Marine LED lighting system and method

• US 7,220,018 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Orbital Technologies Corporation (Sierra Nevada Co. LLC)
• Original Assignee: Orbital Technologies Corporation (Sierra Nevada Co. LLC)
• Inventors: Crabb, Thomas M., Gustafson, Marty, Emmerich, Jeffrey C., Morrow, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi; Ali
• Application Number:
  US11/012,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20050135104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 362/231, 362/234, 362/101, 362/295, 119/266
• US Class Current: 362/234
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/249 Lighting means with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045
• 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: C12M 41/06 of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/805 Horticultural

Abstract

A method and apparatus of lighting a marine habitat for growth utilizing an LED light system. The light system includes an LED light source, a power supply for such light source and a controller for controlling the activation status and the intensity of the LED light source.

Claims

1. A combination marine habitat and lighting system therefor comprising:

a marine habitat having an open top defined by a top edge and

a lighting system including;

a housing connectable to said top edge to substantially cover said open top, said housing further including an inner side facing said open top when said housing is connected to said top edge and an opposite outer side;

an LED light source mounted to the inner side of said housing, said LED light source comprising at least one light engine having a plurality of individual LEDs capable of providing light at a wavelength from about 380 nm to about 690 nm;

a power supply sufficient to drive said LEDs;

a controller connected with said power source for controlling the activation status and the intensity of one or more of said individual LEDs; and

a cooling system provided in said housing.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said LED light source, when activated, is sufficient to support marine growth.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said LED light source includes at least one of chip-based, organic or discreet LEDs.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said light engines is capable of providing light intensity of from 0 to 1000 micro mols per square meter per second.

5. A lighting system for a marine habitat of the type having an open top defined by a top edge, said lighting system comprising:

a housing connectable to said top edge to substantially cover said open top, said housing further including an inner side facing said open top when said housing is connected to said top edge and an opposite outer side;

an LED light source mounted to the inner side of said housing, said LED light source comprising at least one light engine having a plurality of individual LEDs capable of providing light at a wavelength from about 380 nm to about 690 nm;

a power supply sufficient to drive said LEDs;

a controller connected with said power source for controlling the activation status and the intensity of one or more of said individual LEDs; and

a cooling system provided in said housing.

6. The lighting system of claim 5 wherein said LED light source, when activated, is sufficient to support marine growth.

7. The lighting system of claim 5 wherein said LED light source includes at least one of chip-based, organic or discreet LEDs.

8. The combination of claim 5 wherein each of said light engines is capable of providing light intensity of from 0 to 1000 micro mols per square meter per second.