DE102012017613A1 - Cuboid light module for use in wet region i.e. aquarium plant, has support structure covered by waterproof cover that is provided with window, which comprises light-scattering properties for mixture of light of two LEDs - Google Patents

Abstract

The module (1) has a support structure (3) for supporting an LED (2), and poured in a capping body (6). The support structure is covered by a waterproof cover that is provided with a window. Light exit surfaces (8) of the capping body and/or the window are matted. Multiple scattering elements are introduced into the capping body and/or into the window. An electrical interconnection (5) i.e. dampproof cable connection, connects two adjacent light modules. The capping body and/or the window comprise light-scattering properties for mixture of light of two LEDs.

Description

The invention relates to a light module for use in the wet area, comprising at least one carrier body for at least one LED, at least one mounting device, at least one electrical connection.

In the wet area electrical light modules can be operated only with a corresponding protection against electric shock and also only with a corresponding construction against moisture penetrating into the electrical contact in long-term operation. Frequently, in wet areas, gas discharge lamps are used, which require a particularly high voltage pulse for starting, so that a stable discharge gap builds up in the gas discharge lamp. Gas discharge lamps therefore require particularly high demands on electrical safety.

There are known for the wet area lighting systems that work on LED basis and therefore have low-voltage electronics. The low voltage results in less corrosion effect because the voltage drops across conductive elements are not large enough to cause electrical corrosion.

In the DE 10 2008 024 619 A1 a light module for use in aquariums is disclosed, which consists of pluggable modules. The individual light modules have light carrier bodies in the form of circuit boards. The boards are connected to heat sinks that can be locked together. As a result of the shaping of the light modules, it is also possible to make complex shapes of interlocked light modules.

All named light modules have in common that they are not sufficiently protected from moisture. The moisture settles on the electrical contacts and a voltage drop, for example, to pre-oxidized contacts, build up voltage gradients, which make the light modules prematurely unusable and uncertain after some time.

The use of LED light sources for use in the aquarium is not without problems. If the spectral composition of the LED luminous efficacy is sufficient to cover the light requirements of aquarium plants, then the light color of the LED is generally unsuitable for emphasizing the colourfulness of aquarium fish for the human eye. LEDs usually have narrow-band light spectra, and phosphors that are suitable for LED's and that produce a white light via fluorescence do not meet the requirements of underwater plants and the spectral requirements of the human eye for the illumination light.

In order to increase the spectral bandwidth, lighting technology has been used to combine different LEDs with different light spectra. Due to the low beam angle of the LED, the light does not mix sufficiently in the total emitted light, even if the mixed light initially appears white to the human eye. In fact, the light projected on a surface consists of a plurality of different spots and spots with different spectral compositions of the light. Aquatic plants, however, can not derive the necessary energy for vital metabolism from this spotty light with very different spectral composition, because the photosynthesis processes of the leaves require broadband light. Due to the projected light that appears white to the human eye, underwater plants would not be adequately illuminated.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a modular lighting system for use in the aquarium available, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

The object underlying the invention is achieved in that the at least one carrier body is cast for the at least one LED in a potting and / or covered with a waterproof lid with window.

By pouring the carrier body or covering the carrier body with a lid with window various advantages are achieved, which were not available in previously known light modules. First, it is ensured by the potting or the cover with the lid with window that electrical contacts and lines of the support body are not exposed to moisture. Even if the light module was immersed in water, so would pass through the encapsulation of the carrier body or through the lid over the carrier body no electrically conductive element with moisture directly into contact.

It is advantageous if the potting body and / or the window of the lid itself has light-scattering properties for mixing the light of at least two LEDs. Another advantage of the potting or the window of the lid is that the optically transparent or translucent potting compound and / or the window may be interspersed with scattering light bodies, because thereby the potting body or the window is opaque. For example, the potting compound or the window have a polymer granules with a different optical refractive index than the potting compound or the window material or disperse titanium dioxide (TiO ₂ ) in the form of rutile. By this enforcement, the light of the potted LED is repeatedly broken or reflected within the potting body or within the window and thereby mix the light beams of different LED. Ideally, the scattering potting compound acts depolarizing and produces a perfect homogeneous light whose light spectrum consists of the superimposition of the light spectra of the possibly different light spectra of the different LEDs. The plants are not irradiated with a colorful carpet of light, but with a uniformly mixed light. The light is homogenized by the potting body or the window. But it is not absolutely necessary that the potting body or the window is opaque. It can also be a transparent, otherwise clear potting or clear window are used, the surface is frosted to homogenize the light.

When lighting with light of a spectral composition that meets the metabolic requirements of underwater plants, there is a wide range of possible color temperatures. The definition of the color temperature is adapted to the perception of the human eye of a black body. Thus, at a certain temperature, a black emitter may have a light color perceived by the human eye, which could be achieved by different spectral compositions. If the characteristic of the differently composed LED is known, the color temperature can be varied along the so-called Planckian curve. This Planckian curve follows a certain path through the color triangle of color theory, which produces the same sensation in the human eye as a black emitter at different temperatures. Control electronics encapsulated within or external to the module may vary the light temperature to vary the color of the light to the human eye, while maintaining the requirement of underwater plants on the spectral composition.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the light is operated in temporal multiplex operation, wherein the multiplex operation is characterized by a frequency and by a pulse-pause ratio (English "duty cycle"). The frequency is to be chosen so high that the human eye no longer detects switching operations, which is the case from 18 Hz. To make it easier for fish with higher temporal resolution of the eye to stay in the aquarium, the frequency is chosen as high as possible, up to several hundred hertz. In the pulse-pause ratio, the light is switched back and forth between two switching states. The composition of the light in the first part of a pulse-pause period is adapted to the requirement of underwater plants with a particularly high UV content and in the second part of the pulse-pause period, the light is adapted to the human color vision. This means that the light has high intensity especially in the visual area. In this case, in a first state of the multiplex operation, the light spectrum is optimized by UV components and blue components for optimal plant growth, and in a further state of multiplexing, the light spectrum is optimized by red, green and yellow components for human color perception. Thereby, two advantages can be achieved with the pulsed light. On the one hand, the plant is irradiated with sufficient UV light for the metabolism and on the other hand, the aquarium is irradiated with light that is particularly intense in the visual range, so that colorful fish show particularly strong color effects to the human eye. When operating in time division multiplexing, the color temperature of the state of multiplexing optimized for human color perception is variable along the Planckian curve and / or in different directions of the color triangle, thus increasing the color of the light in one or the other color to change.

In order to make the use of the cast and / or covered with a cover with window carrier body as versatile as possible, is provided according to a particular embodiment of the invention that the potted and / or covered with a lid with window carrier body can be locked together or inserted into each other, so that they fit together form-fitting. For this purpose, it is provided that at least one recess is provided, which receives the mounting device of a further light module, wherein the recess and the mounting device are preferably formed as a corresponding latching elements. As a result, two to a plurality of light modules can be inserted into one another and thus a large area of light with correspondingly high light output can be generated.

In order to supply the individual light modules with electric current, it can be provided that a light module has a permanently embedded in the potting and / or in the lid with a window cable connection, which is waterproof. The other light modules can also have identical cables in the same design. But it is also possible that the individual light modules are designed to be plugged into each other, wherein electrical contacts of a first module, for example, through a membrane of a second push through and protected from moisture in a corresponding connector engage the second module and form an electrical connection. The first variant of the firmly molded cable connection has the advantage that all light modules are highly watertight. The second variant has the advantage that the light modules can be attached to one another in two dimensions without cable connections hindering the assembly of two modules of light modules. In this case, it is provided that at least two electrical connections are provided, by which two light modules are moisture-tight electrically connected to each other, wherein a first electrical connection receives electrical power to its own power supply and a second electrical connection provides electrical power to supply a further light module. Finally, it is also possible to carry out the power supply from the mounting side, ie the side which rests on a substrate, so that the individual power cables for supplying the individual light module come through a mounting board.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the following figures.

Show it:

1 a side broken view of a light module according to the invention,

2 a perspective view of the light module 1 .

3 a perspective view of a light module according to 2 with recess for resting on each other,

4 an example of interlocking light modules,

5 three isometric views of an embodiment of the invention with a lid with window over the carrier body,

6 the embodiment of 5 in a perspective view.

In 1 is a light module 1 in a view broken from the page. In the light module 1 are located LED 2 standing on a carrier body 3 are arranged regularly. Next to the LED 2 there is also a control electronics 4 on the carrier body 3 which itself with an electrical connection cable 5 , which is shown here interrupted, is connected. The on the carrier body 3 arranged LED 2 are in a potting body 6 eingegosssen. This potting body 6 can depending on the embodiment of the invention, as in area 7 is hinted at, with scattering elements 7a Be provided, on the surface 8a as in the area 8th is shown, be frosted, or the potting 6 is how in area 9 represented, even opaque, which is represented by the hatching. Both the enforcement with scattering elements 7a , the matting on the surface as well as the opaquen properties of the potting body 6 even by themselves or in combination, the light of the LED can 2 homogenize. This is particularly advantageous when the LED light on the carrier body 3 generated by different types of LEDs. To the light module 1 To be able to attach to a mounting surface is provided according to the invention that mounting devices 10 for example, on the carrier body 3 or on the potting body 6 are arranged. These mounting devices 10 have a simple hole for the use of screws or rivets or may have magnetic elements or just provide an adhesive surface.

This in 1 illustrated light module is in 2 shown in perspective view. The light module 1 is here designed as a cuboidal element, but the shape does not limit the invention. The side of the carrier body 3 mounted mounting devices 10 lie on the ground and thus hold the light module 1 in place.

In an embodiment of the invention, it is provided that according to 3 at least one recess 11 is provided, which is the mounting device 10 another light module 1a receives, wherein the recess 11 and the mounting device 10 are preferably formed as corresponding locking elements. In the case pictured here, the recess picks up 11 the mounting device 10a a second light module 1a on, so that the two light modules 1 and 1a can be packed close together. The nesting of different light modules is in 4 outlined. From left and right are two light modules 1 . 1a , each offset two fixtures 10 have, inserted into one another, that the mounting device 10 a first light module 1 in a recess 11a another light module 1a engages and is optionally locked there by a locking device.

In 5 are three isometric views, subfigures 5.1 . 5.2 and 5.3 ) of an embodiment of the invention, in which a carrier body 20 , as per view 5.3 with a lid 21 with window 22 is covered watertight. Since here the carrier body 20 not directly with the window 22 is shed, is provided in this embodiment of the invention that a reflector 23 that of the LED on the carrier body 20 emitted light on the window 22 be reflected. The window 22 can mix the light of different LED by several measures and sprinkle. These are the introduction of light-scattering particles into the window 22 itself, the matting de windows 22 on one or both sides of the window 23 and / or the opaque embodiment of this window. In the present embodiment, the carrier body 20 completely enclosed by the lid 21 and a base plate 24 , where the lid 21 and the base plate are bolted together here. But there are also other possible connections. In the supervision according to subfigure 2.2 is the window 22 clearly in the lid 21 to recognize under which the LEDs on the carrier body 20 are located. In the right part of this arrangement is located without window cover the control electronics for the optional multiplex and simple control functions. Important to the arrangement is the cooling of the carrier body 20 with the LED through the base plate and / or the lid 21 , which fills the function of the potting of the embodiment described above.

For ease of illustration, the three isometric views according to the subfigures 5.1 . 5.2 and 5.3 in a perspective view in 6 shown the window 22 in the lid 21 clearly with the glands 31 shows.

Both in the subfigures in 5 as well as in 6 are locking elements 30 recognizable, which are provided for locking the light modules on a base plate. These locking elements differ from the mounting devices 10 , Which are designed as locking elements, because they do not lock different elements together, but the individual light module lock on a base plate by engaging these locking elements in corresponding detent holes of the base plate.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

light module

2

LED

3

support body

4

control electronics

5

electric wire

6

potting

7

Area

7a

scattering elements

8th

matting

8a

surface

9

Area

10

mounter

11

recess

20

support body

21

cover

22

window

23

reflector

24

baseplate

30

locking element

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102008024619 A1 [0004]

Claims (9)

Light module ( 1 ) for use in the wet area, comprising - at least one support body ( 3 ) for at least one LED ( 2 ), - at least one mounting device ( 10 ), - at least one electrical connection ( 5 ), characterized in that that the at least one carrier body ( 3 ) for the at least one LED ( 2 ) in a potting body ( 6 ) and / or with a watertight lid ( 21 ) with window ( 22 ) is covered. Light module according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one light exit surface ( 8th ) of the potting body ( 6 ) and / or the window ( 22 ) is frosted and / or in the potting ( 6 ) and / or in the window ( 22 ) scattering elements ( 7a ) are introduced. Light module according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the potting body ( 6 ) and / or the window ( 22 ) is itself opaque and therefore has light-scattering properties for mixing the light of at least two LEDs ( 2 ). Light module according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one recess ( 11 ) is provided, which the mounting device ( 10 ) of another light module ( 1a ), wherein the recess ( 11 ) and the mounting device ( 11 ) are preferably designed as corresponding latching elements. Light module according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one control electronics ( 4 ), which receives light from at least two different LEDs ( 2 ) in temporal multiplex operation, wherein in a first state of the temporal multiplex operation, a different light spectrum is transmitted as in a further state of the temporal multiplex operation. Light module according to claim 6, characterized in that in a first state of the multiplex operation, the light spectrum is optimized by UV components and blue components for optimal plant growth and in another state of multiplexing the light spectrum by red, green and yellow components is optimized for human color perception. Light module according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the color temperature of the state of the multiplex operation, which is optimized for human color perception, is changeable. Light module according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the electrical connection ( 5 ) is designed as a moisture-tight cable connection. Light module according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least two electrical connections ( 5 ) are provided, through which two light modules ( 1 . 1a ) are electrically connected to one another in a moisture-tight manner, wherein a first electrical connection ( 5 ) receives electrical power to its own power supply and a second electrical connection provides electrical power to supply another light module.

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