Aquarium with adjustable lighting

• US 9,295,236 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2014
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2007
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Glofish LLC (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Yorktown Technologies, L.P.
• Inventors: Blake, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US14/244,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20140216351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 362/101
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 61/85 for use with aquaria
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/006 Accessories for aquaria or terraria
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/042 Introducing gases into the water, e.g. aerators, air pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/045 Filters for aquaria
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/06 Arrangements for heating or lighting in, or attached to, receptacles for live fish
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0464 the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/308 for aquaria
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/81 Aquaculture, e.g. of fish

Abstract

An aquarium having an adjustable lighting system for enhancing the display of fluorescent objects, such as fluorescent fish, contained within the aquarium under various external lighting conditions, such as a dark room or a brightly lit room. The aquarium comprises a tank and a plurality of light sources. Each light source emits light at a different wavelength spectrum which is selected to enhance the display of the fluorescent object under each type of external lighting condition. An electronic control is provided to control the operation of the plurality of light sources such that each light source may be selectively turned on/off based on the external lighting condition, or chronological criteria, to provide the best viewing experience.

Claims

1. An aquarium for displaying a fluorescent fish under an external lighting condition, the term “

fluorescent”

as used herein means the emission of light at an emission wavelength resulting from the absorption of an excitation light at an excitation wavelength lower than the emission wavelength, the aquarium comprising;

an aquatic tank;

a first light source configured to emit light at a first wavelength spectrum having a first maximum peak emission wavelength which enhances the display of a fluorescent fish within said tank under a dark external lighting condition;

a second light source configured to emit light at a second wavelength spectrum having a second maximum peak emission wavelength different from said first maximum peak emission wavelength which enhances the display of the fluorescent fish within said tank under a bright external lighting condition; and

at least one electronic control for controlling the operation of said first and second light sources such that the first and second light sources may be selectively turned on/off.

2. The aquarium of claim 1, wherein said electronic control is configured to automatically control said first and second light sources based on said external lighting condition.

3. The aquarium of claim 1, wherein said electronic control further comprises a light sensor for detecting said external lighting condition and said electronic control automatically controls said first and second light sources based at least in part on a reading from said light sensor.

4. The aquarium of claim 1, further comprising a third light source configured to emit light at a third wavelength spectrum having a maximum peak emission wavelength different from said first and second maximum peak emission wavelengths which enhances the display of the fluorescent fish within said tank under a moderate external lighting condition, said third light source operably coupled to said electronic control.

5. The aquarium of claim 1, wherein said first and second light sources are each an array of LEDs.

6. The aquarium of claim 1, wherein said electronic control is configured for selectively turning on/off said first and second light sources independently of the other.

7. The aquarium of claim 1, wherein said electronic control is set based on pre-determined chronological parameters, including both absolute time and relative time.

8. The aquarium of claim 1, further comprising a fluorescent ornamental fish.

9. The aquarium of claim 1, further comprising one or more of gravel, water conditioner, plants, filter, aeration system, food, curios, rocks, or ornamental features.

10. An aquarium for displaying a fluorescent fish under an external lighting condition, the term “

fluorescent”

as used herein means the emission of light at an emission wavelength resulting from the absorption of an excitation light at an excitation wavelength lower than the emission wavelength, the aquarium comprising;

an aquatic tank;

a plurality of light sources of different wavelengths, said light sources configured to allow for certain of said plurality of light sources to be activated for selection of a lighting combination which creates a viewing ratio of at least 75% of a maximum viewing ratio of a living, fluorescent fish under at least two ambient lighting conditions, including a bright external lighting condition and a dark external lighting condition; and

at least one electronic control for controlling the operation of said light sources such that an optimal lighting combination may be selected.

11. The aquarium of claim 10, wherein said electronic control is configured to automatically control said plurality of light sources based on said external lighting condition.

12. The aquarium of claim 10, wherein said electronic control further comprises a light sensor for detecting said external lighting condition and said electronic control automatically controls said plurality of light sources based at least in part on a reading from said light sensor.

13. The aquarium of claim 10, wherein each light source of said plurality of light sources comprises an array of LEDs.

14. The aquarium of claim 10, wherein said electronic control is configured for selectively turning on/off each light source of said plurality of light sources independently of the other light sources.

15. The aquarium of claim 10, further comprising a transgenic, fluorescent ornamental fish.

16. The aquarium of claim 10, further comprising one or more of gravel, water conditioner, plants, filter, aeration system, or food.

17. The aquarium of claim 10, wherein said electronic control is set based on pre-determined chronological parameters, including both absolute time and relative time.

18. An aquarium kit adapted to be assembled for displaying a fluorescent fish under an external lighting condition, the term “

fluorescent”

as used herein means the emission of light at an emission wavelength resulting from the absorption of an excitation light at an excitation wavelength lower than the emission wavelength, the aquarium kit comprising;

an aquatic tank;

a plurality of light sources of different wavelengths, said light sources configured to allow for certain of said plurality of light sources to be activated for selection of a lighting combination which creates a viewing ratio of at least 75% of a maximum viewing ratio of a living, fluorescent fish under at least two ambient lighting conditions, including a bright external lighting condition and a dark external lighting condition; and

at least one electronic control for controlling the operation of said light sources such that an optimal lighting combination may be selected.

19. The aquarium kit of claim 18, wherein said electronic control is configured to automatically control said plurality of light sources based on said external lighting condition.

20. The aquarium kit of claim 18, wherein said electronic control further comprises a light sensor for detecting said external lighting condition and said electronic control automatically controls said plurality of light sources based at least in part on a reading from said light sensor.

21. The aquarium kit of claim 18, wherein said plurality of light sources are each an array of LEDs.

22. The aquarium kit of claim 18, wherein said electronic control is configured for selectively turning on/off said plurality of light sources independently of the other.

23. The aquarium kit of claim 18, wherein said fluorescent object is a transgenic, fluorescent ornamental fish, and said aquarium kit further comprises a transgenic, fluorescent ornamental fish.

24. The aquarium kit of claim 18, further comprising one or more of gravel, water conditioner, plants, aeration system, filter, food, curios, rocks, or ornamental features.

25. The aquarium of claim 18, wherein said electronic controller is set based on pre-determined chronological parameters, including both absolute time and relative time.