Aquaculture lighting devices and methods

• US 9,185,888 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2014
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): ABBOTT-LEWIS, YVONNE RENEE
• Application Number:
  US14/463,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20140355254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 119/204, 119/245, 119/266, 119/267, 119/269, 119/233, 119/215, 362/294
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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;

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; and

wherein the heat sink further comprises a secondary heat sink extending from the primary heat sink away from the vessel.

2. The lighting assembly of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the secondary heat sink is greater than the diameter of the vessel.

3. The lighting assembly of claim 2 wherein the vessel is sealingly connected within the secondary heat sink.

4. The lighting assembly of claim 1 wherein the primary heat sink and secondary heat sink are of one piece construction.

5. The lighting assembly of claim 1 wherein the primary heat sink has ridges to convey heat from the first substrate.

6. The lighting assembly of claim 1 wherein the secondary heat sink has a hollow interior that receives wiring that is electrically connected to the driving circuitry.

7. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein a medium is within the vessel surrounding the substrate to convey heat to a vessel wall.