HABITAT LIGHTING ASSEMBLY

• US 20190320627A1
• Filed: 04/24/2019
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecotech Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ecotech Marine, LLC
• Inventors: LAWYER, Justin, LINDENMOYER, Mark, CLOUGH, Christian, MARKS, Timothy, CLASEN, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 11,284,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0052 Arrangement of fans or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0058 Construction of air inlets or outlets in roofs
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/06 Arrangements for heating or lighting in, or attached to, receptacles for live fish
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/065 Heating or cooling devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0085 Means for removing heat created by the light source from the package heat extraction or cooling elements for semiconductor light sources in general H01L33/64

Abstract

A lighting assembly includes a light guide having opposite first and second major surfaces and at least one edge surface extending between the first and second major surfaces, a solid-state light source arranged to emit light into the edge surface of the light guide, and a plurality of integrated optical elements associated with the first major surface to redirect the light emitted by the solid-state light source. The lighting assembly may further include an air circulation device and a heat transfer system configured to transfer heat generated by the solid-state lighting source to a flow of air generated by the air circulation device. The solid-state light source may include light-emitting diodes, laser diodes, and/or organic light emitting diodes configured to produce multiple colors. Also provided is a habitat including the lighting assembly, and related methods.

Claims

1. A habitat lighting assembly, comprising:

an outer housing comprising an air intake opening, an air discharge opening, and a base with a light-transmissive opening;

an air circulation device configured to generate a flow of air into the outer housing through the air intake opening and out of the outer housing through the air discharge opening;

a light guide contained in the outer housing and positioned over the light-transmissive opening, the light guide comprising opposite first and second major surfaces and at least one edge surface extending between the first and second major;

a solid-state light source contained in the outer housing and arranged to emit light into the edge surface of the light guide;

a plurality of integrated optical elements associated with the first major surface and configured to redirect the light emitted by the solid-state light source; and

a heat transfer system configured to transfer heat generated by the solid-state lighting source to the flow of air generated by the air circulation device.

2. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer system comprises at least one heat pipe proximate the solid-state light source to transfer heat away from the solid-state light source.

3. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 2, wherein the heat transfer system comprises a plurality of fins through which the heat pipe passes, the plurality of fins being located in a path of the flow of air generated by the air circulation device.

4. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 3, wherein the fins are positioned at the air discharge opening.

5. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the solid-state light source comprises light-emitting diodes, laser diodes, organic light emitting diodes, or any combination thereof configured to produce multiple colors.

6. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 1, further comprising a light reflector positioned over the light guide, wherein the optical elements are configured to redirect light emitted by the solid-state light source upward toward the light reflector.

7. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical elements are configured to redirect light emitted by the solid-state light source downward through the light-transmissive opening.

8. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical elements comprise three-dimensional structures extending into or out of the first major surface.

9. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 8, wherein the optical elements are cones or recesses configured to redirect light.

10. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one edge surface comprises first and second edge surfaces on opposite sides or opposite ends of the light guide; and

the solid-state light source comprises a first solid-state light source associated with the first edge surface to emit light into the first edge surface and a second solid-state light source associated with the second edge surface to emit light into the second edge surface.

11. A combination, comprising:

a habitat; and

the habitat light assembly of claim 1 configured to provide light to the habitat.

12. An aquarium, comprising:

a tank having a chamber; and

a habitat light assembly associated with the tank and configured to provide light to the chamber of the tank, the habitat lighting assembly comprising

an outer housing comprising an air intake opening, an air discharge opening, and a base with a light-transmissive opening;

an air circulation device configured to generate a flow of air into the outer housing through the air intake opening and out of the outer housing through the air discharge opening;

a light guide contained in the outer housing and positioned over the light-transmissive opening, the light guide comprising opposite first and second major surfaces and at least one edge surface extending between the first and second major;

a solid-state light source contained in the outer housing and arranged to emit light into the edge surface of the light guide;

a plurality of integrated optical elements associated with the first major surface and configured to redirect the light emitted by the solid-state light source; and

a heat transfer system configured to transfer heat generated by the solid-state lighting source to the flow of air generated by the air circulation device.

21. A combination, comprising:

a habitat; and

the habitat light assembly of claim 12 configured to provide light to the habitat.

22. An aquarium, comprising:

a tank having a chamber; and

the habitat light assembly of claim 12 associated with the tank and configured to provide light to the chamber of the tank.

13. A habitat lighting assembly, comprising:

a light guide comprising opposite first and second major surfaces and at least one edge surface extending between the first and second major surfaces;

a solid-state light source arranged to emit light into the edge surface of the light guide, the solid-state light source comprising light-emitting diodes, laser diodes, organic light emitting diodes, or any combination thereof configured to produce multiple colors; and

a plurality of integrated optical elements associated with the first major surface and configured to redirect the light emitted by the solid-state source.

14. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 13, further comprising a light reflector positioned over the light guide, wherein the optical elements are configured to redirect light emitted by the solid-state light source upward toward the light reflector.

15. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 13, wherein the optical elements are configured to redirect light emitted by the solid-state light source downward.

16. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 13, wherein the optical elements comprise three-dimensional structures extending into or out of the first major surface.

17. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 16, wherein the optical elements are cones or recesses configured to redirect light.

18. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 13, wherein:

the at least one edge surface comprises first and second edge surfaces on opposite sides or opposite ends of the light guide; and

the solid-state light source comprises a first solid-state light source associated with the first edge surface to emit light into the first edge surface and a second solid-state light source associated with the second edge surface to emit light into the second edge surface.

19. The habitat light assembly of claim 13, further comprising an outer housing comprising an air intake opening, an air discharge opening, and a base with a light-transmissive opening, the outer housing containing the light guide and the solid-state light source.

20. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 19, further comprising means for dissipating heat generated by the solid-state light source.