AQUACULTURE LIGHTING DEVICES AND METHODS

• US 20130152864A1
• Filed: 12/14/2012
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Once Innovations Inc. (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: GRAJCAR, Zdenko, OSTAFFE, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,433,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/204
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 33/00 Cultivation of seaweed or algae
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 61/00 Culture of aquatic animals receptacles for live fish, e.g. aquaria, A01K63/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 61/10 of fish
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 61/50 of shellfish A01K61/30, A01K61/40 take precedence
• 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: C12N 1/12 Unicellular algae; Culture media therefor as new plants A01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 13/00 Treatment of microorganisms or enzymes with electrical or wave energy, e.g. magnetism, sonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0824 Ground spikes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/58 characterised by the coolants
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/061 the material being glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/10 characterised by coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/45099 Material
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 24/48 : of an individual wire connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 : Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 : the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/12041 : LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/13091 : Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor [MOSFET]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/58 : Optical field-shaping elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/64 : Heat extraction or cooling elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/648 : the elements comprising fluids, e.g. heat-pipes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/81 : Aquaculture, e.g. of fish
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4973 : Replacing of defective part

Abstract

A lighting assembly for enhancing the growth of aquatic life in an ecosystem and method of enhancing the growth of aquatic life in such an ecosystem. The assembly includes a vessel submerged within water of the ecosystem. A substrate is disposed within and surrounded by the vessel and provides electronics to provide a conditioned current to a plurality of light emitting diodes also contained on the substrate. The light emitting diodes emit light within the water of the ecosystem that provides for growth, not only in a larger volume of the ecosystem, but in addition enhances the growth of the aquatic life.

Claims

1. A lighting assembly comprising:

a vessel submerged within water of an ecosystem;

a substrate disposed within the vessel and having driving circuitry thereon; and

at least one lighting device electrically connected to the driving circuitry that emits light within the water of the ecosystem.

2. The lighting assembly of claim 1 wherein the ecosystem is a natural ecosystem.

3. The lighting assembly of claim 2 wherein the natural ecosystem is a pond.

4. The lighting assembly of claim 3 wherein the pond is a man-made pond.

5. The lighting assembly of claim 1 wherein the ecosystem is indoors.

6. The lighting assembly of claim 1 wherein the light emitted is within a predetermined wavelength range.

7. The lighting assembly of claim 6 wherein the predetermined wavelength range is 380 nm+/−

50 nm.

8. The lighting assembly of claim 6 wherein the predetermined wavelength range is 450 nm+/−

25 nm.

9. The lighting assembly of claim 6 wherein the predetermined wavelength range is 480 nm+/−

25 nm.

10. The lighting assembly of claim 6 wherein the predetermined wavelength range is 520 nm+/−

25 nm.

11. The lighting assembly of claim 6 wherein the predetermined wavelength range is 560 nm+/−

25 nm.

12. The lighting assembly of claim 6 wherein the predetermined wavelength range is 600 nm+/−

25 nm.

13. The lighting assembly of claim 6 wherein the predetermined wavelength range is 630 nm+/−

25 nm.

14. The lighting assembly of claim 6 wherein the predetermined wavelength range is 660 nm+/−

25 nm.

15. The lighting assembly of claim 6 wherein the predetermined wavelength range is 700 nm+/−

25 nm.

16. The lighting assembly of claim 6 wherein the predetermined wavelength range is 760 nm+/−

50 nm.

17. The lighting assembly of claim 1 wherein the light is emitted periodically, alternating light and dark periods.

18. The lighting assembly of claim 1 wherein a medium is disposed within the substrate surrounding the substrate to convey heat from the driving circuitry to the vessel and thus to the water of the ecosystem.

19. The lighting assembly of claim 18 wherein the medium is mineral oil.

20. The lighting assembly of claim 1 wherein the driving circuitry includes at least one transistor.

21. The lighting assembly of claim 1 further comprising a control system electrically connected to the substrate via a conductive path.

22. The lighting assembly of claim 21 wherein the control system includes a dimming control that controls the intensity of the light from a plurality of light emitting diodes.

23. The lighting assembly of claim 22 wherein the dimming control controls the color of light emitted by the plurality of light emitting diodes.

24. The lighting assembly of claim 21 wherein the control system includes a light duration control to control a period of light emitted by the light emitting diodes.

25. The lighting assembly of claim 21 wherein the control system includes a sensor for determining the amount of light received by water within an ecosystem.

26. The lighting assembly of claim 1 further comprising an anchoring system secured to the vessel.

27. The lighting assembly of claim 26 wherein in the anchoring system comprises floating mesh disposed within the water of the ecosystem.

28. The lighting assembly of claim 27 wherein the floating mesh is weighted to sink in the water.

29. The lighting assembly of claim 27 wherein the floating mesh is staked to the bottom of the ecosystem.

30. The lighting assembly of claim 1 wherein a cleaning system is secured to the vessel.

31. The lighting assembly of claim 30 wherein the cleaning system includes a wiper for cleaning the exterior of the vessel.

32. The lighting assembly of claim 30 wherein the cleaning system is a layer of a bio-fouling substance.

33. A method of enhancing the growth of aquatic life within a natural ecosystem comprising steps of:

submerging a vessel within water of an natural ecosystem;

said vessel having at least one light emitting diode;

emitting light from the at least one light emitting diode such that the light is received by aquatic life in the natural ecosystem.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the natural ecosystem is a pond.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the pond is a man-made pond.

36. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of directing the at least one light emitting diode toward the bottom of the natural ecosystem.

37. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of anchoring the vessel within the water.

38. The method of claim 33 wherein the light is emitting periodically.

39. The method of claim 33 wherein the aquatic life is algae.

40. The method of claim 33 wherein the aquatic life is a crustacean.

41. The method of claim 33 wherein the aquatic life is fish.

42. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of increasing the intensity of the emitted light to enhance growth within the natural ecosystem.

43. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of:

predetermining the optimum wavelength of light of a predetermined aquatic life; and

emitting light at the optimum wavelength.

44. The method of claim 33 further comprising the steps of:

predetermining the depth at which the at least one light emitting diode will be placed in the water; and

predetermining the optimum wavelength of light to emit an optimum wavelength of light for an aquatic life based on the predetermined depth.

45. The method of claim 33 wherein the emitted light attracts insects to the surface of the water.