Handrail device with sensor-activated lighting

Abstract

A handrail device with inductive lighting function includes a lighting unit, a proximity unit, a light detection unit, and a control unit. The light detection unit generates a low-brightness signal. The control unit pre-stores a voltage threshold and includes a sensing module electrically connected to the proximity unit and the light detection unit, a conversion module electrically connected to the sensing module, and a drive module electrically connected to the conversion module. The sensing module generates a self-capacitance value after receiving the low-brightness signal. The conversion module converts the self-capacitance value into an induced voltage signal. When the drive module determines that the induced voltage signal is greater than the voltage threshold, it outputs a drive signal to the lighting unit to make it emit light. Therefore, the accuracy of the control unit driving the lighting unit to emit light is improved.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a handrail device, and more particularly to a handrail device with a sensor-activated lighting function. [Previous Technology]

[0002] An existing handrail device is used to install on one side of a bed set for users to hold and maintain balance. However, when in dim environments such as dusk or cloudy days, users may not be able to accurately judge the position of the existing handrail device, resulting in inconvenience in use. [Summary of the Invention]

[0003] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a handrail device with inductive lighting function that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[0004] Therefore, the handrail device of the present invention with inductive lighting function includes a lamp unit, a proximity unit, a light detection unit, and a control unit. The lamp unit is used to emit light. The proximity unit includes a metal component. The light detection unit is used to sense the brightness of the current environment to generate a high brightness signal or a low brightness signal accordingly. The control unit is electrically connected to the proximity unit, the lamp unit, and the light detection unit and stores a voltage threshold in advance. The control unit includes a sensing module, a conversion module, and a driving module. The sensing module is electrically connected to the metal component and the light detection unit. After receiving the low brightness signal from the light detection unit, the sensing module generates a self-capacitance value indicating the equivalent capacitance between the metal component and a potential reference point. The conversion module is electrically connected to the sensing module. The conversion module converts the self-capacitance value into an induced voltage signal, the value of which is proportional to the value of the self-capacitance value. The drive module is electrically connected to the conversion module. When the drive module determines that the induced voltage signal is greater than the voltage threshold, it outputs a drive signal to the lamp unit so that the lamp unit emits light.

[0005] The advantage of the present invention is that by combining the approach unit, the light detection unit and the control unit, the control unit can determine whether to output the driving signal to the lamp unit based on the low brightness signal and the self-capacitance value, thereby reducing unnecessary energy consumption by driving the lamp unit to emit light more accurately.

Implementation Method

[0006] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, an embodiment of the handrail device with inductive lighting function of the present invention is suitable for installation on one side of a bed assembly 9. This embodiment includes a lighting unit 1, a proximity unit 2, a light detection unit 3, a control unit 4, and a battery unit (not shown) for supplying power to the lighting unit 1, the proximity unit 2, the light detection unit 3, and the control unit 4.

[0007] The lighting unit 1 is used to emit light. In this embodiment, the lighting unit 1 is a light-emitting diode lamp tube.

[0008] The approach unit 2 also includes a metal component 21 and a metal handrail component 22 electrically connected to the metal component 21.

[0009] The light detection unit 3 is used to sense the brightness of the current environment in order to generate a high-brightness signal or a low-brightness signal accordingly. In this embodiment, the light detection unit 3 is a photoresistor module, which is used to change the resistance value of its own photoresistor according to the brightness of the current environment, thereby outputting the high-brightness signal or the low-brightness signal at different voltage levels.

[0010] The control unit 4 is electrically connected to the approach unit 2, the lighting unit 1, and the light detection unit 3, and stores a voltage threshold and a time threshold in advance. In this embodiment, the control unit 4 is implemented using an integrated circuit with computing and storage capabilities, and illustratively includes hardware components such as a processor, memory, input interface, and output interface, which are not shown in the figure.

[0011] The control unit 4 includes a sensing module 41, a conversion module 42 and a drive module 43.

[0012] The sensing module 41 is electrically connected to the metal component 21 and the light detection unit 3, and is used to generate a self-capacitance value indicating the equivalent capacitance between the metal component 21 and a potential reference point (not shown) after receiving the low brightness signal from the light detection unit 3. In this embodiment, the potential reference point corresponds to the negative terminal of the battery cell. The sensing module 41 starts timing after receiving the low brightness signal from the light detection unit 3 to generate a duration. When the sensing module 41 determines that the duration is greater than the time threshold, it generates the self-capacitance value.

[0013] It is worth mentioning that by combining the metal part 21 and the metal handrail part 22 to expand the surface area of ​​the approach unit 2, the lamp unit 1 can be triggered to emit light as long as the human body touches the metal handrail part 22 or is less than 1 cm away from the metal handrail part 22.

[0014] The conversion module 42 is electrically connected to the sensing module 41 and is used to convert the self-capacitance value into an induced voltage signal. The value of the induced voltage signal is proportional to the value of the self-capacitance value. In this embodiment, the conversion module 42 is used to convert the self-capacitance value into an induced oscillation signal and then convert the induced oscillation signal into the induced voltage signal. The frequency of the induced oscillation signal is proportional to the value of the induced voltage signal.

[0015] The drive module 43 is electrically connected to the conversion module 42. When the drive module 43 determines that the induced voltage signal is greater than the voltage threshold, it outputs a drive signal to the lamp unit 1 so that the lamp unit 1 emits light.

[0016] In summary, this embodiment has the following advantages:

[0017] (a) By combining the approach unit 2, the light detection unit 3 and the control unit 4, the control unit 4 can decide whether to output the drive signal to the lamp unit 1 based on the low brightness signal and the self-capacitance value, thereby improving the accuracy of the control unit 4 in driving the lamp unit 1 to emit light and reducing unnecessary energy consumption.

[0018] (ii) By combining the metal part 21 and the metal handrail part 22, the surface area of ​​the approach unit 2 is increased, thereby improving the sensitivity of the approach unit 2 during sensing. In this way, when the brightness is insufficient, the human body does not need to actually touch the approach unit 2, but still needs to approach the approach unit 2 in order for the lamp unit 1 to emit light. By combining the metal part 21 and the metal handrail part 22, the ease of operation is improved and unnecessary energy consumption is reduced.

[0019] Therefore, the handrail device with inductive lighting function of the present invention can improve the accuracy of the control unit 4 in driving the lamp unit 1 to emit light, and can indeed achieve the purpose of the present invention.

[0020] However, the above description is only an embodiment of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the patent application and the contents of the patent specification of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the patent of the present invention. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0021] Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein: FIG1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the handrail device with inductive lighting function of the present invention; and FIG2 is a perspective view of the embodiment.

Claims

1. A handrail device with inductive lighting function, comprising: a lamp unit for emitting light, the lamp unit being a light-emitting diode tube; a proximity unit including a metal component and a metal handrail component electrically connected to the metal component; a light detection unit for sensing the brightness of the current environment to generate a high brightness signal or a low brightness signal accordingly; and a control unit electrically connected to the proximity unit, the lamp unit, and the light detection unit and pre-stored a voltage threshold, the control unit including a sensing module electrically connected to the metal component and the light detection unit, the sensing module being used to generate a self-capacitance value indicating the equivalent capacitance between the metal component and a potential reference point after receiving the low brightness signal from the light detection unit; A conversion module electrically connected to the sensing module is used to convert the self-capacitance value into an induced voltage signal, the value of which is proportional to the value of the self-capacitance value; and a drive module electrically connected to the conversion module, when the drive module determines that the induced voltage signal is greater than the voltage threshold, outputs a drive signal to the lamp unit so that the lamp unit emits light.

2. A handrail device with inductive lighting function, comprising: a lamp unit for emitting light; a proximity unit including a metal component and a metal handrail component electrically connected to the metal component; a light detection unit for sensing the brightness of the current environment to generate a high brightness signal or a low brightness signal accordingly, the light detection unit being a photoresistor module; and a control unit electrically connected to the proximity unit, the lamp unit, and the light detection unit and pre-stored a voltage threshold, the control unit including a sensing module electrically connected to the metal component and the light detection unit, the sensing module being used to generate a self-capacitance value indicating the equivalent capacitance between the metal component and a potential reference point after receiving the low brightness signal from the light detection unit; A conversion module electrically connected to the sensing module is used to convert the self-capacitance value into an induced voltage signal, the value of which is proportional to the value of the self-capacitance value; and a drive module electrically connected to the conversion module, when the drive module determines that the induced voltage signal is greater than the voltage threshold, outputs a drive signal to the lamp unit so that the lamp unit emits light.

3. A handrail device with inductive lighting function, comprising: a lamp unit for emitting light; a proximity unit including a metal component and a metal handrail component electrically connected to the metal component; a light detection unit for sensing the brightness of the current environment to generate a high brightness signal or a low brightness signal accordingly; and a control unit electrically connected to the proximity unit, the lamp unit and the light detection unit and pre-stored a voltage threshold and a time threshold, the control unit including a sensing module electrically connected to the metal component and the light detection unit, the sensing module for starting timing after receiving the low brightness signal from the light detection unit to generate a duration, and when the sensing module determines that the duration is greater than the time threshold, generating a self-capacitance value indicating the equivalent capacitance between the metal component and a potential reference point; A conversion module electrically connected to the sensing module is used to convert the self-capacitance value into an induced voltage signal, the value of which is proportional to the value of the self-capacitance value; and a drive module electrically connected to the conversion module, when the drive module determines that the induced voltage signal is greater than the voltage threshold, outputs a drive signal to the lamp unit so that the lamp unit emits light.

4. A handrail device with inductive lighting function, comprising: a lamp unit for emitting light; a proximity unit including a metal component and a metal handrail component electrically connected to the metal component; a light detection unit for sensing the brightness of the current environment to generate a high brightness signal or a low brightness signal accordingly; and a control unit electrically connected to the proximity unit, the lamp unit and the light detection unit and pre-stored a voltage threshold, the control unit including a sensing module electrically connected to the metal component and the light detection unit, the sensing module being used to generate a self-capacitance value indicating the equivalent capacitance between the metal component and a potential reference point after receiving the low brightness signal from the light detection unit; A conversion module, electrically connected to the sensing module, is used to convert the self-capacitance value into an induced oscillation signal and the induced oscillation signal into an induced voltage signal. The frequency value of the induced oscillation signal is proportional to the value of the induced voltage signal, and the value of the induced voltage signal is proportional to the value of the self-capacitance value. A drive module, electrically connected to the conversion module, outputs a drive signal to the lighting unit when the drive module determines that the induced voltage signal is greater than the voltage threshold, so that the lighting unit emits light.

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