Patent Publication Number: US-2023156895-A1

Title: Lighting system with illumination-balancing function and control method thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a lighting system, in particular to a lighting system with illumination-balancing function. The present invention further relates to the control method of the lighting system. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In recent years, the functions of lighting systems have been greatly improved due to the advances of artificial-intelligence and Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies so as to conform to the future developing tendency. 
     However, currently available lighting systems still have some shortcomings to be improved. For instance, a currently available lighting system may include a plurality of lighting devices. When any one of the lighting devices on any one of the lighting zones malfunctions, the illumination of this lighting zone would decrease. However, the currently available lighting systems fail to provide any proper mechanisms to improve the above problem. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is related to a lighting system with illumination-balancing function. In one embodiment of the present invention, the lighting system includes a plurality of lighting devices distributed over a lighting zone. Each of the lighting devices includes a control module and a light-emitting module. The light-emitting module is connected to the control module. When the light-emitting module malfunctions, the control module transmits a malfunctioning signal to the other lighting devices not malfunctioning, such that the brightness of each of the lighting devices, not malfunctioning and adjacent to the lighting device malfunctioning, increases so as to make the illumination of the lighting zone be substantially equal to a predetermined value. 
     In one embodiment, each of the lighting devices further includes a wireless communication module connected to the control module and the control module transmits the malfunctioning signal based on a wireless communication protocol via the wireless communication module. 
     In one embodiment, each of the lighting devices further includes a light intensity detection module connected to the control module and detects an ambient light intensity, such that the control module determines the illumination of the lighting zone according to the ambient light intensity. 
     In one embodiment, the control module of each of the lighting devices not malfunctioning determines whether the lighting device is adjacent to the lighting device malfunctioning according to an identification code record and the identification code thereof 
     In one embodiment, when the control module determines that the illumination of the lighting zone fails to reach the predetermined value after the brightness of each of the lighting devices, not malfunctioning and adjacent to the lighting device malfunctioning, increases, the control module transmits a re-adjustment signal to the lighting devices, not malfunctioning and not adjacent to the lighting device malfunctioning, according to the identification code record and the identification code of the lighting device malfunctioning so as to increase the brightness of at least one of the lighting devices, not malfunctioning and not adjacent to the lighting device malfunctioning, and make the illumination of the lighting zone be substantially equal to the predetermined value. 
     In one embodiment, the identification code record is created according to the order of the identification codes of the lighting devices. 
     The present invention is further related to a control method for balancing the illumination of a lighting system. In one embodiment of the present invention, the control method includes the following steps: distributing a plurality of lighting devices over a lighting zone; transmitting a malfunctioning signal by one of the lighting devices to the other lighting devices not malfunctioning when the lighting device malfunctions; and making the brightness of each of the lighting devices, not malfunctioning and adjacent to the lighting device malfunctioning, increase so as to make the illumination of the lighting zone be substantially equal to a predetermined value. 
     In one embodiment, the control method further includes the following step: each of the lighting devices not malfunctioning determining whether the lighting device is adjacent to the lighting device malfunctioning according to an identification code record and the identification code thereof. 
     In one embodiment, the control method further includes the following step: transmitting a re-adjustment signal to the lighting devices, not malfunctioning and not adjacent to the lighting device malfunctioning, according to the identification code record and the identification code of the lighting device malfunctioning by the lighting device malfunctioning so as to increase the brightness of at least one of the lighting devices, not malfunctioning and not adjacent to the lighting device malfunctioning, and make the illumination of the lighting zone be substantially equal to the predetermined value. 
     In one embodiment, the control method further includes the following step: creating the identification code record according to the order of the identification codes of the lighting devices. 
     The lighting system with illumination-balancing function and the control method thereof in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention may have the following advantages:
     (1) In one embodiment of the present invention, the lighting system with illumination-balancing function provides an illumination-balancing control mechanism. Thus, when any one of the lighting devices of any one of the lighting zones malfunctions, the brightness of the lighting devices, not malfunctioning and adjacent to the lighting device malfunctioning, can increase so as to make the illumination of the lighting zone be substantially equal to a predetermined value. In this way, the lighting zone can always have the ideal illumination.   (2) In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the lighting devices of the lighting system with illumination-balancing function includes a control module. The control module can determine those lighting devices adjacent to the lighting device according to an identification code record and the identification code of the lighting device. Therefore, the lighting system can swiftly and effectively implement the illumination-balancing control mechanism in order to provide the illumination-balancing function.   (3) In one embodiment of the present invention, the lighting system with illumination-balancing function can swiftly and effectively execute the illumination-balancing control mechanism. Therefore, even if several lighting devices of any one of the lighting zones malfunction, the lighting system can still make the illumination of the lighting zone be substantially equal to the predetermined value. Accordingly, the lighting zone can always have the ideal illumination.   (4) In one embodiment of the present invention, the lighting system with illumination-balancing function can swiftly and effectively execute the illumination-balancing control mechanism, so the lighting system can conform to the future developing tendency, such as Internet-of-Things (IoT) and intelligent city. Thus, the lighting system can be more comprehensive in application. (5) In one embodiment of the present invention, the design of the lighting system with   illumination-balancing function is simple, so the lighting system can achieve the desired technical effects without significantly increasing the cost thereof. As a result, the lighting system can achieve high commercial value.   

     These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention and wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a first schematic view of a lighting system with illumination-balancing function in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a second schematic view of the lighting system with illumination-balancing function in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  3    is a block diagram of a lighting device of the lighting system with illumination-balancing function in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a first schematic view of a lighting system with illumination-balancing function in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  5    is a second schematic view of the lighting system with illumination-balancing function in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  6    is a flow chart of a control method for balancing the illumination of a lighting system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing. It should be understood that, when it is described that an element is “coupled” or “connected” to another element, the element may be “directly coupled” or “directly connected” to the other element or “coupled” or “connected” to the other element through a third element. In contrast, it should be understood that, when it is described that an element is “directly coupled” or “directly connected” to another element, there are no intervening elements. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  1   ,  FIG.  2    and  FIG.  3   .  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2    are a first schematic view and a second schematic view of a lighting system with illumination-balancing function in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG.  3    is a block diagram of a lighting device of the lighting system with illumination-balancing function in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG.  1   , the lighting system  1  with illumination-balancing function includes a plurality of lighting devices  11 A˜ 11 P distributed over a lighting zone and the lighting devices  11 A˜ 11 P can be wirelessly connected to each other in order to form a network. The lighting system  1  may include more lighting devices in addition to the lighting devices  11 A˜ 11 P and all lighting devices of the lighting system  1  can be distributed over a plurality of lighting zones. This embodiment takes one of the lighting zones (the first lighting zone) for example. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , the lighting device  11 A includes a control module  111 , a wireless communication module  112 , a light intensity detection module  113 , a dimming module  114  and a light˜emitting module  115 . 
     In one embodiment, the control module  111  may be, but not limited to a microcontroller (MCU), a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or other similar elements. 
     The wireless communication module  112  is connected to the control module  111 . In one embodiment, the wireless communication module  112  may be, but not limited to, a Bluetooth module, Wi-Fi module, a ZigBee module or other similar elements. 
     The light intensity detection module  113  is connected to the control module  111 . In one embodiment, the light intensity detection module  113  may be, but not limited to, a light intensity sensor, an ambient light or other similar elements. 
     The dimming module  114  is connected to the control module  111 . In one embodiment, the dimming module  114  may be, but not limited to, a Triac dimmer, a digital addressable lighting interface (DALI) dimmer, a MOS dimmer or other similar elements. 
     The light-emitting module  115  is connected to the dimming module  114 . In one embodiment, the light-emitting module  115  may be, but not limited to, a light-emitting diode (LED), a LED array, a bulb or other similar elements. The circuit structures of the lighting devices  11 A˜ 11 P are the same with each other. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , when the light-emitting module  115  of the lighting device  11 A malfunctions, the control module  111  of the lighting device  11 A transmits a malfunctioning signal based on a wireless communication protocol via the wireless communication module  112  to the other lighting devices  11 B˜ 11 P not malfunctioning. Then, the control module  111  of each of the lighting devices  11 B,  11 E adjacent to the lighting device  11 A adjusts and increases the brightness of the light-emitting module  115  thereof via the dimming module  114  thereof so as to make the illumination of the lighting zone (the first lighting zone) be substantially equal to (or greater than) a predetermined value. The predetermined value can be determined according to actual needs. The light intensity detection module  113  of each of the lighting devices  11 B,  11 E can detect the ambient light intensity, such that the control module  111  thereof can determine whether the illumination of the lighting zone has been substantially equal to (or greater than) the predetermined value according to the ambient light intensity. In one embodiment, the aforementioned wireless communication protocol may be, but not limited to, Bluetooth communication protocol, Wi-Fi communication protocol, ZigBee communication protocol or other similar communication protocols. 
     The embodiment just exemplifies the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention; any equivalent modification and variation according to the spirit of the present invention is to be also included within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  4   , which is a first schematic view of a lighting system with illumination-balancing function in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG.  4   , the lighting system  1  with illumination-balancing function provides a novel mechanism, such that any one of the lighting devices  11 A˜ 11 P can determine the lighting devices adjacent thereto. 
     For example, when the light-emitting module  115  of the lighting device  11 F malfunctions, the control module  111  of the lighting device  11 F transmits the malfunctioning signal via the wireless communication module  112  thereof based on the wireless communication protocol to the other lighting devices  11 A˜ 11 E,  11 G˜ 11 P not malfunctioning. Then, the control module  111  of each of the lighting devices  11 A˜ 11 E,  11 G˜ 11 P determines whether the lighting device corresponding to the control module  111  is adjacent to the lighting device  11 F or not according to identification code record and the identification code thereof. The identification code record may be created according to the order of the identification codes of the lighting devices  11 A˜ 11 P. In addition, the identification code record may further include the arrangement of the lighting devices  11 A˜ 11 P. For instance, the arrangement of the lighting devices  11 A˜ 11 P of the embodiment may be a  4 × 4  matrix. In another embodiment, the lighting devices  11 A˜ 11 P may be arranged by different ways so as to be in line with actual needs. As a result, in this embodiment, the control module  111  of each of the lighting devices  11 A˜ 11 E,  11 G˜ 11 P can effectively determine whether the lighting device corresponding to the control module  111  is adjacent to the lighting device  11 F malfunctioning. In another embodiment, the identification code record can also include other different information. For example, the identification code record can record the position of each of the lighting devices and the lighting devices adjacent thereto, such that each lighting device can directly determine which of the other lighting devices are adjacent thereto. 
     In this embodiment, the control modules  111  of the lighting devices  11 B,  11 E,  11 G,  11 J can determine that the lighting devices  11 B,  11 E,  11 G,  11 J are adjacent to the lighting device  11 F malfunctioning according to the identification code record and the identification codes thereof. In the meanwhile, the control modules  111  of the lighting devices  11 B,  11 E,  11 G,  11 J can adjust and increase the brightness of the light-emitting modules  115  thereof via the dimming modules  114  thereof. The control modules  111  of the lighting devices  11 B,  11 E,  11 G,  11 J stop increasing the brightness of the light-emitting modules  115  thereof until the light intensity detection modules  113  thereof detect that the illumination of the lighting zone has been substantially equal to (or greater than) the predetermined value. 
     If two or more of the lighting devices  11 A˜ 11 P malfunction at the same time, the above mechanism can also keep the illumination of the lighting zone being substantially equal to (or greater than) the predetermined value, so the lighting system  1  can actually satisfy actual needs. 
     The embodiment just exemplifies the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention; any equivalent modification and variation according to the spirit of the present invention is to be also included within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  5   , which is a second schematic view of the lighting system with illumination-balancing function in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG.  5   , the lighting system  1  with illumination-balancing function can further provide a novel re-adjustment mechanism. When the illumination of the lighting zone cannot reach (or greater than) the predetermined value even if the control modules  111  of the lighting devices  11 B,  11 E,  11 G,  11 J keep increasing the brightness of the light-emitting modules  115  thereof via the dimming modules  114  thereof, the control module  111  of the lighting device  11 F can transmit a re-adjustment signal to the lighting devices  11 A,  11 C˜ 11 D,  11 H˜ 11 I,  11 K˜ 11 P, not malfunctioning and not adjacent to the lighting device  11 F malfunctioning. Then, the control modules  111  of the lighting devices  11 A,  11 C˜ 11 D,  11 H˜ 11 I,  11 K˜ 11 P can adjust and increase the brightness of the light-emitting modules  115  thereof via the dimming modules  114  thereof. The control modules  111  of the lighting devices  11 A,  11 C˜ 11 D,  11 H˜ 11 I,  11 K˜ 11 P stop increasing the brightness of the light-emitting modules  115  thereof until the light intensity detection modules  113  thereof detect that the illumination of the lighting zone has been substantially equal to (or greater than) the predetermined value. In this embodiment, the brightness of the lighting devices  11 A,  11 C˜ 11 D,  11 H˜ 11 I,  11 K˜ 11 P may be less than the brightness of the lighting devices  11 B,  11 E,  11 G,  11 J after the re-adjustment mechanism is executed. In another embodiment, the brightness of the lighting devices  11 A,  11 C˜ 11 D,  11 H˜ 11 I,  11 K˜ 11 P may be equal to or greater than the brightness of the lighting devices  11 B,  11 E,  11 G,  11 J after the re-adjustment mechanism is executed. 
     As previously stated, the above technical means allows the lighting system  1  can provide an effective illumination balancing control mechanism. Thus, when any one of the lighting devices in any one of the lighting zones malfunctions, the brightness of the lighting devices, not malfunctioning and adjacent to the lighting device malfunctioning, can be increased in order to make the illumination of the lighting zone be substantially equal to (or greater than) the predetermined value. In this way, each of the lighting zones can always have the appropriate illumination. 
     If two or more of the lighting devices  11 A˜ 11 P malfunction at the same time, the aforementioned re-adjustment mechanism can more effectively make sure that the illumination of the lighting zone can be substantially equal to (or greater than) the predetermined value, so the lighting system  1  can actually satisfy actual needs. 
     The embodiment just exemplifies the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention; any equivalent modification and variation according to the spirit of the present invention is to be also included within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. 
     It is worthy to point out that currently available lighting systems fail to provide an appropriate mechanism to solve the problem that the illumination of a lighting zone decreases when any one of the lighting devices in the lighting zone malfunctions. On the contrary, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the lighting system with illumination-balancing function provides an illumination-balancing control mechanism. Thus, when any one of the lighting devices of any one of the lighting zones malfunctions, the brightness of the lighting devices, not malfunctioning and adjacent to the lighting device malfunctioning, can increase so as to make the illumination of the lighting zone be substantially equal to a predetermined value. In this way, the lighting zone can always have the ideal illumination. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the control module of each of the lighting devices can determine those lighting devices adjacent to the lighting device according to an identification code record and the identification code of the lighting device. Therefore, the lighting system can swiftly and effectively implement the illumination-balancing control mechanism in order to provide the illumination-balancing function. 
     Besides, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the lighting system with illumination-balancing function can swiftly and effectively execute the illumination-balancing control mechanism. Therefore, even if several lighting devices of any one of the lighting zones malfunction, the lighting system can still make the illumination of the lighting zone be substantially equal to the predetermined value. Accordingly, the lighting zone can always have the ideal illumination. As described above, the lighting system with illumination-balancing function according to the embodiments of the present invention can really achieve great technical effects. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  6   , which is a flow chart of a control method for balancing the illumination of a lighting system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG.  6   , the control method for balancing the illumination of the lighting system of this embodiment includes the following steps: 
     Step S 61 : distributing a plurality of lighting devices over a lighting zone. 
     Step S 62 : creating an identification code record according to the order of the identification codes of the lighting devices. 
     Step S 63 : transmitting a malfunctioning signal by one of the lighting devices to the other lighting devices not malfunctioning when the lighting device malfunctions. 
     Step S 64 : each of the lighting devices not malfunctioning determining whether the lighting device is adjacent to the lighting device malfunctioning according to the identification code record and the identification code thereof. 
     Step S 65 : making the brightness of each of the lighting devices, not malfunctioning and adjacent to the lighting device malfunctioning, increase so as to make the illumination of the lighting zone be substantially equal to a predetermined value. 
     Step S 66 : transmitting a re-adjustment signal to the lighting devices, not malfunctioning and not adjacent to the lighting device malfunctioning, according to the identification code record and the identification code of the lighting device malfunctioning by the lighting device malfunctioning so as to increase the brightness of at least one of the lighting devices, not malfunctioning and not adjacent to the lighting device malfunctioning, and make the illumination of the lighting zone be substantially equal to the predetermined value. 
     The embodiment just exemplifies the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention; any equivalent modification and variation according to the spirit of the present invention is to be also included within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. 
     Although the operations of the method(s) herein are shown and described in a particular order, the order of the operations of each method may be altered so that certain operations may be performed in an inverse order or so that certain operations may be performed, at least in part, concurrently with other operations. In another embodiment, instructions or sub-operations of distinct operations may be implemented in an intermittent and/or alternating manner. 
     To sum up, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the lighting system with illumination-balancing function provides an illumination-balancing control mechanism. Thus, when any one of the lighting devices of any one of the lighting zones malfunctions, the brightness of the lighting devices, not malfunctioning and adjacent to the lighting device malfunctioning, can increase so as to make the illumination of the lighting zone be substantially equal to a predetermined value. In this way, the lighting zone can always have the ideal illumination. 
     Also, according to one embodiment of the present invention, each of the lighting devices of the lighting system with illumination-balancing function includes a control module. The control module can determine those lighting devices adjacent to the lighting device according to an identification code record and the identification code of the lighting device. Therefore, the lighting system can swiftly and effectively implement the illumination-balancing control mechanism in order to provide the illumination-balancing function. 
     Further, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the lighting system with illumination-balancing function can swiftly and effectively execute the illumination-balancing control mechanism. Therefore, even if several lighting devices of any one of the lighting zones malfunction, the lighting system can still make the illumination of the lighting zone be substantially equal to the predetermined value. Accordingly, the lighting zone can always have the ideal illumination. 
     Moreover, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the lighting system with illumination-balancing function can swiftly and effectively execute the illumination-balancing control mechanism, so the lighting system can conform to the future developing tendency, such as Internet-of-Things (IoT) and intelligent city. Thus, the lighting system can be more comprehensive in application. 
     Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the design of the lighting system with illumination-balancing function is simple, so the lighting system can achieve the desired technical effects without significantly increasing the cost thereof. As a result, the lighting system can achieve high commercial value. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.