Patent Description:
In nowadays techniques of light boards, the stability of driving currents provided for light emitting elements are usually improved to stable the intensity of emitted lights and to avoid flicker. However, for some special purposes, the light emitting elements are controlled to provide flickering lights at a certain frequency, and therefore it may loss some advantages related to lights without flicker. Hence, how to design a lighting device able to control the light emitting elements to provide flickering lights at the specific frequency, and combine the advantages related to the lights without flicker is an issue deserved to be studied.

<CIT>, is about a parallel circuit for light-emitting diodes that includes a first power wire, a second power wire, a first LED, a second LED, a switch, and a controller. The first LED has two ends respectively connected to the first power wire and the second power wire. The second LED and the switch are serially connected into a series circuit. One end of the series circuit is connected to the first power wire, and the other end of the series circuit is connected to the second power wire. The switch changes between a conductive state and a non-conductive state according to a switching frequency. The controller is electrically connected to the first power wire and the second power wire. The controller supplies electric power to the first power wire and the second power wire, to generate a voltage difference between the first power wire and the second power wire.

To achieve the aforesaid purpose, one aspect of the present disclosure is related to a lighting device. The lighting device includes a light board and a light dimmer circuit. The light board includes a plurality of first light emitting elements and a plurality of second light emitting elements. The first light emitting elements are disposed in a first area of the lighting device. The second light emitting elements are disposed in a second area of the lighting device. The light dimmer circuit is configured to drive the second light emitting elements to generate flickering lights from the second area of the lighting device, and configured to drive the first light emitting elements to generate non-flickering lights from the first area of the lighting device.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the flickering lights have a flicker frequency. The flicker frequency is a frequency perceptible by human visual system.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first area is surrounded around the second area.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the light dimmer circuit comprises a pure DC current generating circuit and a pulse DC current generating circuit. The pure DC current generating circuit is configured to generate a pure DC current to drive the first light emitting elements to emit the non-flickering lights. The pulse DC current generating circuit is configured to generate a pulse DC current to drive the second light emitting elements to emit the flickering lights, wherein a pulse frequency of the pulse DC current corresponds to a flicker frequency of the flickering lights.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a difference between high logic level and low logic level of the pulse DC current is less than ½ times of an amplitude of the pure DC current.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a difference between high logic level and low logic level of the pulse DC current is less than ¼ times of an amplitude of the pure DC current.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, logic level of the pulse DC current is set in a range of <NUM>~<NUM> times of an amplitude of the pure DC current.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the flicker frequency is set in a range of <NUM>~<NUM>.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first light emitting elements have a specification same with the second light emitting elements.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the non-flickering lights comprise a non-visible-flicker, wherein the non-visible-flicker is hard to be perceptible by human visual system.

The other aspect of the present disclosure is related to a lighting device. The lighting device includes a light board and a light dimmer circuit. The light board includes a plurality of first light emitting elements and a plurality of second light emitting elements. The light dimmer circuit is configured to drive the first light emitting elements by a pure DC voltage/current, and configured to drive the second light emitting elements by a pulse DC voltage/current.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the light dimmer circuit is configured to drive the first light emitting elements with the pure DC current to emit non-flickering lights, and the light dimmer circuit is configured to drive the second light emitting elements with the pulse DC current to emit flickering lights.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the flickering lights have a flicker frequency, wherein the flicker frequency is perceptible by human visual system.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the light dimmer circuit comprises a pure DC current generating circuit and a pulse DC current generating circuit. The pure DC current generating circuit is configured to generate a pure DC current to drive the first light emitting elements to emit non-flickering lights. The pulse DC current generating circuit is configured to generate a pulse DC current to drive the second light emitting elements to emit flickering lights, wherein a pulse frequency of the pulse DC current corresponds to a flicker frequency of the flickering lights.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the non-flickering lights comprise non-visible-flicker, wherein the non-visible-flicker is hard to be perceptible by human visual system.

Summary, the present disclosure utilizes the light dimmer circuit to drive the first light emitting elements to generate the non-flickering lights and to drive the second light emitting elements disposing in the same light board to generate the flickering lights.

The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiment, with reference made to the accompanying drawings as follows:.

Reference is made to <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a lighting device <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the lighting device <NUM> includes a lamp <NUM>, a light board <NUM>, a light dimming circuit <NUM> and a power supply circuit <NUM>. In some embodiments, the light board <NUM> can be implemented by light emitting diode light board. In other embodiments, the light board <NUM> can be implemented by mini light emitting diode light board or other light emitting element. Therefore, it is not intended to limit the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, the power supply circuit <NUM> can be implemented by the mains electricity or AC electricity. In other embodiments, the power supply circuit <NUM> can be implemented by the DC electricity, such as, the DC current provided by an electrical device through a universal serial bus interface. The light dimming circuit <NUM> is configured to convert the power supplied by the power supply circuit <NUM> to a pure direct-current voltage/current and a pulse direct-current voltage/current to drive the light board <NUM> to emit lights.

Reference is made to <FIG> is a function block of the lighting device <NUM> in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the lighting device <NUM> includes a light board <NUM>, a light dimming circuit <NUM> and a power supply circuit <NUM>. The light board <NUM> includes multiple light emitting elements <NUM> disposing in a first area Z1 of the light board <NUM> and multiple light emitting elements <NUM> disposing in a second area Z2 of the light board <NUM>. The first area Z1 is outside of/surrounded around the second area Z2.

The light dimming circuit <NUM> includes a power conversion circuit <NUM>, a pure direct-current (DC) voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> and a pulse direct-current (DC) voltage/current generating circuit <NUM>. In some embodiments, the power conversion circuit <NUM> can be implemented by a AC-DC conversion circuit or a DC-DC conversion circuit, so as to buck and rectifier the AC/DC power transmitted from the power supply circuit <NUM>, and output DC power to the pure DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> and the pulse DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM>.

The pure DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> is configured to generate pure DC voltage/current to drive the light emitting elements <NUM> disposing in the light board <NUM> to provide/generate non-flickering lights. The pulse DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> is configured to generate pulse DC voltage/current to drive the light emitting elements <NUM> disposing in the light board <NUM> to provide/generate flickering lights. The aforesaid flickering lights have a flicker frequency which can be perceptible by human visual system. The aforesaid non-flickering lights can be considered as non-visible-flickering lights which may include non-visible-flicker which is hard to be perceptible by human visual system. In some embodiments, the aforesaid flicker frequency of the flickering lights has benefits to treat or improve certain diseases, or to provide some stimulation for human brain. In some embodiments, the flicker frequency can be set at <NUM>, so as to treat, improve or prevent brain function decline, such as, degenerative nerve disease (e.g. Alzheimer's disease) or neurodegenerative disease.

To be noted that, since the light emitting elements <NUM> in the first area Z1 of the light board <NUM> are disposed outside of/surrounded around the light emitting elements <NUM> in the second area Z2, and the light emitting elements <NUM> disposing on the periphery of the light board <NUM> is driven by the pure DC voltage/current to emit/generate the non-flickering lights, so as to decrease the uncomfortable feelings in human's visual caused from the flickering light. And, the human visual perception for the flickering-lights can be decreased, while maintaining the benefits for treating, improving or preventing brain function decline, such as, degenerative nerve disease (e.g. Alzheimer's disease) or neurodegenerative disease.

Reference is made to <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a pure DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> in <FIG> in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the pure DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> includes a DC-DC conversion circuit <NUM>, a diode D1, an inductor Lcc, a capacitor C1 and a current control unit <NUM>.

The DC-DC conversion circuit <NUM> includes an input capacitor Cin, a switch circuit <NUM> and a first transformer T1. The input capacitor Cin is connected to an input terminal of the DC-DC conversion circuit <NUM>, and is configured to receive the DC supply voltage V1 provided form the power conversion circuit <NUM>. The current control unit <NUM> is configured to control the switching frequency of the switch circuit <NUM> (the switch Q1), so as to transmit the pulse current through the primary winding coil N11 and the secondary winding coil N12 of the transformer T1 to a first terminal of the diodeD1, such that the diodeD1, the inductor Lcc and the capacitor C1 converts the pulse current to a pure DC voltage/current and provides the pure DC voltage/current to the light emitting elements 112a. The light emitting elements 112a can correspond to the light emitting elements <NUM> in <FIG>.

Reference is made to <FIG> is a schematic diagram of intensity LV1 of lights emitted by the light emitting elements <NUM> driven by the pure DC voltage/current generating circuit in <FIG> in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, since the pure DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> provides the pure DC voltage/current to drive the light emitting elements <NUM> in the light board <NUM>, the lights emitted by the light emitting elements <NUM> can be maintained at intensity LV1, such that the light emitting elements <NUM> can emit non-flickering lights. In some embodiments, the pure DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> can control the amplitude of the pure DC voltage/current, so as to adjust the intensity LV1 of the light emitting elements <NUM> based on the amplitude of the pure DC voltage/current.

To be noted that, in the embodiments of <FIG>, the circuit architecture of the pure DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> is an example. The pure DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> of the light dimming circuit <NUM> can be implemented by other circuit able to generate the pure DC voltage/current. Therefore, it is not intended to limit the present disclosure.

Reference is made to <FIG>, <FIG>. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a pulse DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> in <FIG> in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a waveform of the current Iac in <FIG>. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a waveform of the current Io in <FIG>. The pulse DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> includes a DC-AC conversion circuit <NUM>, a resonant circuit <NUM>, a power transformer <NUM>, a rectifier circuit <NUM> and a control unit <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the DC-AC conversion circuit <NUM> can be implemented by a half-bridge DC/AC converter, a full-bridge DC/AC converter or class-E converter. Therefore, it is not intended to limit the present disclosure. Correspondingly, in the embodiment of <FIG>, the pulse DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> is an example. The pulse DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> of the light dimming circuit <NUM> can be implemented by other circuit able to generate the pulse DC voltage/current. Therefore, it is not intended to limit the present disclosure. The DC-AC conversion circuit <NUM> includes two power switches, which are power switches Qs1 and Qs2, configured to receive the input DV voltage Vb, and to convert the input DV voltage Vb to the AC voltage. The resonant circuit <NUM> is electrically coupled to the DC-AC conversion circuit <NUM>, so as to receive the AC voltage, and to convert the AC voltage to a resonant voltage.

The resonant circuit <NUM> includes a resonant capacitor Cr and a LLC resonant circuit, formed by two inductors Lr and Lm. The power transformer <NUM> includes a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding is electrically coupled to the resonant circuit <NUM> to receive the resonant voltage and output the AC driving voltage.

The control unit <NUM> receives an external light dimming control signal dim. The external light dimming control signal dim is a pulse signal provided by a microcontroller (not shown) or a pulse width modulation generation circuit. In the cycle TP, when the external light dimming control signal dim has a high logic level, the control unit <NUM> generates the control signals Vg1 and Vg2 to control the current Iac oscillates at a relatively large amplitude, and provides the current Iac to the rectifier circuit <NUM>, such that the rectifier circuit <NUM> converts the current Iac to the current Io (or the driving voltage Vdri) at a high logic level AH2; and when the external light dimming control signal dim has a low logic level, the control unit <NUM> generates the control signals Vg1 and Vg2 to control the current Iac oscillates at a relatively small amplitude, such that the rectifier circuit <NUM> converts the current Iac to the current Io (or the driving voltage Vdri) at a low logic level AL2, so as to drive the light emitting elements 114b, and perform the light dimming on the light emitting elements 114b by controlling the electric current, such that the light emitting elements 114b emits flickering-lights. In some embodiments, a pulse frequency of the external light dimming control signal dim can be set at <NUM>~<NUM> (a time length of the cycle TP can be set at a range of <NUM>~<NUM>, correspondingly), and the light emitting elements 114b can emits flickering-lights at a corresponding flicker frequency. In some embodiments, the pulse frequency of the external light dimming control signal dim can be set at <NUM>, such that the light emitting elements 114b can emits flickering-lights at a corresponding flicker frequency (e.g., <NUM>). The light emitting elements 114b can correspond to the light emitting elements <NUM> in <FIG>.

Reference is made to <FIG> is a schematic diagram of intensity of lights emitted by the light emitting elements <NUM> driven by the pulse DC voltage/current generating circuit in <FIG> in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, since the pulse DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> provides the pulse DC voltage/current to drive the light emitting elements <NUM> in the light board <NUM>, the light emitting elements <NUM> emit flickering-lights flickering at an interval between a high intensity LVH2 and a low intensity LVL2 based on the said pulse DC voltage/current. The pulse cycle TP of the said pulse DC voltage/current correspond to the flickering cycle of the flickering-light emitted by the light emitting elements <NUM>. Therefore, the flickering cycle/flicker frequency of the flickering-light emitted by the light emitting elements <NUM> can be controlled by setting the pulse cycle of the pulse DC voltage/current.

For example, the pulse DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> provides a pulse DC voltage/current with a flickering cycle <NUM>/<NUM> or <NUM>/<NUM> seconds, and the light emitting elements <NUM> correspondingly emit the flickering-lights at the flicker frequency of <NUM> or <NUM>. As a result, the light emitting elements <NUM> emits the flickering-lights at the certain flicker frequency.

In some embodiments, the flicker frequency of the flickering-lights emitted by the light emitting elements <NUM> can be set in a range of <NUM>~<NUM>, so as to treat the related disease. In some embodiments, the flicker frequency of the flickering-lights emitted by the light emitting elements <NUM> can be set at <NUM>, so as to treat, improve or prevent brain function decline, such as, degenerative nerve disease (e.g. Alzheimer's disease) or neurodegenerative disease.

In some embodiments, the light emitting elements <NUM> and <NUM> have the same specification, and maximum amplitudes of the electrical currents provided by the pure DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> and the pulse DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> are the same. Therefore, if a pure DC voltage/current generated by the pure DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> has a maximum value, high and low logic levels of the pulse DC voltage/current generated by the pulse DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> can be set in a range of <NUM>~<NUM> times of the maximum value of the pure DC voltage/current generated by the pure DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM>.

In some embodiments, a difference between the high logic level AH1 and the low logic level AL2 of the pulse DC voltage/current generated by the pulse DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> is less than ½ times of the amplitude of the pure DC voltage/current. In this case, the perceptible capability for perceiving the flicker by human's visual can be decreased, and the patient experience can be improved while maintaining the best effect of the treatment.

In other embodiments, a difference between the high logic level AH1 and the low logic level AL2 of the pulse DC voltage/current generated by the pulse DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> is less than ¼ times of the amplitude of the pure DC voltage/current. In this case, the perceptible capability for perceiving the flicker by human's visual can be rapidly decreased, so as to improve the patient experience during the treatment of the certain disease under a condition that the flicker will be hard to be perceptible by human visual system.

Reference is made to <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a light board <NUM> in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the light board <NUM> includes light emitting elements <NUM> disposed in a first area Z1 of the light board <NUM> and light emitting elements <NUM> disposed in a second area Z2 of the light board <NUM>. In some embodiments, the light board <NUM> of the lighting device <NUM> in <FIG> can be implemented by the light board <NUM> shown in <FIG>. In the embodiments of <FIG>, the light board <NUM> illustrated in a circle shape/structure is an embodiment. Compare to the light board <NUM> of the lighting device <NUM> in <FIG>, the different of the light board <NUM> in <FIG> is that, the light board <NUM> can be designed in a square shape/structure. The other connection relationship and operation manner/function of the light emitting elements <NUM> and <NUM> in the light board <NUM> are respectively similar or equal to the light emitting elements <NUM> and <NUM> of the light board <NUM> in <FIG>, and therefore the description is omitted here.

Reference is made to <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a light board <NUM> in accordance with the other embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the light board <NUM> includes light emitting elements <NUM> disposed in a first area Z1 of the light board <NUM> and light emitting elements <NUM> disposed in a second area Z2 of the light board <NUM>. In some embodiments, the light board <NUM> of the lighting device <NUM> in <FIG> can be implemented by the light board <NUM> in <FIG>.

Compare to the light board <NUM> of the lighting device <NUM> in <FIG>, the different of the light board <NUM> in <FIG> is that, the light board <NUM> can be designed in a rectangular shape/structure. The other connection relationship and operation manner/function of the light emitting elements <NUM> and <NUM> in the light board <NUM> are respectively similar or equal to the light emitting elements <NUM> and <NUM> of the light board <NUM> in <FIG>, and therefore the description is omitted here.

To be noted that, although in the embodiments of <FIG>, <FIG>, the light emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> in the first area Z1 are surrounded around the light emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> in the second area Z2, but it is not intended to limit the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the first area Z1 for disposing the light emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> can be "U" shaped or two parallel lines shape surrounded around the second area Z2 for disposing the light emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM>, such the light emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> can be disposed in the middle of the light board <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM>. In some embodiments, the arrangement relationship between the light emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> in the first area Z1 and the light emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> in the second area Z2 is a parallel configuration instead of the surround configuration.

Reference is made to <FIG> is a function block of a lighting device <NUM> in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the lighting device <NUM> includes a power supply circuit <NUM>, a light dimming circuit <NUM> and a light board <NUM>. The light dimming circuit <NUM> includes power conversion circuits <NUM> and <NUM>, a pure DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> and a pulse DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM>.

Compare to the light dimming circuit <NUM> of the lighting device <NUM> in <FIG>, the different of the light dimming circuit <NUM> in <FIG> is that, the number of the power conversion circuits. Specifically, the light dimming circuit <NUM> includes the power conversion circuits <NUM> and <NUM>. In structure, the power supply circuit <NUM> is electrically coupled to the power conversion circuit <NUM>, and the power conversion circuit <NUM> is electrically coupled to the pure DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM>. The pure DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> is electrically coupled to the light emitting elements <NUM> disposed in the light board <NUM>. In function, the power conversion circuit <NUM> is configured to converts the power provided by the power supply circuit <NUM> to the DC voltage and provides the DC voltage to the pure DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM>, such that the pure DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> generates the pure DC voltage/current to drive the light emitting elements <NUM> in the light board <NUM> to emit the non-flickering lights.

Similarly, the power supply circuit <NUM> is electrically coupled to the power conversion circuit <NUM>, the power conversion circuit <NUM> is electrically coupled to the pulse DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM>, and the pulse DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> is electrically coupled to the light emitting elements <NUM> in the light board <NUM>. In function, the power conversion circuit <NUM> is configured to convert the power provided by the power supply circuit <NUM> to the DC voltage and provides the DC voltage to the pulse DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM>, such that the pulse DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> generates pulse DC voltage/current to drive the light emitting elements <NUM> in the light board <NUM> to emit the flickering lights.

The other connection relationship and operation manner/function of the power conversion circuits <NUM> and <NUM>, the pure DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> and the pulse DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> in the light dimming circuit <NUM> are respectively similar/equal to the power conversion circuit <NUM>, the pure DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> and the pulse DC voltage/current generating circuit <NUM> in the light dimming circuit <NUM> in <FIG>, and therefore the description is omitted here.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a bulb lamp <NUM> in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the lamp <NUM> is implemented by a light bulb, and the light board <NUM> in a circle shape can be disposed in the bulb lamp <NUM>. In other embodiments, the light board disposing in the bulb lamp <NUM> can be replaced by the light board <NUM> in a square shape. Therefore, it is not intended to limit the present disclosure.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a floor lamp <NUM> in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the lamp <NUM> is a floor lamp, and the light board <NUM> in a rectangular shape can be disposed in the lamp <NUM>. In other embodiments, the light board disposing in the floor lamp <NUM> can be replaced by the light board <NUM> in a square shape or the light board <NUM> in a circle shape. Therefore, it is not intended to limit the present disclosure.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a desk lamp <NUM> in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the lamp <NUM> is a desk lamp, and the light board <NUM> in a circle shape can be disposed in the lamp <NUM>. In other embodiments, the light board disposing in the desk lamp <NUM> can be replaced by the light board <NUM> in a square shape or the light board <NUM> in a rectangular shape. Therefore, it is not intended to limit the present disclosure.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a recessed lamp <NUM> in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the lamp <NUM> is a recessed lamp, and the light board <NUM> in a circle shape can be disposed in the recessed lamp <NUM>. In other embodiments, the light board disposing in the recessed lamp <NUM> can be replaced by the light board <NUM> in a rectangular shape. Therefore, it is not intended to limit the present disclosure. To be noted that, in the embodiments of <FIG>, the lamp <NUM> of the lighting device <NUM> can be replaced by the lamp <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> in <FIG>, or other kind of lamps. Therefore, it is not intended to limit the present disclosure.

Claim 1:
A lighting device (<NUM>, <NUM>), comprising:
a light board (<NUM>), comprising:
a plurality of first light emitting elements (<NUM>), disposed in a first area (Z1) of the light board (<NUM>); and
a plurality of second light emitting elements (<NUM>), disposed in a second area (Z2) of the light board (<NUM>);
characterised in that the lighting device further comprises
a light dimmer circuit (<NUM>, <NUM>), configured to drive the second light emitting elements (<NUM>) to generate flickering lights from the second area (Z2) of the light board (<NUM>), and configured to drive the first light emitting elements (<NUM>) to generate non-flickering lights from the first area (Z1) of the light board (<NUM>), and
wherein the first area (Z1) is surrounded around the second area (Z2).