IP Library Granted Patent US 11,032,976
Granted Patent B1
US 11,032,976 · App. 16/820,090 · Granted Jun 15, 2021

Light fixture for indoor grow application and components thereof

Inventor: Dengke Cai (Willoughby, OH)
Assignee: HGCI, Inc.
A01G7/045F21V3/10F21V5/007F21V29/763F21V31/04F21Y2105/12F21Y2115/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,032,976
App. No.
16/820,090
Granted
Jun 15, 2021
Kind
B1
Abstract

A light fixture includes a housing, a controller, and a lighting module. The housing defines a first and second portions. The second portion defines a window. The controller is at least partially disposed within the first portion. The lighting module is at least partially disposed in the second portion. The lighting module includes a submount, a plurality of light emitting diodes, a lens cover, an encapsulating material, and a protective coating. The plurality of light emitting diodes is coupled with the submount and is configured to project light through the window. The lens cover includes an exterior surface and overlies the plurality of light emitting diodes and the submount such that the lens cover and the submount define an interior therebetween. The encapsulating material substantially fills the interior. The protective coating is provided over the exterior surface.

Claims (70)

1. A light fixture for an indoor growing facility, the light fixture comprising:

a housing; and

a lighting module at least partially disposed in the housing, the lighting module comprising:

a submount;

a plurality of light emitting diodes coupled with the submount;

a lens cover comprising a base substrate, a plurality of lens elements protruding from the base substrate, and an exterior surface, the lens cover overlying the plurality of light emitting diodes and the submount such that the lens cover and the submount define an interior therebetween;

an encapsulating material that substantially fills the interior and encapsulates the plurality of light emitting diodes; and

a protective coating provided over the exterior surface of the lens cover, wherein:

the lens cover has a first hardness;

the encapsulating material has a second hardness that is less than the first hardness; and

each light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes is aligned with respective lens elements of the plurality of the lens elements.

2. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein:

the housing comprises a first portion and a second portion;

the second portion defines a window; and

the light fixture further comprises a controller at least partially disposed within the first portion.

3. The light fixture of claim 2 wherein the housing defines a passageway between the first portion and the second portion.

4. The light fixture of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of rib members that extend between the first portion and the second portion and are at least partially disposed in the passageway.

5. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein the second hardness is a Shore A of less than 70.

6. The light fixture of claim 5 wherein the encapsulating material comprises a silicone gel.

7. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein the lens cover is formed of a polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate.

8. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein the protective coating comprises an inorganic thin film coating.

9. The light fixture of claim 8 wherein the inorganic thin film coating comprises one or more of magnesium fluoride, calcium fluoride, silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide and titanium dioxide.

10. The light fixture of claim 8 wherein the protective coating has a thickness of between about 10 nm and about 200 nm.

11. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein:

each light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes comprises a physical center;

each lens element of the plurality of lens elements comprises a focal center; and

the physical center of each light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes is aligned with the focal center of the respective lens elements of the plurality of the lens elements.

12. A light fixture for an indoor growing facility, the light fixture comprising:

a housing comprising a first portion and a second portion, the second portion defining a window;

a controller at least partially disposed within the first portion;

a first lighting module at least partially disposed in the second portion; and

a second lighting module at least partially disposed in the second portion adjacent to the first lighting module, wherein each of the first lighting module and the second lighting module comprising:

a submount;

a plurality of light emitting diodes coupled with the submount and configured to project light through the window; and

a lens cover comprising a base substrate, a plurality of lens elements protruding from the base substrate, and an exterior surface, the lens cover overlying the plurality of light emitting diodes and the submount such that the lens cover and the submount define an interior therebetween;

an encapsulating material that substantially fills the interior and encapsulates the plurality of light emitting diodes; and

a protective coating provided over the exterior surface of the lens cover, wherein:

the lens cover has a first hardness;

the encapsulating material has a second hardness that is less than the first hardness;

the first lighting module and the second lighting module are physically independent from each other; and

each light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes is aligned with respective lens elements of the plurality of the lens elements.

13. The light fixture of claim 12 wherein the second hardness is a Shore A of less than 70.

14. The light fixture of claim 13 wherein the encapsulating material comprises a silicone gel.

15. The light fixture of claim 12 wherein the lens cover is formed of a polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate.

16. The light fixture of claim 12 wherein the protective coating comprises an inorganic thin film coating.

17. The light fixture of claim 16 wherein the inorganic thin film coating comprises one or more of magnesium fluoride, calcium fluoride, silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide and titanium dioxide.

18. The light fixture of claim 12 wherein the housing defines a passageway between the first portion and the second portion.

19. The light fixture of claim 18 further comprising a plurality of rib members that extend between the first portion and the second portion and are at least partially disposed in the passageway.

20. The light fixture of claim 12 wherein:

each light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes comprises a physical center;

each lens element of the plurality of lens elements comprises a focal center; and

the physical center of each light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes is aligned with the focal center of the respective lens elements of the plurality of the lens elements.

21. A light fixture for an indoor growing facility, the light fixture comprising:

a housing comprising a first portion and a second portion, the second portion defining a window;

a controller at least partially disposed within the first portion; and

a lighting module at least partially disposed in the second portion, the lighting module comprising:

a submount;

a plurality of light emitting diodes coupled with the submount and configured to project light through the window;

a lens cover comprising a base substrate, a plurality of lens elements protruding from the base substrate, and an exterior surface, the lens cover overlying the plurality of light emitting diodes and the submount such that the lens cover and the submount define an interior therebetween;

a silicone gel that substantially fills the interior and encapsulates the plurality of light emitting diodes; and

an inorganic thin film coating provided over the exterior surface of the lens cover, wherein:

the lens cover has a first hardness;

the silicone gel has a second hardness that is less than the first hardness; and

each light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes is aligned with respective lens elements of the plurality of the lens elements.

22. The light fixture of claim 21 wherein the inorganic thin film coating comprises one or more of magnesium fluoride, calcium fluoride, silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide and titanium dioxide.

23. The light fixture of claim 22 wherein the lens cover is formed of a polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate.

24. The light fixture of claim 21 wherein:

each light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes comprises a physical center;

each lens element of the plurality of lens elements comprises a focal center; and

the physical center of each light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes is aligned with the focal center of the respective lens elements of the plurality of the lens elements.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 8, 2026
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: HGCI LLC
Reel/Frame 075365/0632 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 27, 2023
From: HGCI, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 065381/0668 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2020
From: CAI, DENGKE
To: HGCI, INC.
Reel/Frame 052829/0907 →
Cited By (1)
US 1,097,294