Apparatus and method for switching a light source

• US 7,446,480 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MiTAC International Corporation (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: MiTAC International Corporation (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Lien, Te-Li
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Tuyet
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim; Jae K
• Application Number:
  US11/162,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20060170369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 315/308, 315/153, 315/154, 315/158, 315/159
• US Class Current: 315/158
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An apparatus and its corresponding method for switching a light source are provided. The apparatus includes a light sensor, a decision device and a light source. The light sensor senses the ambient luminance and outputs a sensing signal to indicate whether the luminance is greater than a predetermined quantity. The decision device is connected to the light sensor. It receives a switching signal and outputs a lighting signal according to the sensing signal and the switching signal. The light source is coupled to the decision device and is activated whenever the lighting signal demands light.

Claims

1. An apparatus for switching a light source, comprising:

a light sensor for sensing an ambient luminance and outputting a sensing signal to indicate whether the luminance is greater than a predetermined value;

a decision device, comprising;

a first direct current voltage source providing a first logic high voltage;

an analog switch, coupled between the first direct current voltage source and an output end of the decision device for receiving the sensing signal and a switching signal, wherein the analog switch connects the first direct current voltage source and the output end when the luminance is greater than the predetermined value so that the decision device outputs the first logic high voltage as a lighting signal, and the analog switch connects the switching signal and the output end when the luminance is less than or equal to the predetermined value so that the decision device directly outputs the switching signal as the lighting signal; and

a light source, coupled to the output end of the decision device, deciding whether or not to emit light according to the lighting signal.

2. The apparatus for switching a light source of claim 1, wherein the predetermined value is about 51 lux.

3. The apparatus for switching a light source of claim 1, wherein when the sensing signal is at a second logic high voltage, the sensing signal indicates that the luminance is greater than the predetermined value.

4. The apparatus for switching a light source of claim 3, wherein the light sensor further comprises:

a second direct current voltage source providing the second logic high voltage;

a ground providing a logic low voltage; and

an ambient light sensor, coupled among the second direct current voltage source, the ground and an output end of the light sensor, sensing the luminance, connecting the second direct current voltage source and the output end when the luminance is greater than the predetermined value so that the light sensor outputs the second logic high voltage; and

disconnecting the second direct current voltage source and the output end when the luminance is less than or equal to the predetermined value so that the light sensor outputs the logic low voltage.

5. The apparatus for switching a light source of claim 1, wherein when the lighting signal is at the first logic high voltage, the lighting signal indicates that the light source should not emit light.

6. The apparatus for switching a light source of claim 1, wherein the light source emits light when the lighting signal is at a logic low voltage.

7. The apparatus for switching a light source of claim 6, wherein the light source further comprises:

a second direct current voltage source providing a second logic high voltage;

a switching device, coupled to the second direct current voltage source, receiving the lighting signal, turned on when the lighting signal is at the logic low voltage and outputs the second logic high voltage; and

a light emitting diode (LED), coupled to the switching device, emitting light when the output of the switching device is at the second logic high voltage.

8. The apparatus for switching a light source of claim 7, wherein the switching device is a PMOS transistor.