Lighting apparatus with hybrid power supply device, and method utilizing the same

1. A lighting apparatus with hybrid power supply, comprising:

a light-emitting diode (LED) module;

a solar module, electrically connected to the LED module, in which the solar module receives a light energy and converts the light energy into electrical energy before outputting a solar electric power and transmitting the solar electric power to the LED module;

an auxiliary power module, electrically connected to the LED module and an exterior power source, in which the auxiliary power module receives a power of the exterior power source and transmits an auxiliary electric power to the LED module; and

an electric power selection circuit electrically connected to the LED module, the solar module, and the auxiliary power module, in which the electric power selection circuit determines whether to transmit the auxiliary electric power or the solar electric power to the LED module according to a voltage of the solar electric power;

wherein the electric power selection circuit comprises:

a first switch unit, electrically connected between the LED module and the solar module;

a second switch unit, electrically connected between the LED module and the auxiliary power module; and

a voltage level detection circuit, electrically connected to the solar module, the first switch unit, and the second switch unit, in which the voltage level detection circuit compares a voltage of the solar electric power outputted by the solar module with a predetermined value before preparing a comparison result, which serves as a basis for a control of the first switch unit and the second switch unit;

wherein if the comparison result indicates that the voltage of the solar electric power is greater than the predetermined value, the voltage level detection circuit turns on the first switch unit and turns off the second switch unit, otherwise the voltage level detection circuit turns off the first switch unit and turns on the second switch unit.

2. The lighting apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the LED module comprises:

a light-emitting diode (LED); and

a driving circuit, electrical connected to the LED, the first switch unit, and the second switch unit, in which the driving circuit receives the solar electric power generated by the solar module or the auxiliary electric power generated by the auxiliary power module to drive the LED to emit light.

3. The lighting apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the solar module comprises:

a solar panel, for receiving the light energy and converting the light energy into the electrical energy;

a power storage unit, electrically connected to the solar panel and the first switch unit, in which the power storage unit receives the electrical energy generated by the solar panel for generating the solar electric power; and

a charging circuit, electrically connected between the solar panel and the power storage unit, in which the charging circuit transmits the electrical energy generated by the solar panel to the power storage unit.

4. The lighting apparatus as in claim 3 , wherein the solar module further includes a power leakage unit electrically connected to the power storage unit and the voltage level detection circuit, in which the power leakage unit discharges the power storage unit when the first switch unit is turned off and the second switch unit is turned on.

5. The lighting apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary power module comprises:

a power source connection port, for connecting the power source; and

a direct current (DC) power supply circuit electrically connected to the exterior power source connection port and the second switch unit, in which the DC power supply circuit receives the power of the power source from the exterior power source connection port, for generating the auxiliary electric power and an operating voltage for the electric power selection circuit.

6. The lighting apparatus as in claim 1 , further comprising a first photo sensor unit electrically connected to the LED module, in which the first photo sensor unit stops the LED module from operating when the first photo sensor unit detects that an environmental light intensity is greater than a first threshold value.

7. A lighting apparatus with hybrid power supply, comprising:

a light-emitting diode (LED) module;

a solar module, electrically connected to the LED module, in which the solar module receives a light energy and converts the light energy into electrical energy before outputting a solar electric power and transmitting the solar electric power to the LED module;

an auxiliary power module, electrically connected to the LED module and an exterior power source, in which the auxiliary power module receives a power of the exterior power source and transmits an auxiliary electric power to the LED module; and

an electric power selection circuit electrically connected to the LED module, the solar module, and the auxiliary power module, in which the electric power selection circuit determines whether to transmit the auxiliary electric power or the solar electric power to the LED module according to a voltage of the solar electric power;

wherein the electric power selection circuit comprises:

a 2-to-1 multiplexer, having a first input end electrically connected to the solar module, a second input end electrically connected to the auxiliary power module, a control end, and an output end electrically connected to the LED module; and

a voltage level detection circuit, electrically connected to the solar module and the control end of the 2-to-1 multiplexer, in which the voltage level detection circuit generates a selection signal according to a comparison result of the voltage of the solar electric power outputted by the solar module with a predetermined value, and controls the 2-to-1 multiplexer for outputting the auxiliary electric power or the solar electric power to the LED module according to the selection signal;

wherein if the comparison result indicates that the voltage of the solar electric power is greater than the predetermined value, the multiplexer generates a first link connecting the output end with the first input end, otherwise the multiplexer generates a second link connecting the output end with the second input end.

8. A hybrid power supply device, electrically connected to a power utilizing load, comprising:

a solar module, for receiving a light energy and converting the light energy into an electrical energy, in order to output a solar electric power;

an auxiliary power module electrically connected to an exterior power source, in which the auxiliary power module receives a power of the exterior power source for generating an auxiliary electric power; and

an electric power selection circuit electrically connected to the power utilizing load, the solar module, and the auxiliary power module, in which the electric power selection circuit determines whether to output the auxiliary electric power or the solar electric power to the power utilizing load according to a voltage of the solar electric power;

wherein the electric power selection circuit comprises:

a first switch unit electrically connected between the solar module and the power utilizing load;

a second switch unit, electrically connected between the auxiliary power module and the power utilizing load; and

a voltage level detection circuit, electrically connected to the solar module, the first switch unit, and the second switch unit, in which the voltage level detection circuit compares a voltage of the solar electric power with a predetermined value for generating a comparison result, and controls the first switch unit and the second switch unit according to the comparison result;

wherein when the comparison result indicates that the voltage of the solar electric power is greater than the predetermined value, the voltage level detection circuit turns on the first switch unit and turns off the second switch unit, otherwise the voltage level detection circuit turns off the first switch unit and turns on the second switch unit.

9. The hybrid power supply device as in claim 8 , wherein the solar module comprising:

a solar panel, for receiving the light energy and converting the light energy into the electrical energy;

a power storage unit, electrically connected to the solar panel and the first switch unit, in which the power storage unit receives the electrical energy generated by the solar panel for generating the solar electric power; and

a charging circuit, electrically connected between the solar panel and the power storage unit, in which the charging circuit transmits the electrical energy generated by the solar panel to the power storage unit.

10. The hybrid power supply device as in claim 9 , wherein the solar module further includes a power leakage unit electrically connected to the power storage unit and the voltage level detection circuit, in which the power leakage unit discharges the power storage unit when the first switch unit is turned off and the second switch unit is turned on.

11. The hybrid power supply device as in claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary power module comprises:

a power source connection port, for connecting the exterior power source; and

a direct current (DC) power supply circuit electrically connected to the power source connection port and the second switch unit, in which the DC power supply circuit receives the power of the power source from the power source connection port, for generating the auxiliary electric power and an operating voltage for the electric power selection circuit.

12. A hybrid power supply device, electrically connected to a power utilizing load, comprising:

a solar module, for receiving a light energy and converting the light energy into an electrical energy, in order to output a solar electric power;

an auxiliary power module electrically connected to an exterior power source, in which the auxiliary power module receives a power of the exterior power source for generating an auxiliary electric power; and

an electric power selection circuit electrically connected to the power utilizing load, the solar module, and the auxiliary power module, in which the electric power selection circuit determines whether to output the auxiliary electric power or the solar electric power to the power utilizing load according to a voltage of the solar electric power;

wherein the electric power selection circuit comprises:

a 2-to-1 multiplexer, having a first input end, a second input end, a control end, and an output end, in which the output end is electrically connected to the power utilizing load, the first input end is electrically connected to the solar module, and the second input end is electrically connected to the auxiliary power module; and

a voltage level detection circuit electrically connected to the solar module and the control end of the 2-to-1 multiplexer, in which the voltage level detection circuit generates a selection signal according to a comparison result of the voltage of the solar electric power outputted by the solar module with a predetermined value, and controls the 2-to-1 multiplexer for outputting the solar electric power or the auxiliary electric power to the power utilizing load according to the selection signal;

wherein if the comparison result indicates that the voltage of the solar electric power is greater than the predetermined value, the multiplexer generates a first link connecting the output end with the first input end, otherwise the multiplexer generates a second link connecting the output end with the second input end.

13. A hybrid power supply method for providing electric power to a light-emitting diode (LED) module by a hybrid power supply device including a solar module, an auxiliary power module, a first switch unit, a second switch unit, and a voltage level detection circuit, in which the first switch unit is electrically connected between the solar module and the LED module, and the second switch unit is electrically connected between the auxiliary power module and the LED module, the method comprising:

comparing a voltage of a solar electric power generated by the solar module with a predetermined value by the voltage level detection circuit, for generating a comparison result; and

controlling the first switch unit and the second switch unit according to the comparison result by the voltage level detection circuit, for determining whether to transmit the solar electric power generated by the solar module or an auxiliary electric power generated by the auxiliary power module to the LED module;

wherein when the voltage of the solar electric power is greater than the predetermined value causing the voltage level detection circuit to turn on the first switch unit and to turn off the second switch unit, for transmitting the solar electric power to the LED module, otherwise causing the voltage level detection circuit to turn off the first switch unit and to turn on the second switch unit, for transmitting the auxiliary electric power to the LED module.

14. The hybrid power supply method as in claim 13 , further comprising:

controlling a power leakage unit by the voltage level detection circuit for discharging electric power stored in the solar module when the first switch unit is turned off and the second switch unit is turned on.

15. The hybrid power supply method as in claim 13 , further comprising:

detecting an environmental light intensity by a photo sensor unit of the hybrid power supply device; and

stopping the auxiliary power module from operating by the photo sensor unit when the environmental light intensity is greater than a threshold value.