Light fixture with internally-loaded multilayer stack for pressure transfer

• US 10,222,031 B1
• Filed: 02/13/2017
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seescan, Inc.
• Original Assignee: DeepSea Power & Light, LLC
• Inventors: Olsson, Mark S., Simmons, Jon E., Sanderson, John R., Steiner, Aaron J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Breval, Elmito
• Application Number:
  US15/431,588
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/08 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements and reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/005 the substrate is supporting also the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/89 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/00 Reflectors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/505
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/20 for water vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/18 using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/50 responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDs; responsive to LED life; Protective circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/56 involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs

Abstract

Submersible lights including housings and a multilayer stack for pressure transfer are disclosed. A transparent pressure-bearing window, a window support structure, a circuit element populated with LEDs, and a pressure support structure may be mounted inside the housing. The support structure may be structured to bear at least some of the pressure applied to the transparent window from external pressure sources. The support structures may also be adapted to transfer thermal energy to an exterior environment such as sea water.

Claims

1. An LED underwater light, comprising:

a housing with a forward portion having an opening and an aft portion enclosing a volume;

a transparent, pressure-bearing window having an external face and an internal face, positioned in the forward portion opening, with the external face positioned outward and the internal face positioned adjacent the volume;

a water-tight seal disposed between the transparent, pressure bearing window and a surface of the housing;

an LED light assembly including an electronic circuit board and a plurality of LEDs operatively coupled to the electronic circuit board, wherein the electronic circuit board is an element of a multilayer stack assembly enclosed in the volume, the multilayer stack assembly also including at least an LED spacer element placed between the transparent pressure bearing window and the electronic circuit board and having apertures for allowing light emitted from the LEDs to pass through to the transparent pressure bearing window, wherein substantially all of the pressure applied to the external face of the window is transferred to and carried through the electronic circuit board and other elements of the multilayer stack assembly.

2. The underwater light of claim 1, wherein the housing is thermally coupled to a heat sink element of the multilayer stack to transfer heat generated by the plurality of LEDs to the housing and to an external environment.

3. The underwater light of claim 1, wherein the external environment is a water environment.

4. The underwater light of claim 1, wherein the housing is a two piece housing including a forward housing element and an aft housing element mechanically coupled together to be water tight.

5. The underwater light of claim 1, wherein the multilayer stack includes a light engine metal clad printed circuit board (MCPCB) populated with the plurality of LEDs and an LED spacer including apertures for allowing light emitted from the LEDs to pass through to the transparent, pressure bearing window;

wherein the LED spacer is positioned between the transparent pressure bearing window and the MCPCB.

6. The underwater light of claim 5, wherein the multilayer stack further comprises a window support spacer positioned between the LED spacer and the transparent, pressure bearing window.

7. The underwater light of claim 6, wherein the multilayer stack further comprises an insulating film positioned between the LED spacer and the transparent pressure bearing window.

8. The underwater light of claim 7, wherein the insulating film comprises a Kapton material.

9. The underwater light of claim 6, wherein the window support spacer comprises a high compressive strength material with apertures shaped to fit around the LEDs to allow light from the LEDs to pass therethrough.

10. The underwater light of claim 1, wherein the housing has a cylindrical shape.

11. The underwater light of claim 1, further comprising a crash guard positioned in front of the forward opening of the housing.

12. The underwater light of claim 1, wherein the window comprises sapphire.

13. The underwater light of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit includes:

a current regulator circuit to drive the LEDs;

a thermal compensation circuit operatively coupled to the current regulator to provide a control signal for the regulator circuit output;

a temperature monitor circuit, operatively coupled to the current regulator circuit, to sense heat generated by the LEDs and provide an output to the thermal compensation circuit; and

a short circuit detection open load protection circuit operatively coupled to the LEDs and the current regulator.