Marine LED lighting system and method

• US 20050135104A1
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orbital Technologies Corporation (Sierra Nevada Co. LLC)
• Original Assignee: Orbital Technologies Corporation (Sierra Nevada Co. LLC)
• Inventors: Crabb, Thomas M., Gustafson, Marty, Emmerich, Jeffrey C., Morrow, Robert C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,220,018 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/276
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/249 Lighting means with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/06 Arrangements for heating or lighting in, or attached to, receptacles for live fish
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 31/10 by light emitting elements located inside the reactor, e.g. LED or OLED
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/06 of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/805 Horticultural

Abstract

A method and apparatus of lighting a marine habitat for growth utilizing an LED light system. The light system includes an LED light source, a power supply for such light source and a controller for controlling the activation status and the intensity of the LED light source.

Claims

1. A lighting system for a marine habitat comprising:

a housing;

an LED light source mounted to said housing;

a power supply sufficient to drive said LED light source; and

a controller connected with said power source for controlling the activation status and the intensity of said LED light source.

2. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said housing is waterproof and said LED light source is mounted within said housing.

3. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said LED light source, when activated, is sufficient to support marine growth.

4. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said LED light source includes at least one of chip-based, organic or discreet LEDs.

5. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said LED light source, when activated, provides light with the spectral range of about 380 nm to about 690 nm.

6. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said LED light source comprises at least one light engine having a plurality of individual LEDs.

7. The lighting system of claim 6 wherein each of said light engines is capable of providing light intensity of from 0 to 1000 micro mols per square meter per second.

8. The lighting system of claim 7 where each of said individual LEDs provides light at a wavelength in the range from 380 nm to about 690 nm.

9. The lighting system of claim 6 wherein each of said individual LEDs provides light at a wavelength from 380 nm to about 690 nm.

10. A method of lighting a marine habitat for marine growth comprising:

providing a housing with a LED light source mounted thereto;

providing a power source for driving said LED light source;

controlling the illumination of said LED light source at a level sufficient to support marine growth.

11. The method of claim 10 including controlling at least one of (a) the lighting period, (b) the spectral content, (c) the spatial content, (d) the intensity or (e) the decorative patterns of the LED light source.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein LED light source includes at least one LED light engine comprised of a plurality of individual LEDs, said individual LEDs including a first type emitting light within a first wavelength range and a second type emitting light within a second wavelength range.

13. The method of claim 12 including controlling the activation status of each of said first type and said second type.

14. The method of claim 13 including controlling the intensity of each of said first type and said second type.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein each of said first type and said second type emits light in the spectral range of 380 nm to 690 nm.

16. The method of claim 12 including controlling the intensity of each of said first type and said second type.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein each of said first type and said second type emits light in the spectral range of 380 nm to 690 nm.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein said first wavelength is in the red region of the spectrum and the second wavelength is in the blue region of the spectrum.

19. The method of claim 18 including controlling the activation status and the intensity of each of said first type and said second type.