Aquaculture Lighting Devices and Methods

• US 20140355254A1
• Filed: 08/20/2014
• Published: 12/04/2014
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 9,185,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/101
• 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 heat sink at least partially disposed through the vessel;

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

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

wherein heat from the circuitry is conveyed through the heat sink to the water.

2. The lighting assembly of claim 1 wherein the heat sink comprises a primary heat sink disposed within the vessel that is engaged by the substrate to provide a thermal path from the substrate to the primary heat sink.

3. The lighting assembly of claim 2 wherein the heat sink further comprises a secondary heat sink extending from the primary heat sink away from the vessel.

4. The lighting assembly of claim 3 wherein the diameter of the secondary heat sink is greater than the diameter of the vessel.

5. The lighting assembly of claim 4 wherein the vessel is sealingly connected within the secondary heat sink.

6. The lighting assembly of claim 3 wherein the primary heat sink and secondary heat sink are of one piece construction.

7. The lighting assembly of claim 2 wherein the primary heat sink has ridges to convey heat from the first substrate.

8. The lighting assembly of claim 3 wherein the secondary heat sink has a hollow interior that receives wiring that is electrically connected to the driving circuitry.

9. The lighting assembly of claim 3 wherein a medium is within the vessel surrounding the substrate to convey heat to a vessel wall.

10. A method of preventing aquatic life from forming on a submerged lighting assembly, steps comprising:

providing a lighting assembly having a first substrate with at least one lighting device disposed thereon that engages a heat sink;

providing a vessel having a vessel wall at least partially surrounding the first substrate and at least partially surrounding the heat sink;

conveying heat from circuitry of the first substrate to the vessel wall; and

increasing the temperature of the vessel wall to at least 60°

Celsius to prevent aquatic life from remaining engaged to the vessel wall.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein heat is conveyed through the heat sink to the vessel wall.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein heat is conveyed through a medium within the vessel surrounding the substrate to the vessel wall.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the medium is mineral oil.

14. A method of replacing a submerged lighting assembly steps comprising:

providing a first lighting assembly with a vessel having a first substrate disposed therein with at least one lighting device disposed thereon;

providing a first connecting element attached to the first lighting assembly and a float element;

providing a cord element extending from the first lighting assembly to a wire connector;

providing a second connecting element attached to the float element, a standard and the wire connector such that the float element causes the second connecting element to pull the wire connector toward the standard;

pulling the first lighting assembly upward above a surface of water;

detaching the first lighting assembly from the cord element and the first connecting element; and

securing a second lighting assembly to the cord element and the first connecting element.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the standard is a concrete block.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the wire connector is a Y connector.