LED BASED SEARCHLIGHT/SKY LIGHT

• US 20130094193A1
• Filed: 04/06/2012
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sportsbeams Lighting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sportsbeams Lighting, Inc.
• Inventors: Baxter, Kevin C., Holmes, Fred H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,752,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/184
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/02 characterised by the provision of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/003 Searchlights, i.e. outdoor lighting device producing powerful beam of parallel rays, e.g. for military or attraction purposes searchlights mounted on a vehicle B60Q1/245
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/56 using liquid coolants F21V29/51 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/00 Reflectors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/505
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/06 with parabolic curvature
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/24 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/107 of the exterior of buildings
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

LED based searchlight/sky light including, in a basic embodiment, a housing; an LED array supported in/by the housing, a heat sink in communication with the LED array, and a reflector supported in the housing such that the LED array is supported by the housing a distance sufficient above the reflector to allow the light emitted by the LED array to be reflected by the reflector. The reflector is preferably a parabolic reflector such that the light emitted by the LED array is reflected by the parabolic reflector in an intense collimated beam. The LED array may be supported above the parabolic reflector a distance equal to the focal length of the parabolic reflector. A power supply may also be included to regulate the electrical current applied to the LED array.

Claims

1. A searchlight, comprising:

a frame;

at least one LED capable of emitting light upon application of electrical current;

a heat sink in communication with said at least one LED;

a power supply for regulating said electrical current applied to said at least one LED;

a reflector supported by said frame such that said at least one LED is capable of being positioned above said reflector such that said light emitted from said at least one LED is directed toward said reflector is reflected by said reflector.

2. The searchlight of claim 1 wherein said at least one LED is capable of being positioned above said reflector a distance sufficient such that said light emitted from said at least one LED is reflected by said reflector in a collimated beam.

3. The searchlight of claim 2 wherein said reflector is a parabolic reflector.

4. The searchlight of claim 1 wherein said at least one LED is positioned above said reflector at the focal length of said reflector.

5. The searchlight of claim 1 wherein said heatsink includes a manifold capable of containing a liquid coolant therein.

6. The searchlight of claim 5 wherein said manifold is in fluid communication with a heat exchanger.

7. The searchlight of claim 1 wherein said power supply is capable of selectively dimming said at least one LED.

8. The searchlight of claim 1 wherein said at least one LED is a plurality of LEDs arranged in an LED array and mounted to a circuit board.

9. The searchlight of claim 8 wherein said LED array has a cumulative wattage of at least approximately 350 watts.

10. A searchlight/sky light, comprising:

a housing;

an LED array capable of emitting light upon application of electric current;

a heat sink in communication with said LED array;

a parabolic reflector supported in said housing;

said LED array being positioned above said parabolic reflector at the focal length of said parabolic reflector.

11. The searchlight/sky light of claim 10 wherein said LED array is positioned in said housing such that light emitted from said LED array directed toward said parabolic reflector is reflected in a collimated beam.

12. The searchlight/sky light of claim 10 further including a power supply for regulating the electric current applied to said LED array.

13. The searchlight/sky light of claim 12 wherein said LED array is dimmable by controlling said power supply to vary the electric current applied to said LED array.

14. The searchlight/sky light of claim 13 wherein said power supply is remotely controllable.

15. The searchlight/sky light of claim 10 wherein said heatsink includes a manifold capable of containing a liquid coolant and is in fluid communication with at least one heat exchanger.

16. The searchlight/sky light of claim 15 wherein a fan is capable of moving air across said heat exchanger.

17. The searchlight/sky light of claim 10 wherein said LED array is comprised of high flux LEDs.

18. The searchlight/sky light of claim 17 wherein said LED array has a cumulative voltage of at least approximately 350 watts.

19. The searchlight/sky light of claim 11 wherein said housing is mounted to a base such that said housing is movable with respect to said base in order to vary the direction of said collimated beam.

20. The searchlight/sky light of claim 19 wherein the movement of said housing with respect to said base is controlled remotely.