Description

A Lighting Device and a Cleaning Control Method of the

Lighting Device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a lighting device and a cleaning control method of the lighting device.

Background Art

Along with the development of LED lighting technology, people more and more apply LED lighting devices as light sources to various workaday or commercial environments, for example dai ^¬ ly used bulbs, single broadsides as well as stage lighting etc. And thus, people have increasing requirements on the lighting devices using LED lamp technology, for example, re ^¬ quirements on the mechanical performance and electrical per ^¬ formance thereof, particularly requirements on industrial protection, e.g. waterproof and dustproof. To satisfy the requirements on industrial protection of the lighting devic ^¬ es, the prior art uses various modes and different materials to seal the lighting device. However, as the degree sealing has been improved, cleaning the casing and cover of the lighting device when necessary becomes another subject of improving the lighting device. Generally, the user may clean the casing or cover of the lighting device in manually opera ^¬ tion modes, for example wiping or flushing. But people need an automatic mode instead of manually operation to clean the casing of the lighting device.

It is suggested according to a solution of the prior art that, in order for automatic cleaning of the casing of the lighting device, the casing is treated specially. The object of automatic cleaning can be achieved by applying a layer of special chemicals such as titanium oxide on the external sur ^¬ face of the casing. Said casing can realize the cleaning function according to the irradiation situation of sunlight. However, the casing of such a lighting device does not have a self-cleaning function in cases without sunlight continuous ^¬ ly, hence, such a lighting device cannot always maintain a clean state of the casing steadily.

Summary of the Invention

In order to solve the above mentioned technical problem, the present invention provides a novel lighting device. Such a lighting device provides the user with a more humanized and simple mode of cleaning the cover, such that the lighting de ^¬ vice can realize cleaning of the cover without hand opera ^¬ tion. In addition, the lighting device according to the present invention can realize cleaning of the cover without sunlight, in such way the continuity and stability of maintain- ing the lighting device clean are realized, and no extra pow ^¬ er consumption is necessary for the cleaning in the circumstance with sunlight.

A lighting device according to the present invention comprises a first lighting unit for emitting a first illuminating light, a cover, and cleaning means for cleaning the cover, and the lighting device further comprises a control device which controls the cleaning means to enter an operating state on the basis of whether a situation of ambient environment reaches a first preset condition, und/or which controls the cleaning means to enter a non-operating state on the basis of whether the situation of the ambient environment reaches a second preset condition. Since an additional control device is arranged in the lighting device, the lighting device is capable of actively responding according to a preset condi- tion, so as to realize the probability of automatic cleaning. In such way, the cleaning of the lighting device is realized without hand regulation or control.

In a preferable configuration according to the present invention, whether the situation of the ambient environment reach- es the first preset condition is represented by the following condition: whether a first time duration in which a light intensity of a second light in the ambient environment is lower than a first intensity threshold reaches a first time thresh- old. Therefore, when the detected light is lower than the requirement and the duration of such a circumstance reaches a threshold, the lighting device is provided with a probability of actively responding at this moment; that is, activating the cleaning means to enter the operating state in need of cleaning.

In a preferable configuration according to the present invention, whether the situation of the ambient environment reaches the second preset condition is represented by the follow ^¬ ing condition: whether a second time duration in which a light intensity of a second light in the ambient environment is higher than a second intensity threshold reaches a second time threshold. Therefore, when the light required to be de ^¬ tected is higher than the requirement and the duration of such a circumstance reaches a threshold, the lighting device is provided with a probability of actively responding at this moment; that is, activating the cleaning means to enter the non-operating state without the need of cleaning.

Preferably, the first time threshold is larger than the se ^¬ cond time threshold. By such arrangement, it can be avoided that the cleaning means continue cleaning for an excessively long time, and implementing the cleaning in a suitable short ^¬ er period saves the power consumption of the lighting device.

Preferably, the control device comprises signal providing means and control execution means, wherein the signal provid- ing means provide the light intensity of the second light and the first time duration / second time duration; the control execution means controls the cleaning means to enter the op ^¬ erating state or the non-operating state on the basis of the light intensity of the second light in the ambient environ- ment and the first time duration / second time duration. As an information source of light intensity and time duration, the signal providing means provide the control execution means with basis for judgment, such that the control execu ^¬ tion means may decide whether or not the cleaning means work based on the light intensity and time duration of the light intensity .

Preferably, the signal providing means comprise first col ^¬ lecting means providing the light intensity of the second light in the ambient environment as well as a first time unit and a second time unit providing the first time duration and second time duration, respectively. By collecting the irra ^¬ diation state of the light received by the lighting device and the time duration of the irradiation, the signal provid ^¬ ing means can provide the control execution means with basis for controlling the cleaning means, such that the cleaning means can be controllably switched on/off according to the actual conditions.

Preferably, the first collecting means is a photo detector. The photo detector detects the irradiation state of the light received by the lighting device and provides the control exe ^¬ cution means with a control signal, so as to realize the probability of controlling the cleaning means.

Preferably, the photo detector is configured as an ultravio ^¬ let detector, and the second light is ultraviolet ray. The photo detector is implemented to have the function of detect ^¬ ing ultraviolet such that it can be judged directly by the detected result, whether the cover needs to be cleaned.

Preferably, the first time unit and the second time unit are respectively a first timer and a second timer. As a simple and effective time counting tool, the timer can auxiliarily provide the control mechanism with basis for judgment, so as to realize the probability of continuously maintaining the cover of the lighting device clean. Preferably, the control execution means comprise a controller and an actuator connected to each other, wherein the controller generates a control signal according to a parameter pro ^¬ vided by the signal providing means and the actuator enters an operating or non-operating state according to the control signal. The functions for sending control instructions and the functions for execution are separated, such that the ac ^¬ tuator may react according to a control command of the con ^¬ troller, thereby realizing the controllability. Preferably, the actuator is a second light emitting unit. As a light source, the actuator provides from interior of the lighting device a light ray enabling the cover to self-clean, in such way the cover of the lighting device can react by means of the light ray, such that the object of maintaining the cover clean without hand operation and control is

achieved .

Preferably, the light emitted by the second light emitting unit is high-frequency light. The cleaning means provided outside the cover reacts to the high-frequency light, so as to function for self cleaning of the cover.

Preferably, the second light emitting unit is an ultraviolet lamp. The cleaning means on the cover can react chemically in response to the ultraviolet ray to perform potential con ^¬ version of foul or organic substances attached on the cover so as to clean the cover.

Preferably, the first intensity threshold can be different from the second intensity threshold and can be some value se ^¬ lected from ranges from 0.1 to 3.0 m W/cm ² . In such way, the lighting device can judge based on a preset intensity thresh- old, whether it is necessary to clean the cover.

Preferably, the cleaning means are a coating. Coating coated outside the cover of the lighting device does not affect the appearance of the lighting device and can react actively to the light emitted by the ultraviolet lamp located in the lighting device so as to function for cleaning the cover.

Preferably, the coating is a titanium oxide coating. The coating having titanium oxide can react actively to the ul- traviolet ray and react chemically with the ultraviolet ray cL S cL C3.talyst, in such way, in cases without sunshine, a ul ^¬ traviolet ray is provided in the lighting device such that the cover of the lighting device can be cleaned.

Preferably, the coating has thickness of from 10 nm to 10 μιη. Such a coating utilizes saved materials to treat the cover of the lighting device while not affecting the appearance of the lighting device, so that the cover has a self-cleaning function in response to the ultraviolet ray.

Preferably, the coating is deposited on the external surface of the cover by PVD or CVD technology.

Another object of the present invention is achieved by a cleaning control method of a lighting device comprising the following steps: a) detecting a light intensity of a second light in an ambi- ent environment and determining whether a first time duration in which the light intensity of the second light in the ambi ^¬ ent environment is lower than a first intensity threshold reaches a first time threshold; b) if it is, controlling a second light emitting unit to be switched on to provide a supplementary second light; c) detecting a light intensity of a second light in an ambi ^¬ ent environment and determining whether a second time dura ^¬ tion in which the light intensity of the second light in the ambient environment is higher than a second intensity thresh- old reaches a second time threshold; d) if it is, controlling a second light emitting unit to be switched off to stop providing a supplementary second light. In the cleaning control method of the lighting device, the sequences of all the steps are interchangeable, and the steps comprised by the control method does not mean that said meth ^¬ od only comprises said steps. Preferably, in step a) , the first time duration is acquired by time counting by means of a first timer, and in step b) , the second time duration is acquired by time counting by means of a second timer. By counts of the first and second timers, the state of ultraviolet irradiation is counted, and it can serve as a basis for controlling the ultraviolet lamp to be switched on/off, so as to realize the continuity of maintaining the cover clean.

Preferably, in step d) , the first timer is controlled to be reset and the second timer is controlled to be reset. After the first and second timers are reset, it is ready for the next time counting cycle; in such way, the ultraviolet lamp can be controlled to be switched on/off repeatedly in differ ^¬ ent cases.

Brief Description of the Drawings The accompanying drawings constitute a part of the present

Description and are used to provide further understanding of the present invention. These accompanying drawings illus ^¬ trate the embodiments of the present invention and are used to describe the principles of the present invention together with the Description. In the accompanying drawings the same components are represented by the same reference numbers. As shown in the drawings :

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a lighting device of one em ^¬ bodiment according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is an operating flow chart of opening of actuator according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is an operating flow chart of closing of actuator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a lighting device 100 of one embodiment according to the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the lighting device of one embodiment according to the present invention comprises a first lighting unit 1 pro ^¬ vided on a carrier 10, a control device 4 as well as a cover 2 for receiving and sealing a first lighting unit 1 and the control device 4. First lighting unit 1 is the light source for providing the illumination function, such as white LED. The cover 2 is provided on its external surface with cleaning means 3 configured as a photosensitive coating, for example, in said embodiment it is a coating having e.g. titanium ox- ide. Titanium oxide may chemically react with the organic substances and fouling objects attached on the external sur ^¬ face of the cover to produce carbon dioxide and water. In such way, a cleaning function is realized by consuming titanium oxide. It should be pointed out that the cleaning means may also be a chemical coating sensitive to light other than ultraviolet light or other means activated by light. In said embodiment, the coating is applied to the external surface of the cover 2 by means of PVD or CVD technology, and the coat ^¬ ing can be configured to have a thickness of from 10 nm to 10 μιη, such that it is capable of entering an operating state or a non-operating state according to a control command of the control device 4, thereby realizing the controllability of cleaning of the lighting device 100.

The control device 4 is suggested according to the present invention, considering the case that the external environment may not be capable of providing the condition for activating the cleaning means, it is ensured that such activating condi ^¬ tion can be complementarily provided even if the external environment cannot satisfy the condition for activating or ini- tiating the cleaning means. Therefore, the control device 4 of the present invention further comprises signal providing means 41 and control execution means 42. The control device 4 can controls the cleaning means 3 to enter an operating state on the basis of whether the situation of ambient envi- ronment reaches a first preset condition, und/or the control device 4 controls the cleaning means 3 to enter a non- operating state on the basis of whether the situation of the ambient environment reaches a second preset condition. In this embodiment, as to the situation of the ambient environ- ment, it is generally considered whether the condition for activating the titanium oxide coating is satisfied. And the activating condition for a chemical coating is generally represented in two aspects, one is the light intensity and the other is irradiation duration of the light ray. Thus, in this embodiment, the signal providing means 41 provide a light intensity D of a second light in the ambient environ ^¬ ment and the first time duration / second time duration; the control execution means 42 controls the cleaning means 3 to enter the operating state or the non-operating state on the basis of the light intensity D of the second light in the am ^¬ bient environment and the first time duration / second time duration . in order to acquire the light intensity D and the first time duration / second time duration, the signal providing means 41 further comprise first collecting means 411, a first time unit 412 and a second time unit 413. The first collecting means 411 is configured as an ultraviolet detector having ul ^¬ traviolet detection function, the first and second time units 412, 413 are configured as first and second timers. It should be pointed out that, as an ultraviolet detector, the first collecting means 411 not only detect ultraviolet ray incident to the cover from the external environment through the cover, but also detect the complementarily provided ul ^¬ traviolet ray from an actuator 422 of the control execution means 42 (to be described in detail in the following) . The ultraviolet detector e.g. can adopt solutions in the prior art, for example, including a photodiode and a UV-filter pro- video! on the photodiode, wherein the UV-filter only allows UV-light to transmit.

The signal providing means 41 provide the control execution means 42 with basis for control so as to realize the function of automatically switch on/off the ultraviolet lamp. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1, the control execution means 42 comprise a controller 421 and the actuator 422. The controller 421 and actuator 422 are connected to each other, and the controller 421 generates a control signal according to information provided by the first collecting means 411, first time unit 412 and second time unit 413, and the actuator 422 enters an operating or non-operating state according to the control signal. The controller 421 can also control the first time unit 412 and second time unit 413 to be reset. In this embodiment, the actuator 422 is configured as a se ^¬ cond light emitting unit independent of a first light emit ^¬ ting unit and the second light emitting unit is configured as an ultraviolet lamp, for example UVLED, a high-frequency light ray such as ultraviolet light is transmitted by means of the ultraviolet lamp, in such way the effect of activating the coating coated on the external surface of the cover can be realized.

Fig. 2 is an operating flow chart of opening of actuator according to one embodiment of the present invention. It can be judged based on a first preset condition whether the ul ^¬ traviolet lamp should be switched on, i.e. when the light in ^¬ tensity D of the second light in the ambient environment is lower than the first intensity threshold Intl, wherein the first intensity threshold Intl is configured to range from 0.1 to 3.0 mW/cm ² , the first timer begins to count the time, and when the first timer acquired a first time duration and the first time duration reaches a first time threshold Tl, a signal is provided to the control device 4 to control the ul ^¬ traviolet lamp to be switched on, such that the coating can function for self cleaning under the ultraviolet irradiation. Fig. 3 is an operating flow chart of closing of actuator according to one embodiment of the present invention. It can be judged based on a second preset condition whether the ul ^¬ traviolet lamp should be switched off, i.e. when the light intensity D of the second light in the ambient environment is greater than or equal to a second intensity threshold Int2, wherein the second intensity threshold Int2 can be configured different from the first intensity threshold Intl, the second timer begins to count the time, and when the second timer ac- quires a second time duration and the second time duration reaches a second time threshold T2, a signal is provided to the controller 421, such that the first timer (as shown in Fig. 2) and the second timer are reset, and the ultraviolet lamp is controlled to be switched off, so as to stop provid- ing the complementary ultraviolet ray, such that the cleaning of the cover 2 of the lighting device 100 is stopped.

The whole working process of the lighting device 100 of the present invention is the following:

The first light emitting unit provides the illumination func- tion. The second light emitting unit configured as UVLED providing the cleaning trigger function, is usually off, and here the counts of both first timer and second timer are ze ^¬ ro. For example on a cloudy day, the first collecting means 411 can only collect ultraviolet light permeating in the cov- er from the outside, here the ultraviolet ray may be insuffi ^¬ cient. When the light intensity signal received by the con ^¬ troller 421 provided from the first collecting means 411 is lower than the first intensity threshold Intl, the first tim ^¬ er begins to count the time, and when the light intensity signal acquired by the first timer is lower than the first intensity threshold Intl for a first time duration and the first time duration reaches the first time threshold Tl, a signal is provided to the controller 421, the controller 421 controls the ultraviolet lamp to be switched on and the count of the first timer is zero. After the ultraviolet lamp is switched on, the first collecting means 411 collect the ul- traviolet light permeating in the cover from the outside and the ultraviolet light complementarily provided by the ultra ^¬ violet lamp. Since the weather may switch fine, there may be the case that the sum of the ultraviolet light permeating in the cover and the ultraviolet light complementarily provided by the ultraviolet lamp is too much, thus, the controller has also to further decide whether the light intensity D of the second light is greater than or equal to the second intensity threshold Int2. When the light intensity D of the second light in the ambient environment is greater than or equal to the second intensity threshold Int2, the second timer begins to count the time, and when the second timer acquires that the light intensity D of the second light is greater than or equal to the second intensity threshold Int2 for a second time duration and the second time duration reaches the second time threshold T2, a signal is provided to the controller 421, such that the second timer is reset and the ultraviolet lamp is controlled to be switched off.

The above is merely preferred embodiments of the present in- vention but not to limit the present invention. For the per ^¬ son skilled in the art, the present invention may have vari ^¬ ous alterations and changes. Any alterations, equivalent substitutions, improvements, within the spirit and principle of the present invention, should be covered in the protection scope of the present invention.

List of reference signs

1 first lighting unit

2 cover

3 cleaning means

4 control device

10 carrier

100 lighting device

41 signal providing means

42 control execution means

200 cleaning control method

411 first collecting means

412 first time unit

413 second time unit

421 controller

422 actuator

D light intensity of second light

Intl first intensity threshold

Int2 second intensity threshold

Tl first time threshold

T2 second time threshold