LIGHTING UNIT AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING

• US 20120326610A1
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecotech Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ecotech Marine, LLC
• Inventors: Lawyer, Justin, Clasen, Patrick, Marks, Timothy, Lindenmoyer, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,839,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/117
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/06 Arrangements for heating or lighting in, or attached to, receptacles for live fish
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/67 characterised by the arrangement of fans
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/308 for aquaria
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• 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 45/56 involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs

Abstract

A lighting unit for illuminating a habitat is provided. The lighting unit includes a housing and a light emitter. The operating parameters of the lighting unit may be adjusted to mimic different natural conditions.

Claims

1. A lighting unit comprising:

a housing;

an emitter assembly at least partially received in the housing, the emitter assembly comprising a light emitter; and

a fan assembly at least partially received in the housing, the fan assembly comprising a fan blade for generating airflow, and a curved baffle situated over the fan blade for directing the airflow.

2. The lighting unit of claim 1, further comprising a heat sink disposed over the emitter assembly, wherein the curved baffle directs airflow in the direction of the heat sink.

3. The lighting unit of claim 1, further comprising a microprocessor electrically connected to the emitter assembly and the fan assembly.

4. The lighting unit of claim 3, wherein the light emitter comprises a first light emitter having a first color and the emitter assembly further comprises a second light emitter having a second color, the first light emitter being controlled on a first channel and the second light emitter being controlled on a second channel.

5. The lighting unit of claim 1, further comprising a communication unit operably connected to the microprocessor.

6. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a bottom cover having a grate through which the airflow is drawn by the fan blade.

7. A habitat comprising:

a marine aquarium; and

the lighting unit of claim 1 above the marine aquarium.

8. A lighting unit comprising:

a core comprising a first side region, a second side region, and an interior region disposed between the first side region and the second side region, the interior region comprising an opening and a heat sink for dissipating heat;

a first emitter assembly connected to the core, the first emitter assembly comprising a first light emitter device;

a second emitter assembly connected to the core, the second emitter assembly comprising a second light emitter device; and

a fan for generating airflow along the heat sink.

9. The lighting unit of claim 8, wherein the fan comprises:

a fan blade for generating the airflow;

a blade housing at least partially receiving the fan blade;

a grate; and

a hood for directing the airflow to the heat sink.

10. The lighting unit of claim 9, wherein the hood comprises a first curved baffle and a second curved baffle.

11. The lighting unit of claim 10, wherein the heat sink comprises a first heat sink and a second heat sink, and wherein the first curved baffle directs air from the fan to the first heat sink and the second curved baffle directs air from the fan to the second heat sink.

12. The lighting unit of claim 8, wherein the first and second light emitter devices comprise light emitting diodes.

13. The lighting unit of claim 11, wherein the core is a unitary piece of extruded material.

14. The lighting unit of claim 11, further comprising a microprocessor electrically connected to the first and second emitter assemblies and the fan.

15. The lighting unit of claim 8, wherein the first emitter assembly further comprises a total-internal-reflection lens.

16. A lighting unit comprising:

a housing;

a light emitter contained in the housing;

a USB port for connecting the lighting unit to a computer; and

internal memory for storing data received from a computer.

17. The lighting unit of claim 16, further comprising a microprocessor for processing the data received from the computer.

18. A method of controlling a lighting unit comprising:

monitoring temperature information at a first location in a lighting unit;

relaying the temperature information to a microprocessor that is operably connected to a fan assembly and an emitter assembly;

determining if the temperature information exceeds a temperature limit;

performing at least one of a reduction in light intensity or an increase in fan speed if the temperature information exceeds the temperature limit.

19. A method of controlling the environmental conditions in a habitat comprising:

selecting an operating mode having associated data related to light intensity and light color;

transmitting the associated data to a lighting unit;

storing the associated data in the lighting unit;

adjusting the operating parameters of the lighting unit to correspond to the associated data.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said selecting is done through one of the group consisting of a user interface on a lighting unit and a computer.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said selecting an operating mode is accomplished by a user gesturing in contact with the user interface.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said lowering the intensity of light reduces the amount of light to the minimal amount of light to support photosynthesis in a habitat.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the lighting unit is a first lighting unit and the method further comprises wirelessly transmitting the associated data from the first lighting unit to a second lighting unit to adjust the operating parameters of the second lighting unit in concert with the first lighting unit.