Lighting system and control for aquaculture

• US 10,154,657 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2017
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Once Innovations Inc. (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Grajcar, Zdenko, Delabbio, Juliette
• Primary Examiner(s): ABBOTT-LEWIS, YVONNE RENEE
• Application Number:
  US15/418,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20170135325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 119200, 119204, 119207, 119267
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/006 Accessories for aquaria or terraria
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/06 Arrangements for heating or lighting in, or attached to, receptacles for live fish
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/66 Details of globes or covers forming part of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/308 for aquaria
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/44 with an active control inside an LED matrix
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/48 having LEDs organised in strings and incorporating parallel shunting devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A method of experimenting on aquatic life in an indoor facility and lighting assembly for accomplishing the same. The lighting assembly includes a lighting device that emits light at a predetermined wavelength that provides a minimum water penetration depth and is positioned in a manner to provide uniform lighting at the air and water interface within a containment unit housing the aquatic life. The on and off function are also controlled by the lighting assembly to provide a gradual turn on and off to prevent interference of effects of lighting with experimental results.

Claims

1. A system for supporting aquatic life, comprising

a containment unit for housing aquatic life having an air space, water, and an air/water interface;

a lighting assembly having at least one light source wherein the lighting assembly is placed in the air space to provide lighting at the air/water interface;

a programmable dimming device electrically connected to the lighting assembly wherein the dimming device gradually increases the intensity of the light over first a predetermined period of time and wherein the dimming device gradually decreases the intensity of the light over a second predetermined period of time;

wherein when the intensity of the light source is reduced to 5% of the spectral output the light source emits predominately red light.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the light source is at least one light emitting diode.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the lighting assembly has at least one first light emitting diode and at least one second light emitting diode.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the first light emitting diode emits white light.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the second light emitting diode emits red light.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the red light has a wavelength between 620 nm and 780 nm.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein the second light emitting diode emits blue light.

8. They system of claim 7 wherein the blue light has a wavelength of between 400 nm and 500 nm.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein the at least one light emitting diode emits light at a predetermined wavelength to reduce the penetration of light into the water of the containment unit.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the predetermined wavelength is in a range between 630 nm and 750 nm.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the first predetermined period of time is two hours.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the second predetermined period of time is two hours.

13. A system for supporting aquatic life, comprising

a containment unit for housing aquatic life having an air space, water, and an air/water interface;

a lighting assembly having at least one first light emitting diode wherein the lighting assembly is placed in the air pace to provide lighting at the air/water interface

a programmable dimming device electrically connected to the lighting assembly wherein the dimming device gradually decreases the intensity of the light over a predetermined period of time;

wherein the first light emitting diode emits white light; and

wherein the first light emitting diode emits white light until the dimming device reduces the emitted light to a level of 5% of the spectral output wherein further dimming causes the first light emitting diode to emit red light.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the lighting assembly further includes at least one second light emitting diode.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the second light emitting diode emits either blue or red light.

16. A system for supporting aquatic life, comprising

a containment unit for housing aquatic life having an air space, water, and an air/water interface;

a lighting assembly having at least one first light emitting diode wherein the lit assembly is placed in the air space to provide lighting at the air/water interface

a programmable dimming device electrically connected to the lighting assembly wherein the dimming device gradually decreases the intensity of the light over a predetermined period of time wherein the dimming device gradually increases the intensity of the first light emitting diode over a second predetermined period of time.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the lighting assembly further includes at least one second light emitting diode.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the second light emitting diode emits either blue or red light.