LED LIGHTING FOR LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT

• US 20110101883A1
• Filed: 10/29/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Once Innovations Inc. (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Grajcar, Zdenko
• Granted Patent: US 9,700,019 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0088 Animal shelters especially adapted for keeping young cattle, i.e. calves
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 2227/108 Swine
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/00 Other apparatus for animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 45/00 Other aviculture appliances, e.g. devices for determining whether a bird is about to lay
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/06 by suspension
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/50 Cooling arrangements air-treatment systems dissipating or using the heat of lighting fixtures F24F3/056
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• 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 45/31 Phase-control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/36 Circuits for reducing or suppressing harmonics, ripples or electromagnetic interferences [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/40 Details of LED load circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/48 having LEDs organised in strings and incorporating parallel shunting devices

Abstract

Apparatus and associated methods involve a hangable LED light assembly constructed to provide a selected color output illumination as a function of excitation intensity. In an illustrative example, the color output may be selected to promote biological development throughout livestock development stages (e.g., incubation, growth, and reproduction). The light intensity may controllable, for example, in response to a light dimmer arranged to modulate AC excitation applied to the LED downlight. As the light intensity is decreased in response to a simple dimmer control, the spectral output of the LED downlight may shift its output wavelengths. Accordingly, some exemplary installations may provide controlled combinations of intensity and color to substantially optimize lighting conditions for livestock.

Claims

1. A method of artificially illuminating livestock during a life cycle, the method comprising:

providing an electric lamp configured to illuminate a livestock area in which livestock develop;

providing an electric power signal to the lamp at a first excitation level;

illuminating the livestock area with a first plurality of spectral components generated by the lamp in response to the electric power signal at the first excitation level, wherein the first plurality of spectral components comprise a spectral component at a selected wavelength;

changing the electric power signal from the first excitation level to a second excitation level that is substantially different from the first excitation level;

supplying the electric power signal to the lamp at the second excitation level; and

,

illuminating the livestock area with a second plurality of spectral components generated by the lamp in response to the electric power signal at the second excitation level, wherein the selected wavelength is substantially removed from the second plurality of spectral components.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected wavelength comprises a red color.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected wavelength comprises an infrared color.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected wavelength comprises a blue color.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the lamp comprises a light engine configured to output a color temperature that is a function of the excitation level of the electric power signal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the light engine is configured to output a color temperature that is a substantially smooth and continuous function of the excitation level of the electric power signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the color temperature is a substantially continuous function from at least about 5% to at least 100% of the rated excitation level of the electric power signal.

8. The method of claim 1, maintaining the electric power signal above the second excitation level on a peak lighting program basis until livestock in the livestock area have reached a predetermined maturity level.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively generating the electric power signal at the second excitation level to substantially discontinue illuminating the livestock with the selected wavelength.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the electric power signal comprises supplying an alternating polarity electrical signal.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the luminous intensity of the lamp at the second excitation level is at least 5% of the rated luminous intensity when the lamp is supplied with the electric power signal at a rated excitation level.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of spectral components includes all the wavelengths present in the second plurality of spectral components.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the electric power signal from the first excitation level to a second excitation level comprises modulating the conduction angle using a leading-edge phase cut.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the electric power signal from the first excitation level to a second excitation level comprises modulating the conduction angle using a trailing-edge phase cut.

15. An apparatus to artificially illuminate livestock during their life cycle, the apparatus comprising:

a light engine module configured to illuminate a livestock area with a first plurality of spectral components in response to an electric power signal at a first excitation level, wherein the first plurality of spectral components comprise a spectral component at a selected wavelength, and further configured to illuminate the livestock area with a second plurality of spectral components generated in response to the electric power signal at a second excitation level, wherein the selected wavelength is substantially removed from the second plurality of spectral components, and wherein the first excitation level is substantially different from the first excitation level.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the selected wavelength comprises a red color.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the selected wavelength comprises an infrared color.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the selected wavelength comprises a blue color.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the light engine is further configured to output a color temperature that is a function of the excitation level of the electric power signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the light engine is configured to output a color temperature that is a substantially smooth and continuous function of the excitation level of the electric power signal.