Patent ID: 12213222

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

InFIG.7, a lighting apparatus includes a first LED module607, a second LED module611, a rectifier609, a power circuit605, a time detector614, a wall switch circuit615and a controller613. There is a housing601for holding these components.

The housing601is changed depending on different light device types, e.g. a downlight device, a panel light device, a spot light device and/or even a light bulb device.

The first LED module607has a first light parameter. The second LED module610has a second light parameter.

The first light parameter is different from the second light parameter, e.g. different colors, different color temperatures, different color rendering indexes.

In some other embodiments, there may be more types of LED modules. With two or more LED modules, light of required parameters may be obtained by mixing the first LED module, the second LED module and/or other additional light sources.

The rectifier609converts an AC power603to a DC power604. The AC power603may be a 110V AC power. LED modules unlike traditional light sources need direct current source. Thus, the rectifier609may include a transformer, a filter and/or other components to generate a stable DC power.

The power circuit605converts the DC power604to a first driving current6071and a second driving current6771respectively supplied to the first LED module607and the second LED module611.

The time detector614detects a voltage time variation of the DC power604.

In different embodiments, the time detector614may be implemented with different ways. For example, the time detector614may be implemented as an analog circuit, which uses a capacitor with a calculated capacity to filter voltage variation within a certain time period. If the voltage variation is larger than the time period, the overflowed signal may be detected by the controller, thus making the capacitor as a time detector614.

In some other embodiments, the time detector614may be made with a digital circuit. In such way, a clock with associated circuit may be used for counting time passed when detecting a voltage variation.

It is found that voltage variation may occur due to some types of wall switches but not occur in some other types of wall switches. For those wall switches that may cause voltage variation, e.g. TRIAC switch, the time detector615is disposed for finding such factor and provides the information to the controller613to prevent error judgement of color adjustment.

For example, users may just try to turn on or turn off a light, but the wall switch causes a time variation, making the controller make wrong decision to change color temperature, which may confuse the users.

The wall switch circuit615is selectively coupled to a wall switch616mounted on a wall for converting an wall switch operation of the wall switch616to a control signal.

The wall switch operation may vary depending on different types of wall switches. It is important and flexible if the controller may detect and adapt its operation to fit various wall switches, including traditional wall switches.

The controller613is coupled to the wall switch circuit615and the time detector614for determining whether to adjust a current ratio between the first driving current6071and the second driving current6111according both the voltage time variation and the control signal.

In some embodiments, if the voltage time variation is smaller than a predetermined time period, even the wall switch operation instructs a mixing adjustment to the controller, the controller ignores the wall switch operation.

In some embodiments, the wall switch is a TRIAC switch.

In some embodiments, the wall switch operation is performed by a user for operating the wall switch with a series of operation patterns within an operation time period.

In some embodiments, the series of operation patterns are a sequence of on-off operations. For example, when users press turn-on and turn-off for three times within 3 seconds may be associated to a first wall switch operation. When users press turn-on for 2 seconds and then turn-off for 1 second may be associated to a second wall switch operation. Different wall switch operations may instruct the controller613to do different tasks, e.g. to change color temperature, to change color and/or other things. Multiple wall switch operations may be combined as a complete operation to make the operation more flexible.

In some embodiments, the series of operation patterns are a sequence of amount variation operations. For example, to turn the light intensity rotation button to a largest level and then turn it to lowest level within 2 seconds may be associated to a first wall switch operation.

In some embodiments, the wall switch has a visible code630to be scanned by a mobile phone for connecting to a configuration guideline web page.

Specifically, when users want to configure the setting of the controller613. Users may rely on the wall switch. However, the wall switch may be a simple device, e.g. an on/off switch and thus tells little information on how to operate it.

In such case, a QR code or some other codes may be provided on the surface of the wall switch so that users may scan the code630to access to a remote web page, which provides guidelines.

When the user operates the wall switch as indicated in the guidelines, an input pattern is recognized and recorded by the controller613to customize the settings as indicated by the user.

The guideline web page instructs a user to operate the wall switch to perform multiple input patterns to be associated with different control signals of the controller.

In some embodiments, the controller records the input patterns of the user and associates the input patterns with different control signals of the controller.

In some embodiments, the input patterns are selected by the user and memorized by the controller.

In some embodiments, the time detector has a clock shared with a wireless module coupled to the controller.

In some embodiments, the wireless module receives a setting from an external device617.

The setting is transmitted to the controller to change a length of the predetermined time period.

In some embodiments, the lighting apparatus may also include a manual switch610disposed on a housing containing the controller for adjusting a length of the predetermined time period. For example, the predetermined time period may have an initial value but it may cause inaccurate judgement for the controller613. In such case, the manual switch610, e.g. a sliding switch on the housing601may be disposed for users to fine-tune the predetermined time period and/or other parameters.

In some embodiments, the wall switch circuit detects a type of the wall switch.

When the type of the wall switch is in a first set, the voltage time variation is adopted for determining the current ratio adjustment.

When the type of the wall switch is in a second set, the voltage time variation is ignored for determining the current ratio adjustment.

In some embodiments, the first set includes TRIAC switch.

In some embodiments, the second set includes 0-10V switch.

In some embodiments, the lighting apparatus may also include a night light source608.

The first light LED module607and the second LED module611are activated in a first working mode, and.

The night light source608is activated in a second working mode.

The night light source608alternatively shares the power circuit with the first LED module607and the second LED module611.

Specifically, the night light source608may be used in night bed time and in such time, the first LED module607and the second LED module611are turned off completely. In the day time, the night light source608is turned off completely. They share the same power circuit605in different time or different working modes.

In some embodiments, the voltage time variation is ignored in the second working mode.

In some embodiments, the lighting apparatus may also include an energy change circuit631for lowering an overall power output of the power circuit in the second working mode.

In some embodiments, the controller switches the second working mode in an emergent case when the power circuit receives power from a battery618.

In some embodiments, the wall switch is operated to activate the first LED module and the second LED module for an temporary period in the emergent case.

The time detector614counts whether time has passed over the temporary period and instructs the controller to switch back to the second working mode.

Please refer toFIG.1, which shows a circuit diagram illustrating an example to implement above invention.

InFIG.1, there is a power source106, a filter circuit101, a driver circuit102, a power supply103, a controller105and a wall switch circuit104.

The filter101converts an AC power to a DC power. The driver circuit102generates driving currents to LED modules, as mentioned above. The power supply103generates corresponding power for the controller105. The controller105controls the driver circuit to adjust driving currents based on wall switch circuit104that may be integrated with a time detector mentioned above.

InFIG.2, the same reference numerals refer to the same components ofFIG.1. In addition to the components mentioned above, the filter circuit101may include a rectifier1011to convert an AC power to a DC power, and a filter1012to make the direct current more smooth.

InFIG.3, an exemplary detailed circuit diagram is provided to show a way to implement the circuit diagram inFIG.1andFIG.2. The reference numerals refer to the blocks mentioned inFIG.1andFIG.2.

FIG.4illustrates a time variation diagram obtained during an experiment to develop this invention.

InFIG.4, the voltage variation in point A, B, C are detected by the voltage time detector to determine whether it is an operation or just a noise caused by the wall switch.

FIG.5shows that when the voltage changing from high to low is larger than a time period or less than a time period, different operation, like to switch color temperature adjustment or not is performed.

FIG.6shows another detection point of the voltage variation over time.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings.

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.

Although the disclosure and examples have been fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being included within the scope of the disclosure and examples as defined by the claims.