PANEL LIGHT APPARATUS

Abstract

A panel light apparatus includes a base plate, a light source, a frame and a light passing cover. The base plate has a fixing unit for fixing the base plate to a platform. The base plate has multiple rotation units to switch between a lock mode and a release mode. The light source is disposed on the base plate. The frame has multiple attaching units to attach to the rotation units in the lock mode for fixing the frame to the base plate. The multiple attaching units are released from the rotation units in the release mode. The frame has a light opening. The light passing cover attached to the frame for covering the light opening for a light of the light source to pass through.

Claims

1. A panel light apparatus, comprising: a base plate with a fixing unit for fixing the base plate to a platform, wherein the base plate has multiple rotation units to switch between a lock mode and a release mode; a light source disposed on the base plate; a frame with multiple attaching units to attach to the rotation units in the lock mode for fixing the frame to the base plate, wherein the multiple attaching units are released from the rotation units in the release mode, wherein the frame has a light opening; and a light passing cover attached to the frame for covering the light opening for a light of the light source to pass through.

2. The panel light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base plate has a central groove for holding a driver.

3. The panel light apparatus of claim 2, wherein the base plate has a conductive path and a driver connector, wherein the driver is connected to the driver connector to electrically connected to an external power wire, wherein the external power wire and the driver are placed on opposite sides of the base plate.

4. The panel light apparatus of claim 2, wherein the driver has a manual switch for changing a setting of the driver.

5. The panel light apparatus of claim 4, wherein the manual switch has a rotation switch and a discrete switch, wherein the rotation switch is used for changing a continuous value and the discrete switch is used for setting a discrete value.

6. The panel light apparatus of claim 4, wherein the manual switch is concealed by the light passing cover.

7. The panel light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base plate has multiple light grooves for disposing multiple light strips of the light source.

8. The panel light apparatus of claim 7, wherein the light groove has a reflective surface.

9. The panel light apparatus of claim 7, wherein the light strip has an electric insulation surface.

10. The panel light apparatus of claim 9, wherein the electric insulation surface comprises a lens for diffusing a light of the light strip.

11. The panel light apparatus of claim 7, wherein the driver detects a number of connected light strips to automatically adjust an operation parameter.

12. The panel light apparatus of claim 11, wherein if the driver detects a failure light strip, the driver turns off the failed light strip and increases light intensities of other light strips.

13. The panel light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source has multiple light strips, wherein the light strip has an internal driver and a LED module, wherein the internal driver generates a separate driving current to the LED module.

14. The panel light apparatus of claim 13, wherein the base plate has multiple light strip connectors for attaching the light strip.

15. The panel light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame and the light passing cover are integrated as a replaceable module to be replaced by a user.

16. The panel light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fame has a different geometric shape as the base plate.

17. The panel light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base plate has multiple traditional light tube connectors for selectively connecting traditional light tubes as the light source or light strips with LED modules on the base plate as the light source.

18. The panel light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base plate has an Edison socket for connecitng a light bulb.

19. The panel light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driver turns off electricity when the rotation units are placed in the release mode.

20. The panel light apparatus of claim 1, wherein a temperature indicator is placed on the frame for indicating an alarm message when a working temperature is higher than a threshold.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0046] FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a panel light apparatus embodiment.

[0047] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a panel light apparatus embodiment.

[0048] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the example in FIG. 1.

[0049] FIG. 4 illustrates a zoom-up view of a connection of components in the example of FIG. 1.

[0050] FIG. 5 shows another panel light apparatus embodiment.

[0051] FIG. 6 shows a base plate example.

[0052] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of a panel light embodiment.

[0053] FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B show two modes of a rotation unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] In FIG. 5, a panel light apparatus includes a base plate 651, a light source 611, a frame 609 and a light passing cover 610.

[0055] The base plate 651 has a fixing unit 606 for fixing the base plate 651 to a platform 605.

[0056] The base plate 651 has multiple rotation units 607 to switch between a lock mode and a release mode.

[0057] FIG. 8B shows that the rotation unit 802 is rotated to move the pin 803 to release the attaching unit 801 of the frame in a release mode.

[0058] In FIG. 5, the light source 611 is disposed on the base plate 651.

[0059] The frame 609 has multiple attaching units 608 to attach to the rotation units 607 in the lock mode for fixing the frame 609 to the base plate 651.

[0060] The multiple attaching units are released from the rotation units in the release mode.

[0061] FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B illustrate an example. In FIG. 8A, a rotation unit 802 has a pin 803. The pin 803 is moved by rotating the rotation unit 802 to engage and hold the attaching unit 801 of the frame 609 in a lock mode.

[0062] The frame 609 has a light opening 654.

[0063] The light passing cover 610 attached to the frame 609 for covering the light opening 654 for a light of the light source 611 to pass through.

[0064] In FIG. 6, the base plate 656 has a central groove 613 for holding a driver 612.

[0065] In some embodiments, the base plate 656 has a conductive path 657 and a driver connector 658.

[0066] The driver 612 is connected to the driver connector 658 to electrically connected to an external power wire 659 via the conductive path 657. The conductive path 657 may include wire or metal layers for guiding electricity and signals among components.

[0067] The external power wire 659 and the driver 612 are placed on opposite sides of the base plate 656.

[0068] In FIG. 5, the external power wire 601 is connected to a connector 602 which further routes the electricity to the driver 603 via the connector 604.

[0069] In some embodiments, the driver has a manual switch for changing a setting of the driver.

[0070] In FIG. 7, the manual switch has a rotation switch 633 and a discrete switch 632.

[0071] The rotation switch 633 is used for changing a continuous value and the discrete switch is used for setting a discrete value.

[0072] For example, the rotation switch 633 is used for a user to adjust a maximum light intensity. Even the light source may output to a first light intensity, users may have some concern like energy saving or light effect, the light intensity may be decrease to a desired level. The rotation switch 633 may be used to set a continuous value within a range.

[0073] In contrast, the discreate switch 632, e.g. a sliding switch, may be used for assigning a working mode, a color temperature or other parameter among several candidate discrete values.

[0074] In some embodiments, the manual switch is concealed by the light passing cover. For example, the manual switch is placed upon the driver or on the base plate concealed by the light passing cover.

[0075] In FIG. 6, the base plate 656 has multiple light grooves 614 for disposing multiple light strips 615 of the light source.

[0076] In FIG. 6, the light groove has a reflective surface 661.

[0077] In FIG. 6, the light strip 615 has an electric insulation surface 662.

[0078] In some embodiments, the electric insulation surface 662 includes a lens 663 for diffusing a light of the light strip 615.

[0079] In some embodiments, the driver detects a number of connected light strips to automatically adjust an operation parameter. For example, users or manufacturers may install a desired number of light strips and the driver detects the number of the light strips to determine how to generate corresponding driving currents.

[0080] In some embodiments, if the driver detects a failure light strip, the driver turns off the failed light strip and increases light intensities of other light strips.

[0081] In some embodiments, the light source has multiple light strips.

[0082] In FIG. 7, the light strip 626 has an internal driver 624 and a LED module 625.

[0083] The internal driver 624 generates a separate driving current to the LED module 625.

[0084] In some embodiments, the base plate has multiple light strip connectors 623 for attaching the light strip 626.

[0085] In some embodiments, the frame and the light passing cover are integrated as a replaceable module to be replaced by a user. For example, the frame is made of aluminum or other metal material while the light passing cover is made of a transparent material. The frame is fixed to the light passing cover, e.g. via glue or screws. The frame and the light passing cover may be easily detached from the base plate by rotating the rotation units in a release mode. Users may replace the original frame and light passing cover with another frame with another light passing cover.

[0086] In some embodiments, the fame has a different geometric shape as the base plate.

[0087] For example, in FIG. 6, the base plate 668 has a rectangular shape while the frame with the light passing cover has a circular shape. The rotation units are placed to align with corresponding attaching units to perform the assembly of the frame 620 with the light passing cover with the base plate 668.

[0088] In some embodiments, the base plate 668 has multiple traditional light tube 621 connectors for selectively connecting traditional light tubes as the light source or light strips with LED modules on the base plate as the light source. For example, an A8 socket 622 is placed on the base plate 668 to insert a traditional A8 light tube 621 or a A8 LED light tube.

[0089] In some embodiments, the base plate 668 has an Edison socket 630 for connecitng a light bulb 631 with an Edison plug.

[0090] In some embodiments, the driver turns off electricity when the rotation units are placed in the release mode. For example, the rotation unit has a switch to send a signal to the driver to deactivate the power supply when the rotation unit is in a release mode. With such design, users may be kept safe on detaching the frame from the base plate.

[0091] In FIG. 7, a temperature indicator 634, like a temperature sensor sticker that changes color under different temperature, is placed on the frame for indicating an alarm message when a working temperature is higher than a threshold.

[0092] Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, which show another embodiment. In FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the same reference numerals refer to the same components and may not be repeated again when describing each drawing.

[0093] In FIG. 1, the panel light apparatus has two installation holes 12 as the fixing units to be fixed to a ceiling or a bracket.

[0094] There are multiple rotation units 13 to be switched between a lock mode and a release mode. In the lock mode, the rotation unit keeps the frame 20 fixing to the base plate 10. The rotation unit 13 is placed in an installation groove 14. There is a connection plate 16 fixed to the rotation unit 13. The rotation unit 13 may have a handle to be rotated.

[0095] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the example in FIG. 1.

[0096] In FIG. 2, there is rotation shaft 15 and a locking unit 11 placed on the rotation unit 13. There is a driver 32 placed inside the containing space between the base plate 10 and the frame wall 24. The frame wall 24 has guiding protruding structures 22 facing to the base plate 10. There is an escape groove 23 to align with the rotation unit 13. There is a support plate 21 for fixing to the base plate 10.

[0097] There is a light strip 31 fixed to the base plate 10. A light passing cover 25 is fixed to the frame wall 24.

[0098] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the example in FIG. 1.

[0099] In FIG. 3, the light passing cover 25 is fixed to the frame wall 24 with glues 27 on the glue groove 26.

[0100] FIG. 4 further provides a zoom-up view to show the relation among the components mentioned above.

[0101] 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.

[0102] 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.

[0103] 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.