GB2470010A

GB2470010A - A variable intensity lighting system for an aquarium or a terrarium

Info

Publication number: GB2470010A
Application number: GB0907680A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graeme Keith Parker; Flemming Christensen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-05-06
Filing date: 2009-05-06
Publication date: 2010-11-10
Also published as: GB0907680D0

Abstract

A light system for an aquarium or terrarium comprises a light array 9 having a variable light output that increases or decreases when subjected to a variably increasing or decreasing power control signal. The light array may comprise a plurality of lights and preferably comprises light emitting diode lamps. The light system preferably includes a control system 4 operative with a timer 3 that controls the light array output to simulate sun rise and sun set. The duration of the increase or decrease of the power control signal may be modified to select the rate at which the simulated sun rises or sets. The light array may be controlled using pulse width modulation.

Description

[he aquarium or terrarium light controller simulates rising and setting of the sun. A lighting system contains one or more LED lamps, all of which are variable lumen output for graduated light output, a power supply, and a timer/dimming unit to variably increase power to the lamp array. The timer initiates the brightening or darkening cycles to simulate sunrise and sunset.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The aquarium and terrarium lights available on the market today turn on and off the lights abruptly, or consist of multiple lamp systems where some lamps are necessary to be full onloff types. The harsh switching of lighting systems causing great stress on the animals contained therein. What is needed is a light that simulates the rising and setting of the sun such that the light is gradually increased and decreased, thus greatly reducing the major problem of stress on aquatic life due to sudden light or darkness.

Other pre-existing products have been designed to adjust the amount of darkness or light in aquariums. Some have moonlights as well. The major difference however is in the manner of which they operate. They simply have lights of different wattage, or require a secondary full brightness lamp for daytime operation. With the advent of high power LED devices, a system can be constructed that utilises the fast switching abilities of these devices to vary the light intensity gradually. This removes the need for full-power devices switched on during full daylight simulation.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simulated sunrise and sunset lighting system.

II is an object of the present invention to provide control of an array of lamps with a variable increasing light output (sunrise cycle) and, at a later time (pre-set or controlled by the user), a variable decreasing light output (sunset cycle).

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method to select the rate at which the simulated sun rises and sets.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method to gradually restore the lamps' intensity settings upon switch on or after power outages.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method to remove the necessity for nightlights as a minimum output level can be set.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method to remove the necessity to use full-power onloff lighting supplements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an aquarium or terrarium light designed to simulate the rising and setting of the sun. The light of the present invention is designed as an efficient way to create a less stressful and more natural environment for aquatic pets and/or reptiles that live in aquariums, terrariums or vivariums. Tt has unique mechanisms and functions that are not currently available in the marketplace.

Studies indicate that abrupt lighting and sudden darkness are harmful for fish and other aquatic animals. It is commonly known that an abrupt change of lighting from a substantially dark environment to a fully lit environment causes aquatic life to physically react, often times by making sudden moves to hidden areas of the tank. For example, turning an aquarium light ON during the night time will cause frightened fish to dart off and swim into rocks and other objects in the aquarium.

The cyclical lighting system of the present invention comprises an electronic controller unit which can connect to LED lighting strips. Presently the device is provided with power from a constant current power source, and controls two strips of LED lights, but is expandable and could control many more such lamps.

A minimum output level can also be individually defined for the controlled lamps.

This can be used to replace any moonlights that may already be in use.

The use of LED lamps reduces the rate at which standard fluorescent lighting system components need to be replaced.

BRIEF DESCRTPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 diagrammatically and schematically illustrates one embodiment of the present invention.

The invention comprises of parts (2) to (8) but excludes the constant current source (1) and any attached lamps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A constant current power source (1) supplies the invention with a voltage in the range 1 5V to 25V, which is sufficient to drive an LED (light emitting diode) lamp comprising of 5 high power LEDs connected in series.

Voltage regulation (2) provides a lower regulated power source for the electronic devices comprising items (3) (4) (6) (7) and (8). This regulation is provided via standard linear 5V regulators.

A battery backed real time clock (6) provides an accurate time of day to the timer (3).

The real time clock uses a watch crystal (32.768kHz) for its timebase, and battery backup in case of power failure.

The timer (3) can be configured using push button switches (7) to set the sun rise time, sun set time, minimum lamp output level, maximum lamp output level, and the sun rise and set rate. The timer (3) is implemented using a general purpose 8-bit microcontroller.

All setting information and time of day is conveyed using an alpha-numeric display (8).

The timer (3) reacts to the time of day provided by the real time clock (6) and then controls the PWM controller (4) to set the power for the lamps.

When a change in lamp output level is required, the timer (3) gradually increases or decreases the PWIVI mark space ratio until the required level is attained. The rate of mark space change is programmable within the timer (3) to allow for simulating fast or slow sun-rises. This therefore simulates the sun's cycle at different latitudes.

When at minimum lamp output level, the PWM controller will be generating a short mark-space ratio signal to energise the electronic switch (5). Switch (5) is implemented using an n-channel MOSFET. As the PWM signal mark-space ratio increases, so the luminous output is increased until, at maximum output level, the electronic switch (5) is permanently turned on.

A PWM control has the advantage of maintaining the correct colour spectrum of the lamps. Simply varying the current is not sufficient, as most available high power LEDs will incur a spectrum shift during this process.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is: 1. A light system for an aquarium or a terrarium comprising: a light array having a variable light output and subject to a variably increasing or decreasing power control signal, said power control signal increasing or decreasing the light output of said light array.
2. A light system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said light array is a plurality of lights.
3. A light system as claimed in claim 1 including a control system, operative with said timer, wherein said control system controls the light array output in a variable manner to simulate sun rise and set.
4. A light system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said light array is comprised of LED lamps.
5. A light system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said variably increasing power control signal and variably decreasing power control signal has a controllably changeable duration.
6. A light system as claimed in claim 1 including a control system, operative with said timer, wherein said control system sequences said light array(s) variably increasing from a determined minimum level to a maximum level and back again to the minimum, thus simulating the natural lighting of the sun and moon.
7. A light system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the light array is controlled using pulse width modulation (PWM).