IP Library Granted Patent US 11,723,346
Granted Patent B2
US 11,723,346 · App. 17/704,617 · Granted Aug 15, 2023

Habitat lighting assembly

Inventors: Justin Lawyer (Bethlehem, PA); Mark Lindenmoyer (Coopersburg, PA); Christian Clough (Bethlehem, PA); Timothy Marks (Northampton, PA); Patrick Clasen (Allentown, PA)
Assignee: EcoTech, LLC
A01K63/065A01K1/0052A01K1/0058G02B6/0036G02B6/0055G02B6/0085
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,723,346
App. No.
17/704,617
Granted
Aug 15, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lighting assembly includes a light guide having opposite first and second major surfaces and at least one edge surface extending between the first and second major surfaces, a solid-state light source arranged to emit light into the edge surface of the light guide, and a plurality of integrated optical elements associated with the first major surface to redirect the light emitted by the solid-state light source. The lighting assembly may further include an air circulation device and a heat transfer system configured to transfer heat generated by the solid-state lighting source to a flow of air generated by the air circulation device. The solid-state light source may include light-emitting diodes, laser diodes, and/or organic light emitting diodes configured to produce multiple colors. Also provided is a habitat including the lighting assembly, and related methods.

Claims (43)

1. A habitat lighting assembly, comprising:

an outer housing comprising an air intake opening, an air discharge opening, and a base with a light-transmissive opening;

at least a first fan configured to generate a flow of air into the outer housing through the air intake opening and out of the outer housing through the air discharge opening;

a light guide disposed in the outer housing and positioned over the light-transmissive opening, the light guide comprising opposite first and second major surfaces and at least one edge surface extending between the first and second major surfaces;

a plurality of solid-state light emitters operably associated with the outer housing and arranged to emit light into the at least one edge surface of the light guide;

a plurality of integrated optical elements associated with the first major surface and configured to redirect the light emitted by the solid-state light emitters; and

a heat transfer system configured to transfer heat generated by the solid-state light emitters to the flow of air generated by the at least first fan.

2. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer system comprises at least one heat pipe proximate the solid-state light source to transfer heat away from the solid-state light emitters.

3. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 2 , wherein the heat transfer system comprises a plurality of fins through which the at least one heat pipe passes, and wherein the plurality of fins are located in a path of the flow of air generated by the fan.

4. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 3 , wherein the fins are positioned at the air discharge opening.

5. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the solid-state light emitters comprise light-emitting diodes, laser diodes, organic light emitting diodes, or any combination thereof configured to produce multiple colors.

6. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a light reflector positioned over the light guide, wherein the optical elements are configured to redirect light emitted by the solid-state light emitters upward toward the light reflector.

7. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical elements are configured to redirect light emitted by the solid-state light emitters through the light-transmissive opening.

8. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical elements comprise three-dimensional structures extending into or out of the first major surface.

9. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 8 , wherein the optical elements are cones or recesses configured to redirect light.

10. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one edge surface comprises first and second edge surfaces on opposite sides or opposite ends of the light guide; and

the solid-state light emitters comprise a first solid-state light source associated with the first edge surface to emit light into the first edge surface and a second solid-state light source associated with the second edge surface to emit light into the second edge surface.

11. A combination, comprising:

a habitat; and

the habitat light assembly of claim 1 configured to provide light to the habitat.

12. An aquarium, comprising:

a tank having a chamber; and

a habitat light assembly associated with the tank and configured to provide light to the chamber of the tank, the habitat lighting assembly comprising

an outer housing comprising an upper surface having an air intake opening, a base with a light-transmissive opening, side walls and end walls extending between the upper surface and the base, one of the end walls including an air discharge opening;

a fan configured to generate a flow of air into the outer housing through the air intake opening and out of the outer housing through the air discharge opening;

a light guide disposed in the outer housing and positioned over the light-transmissive opening, the light guide comprising opposite first and second major surfaces and at least one edge surface extending between the first and second major;

a solid-state light source disposed in the outer housing and arranged to emit light into the at least one edge surface of the light guide;

a plurality of integrated optical elements associated with the first major surface and configured to redirect the light emitted by the solid-state light source; and

a heat transfer system configured to transfer heat generated by the solid-state light source to the flow of air generated by the fan.

13. A habitat lighting assembly, comprising:

a light guide comprising opposite first and second major surfaces and at least one edge surface extending between the first and second major surfaces;

a solid-state light source arranged to emit light into the at least one edge surface of the light guide, the solid-state light source comprising light-emitting diodes, laser diodes, organic light emitting diodes, or any combination thereof configured to produce multiple colors;

a light reflector positioned over the light guide; and

a plurality of integrated optical elements integrated into the first major surface of the light guide and configured to redirect the light emitted by the solid-state light source upward toward the light reflector,

the solid-state light source mounted on a printed circuit board.

14. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 13 , wherein the optical elements comprise three-dimensional structures extending into or out of the first major surface.

15. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 14 , wherein the optical elements are cones or recesses configured to redirect light.

16. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 13 , wherein:

the at least one edge surface comprises first and second edge surfaces on opposite sides or opposite ends of the light guide; and

the solid-state light source comprises a first solid-state light source mounted on a first printed circuit board and associated with the first edge surface to emit light into the first edge surface, and a second solid-state light source mounted on a second printed circuit board and associated with the second edge surface to emit light into the second edge surface.

17. The habitat light assembly of claim 13 , further comprising an outer housing comprising an air intake opening, an air discharge opening, and a base with a light-transmissive opening, wherein the outer housing contains the light guide and the solid-state light source.

18. The habitat lighting assembly of claim 17 , further comprising means for dissipating heat generated by the solid-state light source.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 22, 2026
From: ECOTECH, LLC
To: TWIN BROOK CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 074444/0986 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2022
From: LAWYER, JUSTIN; LINDENMOYER, MARK; CLOUGH, CHRIS; MARKS, TIMOTHY; CLASEN, PATRICK
To: ECOTECH, LLC
Reel/Frame 060459/0245 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16392926 · Apr 24, 2019
Provisional Application 62661715 · Apr 24, 2018
Related Publication 20220211016A1 · Jul 7, 2022
Cited By (2)
US 12,302,874 US 12,677,810