement. The first light-emitting array  1211  is configured to emit light on the right side facing toward the front surface  10   f  of the monitor  10 , the second light-emitting array  1212  is configured to emit light on the left side facing toward the front surface  10   f  of the monitor  10 , and the third light-emitting array  1213  is configured to emit light on the upper side facing toward the front surface  10   f  of the monitor  10 . As such, supplementary lighting is provided around the rear of the monitor  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , the light-emitting direction of the third light-emitting array  1213  has an angle θ with the adjacent third side surface  130   s   3  of the weight component  130 . Also, the light-emitting directions of the first light-emitting array  1211  and the second light-emitting array  1212  respectively has an angle θ with the adjacent first side surface  130   s   1  and second side surface  130   s   2  of the weight component  130 . If the angle θ is about 90 degrees, the first light-emitting array  1211  and the second light-emitting array  1212  directly faces toward the left and right zones of the monitor  10  to emit light, and the third light-emitting array  1213  directly faces toward the upper zone of the monitor  10 , such that the effect of the supplementary lighting behind the monitor  10  is much weaker and light emitted by the second light source  121  will direct to eyes of people who pass by or are in the left and right zones of the monitor  10 . Thus, preferably, the angle θ is designed to be acute, such that the first light-emitting array  1211 , the second light-emitting array  1212  and the third light-emitting array  1213  emit light toward the rear and the two sides of the monitor  10 . Compared with the condition that the angle θ is not acute, this design can provide a better supplementary lighting behind the monitor  10  and avoid that light emitted by the second light source  121  directs to eyes of people who pass by or are in the left and right zones of the monitor  10 . 
       FIG.  5    is function block diagram showing some components of the clamping lamp  100  according to the embodiment of the present invention. The clamping lamp  100  may further comprises a light sensor LS, a distance sensor DS, a processing module PM and a lamp interface LI. The light sensor LS can be disposed outside the clamping lamp  100  to sense the illuminance value of the first zone Z 1 , and the processing module PM connects with the light sensor LS and configured to control the luminous intensity of the second light source  121  according to the illuminance value of the first zone Z 1  so as to make the illuminance value of the second zone Z 2  lower than the illuminance value of the first zone Z 1 . In an embodiment, the processing module PM may control the luminous intensity of the second light source  121  so as to make the illuminance value of the second zone Z 2  approximately one-third of the illuminance value of the first zone Z 1 . That is, the illuminance value of the first zone Z 1  is about 3 times the illuminance value of the second zone Z 2 , thereby achieving a range of illuminance difference that human eyes are uneasy to be fatigued. 
     The distance sensor DS may be disposed outside the clamping lamp  100 . The distance sensor DS is configured to sense the distance D between the back surface  10   b  of the monitor  10  and the wall R when the clamping lamp  100  clamps the monitor  10 , the processing module PM is configured to control the luminous intensity of the second light source  121  according to the distance D. Specifically, the distance D and the luminous intensity of the second light source  121  have a positive correlation. If the distance D is greater, the brightness of the light reflected by the wall R becomes weaker. Therefore, the luminous intensity of the second light source  121  must be increased to maintain the front and back of the monitor  10 . Conversely, if the distance D is smaller, the brightness of the light reflected by the wall R is stronger, so the luminous intensity of the second light source  121  can be reduced. By adjusting the luminous intensity of the second light source  121  according to the distance D between the back surface  10   b  of the monitor  10  and the reference object, a suitable lighting environment may be provided. 
     The clamping lamp  100  can connect to an interface of the monitor  10  via the lamp interface LI to receive a setting value relevant to a real-time display screen of the monitor  10 . For example, the lamp interface LI and the interface of the monitor  10  are Universal Serial Bus. For example, the setting value is the brightness, color temperature, sharpness, contrast and other parameter settings of the current display screen. The processing module PM may control the luminous intensity and color value of the first light source  110  and the second light source  121  according to this setting value. As such, the lighting adjustment can be performed based on the display information of the real-time display screen of the monitor  10 , and the lighting control adapted to the display situation of the display screen of the monitor  10  is automatically provided. In an embodiment, the clamping lamp  100  may be adapted to connect with the interface of the monitor  10  to obtain the brightness value of the display screen of the monitor  10 . The processing module PM may be configured to turn off the first light source  110 . That is, the processing module PM can correspondingly adjust the luminous intensity of the second light source  121  according to the brightness value of the display screen of the monitor  10  without turning on the first light source  110 , so as to achieve that the second light source  121  can be independently controlled relative to the first light source  110 . Moreover, the brightness value of the above-mentioned display screen is not limited to be obtained and adjusted by connecting with the interface of the monitor  10 , and can also be obtained directly through the clamping lamp  100 . For example, it can be obtained by the clamping lamp  100  namely a button switch included in the clamping lamp  100 . The internal setting value about display screen included in the clamping lamp  100  can be obtained and the brightness value can be adjusted. 
     Specifically, to describe with respect to the first light-emitting array  1211 , the second light-emitting array  1212  and the third light-emitting array  1213  in  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  4   , the setting value includes a first setting value, a second setting value and a third setting value; the first setting value, the second setting value and the third setting value respectively correspond to a right area, a left area and an upper area of the real-time display screen; the first set value, the second set value and the third setting value respectively correspond to the first light-emitting array  1211 , the second light-emitting array  1212  and the third light-emitting array  1213 ; and the processing module PM respectively sets the luminous intensity and the color value of the first light-emitting array  1211 , the second light-emitting array  1212  and the third light-emitting array  1213  according to the first setting value, the second setting value and the third setting value. For example, if the brightness value of the right area of the real-time display screen corresponding to the monitor  10  is too low or too high, the processing module PM controls the corresponding first light-emitting array  1211  to lower or to increase the luminous intensity to reduce the brightness difference between the monitor  10  and the environment. In the same way, the corresponding third light-emitting array  1213  and second light-emitting array  1212  can be individually controlled to adjust the luminous intensity according to the brightness value of the upper area of the left area of the real-time display screen of the monitor  10 . As such, each light-emitting array can be controlled to match the corresponding area of the display screen, so as to achieve a more precise and independent light controlling. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  6   .  FIG.  6    is a flow chart showing steps for a light controlling method S of the clamping lamp  100  according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the step S 110 , making the clamping lamp  100  clamp the monitor is performed, so that the first light source  110  is located above the top surface  10   t  of the monitor  10 , and the second light source  121  is located below the top surface  10   t  of the monitor  10 . 
     In the step S 120 , sensing the illuminance value of the environment where the monitor  10  is used is performed. For example, the light sensor LS may be configured to sense, and the illuminance value of the environment is a comprehensive value referring the screen light from the display screen of the monitor  10  and the reflected light of the desktop that the monitor  10  is placed on, etc. 
     In the step S 130 , calculating the luminous intensity of the first light source  110  according to the illuminance value of the environment is performed. For example, the luminous intensity required by the first light source  110  can be preliminarily calculated by the processing module PM to match the ambient illuminance of the general screen usage. 
     In step S 140 , controlling the first light source  110  to emit light toward the first zone Z 1  that the front surface  10   f  faces toward is performed. For example, the processing module PM is configured to control the first light source  110  to emit light as the main lighting for the first zone Z 1  that a user who faces toward the monitor  10  is in. 
     In the step S 150 , determining whether the illuminance value of the first zone Z 1  meets a predetermined threshold or not is performed. For example, the illuminance value of the first zone Z 1  may be sensed by the light sensor LS, and the determination may be performed by the processing module PM, and the predetermined threshold may be defined as about 500 lux, which is the recommended brightness for general screen usage. 
     In the step S 161 , controlling the second light source  121  to emit light toward the second zone Z 2  that the back surface  10   b  faces toward if the predetermined threshold is met is performed. For example, the second light source  121  may be controlled to emit light by the processing module PM, so as to reduce the brightness difference between the front and the back of the monitor  10  and provide a supplementary lighting. Specifically, the processing module PM may control the luminous intensity of the second light source  121  so that the illuminance value of the second zone Z 2  is approximately one-third of the illuminance value of the first zone Z 1 , which is designed to make the eyes less fatigued. For example, if the first zone Z 1  reaches about 500 lux, the illuminance value of the second zone Z 2  is controlled to be about 170 lux. 
     In the step S 162 , calculating the luminous intensity of the first light source  110  according to the illuminance value of the first zone Z 1  if the predetermined threshold is not met is performed. For example, the luminous intensity required by the first light source  110  may be calculating again by the processing module PM to smartly adjust the luminous intensity in accordance with the current environment. 
     Further, making the luminous intensity of the first light source  110  higher than the luminous intensity of the second light source  121  and making the luminous intensity of the first light source  110  proportional to the luminous intensity of the second light source  120  may be performed by the processing module PM. 
     Further, controlling the luminous intensity of the second light source  121  according to the illuminance value of the first zone Z 1  so as to make the illuminance value of the second zone Z 2  lower than the illuminance value of the first zone Z 1  may be performed by the processing module PM. 
     Further, controlling the luminous intensity of the second light source  121  to make the illuminance value of the second zone Z 2  approximately one-third of the illuminance value of the first zone Z 1  may be performed by the processing module PM. 
     Further, sensing the distance D between the back surface  10   b  and the wall R may be performed by the distance sensor DS, and controlling the luminous intensity of the second light source  121  according to the distance D may be performed by the processing module PM. 
     Further, controlling the luminous intensity of the second light source  121  to make the illuminance value of the second zone Z 2  approximately one-third of the illuminance value of the first zone Z 1  may be performed by the processing module PM. 
     Further, the clamping lamp  100  can be connected with the interface of the monitor  10  to obtain a display brightness value of the monitor  10 , and controlling the luminous intensity of the second light source  121  according to the display brightness value may be performed by the processing module PM. The clamping lamp  100  can receive the setting value related to the real-time display screen of the monitor  10  through the connection with the monitor  10 , and the processing module PM may control the brightness value and the color value of the second light source  121  according to the setting value. 
     According to the description of the above-mentioned embodiments, the first light source and the second light source of the clamping lamp clamping the monitor can emit light at the front and rear of the monitor at the same time, so as to reduce the brightness difference between the front and rear of the monitor. Compared with only a single light source emitting in the front of the monitor, the clamping lamp of the present invention can make human eyes less fatigued when using the monitor and achieve a beneficial effect of eye protection. 
     While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to specific embodiments thereof, these descriptions and illustrations do not limit the invention. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The illustrations may not necessarily be drawn to scale. There may be distinctions between the artistic renditions in the present disclosure and the actual apparatus due to manufacturing processes and tolerances. There may be other embodiments of the present invention which are not specifically illustrated. The specification and the drawings are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation, material, composition of matter, method, or process to the objective, spirit and scope of the invention. All such modifications are intended to be within the scope of the claims appended hereto. While the methods disclosed herein have been described with reference to particular operations performed in a particular order, it will be understood that these operations may be combined, sub-divided, or re-ordered to form an equivalent method without departing from the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, unless specifically indicated herein, the order and grouping of the operations are not limitations of the invention.