Lighting apparatus

Abstract

In some embodiments, a lighting apparatus includes a driver module, a base platform, a camera module, a first light source and a second light source. The driver module is electrically connected to an external power source. The base platform has multiple slots. The driver module is enclosed by the base platform. The camera module is fixed to a first slot of the slots via a camera rotatable arm. The first light source is fixed to a second slot of the slots via a first rotatable arm. The second light source is fixed to a third slot of the slots via a second rotatable arm.

Claims

1. A lighting apparatus, comprising: a driver module for electrically connected to an external power source; a base platform having multiple slots, wherein the driver module is enclosed by the base platform; a camera module fixed to a first slot of the slots via a camera rotatable arm; a first light source fixed to a second slot of the slots via a first rotatable arm; and a second light source fixed to a third slot of the slots via a second rotatable arm.

2. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first light source emits a light beam while the second light source emits a diffusing light.

3. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driver module controls the first light source and the second light source to a camera mode while the driver module receives a camera command to take pictures with the camera module, the first light source and the second light source are controlled differently between the camera mode and a normal illumination mode.

4. The lighting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the camera command is mixed with a parameter generated by the camera module.

5. The lighting apparatus of claim 4, wherein the camera command includes a required color temperature to be mixed by the first light source and the second light source.

6. The lighting apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first light source and the second light source are temporarily turned off when a shutter of the camera module is turned on to shot images.

7. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second light source is detachable to be replaced with another type of light source.

8. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second light source is detachable to be replaced with a second camera module.

9. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base platform is rotatable.

10. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the camera module is attached with a third light source.

11. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the camera module detects whether there is a user existed in an area.

12. The lighting apparatus of claim 11, wherein the camera module identifies a user identity and the driver module controls the first light source and the second light source according to the user identity.

13. The lighting apparatus of claim 11, wherein the user identity is passed to another lighting device to co-work with the lighting apparatus.

14. The lighting apparatus of claim 13, wherein the driver module controls said another lighting device.

15. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base platform has a stop structure for limiting a rotation angle of the base platform.

16. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driver module transmits a recorded video stream to an external device via a wireless protocol.

17. The lighting apparatus of claim 16, wherein a rotation parameter of the camera rotatable arm is mixed to the recorded video stream to the external device.

18. The lighting apparatus of claim 16, wherein when an abnormal case is detected from the recorded video stream, the control module automatically generates an alarm message.

19. The lighting apparatus of claim 18, wherein the alarm message is an alarm sound from a speaker attached to the base platform.

20. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the camera rotatable arm has a mobile phone holder for holding a mobile phone to work as the camera module.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a lighting apparatus with a camera module.

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of components in the example of FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 illustrates a part of a camera arm example.

(4) FIG. 4 illustrates a component of a camera arm example.

(5) FIG. 5 illustrates another component of a camera arm example.

(6) FIG. 6 illustrates another component of a camera arm example.

(7) FIG. 7 illustrates a component example.

(8) FIG. 8 illustrates an exploded view of an example.

(9) FIG. 9 shows a lighting apparatus embodiment.

(10) FIG. 10 shows a mobile phone holder to be an option for the camera module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) In FIG. 9, a lighting apparatus includes a driver module 902, a base platform 901, a camera module 903, a first light source 904 and a second light source 905.

(12) The driver module 902 is electrically connected to an external power source 912.

(13) The base platform has multiple slots.

(14) The driver module 902 is enclosed by the base platform 901.

(15) The camera module 903 is fixed to a first slot 907 of the slots via a camera rotatable arm 910.

(16) The first light source 904 is fixed to a second slot 906 of the slots via a first rotatable arm 909.

(17) In some embodiments, the first source 904 and the second light source 905 are two spot light modules for emitting two light beams. The first light source, the second light source and the camera are disposed symmetrically. In some embodiments, there is only one light source, instead of two light sources. In some other embodiments, there are more than two light sources.

(18) In some embodiments, the base platform has a shape of a round disk. There is a container space in the round disk for containing a driver circuit connecting to an external power source, e.g. 110V/220V alternating current power. The driver circuit converts the external power to a driving current to the first light source and the second light source.

(19) In some embodiments, the first light source, the second light source and the camera module share the same set of driver circuit. In some other embodiments, the driver module contains a driver which is co-working with the driver circuit in the round disk.

(20) In some embodiments, the first light source and the second light source also have their own driver circuits. The first light source, the second light source and the camera module may be detachably removed from the base platform to be replaced with other modules or other combination. In such case, the base platform provides a structural and electrically connection for the first light source, the second light source and the camera module.

(21) The second light source 905 is fixed to a third slot 908 of the slots via a second rotatable arm 911.

(22) The rotatable arms of the first light source and the second light source may have multiple rotation angles so as to change light directions of the first light source and the second light source.

(23) The camera module is fixed to the base platform with the camera rotatable arm. the camera rotatable arm may be manually moved to change an angle of the camera module faces to. More than two rotation directions may be provided to the camera rotatable arm for providing a larger flexibility of the moving the camera module.

(24) In some embodiments, the first light source emits a light beam while the second light source emits a diffusing light. This is particularly helpful when the first light source helps the camera module to get a clearer image, while the second light source provides a basic illumination of the ambient environment.

(25) In some embodiments, the driver module controls the first light source and the second light source to a camera mode while the driver module receives a camera command 916 from an external device 915 to take pictures with the camera module 903.

(26) For example, a server, a remote control or a mobile phone may send a camera command via a wire or wireless channel to the driver in the base platform or a control circuit integrated with the camera module. When the camera command is received, it is parsed and decoded. A corresponding operation is executed, e.g. to take an image or a video, to the camera module. In some embodiments, the driver also adjusts output of the first light source and/or the second light source to co-work with the camera module.

(27) For example, the first light source is moved to emit light to the direction of the camera module. A special light pattern, intensity, color, or color temperature may be mixed by the first light source and the second light source to get a required effect on using the camera module.

(28) The first light source and the second light source are controlled differently between the camera mode and a normal illumination mode.

(29) In some embodiments, the camera command is mixed with a parameter 918 generated by the camera module 903. For example, the camera module may have a sensor 917 to detect whether there is sufficient light to take a picture. When the detected ambient light is not sufficient, the camera module may mix a parameter to the camera command. The driver of the lighting apparatus extracts the parameter and controls the first light source and the second light source corresponding to the parameter.

(30) In some embodiments, the camera command includes a required color temperature to be mixed by the first light source and the second light source.

(31) In some embodiments, the first light source and the second light source are temporarily turned off when a shutter of the camera module is turned on to shot images. Specifically, a camera module may have a shutter to open when capturing images. Usually, a static image capture only needs a short timing for opening the shutter. When the shutter is open, the first light source and the second light source may be turned off temporarily to prevent affecting the image capturing of the camera module. Meanwhile, the timing is short and thus, people may not feel the difference while taking the images.

(32) Instead of turning off the first light source and the second light source, other operations, e.g. turning on an infrared light of the first light source or enhancing a blue light of the second light source may be adopted when taking an image by the camera module.

(33) In some embodiments, the second light source is detachable to be replaced with another type of light source.

(34) In some embodiments, the second light source is detachable to be replaced with a second camera module.

(35) In some embodiments, the base platform is rotatable. Therefore, in addition to the rotatable arm, the camera module has a larger movement options by rotating the base platform.

(36) In some embodiments, the camera module is attached with a third light source. The third light source may provide a light to improve image capturing of the camera module. Meanwhile, the third light source may also be used for providing ambient illumination or mixing light with the first lights source and the second light source.

(37) In some embodiments, the camera module detects whether there is a user existed in an area. A processor may execute a deep learning algorithms as those known by persons skilled in the art and extracts whether there is any person staying in an area covered by the camera module.

(38) In some embodiments, the camera module identifies a user identity and the driver module controls the first light source and the second light source according to the user identity. For example, John and Mary may appear in the house. When John is recognized, the driver adjusts the control setting based on favorite settings corresponding to John. While Mary is identified, another setting may be used automatically.

(39) In some embodiments, the user identity is passed to another lighting device to co-work with the lighting apparatus. Some adjacent light devices may not have a camera module, but the light devices may communicate with the lighting apparatus to get information to adjust settings based on user identity.

(40) In some embodiments, the driver module controls said another lighting device. Specifically, the driver further controls other light devices as a control hub.

(41) In some embodiments, the base platform has a stop structure for limiting a rotation angle of the base platform.

(42) In some embodiments, the driver module transmits a recorded video stream to an external device via a wireless protocol.

(43) In some embodiments, a rotation parameter of the camera rotatable arm is mixed to the recorded video stream to the external device. The rotation parameter helps an external device or a server to determine events based on locations. By calculating the rotation angles, the direction for the camera is facing is found and thus, the processed result, e.g. some abnormal object, may be identified and a more accurate message may be generated to inform users.

(44) In some embodiments, when an abnormal case is detected from the recorded video stream.

(45) The control module automatically generates an alarm message.

(46) In some embodiments, the alarm message is an alarm sound from a speaker 931 attached to the base platform.

(47) In FIG. 10, the camera rotatable arm has a mobile phone holder 991 for holding a mobile phone 992 to work as the camera module. Many people have old mobile phones, which are suitable to use as a camera module. The camera rotatable arm may have a mobile phone holder to provide electricity and structural support. With such design, the cost of the camera module may be saved.

(48) Please refer to FIG. 1, which shows an embodiment. In FIG. 1, the lighting apparatus has a camera module 9 and a light source 10. The camera module 9 is connected to the base platform 8 via a rotatable arm made of a connector 5, a first overlapping part 41, a movement part 4 and a lock sleeve 6. The light source 10 is connected to the base platform 8 via a rotatable arm 82.

(49) Please refer to FIG. 2, which shows the example in FIG. 1 in more details. The same reference numerals refer to the same components and are not repeated for brevity, the same in other disclosure below.

(50) The connector 5 has a second overlapping part 51, which has a second connector part 52. The second connector part 52 is connected to the first overlapping part 41 with an intermediate sealing ring 7 therebetween.

(51) There is a groove 43 for covering with a sealing cover 44. The movement part 4 is connected to a ball head 3 with an escape part 32. The ball head 3 is placed into a shrinking part 23 with cut groove 22 that is fastened by a lock sleeve 6 via a shrinking opening 61. The ball sleeve unit 2 may also has a sealing ring 18 connecting to a base connector 1 on the base platform 8. There is a base installation 81 for receiving the ball sleeve unit 2.

(52) FIG. 3 shows a zoom-up view of the component illustrated in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, there is a limiting block 33 for limiting rotation to prevent damage of twisted wires stored in the rotatable arm. There is a second opening for allowing the wires to pass through connecting to the module, a light source or a camera module. The second facing opening 42 is facing to another corresponding component shown in FIG. 2.

(53) FIG. 4 further shows the component in previous drawings. In FIG. 4, there is a second limiting block 24 co-working with the limiting block 33 in previous drawings. There is a pressing part 17 and an opening for connecting to the driver module.

(54) FIG. 5 shows the connector 5 mentioned above.

(55) FIG. 6 shows that the pressing part 17 may further has a third opening 12, a through hole 11 and a wire passing hole 15 on a sealing pad 13, and a pressing plate 14.

(56) FIG. 7 shows there is a sealing unit 16 on the sealing pad 13 with a wire passing hole 15.

(57) FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of the embodiment. The light source 10 is connected with a rotatable arm 82 to the base platform 8. There are slots 81 on the base platform 8. There is a driver module 83, e.g. a driver circuit board with corresponding circuits.

(58) In FIG. 8, the camera module is also illustrated in more details. The same reference numerals mentioned above are not repeated again for brevity.

(59) 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.

(60) 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.

(61) 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.