LED lights for deep ocean use
An underwater LED light for use in high ambient pressure environments having a housing, a transparent pressure-bearing window, an MCPCB having one or more LEDs, and a multilayer stack of spacers for carrying loads applied to the window to the MCPCB and to the housing.
1. A submersible LED light for deep ocean use, comprising:
a pressure and leak resistant housing structured to withstand ambient exterior water pressures corresponding to liquid depths of approximately 1400 meters or more, the housing comprising at least a front section with an aperture therein and a rear section;
a transparent pressure bearing window positioned in the forward end of the housing and extending across the aperture;
an MCPCB including an LED driver circuit and a plurality of LEDs disposed within the housing adjacent to the aperture so as to pass light through the aperture and transparent pressure bearing window; and
a multilayer stack of spacers of a high compressive strength material comprising one or more of a PEEK plastic, ULTEM resin, ceramic, and metal positioned between the window and the MCPCB for transferring substantially all loading applied to the window from the ambient exterior water pressure to the MCPCB and to the housing.
2. The light of claim 1 , wherein the transparent pressure bearing window comprises sapphire.
3. The light of claim 1 , wherein the transparent pressure bearing window comprises acrylic.
4. The light of claim 1 , wherein the transparent pressure bearing window comprises glass.
5. The light of claim 1 , further including a removably attachable underwater electrical connector positioned in the rear section, the electrical connector including conductors for providing electrical power to the MCPCB to power the plurality of LEDs.
6. The light of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises titanium.
7. The light of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises stainless steel.
8. The light of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises anodized aluminum.
9. The light of claim 1 , further including a mount mechanically coupled to the housing to grip the housing and conductively transfer heat from the housing to an external water environment.
10. The light of claim 1 , wherein the multi-layer stack spacers include an LED spacer positioned between the transparent pressure bearing window and the MCPCB, the LED spacer including apertures for allowing light emitted from the plurality of LEDs to pass through the transparent pressure bearing window.
11. The light of claim 10 , wherein the multi-layer stack spacers further include a window support spacer positioned between the LED spacer and the transparent pressure bearing window.
12. The light of claim 11 , wherein the window support spacer comprises a high compressive strength material with apertures spaced to fit around ones of the LEDs of the plurality of LEDs to allow light from the LEDs to pass therethrough.
13. The light of claim 12 , wherein the multi-layer stack spacers further include a sheet of Kapton material disposed between the LED spacer and the transparent pressure bearing window.
14. The light of claim 13 , further comprising one or more reflectors positioned around ones of the plurality of LEDs.
15. The light of claim 13 , further comprising one or more lenses positioned in front of ones of the plurality of LEDs.
16. The light of claim 13 , further comprising a crash guard positioned forward of the transparent pressure bearing window on the housing.