Digital pool light

• US 6,949,894 B1
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bruce Johnson, Challen Sullivan, Kevin Doyle
• Original Assignee: Bruce Johnson, Challen Sullivan, Kevin Doyle
• Inventors: Sullivan, Challen, Johnson, Bruce, Doyle, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Wilson
• Application Number:
  US10/237,938
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 362/101, 362/240, 362/264, 362/267, 362/246, 362/275, 315/312, 315/316, 315/318, 315/324, 315/185.R, 315/362, 315/158
• US Class Current: 315/362
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/00 Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/508
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 27/02 Cable inlets
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/04 Provision of filling media
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/02 for fountains
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools

Abstract

The instant invention is a programmable, multi-colored, digital pool light system capable of operating multiple light sources and varying the power provided to each light bulb providing virtually unlimited amounts of light intensity, color blending and saturation. The light bulbs are mounted in a heat absorbing plate and light dispersing dichroic lenses are mounted above selected light bulbs. The program is operated by the ON/OFF switch.

Claims

1. A programmable, multi-colored, digital pool light system capable of operating multiple light sources, using alternating current and direct current, and varying the power provided to each light bulb and thereby providing an essentially infinite spectrum of light intensity, color blending and saturation, said light system comprising:

a housing shaped to fit an existing niche in an underwater application, said housing having an upper end and a lower end,

a light bulb mounting plate heat sink in direct contact to the walls of said housing allowing heat dissipation to surrounding water, said mounting plate having a plurality of light bulb retaining recesses for providing a soft start thermalshock protection, said mounting plate being mounted within said housing at said upper end,

a plurality of high intensity incandescent halogen light bulbs mounted in said light bulb retaining recesses,

a plurality of light dispersing dichroic tinted colored lenses mounted above selected incandescent halogen light bulbs,

a printed circuit board having transistors, a programmable microprocessor means, high voltage compensation means and solid state relay system capable of controlling all the power to two or more combinations of said incandescent halogen light bulbs,

a connector means for connecting said incandescent light bulbs to said microprocessor means, and a three wire power cord connected to an ON/OFF switch and said solid state relays, said line voltage regulators being directly in contact with housing walls to transfer heat through housing walls into surrounding water, and

a sealing mechanism secured at said upper end of said housing, said sealing mechanism having a lenticular designed, domed glass lens, and a rubber seal, said glass lens and rubber seal being securely fastened to said housing with a sealing clamp.

2. A programmable, multi-colored, digital pool light system of claim 1 wherein said programmable microprocessor means includes a process of:

switching all the power to various incandescent halogen light bulbs, some of which are fitted with tinted primary colored lenses,

blending the output of primary colors into a defined combination of color variation and output,

for providing a defined number of different lighting scripts, including changing colors, varying colors, varying light output, sequencing uniformly, non-uniformly and randomly, and for pulsing the lights to the beat of music,

synchronizing with multiple light fixtures keeping all the colors the same for each light fixture,

resetting the lights to the brightest light color, white, upon start up, for safety and maximum light output,

communicating with controllers outside of the fixture,

providing information to the end user including “

white light on”

, “

red light on” and

, “

bulb is out”

,

using the existing ON/OFF switch for selecting the programs,

reprogramming remotely by either one of wire, IR, and radio link, and

providing high voltage line compensation and exact voltage control to each Halogen bulb.

3. A programmable, multi-colored, digital pool light system of claim 1 having a junction box for providing the power to each light bulb, said junction box comprising a cover, a transformer for converting (120–

240) volts alternating current to (12–

14) volts direct current, electronic circuits for controlling said programmable microprocessor, and a light sensor for automatically turning off the light during day light hours.

4. A programmable, multi-colored, digital pool light system of claim 1, having a safety motion sensor for detecting the presence of a swimmer in the pool.

5. A programmable, multi-colored, digital pool light system of claim 1 having an underwater speaker system/transducer mounted inside the pool light for projecting sound and music into the pool.

6. A programmable, multi-colored, digital pool light system of claim 1 having a number of light bulbs within the range of five to eight bulbs and said light bulbs consist of standard seventy five watt color corrected halogen bulbs.

7. A programmable, multi colored, digital pool light system of claim 1 wherein said dichroic lenses color correct said light bulbs from burning at 3050 degrees Kelvin to 3500 degrees Kelvin with minimal lumen effect.

8. A programmable, multi-colored, digital pool light system of claim 1 wherein said programmable microprocessor is programmed to communicate with an outside source via a line carrier system by sending information over a standard three wire system.

9. A programmable, multi-colored, digital pool light system of claim 1 wherein each of said lights are synchronized with multiple units of said lights utilizing an electrical wave pulse to insure that all lights run virtually the same.

10. A programmable, multi-colored, digital pool light system capable of operating multiple incandescent light sources, using 120 volt/12 volt alternating current some of said incandescent light sources being fitted with tinted colored lenses, and switching the power provided to two or more combinations of said incandescent light bulbs and corresponding tinted lenses, thereby providing varying amounts of light intensity and color combinations, said light system comprising:

a housing shaped to fit an existing niche in an underwater application, said housing having an upper end and a lower end,

a light bulb mounting plate sink in direct contact to walls of said housing thereby allowing heat dissipation to surrounding water, said mounting plate having a plurality of light bulb retaining recesses, said heat sink mounting plate being mounted within said housing at said upper end,

a number of high intensity incandescent Halogen light bulbs within the range of five to eight light bulbs mounted in said light bulb retaining recesses,

a plurality of light dispersing tinted lenses mounted above selected incandescent light bulbs, said lenses color correcting said light bulbs to various color combinations including color correcting a white Halogen incandescent light bulb from the standard 3050 degrees Kelvin up to 3500 degrees Kelvin with minimal lumen effect,

a printed circuit board having transistors, a programmable microprocessor, said microprocessor being programmed to communicate with an outside source via a line carrier system by sending information over a standard three wire system,

microprocessor based means with high voltage compensation means and solid state relay system capable of controlling power to multiple combinations of incandescent light bulbs,

a connector means for connecting said incandescent light bulbs to said microprocessor means and said solid state relays having line voltage regulators being directly in contact with a second heat sink mounted in said lower end of said housing said sink in direct contact with housing walls to transfer heat through housing walls into surrounding water,

a junction box providing power to each of said light bulbs, said junction box comprising a cover, a transformer for converting (120–

240) volts alternating current to (12–

14) volts alternating current, electronic circuits for controlling said programmable microprocessor, and a light sensor for automatically turning off the lights during daylight hours,

a safety motion sensor for detecting the presence of a swimmer in a pool,

an underwater speaker system/transducer mounted inside the pool for projecting sound and music into the pool

a sealing mechanism secured at said upper end of said housing, said sealing mechanism having a lenticular designed, glass lens and a rubber seal, said glass lens and rubber seal being securely fastened to said housing with a sealing clamp.

11. A programmable, multi-colored, digital pool light system of claim 10 wherein each of said lights are synchronized with multiple units of said lights utilizing an electrical wave pulse to insure that all lights run virtually the same.