LED VENUE LIGHTING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20150308655A1
• Filed: 04/28/2015
• Published: 10/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sportsbeams Lighting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: BizWerks, LLC
• Inventors: Baxter, Kevin C., Holmes, Fred H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,341,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/00 Protecting lighting devices from damage protection from thermal damage F21V29/00; gas-tight or water-tight arrangements F21V31/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/045 the sensor receiving a signal from a remote controller
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/51 using condensation or evaporation of a fluid, e.g. heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/56 using liquid coolants F21V29/51 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/59 with forced flow of the coolant
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/673 the fans being used for intake
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/717 using split or remote units thermally interconnected, e.g. by thermally conductive bars or heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/00 Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/045 the lens having discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/22 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings, e.g. dichroic reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/24 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/105 of arenas or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An outdoor area LED lighting system including: a housing containing a large array of LEDs mounted to an aluminum direct thermal path printed circuit board and a single lens. The large array of LEDs are capable of producing light rays directed through the single lens to produce a beam of light to illuminate the outdoor area. The single lens is preferably a Fresnel lens. The housing is preferably capable of being sealed in a weather-tight manner. A second housing may at least partially surround the first housing such that at least one air passage is provided between the first housing and the second housing. A heat sink including a heat block in thermal communication with a plurality of heat tubes and fin assemblies may be in partial thermal contact with the LED module and in fluid communication with the at least one air passage. At least one fan may be provided in or in fluid communication with said at least one air passage to cool the heat sink. A digital interface may connect the LED module to a host computer to monitor and track information and trending for statistical process control.

Claims

1. An LED venue lighting system, comprising:

a first housing including an LED module having an input power of at least 1000 watts and a Fresnel lens;

said first housing being capable of being sealed in a weather-tight manner;

a second housing at least partially surrounding said first housing such that at least one air passage is provided between said first housing and said second housing;

a heat block in thermal contact with said LED module and in fluid communication with said at least one air passage, said heat block including a plurality of heat tubes in thermal communication with said heat block;

at least one fin assembly in thermal communication with said plurality of heat tubes and in thermal communication with said at least one air passage;

at least one fan in fluid communication with said at least one air passage.

4. The LED venue lighting system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of heat tubes include a coolant fluid.

5. The LED venue lighting system of claim 1 wherein said first housing includes a condensing lens between said LED module and said Fresnel lens.

6. The LED venue lighting system of claim 1 wherein said first housing includes a reflector.

7. The LED venue lighting system of claim 6 wherein said reflector forms at least a segment of said first housing.

8. The LED venue lighting system of claim 7 wherein said Fresnel lens is affixed to said reflector in a weather-tight manner.

9. The LED venue lighting system of claim 8 further including a gasket positioned between said Fresnel lens and said reflector and an exterior ring affixed to said Fresnel lens.

10. The LED venue lighting system of claim 1 further including a visor to shade said Fresnel lens.

11. The LED venue lighting system of claim 1 wherein said first housing includes an optical path between said LED module and said Fresnel lens and said first housing further includes a shutter movable between a first position wherein said shutter does not interfere with the optical path between said LED module and said Fresnel lens, and a second position wherein said shutter blocks the optical path between said LED module and said Fresnel lens.

12. The LED venue lighting system of claim 1 wherein said LED module is a chip-on-board type module.

13. The LED venue lighting system of claim 1 wherein said LED module includes a plurality of LEDs mounted on printed circuit board.

14. The LED venue lighting system of claim 13 wherein said LED are mounted to said printed circuit board in an asymmetrical arrangement.

15. The LED venue lighting system of claim 13 wherein said printed circuit board is an aluminum direct thermal path printed circuit board.

16. The LED venue lighting system of claim 1 further including a host computer wherein a digital interface connects said host computer to said LED module.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

17. An outdoor area LED lighting system, comprising:

a housing including;

a large array of LEDs mounted to an aluminum direct thermal path printed circuit board;

a single lens, wherein said large array of LEDs are capable of producing light rays directed through said single lens to produce a beam of light; and

a yoke configured to mount said housing on a tower such that said housing is located above said outdoor area and said housing can be adjusted such that said beam of light illuminates the outdoor area.

18. The outdoor area LED lighting system of claim 17 wherein said single lens is a Fresnel lens.

19. The outdoor area LED lighting system of claim 18 wherein said housing is capable of being sealed in a weather-tight manner.

20. The outdoor area LED lighting system of claim 19 further comprising:

a second housing at least partially surrounding said first housing such that at least one air passage is provided between said housing and said second housing;

a heat sink in partial thermal contact with said large array of LEDs and in fluid communication with said at least one air passage;

at least one fan in fluid communication with said at least one air passage.