Illumination apparatus and control device for controlling the illumination apparatus

• US 8,294,373 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2009
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Ko, Hung-Chang, Su, Suo-Bing, Kuo, Po-Wei, Yang, Chih-Yuan, Chen, Wen-Chun, Chiang, Li-Cheng
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, ANH Q
• Application Number:
  US12/482,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20090315466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 315/149
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/22 with communication between the lamps and a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An illumination apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a power supply unit, a switch unit, a bulb, a wireless unit, and a control unit. The power supply unit is for supplying power. The switch unit is for opening or closing a circuit between the power source unit and the bulb. The wireless unit is for receiving wireless signals from an external control device, and generating a first control signal when receiving the wireless signals. The control unit is for generating a close signal according to the first control signal. The switch unit closes the circuit between the power source unit and the bulb according to the close signal to enable the bulb to keep emitting light; and opens the circuit between the power source unit and the bulb if no receiving the close signal, thereby keeping the bulb extinguishing. A related control device for controlling the apparatus is also provided.

Claims

1. An illumination apparatus comprising:

a bulb;

a power source unit configured for supplying power to the bulb;

a switch unit configured for opening or closing a circuit between the power source unit and the bulb;

a wireless unit configured for receiving wireless signals generated from an external control device, and generating a first control signal when receiving the wireless signals;

a control unit configured for receiving the first control signal from the wireless unit, and generating a close signal to the switch unit according to the first control signal; and

a humidity detection unit configured for detecting ambient humidity, and generating a third control signal to the control unit when the detected ambient humidity satisfies a predetermined humidity value;

wherein the control unit generates the close signal when receiving the first control signal and the third control signal, and

wherein the switch unit closes the circuit between the power source unit and the bulb in response to the close signal, so as to enable the bulb to keep emitting light during the wireless unit receives the wireless signals; and

the switch unit opens the circuit between the power source unit and the bulb if no receiving the close signal, thereby keeping the bulb extinguishing during the wireless unit does not receive the wireless signals.

2. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless unit generates the first control signal when signal strength of the received wireless signals satisfies a predetermined value.

3. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a light detection unit configured for detecting ambient light, and generating a second control signal to the control unit when the detected ambient light does not satisfies a predetermined light level;

wherein the control unit generates the close signal when receiving the first control signal and the second signal.

4. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the illumination apparatus is a street lamp.

5. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control device is a mobile object.

6. An illumination apparatus comprising:

a bulb;

a power source unit configured for supplying power to the bulb;

a switch unit configured for opening or closing a circuit between the power source unit and the bulb;

a wireless unit configured for receiving wireless signals generated from an external control device, and generating a first control signal when receiving the wireless signals; and

a control unit configured for receiving the first control signal from the wireless unit, and generating a close signal to the switch unit according to the first control signal;

wherein the switch unit closes the circuit between the power source unit and the bulb in response to the close signal, so as to enable the bulb to keep emitting light during the wireless unit receives the wireless signals; and

the switch unit opens the circuit between the power source unit and the bulb if no receiving the close signal, thereby keeping the bulb extinguishing during the wireless unit does not receive the wireless signals, and

wherein the wireless unit of the illumination apparatus and a signal generator of the external control device which generates the wireless signals are arranged according to a predetermined layout so as to enable a receiving operation of the wireless unit and a transmitting operation of the signal generator to be along a predetermined direction.

7. The illumination apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a light detection unit configured for detecting ambient light, and generating a second control signal to the control unit when the detected ambient light does not satisfies a predetermined light level;

wherein the control unit generates the close signal when receiving the first control signal and the second signal.

8. The illumination apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a humidity detection unit configured for detecting ambient humidity, and generating a third control signal to the control unit when the detected ambient humidity satisfies a predetermined humidity value;

wherein the control unit generates the close signal when receiving the first control signal and the third control signal.

9. The illumination apparatus of claim 8, wherein the wireless unit generates the first control signal when signal strength of the received wireless signals satisfies a predetermined value.

10. The illumination apparatus of claim 8, wherein the illumination apparatus is a street lamp.

11. The illumination apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control device is a mobile object.