LIGHT FIXTURE FOR INDOOR GROW APPLICATION AND COMPONENTS THEREOF
A light fixture includes a housing, and a lighting module. The housing defines first and second portions. The second portion defines a window. 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, and an encapsulating material. 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.
1 . A lighting module for a light fixture, the lighting module comprising:
a submount;
a plurality of light emitting diodes coupled with the submount;
a lens cover comprising a plurality of lens elements, 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; and
an encapsulating material that is disposed between the plurality of light emitting diodes, 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 a respective lens element of the plurality of the lens elements.
2 . The lighting module 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 element of the plurality of the lens elements.
3 . The lighting module of claim 1 wherein:
the housing comprises a first portion and a second portion;
the second portion defines a window; and
the lighting module further comprises a controller at least partially disposed within the first portion.
4 . The lighting module of claim 3 wherein the housing defines a passageway between the first portion and the second portion.
5 . The lighting module of claim 4 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.
6 . The lighting module of claim 1 wherein the second hardness is a Shore A of less than 70.
7 . The lighting module of claim 6 wherein the encapsulating material comprises a silicone gel.
8 . The lighting module of claim 1 wherein the lens cover is formed of a polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate.
9 . A method for constructing a lighting module for a light fixture, the lighting module comprising a submount having a plurality of light emitting diodes coupled thereto, the method comprising:
coupling a lens cover to the submount, the lens cover comprising a plurality of lens elements, 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;
introducing an encapsulating material into the interior that that is disposed between the plurality of light emitting diodes, 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 a respective lens element of the plurality of the lens elements.
10 . The method of claim 9 wherein introducing the encapsulating material into the interior comprises providing the encapsulating material on one or more of the lens cover and the submount prior to attaching the lens cover to the submount.
11 . The method of claim 9 wherein introducing the encapsulating material into the interior comprises providing the encapsulating material into the interior after attaching the lens cover to the submount.
12 . The method of claim 9 wherein coupling the lens cover to the submount comprises coupling the lens cover to the submount with fasteners.
13 . The method of claim 9 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 element of the plurality of the lens elements.
14 . The method of claim 9 wherein the second hardness is a Shore A of less than 70.
15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the encapsulating material comprises a silicone gel.
16 . The method of claim 9 wherein the lens cover is formed of a polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate.
17 . A method for constructing a light fixture, the light fixture comprising a housing that defines a controller receptacle, a controller disposed in the controller receptacle, a lid that overlies the controller receptacle and conceals the controller, and a submount having a plurality of light emitting diodes coupled thereto, the method comprising:
coupling a lens cover to the submount, the lens cover comprising a plurality of lens elements, 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;
introducing an encapsulating material into the interior that that is disposed between the plurality of light emitting diodes, 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 a respective lens element of the plurality of the lens elements.
18 . The method of claim 17 wherein introducing an encapsulating material into the interior comprises providing the encapsulating material on one or more of the lens cover and the submount prior to attaching the lens cover to the submount.
19 . The method of claim 17 wherein introducing an encapsulating material into the interior comprises providing the encapsulating material into the interior after attaching the lens cover to the submount.
20 . The method of claim 17 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 element of the plurality of the lens elements.