Underwater Lighting System With Bather Detection Circuitry

1 . A lighting fixture for use in connection with a pool or spa, comprising:

a light source;

a detection device for detecting the presence of a bather within a pool or a spa, said detection device transmitting a signal into the pool or the spa, and receiving a reflected signal from a bather in the pool or the spa to detect the presence of the bather; and

a microprocessor in electrical communication with said detection device and said light source, said microprocessor adjusting an output of said light source when the bather is detected, so that sufficient light output is generated by the lighting fixture.

2 . The lighting fixture of claim 1 , wherein said microprocessor adjusts a color of a light emitted from said light source when the bather is detected.

3 . The lighting fixture of claim 2 , wherein said microprocessor adjusts the color of the light emitted from said light source such that said light source transmits a white color when the bather is detected.

4 . The lighting fixture of claim 3 , wherein said light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes.

5 . The lighting fixture of claim 3 , wherein said light source comprises a non-LED light.

6 . The lighting fixture of claim 4 , wherein said detection device includes a passive sonar detector.

7 . The lighting fixture of claim 1 , wherein said microprocessor increases the output of the light to a predetermined threshold when the bather is detected.

8 . A lighting system for use in connection with a pool or spa, comprising:

a lighting fixture including a light source;

a microprocessor for controlling said light source; and

means for detecting the presence of a bather within a pool or a spa, said microprocessor changing output of said light source so that sufficient light output is generated when the bather is detected.

9 . The lighting system of claim 8 , wherein the means for detecting comprises at least one sensor.

10 . The lighting system of claim 9 , wherein said light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes.

11 . The lighting system of claim 10 , wherein said at least one sensor is installed in said lighting fixture.

12 . The lighting system of claim 10 , wherein said at least one sensor is located remotely from said lighting fixture.

13 . The lighting system of claim 10 , wherein at least one sensor is installed external to a pool or a spa.

14 . The lighting system of claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of sensors, each of said sensors in wireless communication with said lighting fixture.

15 . The lighting system of claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of lighting fixtures, each of said sensors in communication with one or more of said plurality of lighting fixtures.

16 . The lighting system of claim 15 , wherein said microprocessor increases the output of the light to a predetermined threshold when the bather is detected.

17 . A method for controlling a lighting fixture in a pool or spa, comprising:

illuminating a pool or a spa with a lighting fixture;

detecting the presence of a bather in the pool or the spa; and

changing output of the lighting fixture so that sufficient light output is generated when the bather is detected.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein said lighting fixture includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of detecting the presence of a bather comprises detecting the presence of a bather using infrared energy.

20 . The lighting system of claim 8 , further comprising a second lighting fixture in communication with the lighting fixture, the lighting fixture controlling output of the second lighting fixture when the lighting fixture detects the bather.