FIELD

The present invention is related to a lighting apparatus, and more particularly related to a lighting apparatus with multiple structures.

BACKGROUND

The time when the darkness is being lighten up by the light, human have noticed the need of lighting up this planet. Light has become one of the necessities we live with through the day and the night. During the darkness after sunset, there is no natural light, and human have been finding ways to light up the darkness with artificial light. From a torch, candles to the light we have nowadays, the use of light have been changed through decades and the development of lighting continues on.

Early human found the control of fire which is a turning point of the human history. Fire provides light to bright up the darkness that have allowed human activities to continue into the darker and colder hour of the hour after sunset. Fire gives human beings the first form of light and heat to cook food, make tools, have heat to live through cold winter and lighting to see in the dark.

Lighting is now not to be limited just for providing the light we need, but it is also for setting up the mood and atmosphere being created for an area. Proper lighting for an area needs a good combination of daylight conditions and artificial lights. There are many ways to improve lighting in a better cost and energy saving. LED lighting, a solid-state lamp that uses light-emitting diodes as the source of light, is a solution when it comes to energy-efficient lighting. LED lighting provides lower cost, energy saving and longer life span.

The major use of the light emitting diodes is for illumination. The light emitting diodes is recently used in light bulb, light strip or light tube for a longer lifetime and a lower energy consumption of the light. The light emitting diodes shows a new type of illumination which brings more convenience to our lives. Nowadays, light emitting diode light may be often seen in the market with various forms and affordable prices.

After the invention of LEDs, the neon indicator and incandescent lamps are gradually replaced. However, the cost of initial commercial LEDs was extremely high, making them rare to be applied for practical use. Also, LEDs only illuminated red light at early stage. The brightness of the light only could be used as indicator for it was too dark to illuminate an area. Unlike modern LEDs which are bound in transparent plastic cases, LEDs in early stage were packed in metal cases.

In 1878, Thomas Edison tried to make a usable light bulb after experimenting different materials. In November 1879, Edison filed a patent for an electric lamp with a carbon filament and keep testing to find the perfect filament for his light bulb. The highest melting point of any chemical element, tungsten, was known by Edison to be an excellent material for light bulb filaments, but the machinery needed to produce super-fine tungsten wire was not available in the late 19th century. Tungsten is still the primary material used in incandescent bulb filaments today.

Early candles were made in China in about 200 BC from whale fat and rice paper wick. They were made from other materials through time, like tallow, spermaceti, colza oil and beeswax until the discovery of paraffin wax which made production of candles cheap and affordable to everyone. Wick was also improved over time that made from paper, cotton, hemp and flax with different times and ways of burning. Although not a major light source now, candles are still here as decorative items and a light source in emergency situations. They are used for celebrations such as birthdays, religious rituals, for making atmosphere and as a decor.

Illumination has been improved throughout the times. Even now, the lighting device we used today are still being improved. From the illumination of the sun to the time when human can control fire for providing illumination which changed human history, we have been improving the lighting source for a better efficiency and sense. From the invention of candle, gas lamp, electric carbon arc lamp, kerosene lamp, light bulb, fluorescent lamp to LED lamp, the improvement of illumination shows the necessity of light in human lives.

There are various types of lighting apparatuses. When cost and light efficiency of LED have shown great effect compared with traditional lighting devices, people look for even better light output. It is important to recognize factors that can bring more satisfaction and light quality and flexibility.

People want their light devices to have more functions for making their lives more convenient. In addition, communication technologies evolve rapidly. It is beneficial to combine the communication technology with the lighting technology to design better lighting devices for enhancing human life quality.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a lighting apparatus includes a light source module, a light source plate, a wireless module, a fiberglass plate and external electrodes.

The light source module includes a LED module. The light source plate is used for mounting the light source module. The wireless module includes an antenna and a radio frequency circuit for wirelessly communicating with an external device. The radio frequency circuit is electrically connected to the light source module. The fiberglass plate is used for mounting the wireless module. The antenna is disposed on an external surface of the fiberglass plate. The external electrodes are used for passing an external power source to the light source module.

In light source plate may include an aluminum substrate or other metal layer as heat dissipation unit for moving heat generated by the LED module to other places. The fiberglass plate, in other embodiments, may be replaced with a plastic plate or a non-metal plate mounted with the wireless module. By using the fiberglass plate or plastic plate as a substrate for mounting the wireless module enhances signal quality, which is particularly important in wireless transmission. The plastic plate or non-metal plate refers to a plate is made mainly with plastic material or non-metal material, but still may include certain metal wiring or metal components thereon.

In some embodiments, the lighting apparatus may also include a bulb shell and a bulb head. The external electrodes are disposed on the bulb head. An interior surface of the bulb shell faces to the LED module and the antenna is used for passing a light emitted by the LED module and a wireless signal to the antenna.

In some embodiments, the fiber glass plate and the light source plate are connected and integrated as a module block.

In some embodiments, the fiber glass plate is mounted with the wireless module. The light source plate is mounted with the light source module. Then, during assembling, the fiber glass plate with the wireless module is attached to the light source plate with the light source module.

The two components are connected as a module block before the module block is attached to the lighting apparatus like a light bulb. Specifically, the module block may be made in advance and then be assembled to make the final product as a unit.

In some embodiments, the module block has two conductive wires respectively electrically connected to the external electrodes on bulb head.

In some embodiments, the two conductive wires are two metal pins. When the lighting apparatus is a light bulb, the external electrodes are located on an Edison socket, which includes a lateral wall and a bottom terminal. The lateral wall and the bottom thermal are electricity isolated for receiving two ends of a power source.

The two pins are respectively connected to the bottom terminal and the lateral wall for routing electricity from the external power source to the wireless module and the light source module.

In some embodiments, the lighting apparatus may also include a heat sink part disposed between the bulb head and the bulb shell. The heat sink has an insulation layer and a conductive layer. An edge of the light source plate engages the conductive part of the heat sink part for passing heat generated by the LED module to the heat sink part.

In some embodiments, the insulation layer is made of plastic material enclosing the conductive layer.

In some embodiments, the heat sink part has a circular base for placing a peripheral edge of the light source plate.

In some embodiments, the bulb shell and the circular base clip and fix the light source plate.

In some embodiments, the conductive layer of the heat sink part transmits electricity from the external electrodes to the light source module.

In some embodiments, the light source plate has a central opening, and the fiber glass plate is disposed in the central opening.

In some embodiments, the lighting apparatus may also include a heat dissipation plate for mounting the fiber glass plate and the light source plate.

In some embodiments, the light source plate has an extension part protruding toward the central opening for mounting a driver circuit. The driver circuit converts an external power source to a driving current supplied to the LED module.

In some embodiments, there is a light guide structure changing a light path of a light emitting on the light guide structure.

In some embodiments, the light guide structure is a reflector cover covering the antenna and the radio frequency circuit.

In some embodiments, an auxiliary antenna is formed on a surface of the reflective cover.

In some embodiments, the fiber glass plate is stacked at a middle position above the light source plate.

In some embodiments, the fiber glass plate has a lens area covering the LED module diffusing light of the LED module.

In some embodiments, a plugging component is disposed below the fiber glass plate facing toward the external electrodes.

In some embodiments, there are some plugging components which has certain size, protruding from an attached surface with a significant height. Such plugging components like capacitor may help the lighting devices more stable or with further function. But, if such plugging components are mounted directly above the light source plate or the fiberglass plate, the plugging components may shield light of the LED module, causing certain shadow, which is undesired visual effect.

In some embodiments, the fiber glass plate is made with the wireless module as a wireless block module. Multiple wireless block modules mounted with different antennas and radio frequency circuits are selectable to be combined with the same light source plate. In other words, the inner components, e.g. the fiberglass plate may be corresponded to different outer components, e.g. the light source plate, for achieving various combinations to meet different needs while lowering overall design and stock cost. This is particularly important in mass production for products like lighting devices.

In some embodiments, the fiber glass plate and the light source plate are connected with a detachable plugging structure.

For examples, electrodes and associated plugging interfaces, like plugging pins and slots, USB connectors, or other structures are disposed on connection areas of the fiberglass plate and the light source plate. For different wireless modules and different light source modules, the same plugging interfaces are provided.

With such design, different parameters of lighting apparatuses are easily manufactured under a standard processing. This dramatically decreases stocking cost and speeding manufacturing speeds.

In addition, for some embodiments, the fiberglass plate may be replaced with another light source plate to add more light output while eliminating control functions. This is helpful for providing simple but high light output lighting devices.

