LED LIGHT APPARATUS WITH ADJUSTABLE CHARACTERISTIC
A light apparatus has a white set of LED modules and non-white set of LED modules. A control circuit is used for indicating an operation mode selected from at least a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the white set of LED modules are used for mixing a first output light and the in the second mode, the non-white set of LED modules are used for mixing a second output light. A wireless circuit may be used for receiving an external command to control the light apparatus.
This application claims priority of a provisional application No. 62/793,847.
FIELDThe present invention is related to a light apparatus and more particularly related to a LED light apparatus with adjustable characteristic.
BACKGROUNDWhen the LED technology keeps advancing, more types of LED light devices are developed and designed. There is always a strong need to find a convenient, low cost and flexible light apparatus for improving human life.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONIn some embodiments, a light apparatus includes a white set of LED (Light Emitted Diode) modules and a non-white set of LED modules. The white set of LED modules may include two or more than two LED modules. Each LED module may have one or more than one LED component, e.g. a packaged LED IC covered with fluorescent layer for emitting a light when receiving a driving current. There are more than two types of LED modules that emit different white lights, e.g. with different color temperatures, in the white set of LED modules.
The non-white set of LED modules may include two or more than two LED modules. Each LED module may have one or more than one LED component, e.g. a packaged LED IC covered with fluorescent layer for emitting a light when receiving a driving current. There are more than two types of LED modules that emit different lights, e.g. with different colors, in the non-white set of LED modules.
For example, the white set of LED modules has a first LED module and a second LED module. The first LED module emits a first light with a first color temperature and the second LED module emits a second light with a second color temperature. The first color temperature is different from the second color temperature. For example, the first LED module may emit a light with similar spectrum as sunrise white light, and the second LED module may emit a light with similar spectrum as noon white light.
For example, the non-white set of LED modules includes a third LED module and a fourth LED module. The third LED module emits a third light with a third color and the fourth LED module emits a fourth light with a fourth color. The third color is different from the fourth color. There may be a fifth LED module so that the third LED module, the fourth LED module and the fifth LED module emit red color, blue color and green color, respectively. By adjusting light strengths of non-white set of LED modules, a desired color may be mixed.
The light apparatus also has a control circuit for indicating an operation mode selected from at least a first mode and a second mode. The control circuit, for example, may be a digital circuit or integrated with a mechanic device for storing a status. Users may adjust a manual switch, operate a remote control for setting or adjusting the control circuit for indicating a different operation mode that may be selected from a first mode, a second mode and/or other modes.
A driver module is connected to the control circuit for selectively supplying currents to the first LED module, the second LED module, the third LED module, and the fourth LED module according to the operation mode. The driver module may include a current source, a PWM power circuit or other driver circuit types, for converting 110V or 220V AC to corresponding DC currents supplying to drive the white set of LED modules and the non-white set of LED modules. There may be multiple sub-modules in the driver module respectively for each LED module or for the white set and the for the non-white set of LED modules, respectively.
In the first mode, the first LED module and the second LED module are activated and the third LED module and the fourth LED module are deactivated for mixing a first output light using the first LED module and the second LED module. For example, no current is supplied to the non-white set of LED modules in the first mode. The first LED module and the second LED module are supplied with different currents to obtain different first output lights with different color temperatures.
In the second mode, the first LED and the second LED module are deactivated and the third LED module and the fourth LED module are activated for mixing a second output light using the third LED module and the fourth LED module. For example, the first LED module and the second LED module are turned off. The third LED module, the fourth LED module and maybe other LED module in the non-white set of LED modules are turned on to mix a desired color.
In some embodiments, the first output light is adjusted to a different color temperature by adjusting light strengths of the first LED module and the second LED module.
In some embodiments, the different color temperature of the first output light is obtained by changing a first current ratio of currents supplying to the first LED module and the second LED module.
In some embodiments, the different color temperature of the first output light is obtained by changing duty ratios of the first LED module and the second LED light module. In PWM power supplying, there is a duty ratio, the turned-on to turned-off ratio in a quickly repeated cycle, in PWM current supply. By adjusting the duty ratio, the overall output light strength is obtained. By adjusting the relative duty ratio between the first LED module and the second LED module, a different color temperature may be mixed.
In some embodiments, the first LED module and the second LED module emit lights simulating black body radiation spectrums corresponding to different sun light times. Black body radiation spectrum is used in Physics, for indicating light characteristics similar to sun light features.
In some embodiments, the non-white set of LED modules also includes a fifth LED module. The third LED module emits a red light, the fourth LED module emits a green light and the fifth LED module emits a blue light. The second output light is adjusted to have different colors by changing a output ratio of the third LED module, the fourth LED module and the fifth LED module.
In some embodiments, there is a wireless circuit connected to the control circuit for choosing the operation mode from the first mode and the second mode. The wireless circuit may implement Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other wireless protocols for receiving and/or transmitting signals to an external device like a mobile phone or a remote control.
In some embodiments, the wireless circuit also receives an external command for adjusting the first output light and the second output light. The external command may indicate a desired color temperature, a desired color, or a overall light strength for a luminance level.
In some embodiments, there is a manual switch manually operated by a user for indicating the control circuit to choose the operation mode from the first mode and the second mode. For example, the manual switch may be installed on a wall, on a back side of the light apparatus, on a remote control or on other places for users to operate for setting the light apparatus. The manual switch may be a button, a rotating switch, a touch panel, a jumper switch or other forms. The control circuit may receive the status of the manual switch and translate the status to choose a corresponding operation mode or other parameters.
For example, a light bulb as an example may be disposed with a manual switch near its bulb cap. Users may buy the same light bulb but switch the manual switch to set the output light of the light bulb to a desired color temperature or a desired color. This may decrease the storage in the store and users may even change the setting when they want to do so. Such mechanism may also be applied to down light, panel light, spot light or other light devices.
In some embodiments, the manual switch is concealed from direct user touch after installation of the light apparatus.
In some embodiments, the driver circuit has a shared current circuit for supplying a driving current to either the white set of LED modules or the non-white set of LED modules. As mentioned above, since the white set of LED module and the non-white set of LED modules may be set not turning on at the same time, there may be a shared current source supplying a common current source either supplying to the white set of LED modules or the non-white set of LED modules. In other words, in such design, there may be two sets of LED modules, but there may be only one set of driver circuit. Since the cost of LED modules are decreasing, the overall value of such design keeps increasing.
In some embodiments, the shared circuit switches the driving current to either the white set of LED modules or the non-white set of LED modules based on the operation mode.
In some embodiments, the driver module adjusts the first output light by changing duty ratios of the first LED module and the second LED module via PWM power supplying.
In some embodiments, the driver module adjusts the second output light by changing current ratios of the third LED module and the fourth LED module.
In some embodiments, the driver module activates both the white set of LED modules and the non-white set of LED modules in a third mode for generating a third output light.
In some embodiments, the driver module activates both the white set of LED modules and the non-white set of LED modules in a third mode for generating a third output light.
In some embodiments, a mixed color of the third output light is changed by adjusting the non-white set of LED modules.
In some embodiments, a mixed color temperature of the third output light is changed by adjusting the white set of LED modules.
In some embodiments, the white set of LED modules and the non-white set of LED modules are placed in an alternating mixed manner. Specifically, there may be multiple LED modules in the white set of LED modules and the non-white set of LED modules. To mix a better output light, the multiple LED modules may be disposed in an alternating mixed manner, e.g. different types of LED modules are placed next to each other while the same types of LED modules are distributed evenly on a light source plate.
In addition, since the first mode and the second mode determine that the white set of LED modules and the non-white set of LED modules are not turned on at the same time, one LED module of the white set of LED modules may be placed adjacent to one LED module of the non-white set of LED modules for achieving better heat dissipation, i.e. heat not accumulated at the same place.
In some embodiments, the control circuit switches to the first mode or the second mode when the white set of LED modules or the non-white set of LED modules are damaged.
This invention implements following concept in various light bulbs, downlight light, spot lights, any luminous devices and/or electronic devices with light components. LED (Light Emitted Diode) modules, not limited, are preferred in following embodiments.
In an embodiment, a light apparatus includes a white set of LED modules and a non-white set of LED modules. The white set of LED modules include multiple LED modules with more than one type of optical characteristic. For example, the white set of LED modules has a first LED module with a first color temperature that is close to sunrise sunshine. In addition, the white set of LED modules also has a second LED module with a second color temperature that is close to noon time sunshine. Both the first LED module and the second LED module are “white” LED modules although they may have different color temperatures.
The non-white set of LED modules may include LED modules with multiple colors that are not white. For example, the LED modules in the non-white LED set may emit red light, blue light or green light.
The LED modules in the white set of LED modules or the non-white set of LED modules may contain the same LED chips, e.g. blue light LED chips, covered with different fluorescent layers for converting the original light of the LED chips to desired optical characteristic, e.g. white lights with different color temperatures, red light, green light or blue light.
The light apparatus includes a driver circuit for providing a driving current supplying to the white set of LED modules and the non-white set of LED modules. The driver circuit may supply different current to change emitted light strengths of the white set of LED modules and the non-white set of LED modules to blend a mixed overall light of the LED light apparatus. For example, the LED modules of different color temperatures in the white set of LED modules receive different currents to adjust overall color temperature of the white set of LED modules. In the example mentioned above, the first LED module may receive a 0.05 A current and the second LED module may receive a 0.50 A current. The overall color temperature would appear with a 1 to 10 ratio between the color temperatures of the first LED module and second LED module. By changing the current ratio, the overall color temperature may be adjusted to a desired value dynamically. In addition to change the current, the overall mixed light optical characteristic may also be adjusted by other techniques like adjusting duty ratio of the LED module.
In an embodiment, the white set of LED modules and the non-white set of LED modules are categorized into two groups operated in separate modes respectively. Specifically, in such embodiment, the white set of LED modules and the non-white set of LED modules are not operated at the same time for mixing a desired optical characteristic.
For example, the light apparatus may have a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the white set of LED modules are turned on while the non-white LED modules are turned off. In the first mode, the LED modules with different color temperatures or other optical characteristic may be adjusted respectively to mix a desired color temperature or other optical characteristic as mentioned above. In the second mode, the non-white set of LED modules are turned on, and the LED modules in the non-white set of LED modules are adjusted separately for mixing a desired color or other optical characteristic. In other words, in such embodiments, the white set of LED modules are not used together with the non-white set of LED modules for mixing a desired optical characteristic. The light apparatus has the white set of LED modules and the non-white set of LED modules at the same time, but the two sets of LED modules are not combined for mixing a desired optical characteristic.
In a white light mode (the first mode mentioned above), the output white light is generated by one or more white LEDs. The white LEDs (the white set of LED modules) can have different color temperatures so that the user can adjust to a specific color temperature by mixing the different white LEDs. None of the R, G, and B LEDs (the non-white set of LED modules) emit light in the white light mode. In other words, the white output light is generated by only mixing light from different white LEDs, not by using any R or G or B LEDs. In one embodiment, Ra8 of the white light mode is always lower than 85.
In a color light mode (the second mode mentioned above), the output color light is generated only by mixing the R, G, and B LEDs. None of the white LEDs emit light in the color light mode. That is, the output color light is generated only by mixing light from the R, G, B LEDs, not by using any of the white LEDs.
Thus, in this case, the whites LEDs and the R, G, B LEDs do not emit light simultaneously.
Please refer to
In
There is a driver circuit board enclosed by the bulb body housing 107. The driver circuit is connected to the plugging terminal 1071 and the cap terminal 103 for receiving an external power source. The driver circuit board is mounted with a driver circuit 109 and a wireless circuit 108. The driver circuit 109 generates one or multiple driving currents by converting the external power source, like 110V or 220V alternating current source.
The wireless circuit 108 is used for receiving and/or sending a status to an external device like a mobile phone or a remote control. The commands from the external device may indicate the driver circuit 109 to change current or duty ratio to a white set of LED components and a non-white set of LED components.
The light source plate 104 mounted with the LED modules has a pluggable socket 106 for receiving a pin of the driver circuit board for supplying electricity to the LED modules on the light source plate 104. By using the pluggable socket 106, welding may be replaced with an easier assembling structure. The wireless circuit 108 may implement one or multiple wireless protocols like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-wave and an antenna 102 is protruding upwardly for transmitting and/or receiving signal for the wireless circuit 108. 1
In
In
The non-white set of LED modules has a red LED module 111, a green LED module 112, a blue LED module 113. By adjusting current or duty ratio of the red LED module 111, the green LED module 112 and the blue LED module 113, the light apparatus may emit different light colors in the second mode.
In
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There are multiple ways to implement the circuit. For example,
In
In some embodiments, a light apparatus includes a white set of LED (Light Emitted Diode) modules and a non-white set of LED modules. The white set of LED modules may include two or more than two LED modules. Each LED module may have one or more than one LED component, e.g. a packaged LED IC covered with fluorescent layer for emitting a light when receiving a driving current. There are more than two types of LED modules that emit different white lights, e.g. with different color temperatures, in the white set of LED modules.
The non-white set of LED modules may include two or more than two LED modules. Each LED module may have one or more than one LED component, e.g. a packaged LED IC covered with fluorescent layer for emitting a light when receiving a driving current. There are more than two types of LED modules that emit different lights, e.g. with different colors, in the non-white set of LED modules.
For example, the white set of LED modules has a first LED module and a second LED module. The first LED module emits a first light with a first color temperature and the second LED module emits a second light with a second color temperature. The first color temperature is different from the second color temperature. For example, the first LED module may emit a light with similar spectrum as sunrise white light, and the second LED module may emit a light with similar spectrum as noon white light.
For example, the non-white set of LED modules includes a third LED module and a fourth LED module. The third LED module emits a third light with a third color and the fourth LED module emits a fourth light with a fourth color. The third color is different from the fourth color. There may be a fifth LED module so that the third LED module, the fourth LED module and the fifth LED module emit red color, blue color and green color, respectively. By adjusting light strengths of non-white set of LED modules, a desired color may be mixed.
The light apparatus also has a control circuit for indicating an operation mode selected from at least a first mode and a second mode. The control circuit, for example, may be a digital circuit or integrated with a mechanic device for storing a status. Users may adjust a manual switch, operate a remote control for setting or adjusting the control circuit for indicating a different operation mode that may be selected from a first mode, a second mode and/or other modes.
A driver module is connected to the control circuit for selectively supplying currents to the first LED module, the second LED module, the third LED module, and the fourth LED module according to the operation mode. The driver module may include a current source, a PWM power circuit or other driver circuit types, for converting 110V or 220V AC to corresponding DC currents supplying to drive the white set of LED modules and the non-white set of LED modules. There may be multiple sub-modules in the driver module respectively for each LED module or for the white set and the for the non-white set of LED modules, respectively.
In the first mode, the first LED module and the second LED module are activated and the third LED module and the fourth LED module are deactivated for mixing a first output light using the first LED module and the second LED module. For example, no current is supplied to the non-white set of LED modules in the first mode. The first LED module and the second LED module are supplied with different currents to obtain different first output lights with different color temperatures.
In the second mode, the first LED and the second LED module are deactivated and the third LED module and the fourth LED module are activated for mixing a second output light using the third LED module and the fourth LED module. For example, the first LED module and the second LED module are turned off. The third LED module, the fourth LED module and maybe other LED module in the non-white set of LED modules are turned on to mix a desired color.
In some embodiments, the first output light is adjusted to a different color temperature by adjusting light strengths of the first LED module and the second LED module.
In some embodiments, the different color temperature of the first output light is obtained by changing a first current ratio of currents supplying to the first LED module and the second LED module.
In some embodiments, the different color temperature of the first output light is obtained by changing duty ratios of the first LED module and the second LED light module. In PWM power supplying, there is a duty ratio, the turned-on to turned-off ratio in a quickly repeated cycle, in PWM current supply. By adjusting the duty ratio, the overall output light strength is obtained. By adjusting the relative duty ratio between the first LED module and the second LED module, a different color temperature may be mixed.
In some embodiments, the first LED module and the second LED module emit lights simulating black body radiation spectrums corresponding to different sun light times. Black body radiation spectrum is used in Physics, for indicating light characteristics similar to sun light features.
In some embodiments, the non-white set of LED modules also includes a fifth LED module. The third LED module emits a red light, the fourth LED module emits a green light and the fifth LED module emits a blue light. The second output light is adjusted to have different colors by changing a output ratio of the third LED module, the fourth LED module and the fifth LED module.
In some embodiments, there is a wireless circuit connected to the control circuit for choosing the operation mode from the first mode and the second mode. The wireless circuit may implement Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other wireless protocols for receiving and/or transmitting signals to an external device like a mobile phone or a remote control.
In some embodiments, the wireless circuit also receives an external command for adjusting the first output light and the second output light. The external command may indicate a desired color temperature, a desired color, or a overall light strength for a luminance level.
In some embodiments, there is a manual switch manually operated by a user for indicating the control circuit to choose the operation mode from the first mode and the second mode. For example, the manual switch may be installed on a wall, on a back side of the light apparatus, on a remote control or on other places for users to operate for setting the light apparatus. The manual switch may be a button, a rotating switch, a touch panel, a jumper switch or other forms. The control circuit may receive the status of the manual switch and translate the status to choose a corresponding operation mode or other parameters.
For example, a light bulb as an example may be disposed with a manual switch near its bulb cap. Users may buy the same light bulb but switch the manual switch to set the output light of the light bulb to a desired color temperature or a desired color. This may decrease the storage in the store and users may even change the setting when they want to do so. Such mechanism may also be applied to down light, panel light, spot light or other light devices.
In some embodiments, the manual switch is concealed from direct user touch after installation of the light apparatus.
In some embodiments, the driver circuit has a shared current circuit for supplying a driving current to either the white set of LED modules or the non-white set of LED modules. As mentioned above, since the white set of LED module and the non-white set of LED modules may be set not turning on at the same time, there may be a shared current source supplying a common current source either supplying to the white set of LED modules or the non-white set of LED modules. In other words, in such design, there may be two sets of LED modules, but there may be only one set of driver circuit. Since the cost of LED modules are decreasing, the overall value of such design keeps increasing.
In some embodiments, the shared circuit switches the driving current to either the white set of LED modules or the non-white set of LED modules based on the operation mode.
In some embodiments, the driver module adjusts the first output light by changing duty ratios of the first LED module and the second LED module via PWM power supplying.
In some embodiments, the driver module adjusts the second output light by changing current ratios of the third LED module and the fourth LED module.
In some embodiments, the driver module activates both the white set of LED modules and the non-white set of LED modules in a third mode for generating a third output light.
In some embodiments, the driver module activates both the white set of LED modules and the non-white set of LED modules in a third mode for generating a third output light.
In some embodiments, a mixed color of the third output light is changed by adjusting the non-white set of LED modules.
In some embodiments, a mixed color temperature of the third output light is changed by adjusting the white set of LED modules.
In some embodiments, the white set of LED modules and the non-white set of LED modules are placed in an alternating mixed manner. Specifically, there may be multiple LED modules in the white set of LED modules and the non-white set of LED modules. To mix a better output light, the multiple LED modules may be disposed in an alternating mixed manner, e.g. different types of LED modules are placed next to each other while the same types of LED modules are distributed evenly on a light source plate.
In addition, since the first mode and the second mode determine that the white set of LED modules and the non-white set of LED modules are not turned on at the same time, one LED module of the white set of LED modules may be placed adjacent to one LED module of the non-white set of LED modules for achieving better heat dissipation, i.e. heat not accumulated at the same place.
In some embodiments, the control circuit switches to the first mode or the second mode when the white set of LED modules or the non-white set of LED modules are damaged.
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.
Claims
1. A light apparatus, comprising:
- a white set of LED modules comprising a first LED module and a second LED module, wherein the first LED module emits a first light with a first color temperature and the second LED module emits a second light with a second color temperature, the first color temperature is different from the second color temperature;
- a non-white set of LED modules comprising a third LED module and a fourth LED module, wherein the third LED module emits a third light with a third color and the fourth LED module emits a fourth light with a fourth color, the third color is different from the fourth color;
- a control circuit for indicating an operation mode selected from at least a first mode and a second mode, the operation modes of the first mode and the second mode being chosen from a remote control; and
- a driver module connected to the control circuit for selectively supplying currents to the first LED module, the second LED module, the third LED module, and the fourth LED module according to the operation mode, wherein the first LED module and the second LED module are activated and the third LED module and the fourth LED module are deactivated in the first mode for mixing a first output white light with a desired color temperature by adjusting a relative ratio between the first LED module and the second LED module,
- and the first LED and the second LED module are deactivated and the third LED module and the fourth LED module are activated in the second mode for mixing a second output light of a desired color by mixing the third color and the fourth color using the third LED module and the fourth LED module.
2. The light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first output light is adjusted to a different color temperature by adjusting light strengths of the first LED module and the second LED module.
3. The light apparatus of claim 2, wherein the different color temperature of the first output light is obtained by changing a first current ratio of currents supplying to the first LED module and the second LED module.
4. The light apparatus of claim 2, wherein the different color temperature of the first output light is obtained by changing duty ratios of the first LED module and the second LED light module.
5. The light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first LED module and the second LED module emit lights simulating black body radiation spectrums corresponding to different sun light times.
6. The light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-white set of LED modules also comprises a fifth LED module, the third LED module emits a red light, the fourth LED module emits a green light and the fifth LED module emits a blue light, the second output light is adjusted to have different colors by changing a output ratio of the third LED module, the fourth LED module and the fifth LED module.
7. The light apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wireless circuit connected to the control circuit for choosing the operation mode from the first mode and the second mode.
8. The light apparatus of claim 7, wherein the wireless circuit also receives an external command for adjusting the first output light and the second output light.
9. The light apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a manual switch manually operated by a user for indicating the control circuit to choose the operation mode from the first mode and the second mode.
10. The light apparatus of claim 9, wherein the manual switch is concealed from direct user touch after installation of the light apparatus.
11. The light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driver circuit has a shared current circuit for supplying a driving current to either the white set of LED modules or the non-white set of LED modules.
12. The light apparatus of claim 11, wherein the shared circuit switches the driving current to either the white set of LED modules or the non-white set of LED modules based on the operation mode.
13. The light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driver module adjusts the first output light by changing duty ratios of the first LED module and the second LED module via PWM power supplying.
14. The light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driver module adjusts the second output light by changing current ratios of the third LED module and the fourth LED module.
15. The light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driver module activates both the white set of LED modules and the non-white set of LED modules in a third mode for generating a third output light.
16. The light apparatus of claim 15, wherein the driver module activates both the white set of LED modules and the non-white set of LED modules in a third mode for generating a third output light.
17. The light apparatus of claim 16, wherein a mixed color of the third output light is changed by adjusting the non-white set of LED modules.
18. The light apparatus of claim 16, wherein a mixed color temperature of the third output light is changed by adjusting the white set of LED modules.
19. The light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the white set of LED modules and the non-white set of LED modules are placed in an alternating mixed manner.
20. The light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit switches to the first mode or the second mode when the white set of LED modules or the non-white set of LED modules are damaged.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 7, 2019
Publication Date: Jul 23, 2020
Inventors: yan biao Chen (Xiamen), hong kui Jiang (Xiamen), wei Liu (Xiamen), qi yuan Wang (Xiamen)
Application Number: 16/296,208
