Patent Description:
The time when the darkness is being lighten up by the light, human have noticed the need of lighting up this planet. Light has become one of the necessities we live with through the day and the night. During the darkness after sunset, there is no natural light, and human have been finding ways to light up the darkness with artificial light. From a torch, candles to the light we have nowadays, the use of light have been changed through decades and the development of lighting continues on.

Early human found the control of fire which is a turning point of the human history. Fire provides light to bright up the darkness that have allowed human activities to continue into the darker and colder hour of the hour after sunset. Fire gives human beings the first form of light and heat to cook food, make tools, have heat to live through cold winter and lighting to see in the dark.

Lighting is now not to be limited just for providing the light we need, but it is also for setting up the mood and atmosphere being created for an area. Proper lighting for an area needs a good combination of daylight conditions and artificial lights. There are many ways to improve lighting in a better cost and energy saving. LED lighting, a solid-state lamp that uses light-emitting diodes as the source of light, is a solution when it comes to energy-efficient lighting. LED lighting provides lower cost, energy saving and longer life span.

The major use of the light emitting diodes is for illumination. The light emitting diodes is recently used in light bulb, light strip or light tube for a longer lifetime and a lower energy consumption of the light. The light emitting diodes shows a new type of illumination which brings more convenience to our lives. Nowadays, light emitting diode light may be often seen in the market with various forms and affordable prices.

After the invention of LEDs, the neon indicator and incandescent lamps are gradually replaced. However, the cost of initial commercial LEDs was extremely high, making them rare to be applied for practical use. Also, LEDs only illuminated red light at early stage. The brightness of the light only could be used as indicator for it was too dark to illuminate an area. Unlike modern LEDs which are bound in transparent plastic cases, LEDs in early stage were packed in metal cases.

In <NUM>, Thomas Edison tried to make a usable light bulb after experimenting different materials. In November <NUM>, Edison filed a patent for an electric lamp with a carbon filament and keep testing to find the perfect filament for his light bulb. The highest melting point of any chemical element, tungsten, was known by Edison to be an excellent material for light bulb filaments, but the machinery needed to produce super-fine tungsten wire was not available in the late 19th century. Tungsten is still the primary material used in incandescent bulb filaments today.

Early candles were made in China in about <NUM> BC from whale fat and rice paper wick. They were made from other materials through time, like tallow, spermaceti, colza oil and beeswax until the discovery of paraffin wax which made production of candles cheap and affordable to everyone. Wick was also improved over time that made from paper, cotton, hemp and flax with different times and ways of burning. Although not a major light source now, candles are still here as decorative items and a light source in emergency situations. They are used for celebrations such as birthdays, religious rituals, for making atmosphere and as a decor.

Illumination has been improved throughout the times. Even now, the lighting device we used today are still being improved. From the illumination of the sun to the time when human can control fire for providing illumination which changed human history, we have been improving the lighting source for a better efficiency and sense. From the invention of candle, gas lamp, electric carbon arc lamp, kerosene lamp, light bulb, fluorescent lamp to LED lamp, the improvement of illumination shows the necessity of light in human lives.

There are various types of lighting apparatuses. When cost and light efficiency of LED have shown great effect compared with traditional lighting devices, people look for even better light output. It is important to recognize factors that can bring more satisfaction and light quality and flexibility.

Panel ight devices are widely used in various environment. Panel light devices usually have smaller thickness.

People like to have flexible control over panel light devices. For example, people like to change color temperatures or other parameters of panel light device to fit their needs. <CIT> and <CIT> present prior art lighting devices with controllable color temperatures.

Therefore, it is beneficial to provide a novel design with flexible and convenient way to adjust parameters of panel light devices.

In the following some embodiments (examples) are described. The invention is however only as defined in the appended claims.

In some embodiments, a lighting apparatus includes a light source plate, multiple light modules and a driver.

Multiple light modules are placed on the light source plate.

Each light module includes a LED package and a lens.

The LED package includes multiple sections.

At least a LED unit is placed in each section.

Each section has a pair of corresponding LED electrodes.

The driver is electrically connected to the LED electrodes for supplying an adjustable ratio of separate driving currents to the LED electrodes to generate a required light parameter by mixing multiple lights emitted by the LED units disposed in the sections of the light modules.

The lens has multiple lens areas for guiding lights of different sections in each light module to generate a mixed light via the lens.

In some embodiments, the LED package has a first section and a second section.

A first LED unit is placed in the first section covered with a first fluorescent layer. A second LED unit is place in the second section covered with a second fluorescent layer.

The first fluorescent layer and the second fluorescent layer have different compositions.

In some embodiments, the LED package has a package housing and a spacer wall.

The spacer wall separates the first section and the second section.

In some embodiments, the packaging housing has tilt bases for respectively placing the first LED unit and the second LED unit so that lights of the first LED unit and the second LED unit overlaps more than <NUM> percent in the lens.

In some embodiments, the first LED unit has at least one first type LED chip and one second type LED chip.

The second LED unit has at least one first type LED chip and one second type LED chip.

The driver adjusts the adjustable ratio of separate driving currents to generate the required light parameter.

In some embodiments, the LED package has a circular external shape.

In some embodiments, the first section is semi-circular shape and the second section is semi-circular shape.

In some embodiments, the light module has an aligning structure for aligning the lens with the LED package.

In some embodiments, the lens has a convex external curve surface.

In some embodiments, the lens has a concave curve inner dome facing to the LED package.

In some embodiments, the lens has multiple micro lenses for guiding lights of different sections to generate the mixed light via the lens.

In some embodiments, the lens has a package connector for aligning and coupling the LED package.

In some embodiments, the light source plate has multiple grooves for placing multiple light strips, the multiple light modules are placed on the light strips.

In some embodiments, the lighting apparatus may also include a light passing cover connected to the light source plate forming a container for enclosing the multiple light modules.

In some embodiments, the light passing cover has multiple cover lenses corresponding to the multiple light strips.

In some embodiments, the light strips are detachable to be replaced from the light source plate.

In some embodiments, the lens has a plugging structure for plugging on the light strip.

In some embodiments, the LED package is electrically connected to the driver when the lens is plugged on the light strip.

In some embodiments, the sections of the light modules are divided into a first group and a second group.

The LED electrodes of the sections of the first group and the LED electrodes of the sections of the second group are separately electrically connected to the driver.

In some embodiments, the first group is connected to a first connector and the second group is connected to a second connector.

The driver determines types of the first connector and the second connector to supply corresponding driving currents to the first group and the second group separately.

In <FIG>, a lighting apparatus includes a light source plate <NUM>, multiple light modules <NUM> and a driver <NUM>. In <FIG>, the light source plate <NUM> is illustrated with a minimized form for explaining the relation among components, not the actual ratio among components.

Multiple light modules <NUM> are placed on the light source plate <NUM>. In some embodiments, the light modules <NUM> are integrated on light strips placed on a plate as shown in <FIG>.

Each light module <NUM> includes a LED package <NUM> and a lens <NUM>.

The LED package <NUM> includes multiple sections, e.g. a first section <NUM> and a second section <NUM>.

At least a LED unit is placed in each section. The LED unit may have one or more LED chips. For example, the LED unit in the first section <NUM> has a first type LED chip <NUM> and a second type LED chip <NUM>. The LED unit in the second section <NUM> has a first type LED chip <NUM> and a second LED type chip <NUM>. The first type LED chip may have a different color temperature as the second type LED chip. But, the first type LED chip in the first section <NUM> may have a smaller size than the second type LED chip in the second section <NUM>.

By changing a relative ratio of driving currents supplied to the first section and the second section, a different color temperature is obtained.

Each section <NUM>, <NUM> has a pair of corresponding LED electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> so that the two sections are controlled separately by the driver <NUM>. For example, the driver <NUM> may supply different driving currents volumes to the two sections <NUM>, <NUM> to mix a required light parameter.

The driver is electrically connected to the LED electrodes for supplying an adjustable ratio of separate driving currents to the LED electrodes to generate a required light parameter by mixing multiple lights emitted by the LED units disposed in the sections of the light modules <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an example of mixing lights by a lens. In <FIG>, two LED units <NUM>, <NUM> emit lights <NUM>, <NUM> with an overlapping angle. The lens <NUM> further guides direction of the light <NUM>, <NUM> to lights <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> to diffuse and mix the lights <NUM>, <NUM> evenly.

In <FIG>, a first LED unit is placed in the first section covered with a first fluorescent layer <NUM>. A second LED unit is place in the second section <NUM> covered with a second fluorescent layer <NUM>.

The first fluorescent layer <NUM> and the second fluorescent layer <NUM> have different compositions. For example, different chemical fluorescent material are filled in the first section <NUM> and the second section <NUM> to get required output light parameters.

In some embodiments, the LED package <NUM> has a package housing <NUM> and a spacer wall <NUM>.

The spacer wall <NUM> separates the first section <NUM> and the second section <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the packaging housing has tilt bases <NUM> for respectively placing the first LED unit and the second LED unit so that lights of the first LED unit and the second LED unit overlaps more than <NUM> percent in the lens. In other words, most of lights are overlapped in the lens <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the LED package has a circular external shape, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

In some embodiments, the first section is semi-circular shape and the second section is semi-circular shape, as shown in <FIG>.

In some embodiments, the light module has an aligning structure <NUM> for aligning the lens with the LED package. For example, the LED package has a structure protruding pin and the lens has a socket corresponding to the protruding pin to align the lens and the LED package so as to diffuse light as planned.

In some embodiments, the lens has a convex external curve surface <NUM>, e.g. the top exterior surface of the lens <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the lens has a concave curve inner dome <NUM> facing to the LED package.

In some embodiments, the lens has multiple micro lenses <NUM> for guiding lights of different sections to generate the mixed light via the lens. Specifically, the lens may have a different way of design, by placing multiple micro lenses to guide lights in various directions.

In some embodiments, the lens has a package connector for aligning and coupling the LED package, like the aligning structure <NUM>, but may have an attaching structure to combine the two components.

In some embodiments, the light source plate has multiple grooves for placing multiple light strips, the multiple light modules are placed on the light strips, as shown in <FIG>. There is a light source plate <NUM> with grooves as an array for placing light strips <NUM> mounted with light modules <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the lighting apparatus may also include a light passing cover <NUM> connected to the light source plate <NUM> forming a container for enclosing the multiple light modules.

In some embodiments, the light passing cover has multiple cover lenses <NUM> corresponding to the multiple light strips <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the light strips are detachable to be replaced from the light source plate. For example, the light strip may have a plug structure like a traditional light tube.

In <FIG>, the LED units in the first group are integrated to the first connector <NUM>. The LED units in the second group are integrated to the second connector <NUM>.

The driver determines types of the first connector and the second connector to supply corresponding driving currents to the first group and the second group separately. The driver <NUM> is connected to the first connector <NUM> with a first terminal <NUM>. The drive <NUM> is connected to the second connector <NUM> with the second terminal <NUM>.

The driver <NUM> checks the type of the first connector <NUM> and the second connector <NUM> so as to determine a corresponding driving scheme to generate corresponding driving currents to the fist group and the second group of LED units to mix a required light parameter.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments.

Please refer to <FIG>. In <FIG>, a LED package <NUM> has a space wall <NUM> to divide the LED package into a first section <NUM> and a second section <NUM>. A first fluorescent layer and a second fluorescent layer are filled in the concave containers of the first section <NUM> and the second section <NUM>. There are LED units <NUM> placed in the first section <NUM> and the second section <NUM>. The LED units in the two sections respectively have two LED chips <NUM>.

<FIG> show a different view of the example in <FIG>. The same reference numerals in following drawings refer to the same components and may not be repeated for brevity.

In <FIG>, the first section has a concave area <NUM> and the second section has a concave area <NUM> to be filled with fluorescent layers.

<FIG> shows a top view of the example in <FIG>.

The two sections respectively have a positive electrode <NUM> and a negative electrode <NUM> so as to receive driving currents separately to change a relative ratio for getting a required mixed light parameter.

<FIG> shows a lens <NUM> with a dorm area <NUM> for placing the LED package <NUM>. The lens has a concave curve surface <NUM> for diffusing and mixing lights of different sections of the LED package <NUM>. The lens has a top exterior curve surface <NUM> for further diffusing the mixed lights.

<FIG> shows a top view of the lens <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a light source plate with multiple grooves <NUM> for placing multiple light strips <NUM>. Each light strip has light modules <NUM>.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the techniques and their practical applications. Others skilled in the art are thereby enabled to best utilize the techniques and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claim 1:
A lighting apparatus, comprising:
a light source plate (<NUM>);
multiple light modules (<NUM>,<NUM>) placed on the light source plate (<NUM>), wherein each light module (<NUM>) comprises a LED package (<NUM>) and a lens (<NUM>), wherein the LED package (<NUM>) comprises multiple sections, wherein at least a LED unit is placed in each section, wherein each section has a pair of corresponding LED electrodes (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
a driver (<NUM>) electrically connected to the LED electrodes (<NUM>, <NUM>) for supplying an adjustable ratio of separate driving currents to the LED electrodes (<NUM>, <NUM>) to generate a required light parameter by mixing multiple lights emitted by the LED units disposed in the sections of the light modules (<NUM>),
wherein the lens has multiple lens areas for guiding lights of different sections in each light module (<NUM>) to generate a mixed light via the lens (<NUM>),
wherein the light source plate has multiple grooves for placing multiple light strips (<NUM>), and the multiple light modules are placed on the light strips (<NUM>),
furthermore comprising a light passing cover (<NUM>) connected to the light source plate forming a container for enclosing the multiple light modules,
wherein the light passing cover (<NUM>) has multiple cover lenses (<NUM>) corresponding to the multiple light strips.