Light fixtures for illumination of liquids

• US 20020171365A1
• Filed: 10/25/2001
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Lys, Ihor A., Roberge, Brian, Mueller, George G., Dowling, Kevin J., Morgan, Frederick M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,869,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/56
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/004 Sanitary equipment, e.g. mirrors, showers, toilet seats or paper dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/02 for fountains
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/06 Passive matrix structure, i.e. with direct application of both column and row voltages to the light emitting or modulating elements, other than LCD or OLED
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0272 Details of drivers for data electrodes, the drivers communicating data to the pixels by means of a current
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0666 for control of colour parameters, e.g. colour temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/14 Semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2014 by modulation of the duration of a single pulse during which the logic level remains constant
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/32 semiconductive, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 : Light emitting diode

Abstract

Light fixtures for illumination of liquids in a variety of environments. In one example, multi-color LED-based light fixtures are employed to achieve a wide range of enhanced lighting effects in liquids. In another example, a pool or spa is illuminated by one or more multi-color light fixtures that may be employed as individually and independently controllable devices, or coupled together to form a networked lighting system to provide a variety of programmable and/or coordinated color illumination effects in the pool or spa environment. The light fixtures may have a significantly thin depth dimension to facilitate streamlined mounting in the pool or spa. Additionally, the light fixtures may be particularly constructed to take advantage of the liquid in contact with the light fixture so as to facilitate the dissipation of heat generated by the light fixture.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a lighting fixture to generate variable color radiation, the lighting fixture adapted to be mounted on a surface and having a first dimension less than 2.5 inches, the first dimension being essentially normal to the surface when the lighting fixture is mounted on the surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first dimension is less than 2.25 inches.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first dimension is less than 2.0 inches.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first dimension is less than 1.75 inches.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first dimension is less than 1.5 inches.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first dimension is less than 1.25 inches.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first dimension is less than approximately 1.0 inch.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first dimension is approximately 0.5 inch.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a lighting fixture to generate variable color radiation to illuminate a liquid contained in one of a pool and a spa, the lighting fixture adapted to be mounted on a portion of an inner surface of the one of the pool and the spa, the inner surface being at least partially in contact with the liquid.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lighting fixture comprises at least one mounting mechanism to mount the lighting fixture to the inner surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one mounting mechanism includes at least one suction mechanism to mount the lighting fixture to the inner surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the inner surface is formed from at least one magnetic material, and the at least one mounting mechanism includes at least one magnetic mechanism to mount the lighting fixture to the inner surface.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, in combination with the one of the pool and the spa.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lighting fixture includes at least one LED.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one LED includes at least two differently colored LEDs.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one LED includes at least one red LED, at least one green LED, and at least one blue LED.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lighting fixture has a first dimension less than 2.5 inches, the first dimension being essentially normal to the portion of the inner surface of the one of the pool and the spa when the lighting fixture is mounted on the portion of the inner surface.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first dimension is less than 2.25 inches.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first dimension is less than 2.0 inches.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first dimension is less than 1.75 inches.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first dimension is less than 1.5 inches.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first dimension is less than 1.25 inches.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first dimension is less than 1 inch.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first dimension is approximately 0.5 inches.

25. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one of the pool and the spa has a range of typical liquid levels of the liquid during use, and wherein the light fixture is adapted to be disposed below the range of typical liquid levels.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the light fixture is adapted to be submersible in the liquid.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the light fixture comprises an essentially water tight lens.

28. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lighting fixture is adapted to be mounted on the portion of the inner surface such that the lighting fixture does not protrude through the portion of the inner surface.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the one of the pool and the spa has a range of typical liquid levels of the liquid during use, and wherein the apparatus further includes at least one cable coupled to the lighting fixture, wherein the cable and the lighting fixture are mounted to the inner surface such that no holes are required to be made in the inner surface below the range of typical liquid levels to accommodate the lighting fixture and the cable.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, in combination with the one of the pool and the spa, wherein the apparatus further includes at least one cable coupled to the lighting fixture, wherein the cable passes through a hole in the inner surface, and wherein the lighting fixture is adapted to make a water tight seal with the inner surface such that the liquid is unable to leak through the hole.

31. A method of illuminating a liquid contained in one of a pool and a spa with variable color radiation, comprising an act of:

mounting a lighting fixture, adapted to generate the variable color radiation, on a portion of an inner surface of the one of the pool and the spa, the inner surface being at least partially in contact with the liquid.

32. A light fixture for use in a liquid environment, the light fixture comprising:

a housing adapted to be at least partially in contact with a liquid; and

at least one light source supported and enclosed by the housing, the at least one light source including at least one LED, the housing preventing the at least one light source from contacting the liquid, the at least one light source and the housing being particularly adapted such that heat generated by the at least one light source is effectively absorbed by the liquid via the housing.

33. The light fixture of claim 32, wherein the housing includes at least one waterproof surface.

34. The light fixture of claim 32, wherein the at least one light source is particularly positioned in the housing such that heat generated by the at least one light source is effectively absorbed by the liquid via the housing.

35. The light fixture of claim 32, wherein the housing includes at least one metal portion at least partially in contact with the liquid.

36. The light fixture of claim 32, wherein the housing includes at least one plastic portion at least partially in contact with the liquid.

37. The light fixture of claim 32, wherein the housing includes at least one rubber portion at least partially in contact with the liquid.

38. The light fixture of claim 32, wherein the housing further includes a gap pad disposed within and supported by the housing, and wherein the gap pad is at least thermally coupled to both the at least one light source and the housing.

39. The light fixture of claim 38, wherein the housing further includes a back plate, and wherein the gap pad is disposed between the at least one light source and the back plate.

40. A method for dissipating heat from at least one light source in a liquid environment containing a liquid, the at least one light source including at least one LED, the method comprising acts of:

a) preventing the at least one light source from contacting the liquid; and

b) providing at least one thermal path between the at least one light source and the liquid such that heat generated by the at least one light source is effectively absorbed by the liquid.