NL1042881B1

NL1042881B1 - Lighting device.

Info

Publication number: NL1042881B1
Application number: NL1042881A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Ing Petrus Johannes Gertrudis Peeters Drs; Aubert Dominique Vital Dupont Ing; Stefan Cornelis Gerardus Dorssers Ing
Original assignee: Stogger Bv
Priority date: 2018-05-25
Filing date: 2018-05-25
Publication date: 2019-12-02

Abstract

Lighting device (1) for application as a light source (8) 5 for illuminating plants (3) or animals (4) comprising a lighting housing (7) with lighting elements (33) comprising LEDs (35,), means for supplying electric power (13) and possibly controlling means (16), wherein the lighting housing (7) is executed in the shape of a flat sheet 10 double-pane panel (19) comprising a front pane (21) and a back pane (22) of the same dimensions, which are attached to one another at their entire circumference (23) by means of a spacer (24) and the lighting elements (33) fixedly mounted on the back pane (22). 15 1042881

Description

Θ 1042881 ©B1 OCTROOI (2?) Aanvraagnummer: 1042881 (22) Aanvraag ingediend: 25 mei 2018 (51) Int. Cl.:

A01G 7/04 (2018.01) F21S 8/06 (2018.01) F21V 19/00 (2018.01) F21V 31/00 (2018.01) F21Y 105/16 (2018.01) F21Y 115/10 (2019.01) (30) Voorrang:

Q Aanvraag ingeschreven:

december 2019 (43) Aanvraag gepubliceerd:

(73) Octrooihouder(s):

Stogger BV te Panningen (47) Octrooi verleend:

december 2019 (45) Octrooischrift uitgegeven:

december 2019 (72) Uitvinder(s):

drs. ing. Petrus Johannes Gertrudis Peeters te Panningen

Ing. Aubert Dominique Vital Dupont te Panningen

Ing. Stefan Cornelis Gerardus Dorssers te Panningen (74) Gemachtigde:

Geen (54) Lighting device.

(57) Lighting device (1) for application as a light source (8) for illuminating plants (3) or animals (4) comprising a lighting housing (7) with lighting elements (33) comprising LEDs (35,), means for supplying electric power (13) and possibly controlling means (16), wherein the lighting housing (7) is executed in the shape of a flat sheet double-pane panel (19) comprising a front pane (21) and a back pane (22) of the same dimensions, which are attached to one another at their entire circumference (23) by means of a spacer (24) and the lighting elements (33) fixedly mounted on the back pane (22).

NLB1 1042881

Dit octrooi is verleend ongeacht het bijgevoegde resultaat van het onderzoek naar de stand van de techniek en schriftelijke opinie. Het octrooischrift komt overeen met de oorspronkelijk ingediende stukken.

Lighting device.

The present invention relates to a lighting device.

In particular, the present invention relates to such a lighting device which comprises a lighting housing or lighting fixture which comprises one or more light sources, means for supplying electric power to the light sources in the lighting housing or fixture and possibly controlling means for controlling the lighting device.

Without restricting the invention to these examples, a lighting device in accordance with the invention is typically intended for application as a light source for illuminating plants in a horticultural environment or animals such as chickens or pigs in a stable or in another stock breeding environment or the like.

Such a lighting device can be applied in farms or more commercial environments for growing plants or breeding animals in a productive and healthy way or in a more caring environment such as in a veterinary nursery and so on.

A lighting device according to the invention is particularly suitable in more harsh environments which are subjected to high humidity, high temperatures or possibly highly fluctuating temperatures, in chemically aggressive surroundings typically with a high ammonia content, windy conditions and so on.

Furthermore, a lighting device in accordance with the invention is also typically intended for use as a light source for illuminating larger surfaces, compared to what is for example the case with spotlighting which kind of lighting produces a strongly focused beam of light which is intended for directing the light to a specific spot.

It is on the other hand not excluded from the invention to use a lighting device in accordance with the invention for afore-mentioned, non-typical purposes or in still other applications .

Growing plants or breeding animals in an indoor environment requires often specially adapted light sources.

For example, high quality growth of plants is only ensured when the right so-called photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), i.e. light within the spectral range of 400 to 700 nm, is received by the plant.

This PAR can differ in amount per time and/or per surface unit received by the plant or can differ in type, for example by using light grow sources releasing a different light frequency or light spectrum.

Plants have also varying sizes and are therefore spaced apart from one another over distances corresponding to their size.

In greenhouses there is usually also space for operators which maintain and treat the plants or for harvesting purposes .

Optimal lighting should provide the right amount and type of light to the plant leafs, while providing the operator with a comfortable working environment.

Illuminating large surfaces is also very energy consuming and should from a financial point of view be kept as energy effective as possible.

Similar requirements exist for breeding animals.

It is for example well known that the photoperiod strongly influences egg production in a chicken farm.

Typically, an increase in photoperiod is associated with the activation of the reproductive axis whereas a decrease in photoperiod will terminate active lay.

Light intensity can also play an important factor for ensuring a healthy growth of chickens or for ensuring a 20 high egg production .

Birds have furthermore a so-called tetra chromatic vision, which means that birds also can see light in the ultraviolet range (UVA) , which is not the case for human beings.

As a consequence, suitable light illumination for birds comprises light in this ultra-violet range.

Pigs on the other hand have a so-called dichromatic view 30 and their eyes are most sensitive for blue and green-yellow light, in the cooler spectral range of 415 -580 nm where blue, green and yellow wavelengths predominate.

Efficient lighting in the pig breeding farm should therefore not waste energy into other parts of the light spectrum, since these parts of the light spectrum are not very well or not at all visible for the pig.

Bad lighting conditions in horse stables can negatively impact the horse's body clock and can result in impaired growth, reduced immune response, poor appetite and performance .

In short, when growing plants, breeding stock or keeping animals in general, the applied light intensity, photoperiod and light spectrum or color temperature, as well as still other parameters, all have a serious impact on the growth, the health and productivity of the animals and plants.

As a consequence, optimal growing conditions, low energy consumption and working comfort can only be obtained by carefully designing the used lighting, taking into account the type of plants or animals, the size or age of the plants and animals, the local growing or breeding environment and so on, which is far from a simple matter.

Varying climatic or seasonal external conditions also have to be taken into account which requires a somewhat dynamic approach.

Optimal lighting can in such varying conditions be provided by means of sophisticated controlling means capable of automatically switching on and off light sources or adapting the emitted light based on parameters measured by different kinds of sensors, such as optical sensors, temperature sensors and so on.

Of course some kinds of lighting devices intended for the afore-mentioned purposes are already known, however, these known lighting solutions are susceptible to improvement.

First of all, according to the state of the art an amalgam of technical solutions is provided for the above-mentioned different situations.

Light sources vary from fluorescent tubes, over incandescent light bulbs, metal-halide and high-pressure sodium high intensity discharge lamps, to plasma grow lights and still other types of light sources.

Lighting devices have also very varying shapes and sizes.

It is clear that in such a situation the manufacturing and implementation and installation of all these different types of known lighting devices is costly and not practical

What's more, with the presently available lighting solutions it is very difficult, if not almost impossible for a lighting engineer or designer to develop and finetune a lighting device which suites the very specific conditions in each case.

As a consequence, the known solutions are often poorly designed and not always very effective, particularly not energy effective, and a lot of money is again wasted.

The lighting houses or fixtures of presently known lighting devices have usually also a height or thickness which is often rather extensive for accommodating all kinds of components, which forms sometimes an obstacle for an elegant installation of such lighting devices and for an efficient light distribution.

On the other hand, the overall dimensions of the lighting devices are usually rather restricted compared to the surface to be illuminated, which results in zones of highly illumination directly underneath the lighting devices and more poorly illuminated zones farther away from the light sources .

This implies also again a restriction on the freedom to adapt the light emitted in function of the local conditions

For example, simply adapting or choosing the exact position of a light source in a lighting device is impossible with the existing systems, nor is it possible to choose or rearrange intermediate distance or spacing between successive light sources in a lighting device for example in function of the size of the growing plants to be illuminated.

Recently more and more use is made of lighting devices which comprise light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a light source.

The LED lights presently available cannot always provide light power or illuminance which is of the same level as the more classic lighting.

As a consequence, particularly when LED lights are used as a light source, there is a very high need for adaptation of the position of the LED lights as well as their specific type in order to provide the plants or animals with the suitable light for high quality growth or production.

The known lighting devices are furthermore often composed of many components, which are not easily kept hermetically closed, so that metal components inside the lighting devices get easily oxidized, or which are relatively easily weathered in chemically aggressive conditions present in stables, for example in air containing high amounts of ammonia.

Another disadvantage of the known lighting devices is that they are usually badly cooled, which leads possibly to premature failure of the lighting devices

Another reason for a premature failure of the known lighting devices, which is somewhat linked to the former, is caused by the generation of excessive heating due to a high concentration of light sources in a small space.

Known lighting devices also often lack controlling means for dynamically adapting the light emitted in function of environmental conditions or if such controlling means are present they are usually of a quite primitive sort.

The present invention aims at a lighting device of the afore-ment ioned type which does not show one or more of the above mentioned disadvantages and possibly also other disadvantages .

In particular, it is an aim of the invention to provide a lighting device which is simple in design, easily manufactured, durable and reliable and cost-effective.

It is another aim of the invention to provide a solution which can be considered as a standardised solution in that it is applicable in a high variety of practical cases requiring only a minimal rearrangement, so that designers and engineers of such lighting devices are equipped with the appropriate tools for easily adapting their designs in function of the needs.

Still another aim of the invention is to provide a lighting device which is suitable for illuminating bigger surfaces, which is efficiently cooled and which is by itself hermetically closed and resistant to chemical substances such as ammonia.

It is also an aim of the invention to improve the light distribution emit form a lighting device and its interaction with the environment.

is an aim to design a lighting device which emits light over a relative large surface in a highly homogenous manner.

To this aim, the invention relates to a lighting device intended for application as a light source for illuminating plants in an horticultural environment or animals such as chickens or pigs in a stable or in another stock breeding environment or the like, the lighting device comprising a lighting housing or lighting fixture which comprises one or more light sources, means for supplying electric power to the light sources in the lighting housing or fixture and possibly controlling means for controlling the lighting device, wherein the light sources are formed by a lighting element each comprising a printed circuit board on which one or more LEDs (lighting emitting diodes) are mounted and wherein the lighting housing or lighting fixture is executed in the shape of a flat sheet double-pane panel comprising a front pane, which is at least partly transparent, and a back pane of the same dimensions, which are attached to one another at their entire circumference by means of a spacer, the spacer keeping the front pane and the back pane at a spacing distance from one another so to form a hermetically sealed interior space in the lighting housing or fixture, the lighting elements furthermore being fixedly mounted on the metal pane in this interior space between the front pane and the back pane.

The front pane is a transparent pane which is at least partly transparent.

The reason is of course that the light sources in the lighting housing should be allowed to emit their light through the front pane.

Of course, it is not excluded from the invention to provide the front pane with parts which are not transparent, for example around the edges of the front pane, at positions where there are no light sources or at places where cabling should be hidden from the eye and so on.

In a preferred embodiment the front pane is a glazing pane, but in other embodiments the front pane could also be made of another material.

In a preferred embodiment of a lighting device in accordance with the invention the back pane is executed as a metal pane.

In other possible embodiments the back pane has additionally or as an alternative one or more of the following characteristics:

- the back pane is a pane which is completely made of metal;

- the back pane is a laminated pane and comprises one or more metal pane layers or metal film layers;

- the	back pane	is	partly or	entirely made	of a	metal which
is aluminium, copper or stainless steel;
- the	back pane	is	made of	glass or comprises	one or more
glass	pane layer	s;
- the	back pane	is	provided	with enhanced	light	reflecting
character!sties	at	a side	which is directed	towards the

interior space inside the lighting housing;

- the back pane is provided with a light reflecting film provided at a side which is directed towards the interior space inside the lighting housing;

- the back pane has a polished surface at a side which is directed towards the interior space inside the lighting housing;

- the back pane is executed as a mirror; and/or,

- the back pane is made of an enhanced heat conducting material and/or has enhanced heat radiating properties.

The purpose of the back pane is among others to provide strength, to allow efficient dissipation of the heat generated in the lighting housing by radiation to the environment and to provide high light reflecting characteristics so to obtain a lighting device which emits light in a homogeneous way over its entire surface, resulting in a better light distribution.

Such a lighting device in accordance with the invention which is executed as a flat-sheet double pane panel in which LED light sources are mounted is very advantageous, since the panel is easily given a substantial size, so that the lighting device is very suitable for illuminating larger surfaces in a homogenous manner.

Another advantage of such a lighting device in accordance with the invention is that a designer or engineer has now a lot of freedom to choose the type of LEDs and their position on the surface of the lighting housing or fixture so to adapt the lighting device design at will.

It means also that the main components of such a lighting device in accordance with the invention can be used for composing lighting devices which are suitable in very varying conditions, so that these main components can be considered as a kind of new more standardised and efficient solution for designing lighting devices for a multiple of applications .

Still another advantage of such a lighting device in accordance with the invention is that it can be made in a very cost-effective manner, especially when the front pane and possibly the back pane are glazing panes, since techniques already known from the double glazing industry can be applied to manufacture them.

What's more, from that same double glazing industry it is known that such a flat-sheet double pane panel can be made in a very durable manner, while ensuring a long-lasting hermetic closure of the aforementioned interior space.

With the techniques known from the double glazing industry flat-sheet double pane panels can also be made in all kinds of dimensions in a very effective and flexible way.

In a preferred embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention the lighting device has dimensions similar to the dimensions of a typical double glazing panel.

It is advantageous to provide the back pane with enhanced light reflecting characteristics, for example by polishing the inner surface, by providing a light reflecting film or the like.

In that way, light emitted by the light sources in the device is reflected on the back pane and partly on the front pane as well as on elements in the environment such as leafs of plants and so on.

The sum of all these reflections and interactions of the emitted light with the back pane, the front pane and elements in the environment results in shining glow, providing a very effective illumination with a minimal of energy consumption.

Another preferred embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention is executed as a pendant light intended for being suspended from a ceiling, the lighting device additionally comprising suspension means for suspending the lighting housing or fixture.

A pendant execution is advantageous in that the back pane of the lighting device can play its role as a heat radiating element from which heat produced by the light sources inside the lighting housing can be radiated into the surrounding air.

Still another preferred embodiment a lighting device in accordance with the invention comprises multiple lighting elements each comprising a PCB, wherein each such PCB is provided with multiple mounting zones on which LEDs are or can be mounted, as well as with a single connection zone for connecting the PCB to a power supply means for supplying electric power, in particular to said LEDs, and/or to the controlling means for controlling the light sources .

In a preferred embodiment of such a lighting device in accordance with the invention the mounting zones form a regular pattern on the PCBs.

It is clear that the afore-mentioned embodiments of lighting devices in accordance with the invention make the life of designers and engineers easier, in that LEDs can be added and/or positioned on pre-fabricated zones of the PCBs

In still another preferred embodiment a lighting device in accordance with the invention comprises multiple lighting elements which comprises strings of LEDs which are interconnected by means of electric cabling and which are mounted on the back pane of the lighting device.

With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the invention, hereafter, as an example without any restrictive character whatsoever, some preferred embodiments of a lighting device according to the present invention, are described, with reference to the accompanying illustrations, wherein:

figure 1 is a schematic view on a possible embodiment of a lighting device in accordance with the invention which is mounted hanging from a ceiling;

figure 2 is a cross sectional view on a bigger scale through the lighting device represented in figure 1, in a plane as indicated by the lines and arrows F2F2' in figure 1;

figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the lighting device represented in figures 1 and 2;

figure 4 represents on a still bigger scale the part indicated by F4 in figure 2;

figures 5 to 7 represent on a bigger scale the parts indicated by F5 to F7 in figure 3;

figure 8 represents on a still bigger scale the part indicated by F8 in figure 7;

figure 9 is an enlarged view on the LEDs indicated by F9 in figure 8;

figure 10 represents the same LED as in figure 9 this time hidden parts being also represented by broken lines;

figure 11 is an exploded view of the LED represented in figure 9 and 10;

figure 12 is a top view along arrow F12 on the back pane of the lighting device represented in the lower part of figure 4, wherein this time cabling has been added to the figure;

figures 13 and 14 represent top views similar to the top view of figure 12 on the back pane in alternative embodiments of a lighting device in accordance with the invention; and, figure 15 is a cross-sectional view through a part of a lighting device in accordance with the invention, wherein a spacer is applied in an alternative execution.

The lighting device 1 according to the invention represented in figure 1 is executed as a pendant light 1 which is hanging from a ceiling 2 and which is intended for illuminating plants 3 in a greenhouse or animals 4 such as chickens 5 or pigs 6 in a stable or in another stock breeding environment.

Of course, it is not excluded from the invention to execute the lighting device 1 in a total different way, not as a pending light, but for example as a part of a shelf system such as used in the vertical farming industry, integrated in roofs or racks, fixedly mounted against a wall and so on

The lighting device 1 comprises a lighting housing or lighting fixture 7, comprising a plurality of light sources 8, which are represented more in detail in the figures 2 to 11.

The lighting device 1 is in this case also provided with suspension means 9 for suspending the lighting housing or fixture 7 from the ceiling 2, but such suspension means 9 can of course be omitted in other embodiments.

These suspension means 9 can take all kinds of different shapes, but in the schematic drawing of figure 1 they are represented without any detail as pairs of hollow tubes 10 and 11 which extend from the ceiling 2 to the backside 12 of the lighting housing 7.

The lighting device 1 is furthermore provided with means for supplying electric power 13 to the light sources 8 in the lighting housing or fixture 7, which are represented in figure 1 by a DC or AC power supply 14 and electric cabling 15 which extends from the power supply 14 through hollow tube 10 of the suspension means 9 into the lighting housing 7 .

For controlling the lighting device 1 and in particular for controlling the light sources 8 in the lighting housing 7, the lighting device 1 is provided with controlling means 16.

These controlling means 16 can, dependent on their implementation, fulfil all kinds of functions.

The controlling means 16 can for example be used for automatically switching on and off light sources 8 in the lighting device 1, for example on the basis of certain measurements or just on the basis on data received from a timer or clock and so on.

In another implementation the controlling means 16 can additionally or as an alternative be used for changing the colour emitted by light sources 8 in the lighting device 1.

In still another embodiment the controlling means 16 can additionally or as an alternative be used for changing the intensity of light emitted by light sources 8 in the lighting device 1.

Of course, many other possible implementations are not excluded from the invention and these controlling means 16 can be completely omitted as well.

In figure 1 the controlling means 16 are represented by a computer 17 which is connected to the lighting device 1 by means of data cabling or signal cabling 18.

Obviously, in another embodiment, the function of the computer 17 can be executed by other electronic or electric devices and cabling can be used for supplying electric power and simultaneously transmitting controlling signals.

The controlling means 16 can comprise controllers mounted on the PCBs 34 of the lighting elements 33.

In still other embodiments integrated in the lighting controlling means 16 for outside the lighting housing a wireless connection can be device 1 as a part of the communication with the world

7.

A lighting device 1 in accordance with the invention is special in that the lighting housing or lighting fixture 7 is executed in the shape of a flat sheet double-pane panel 19, which is illustrated more in detail in figures 2 to 4 for example.

The flat sheet double-pane panel 19 comprises in this embodiment at the front side 20 a front pane which is a glazing pane 21 and at the back side 12 a metal pane 22 of the same dimensions .

This glazing pane 21 and metal pane 22 are attached to one another at their entire circumference 23 by means of a spacer 24.

The spacer 24 keeps the glazing pane 21 and the metal pane 22 at a spacing distance D from one another so to form a hermetically sealed interior space 25 in the lighting housing or fixture 7.

The glazing pane 21 can consist of frosted glass and by varying the spacing distance D the light distribution can be optimized.

In the case represented in figures 2 to 4, the spacer 24 consists of a preferably elastic material 26 such as rubber silicone or another adhesive, which is applied directly between the metal pane 22 and the glazing pane 21 and which has a height H corresponding to the spacing distance D.

In another embodiment the spacer 24 can for example comprise a rigid profile 27 made of a metal, a plastic or a fibre reinforced material or the like.

Such rigid profile 27 has preferably outer dimensions corresponding to the circumference 23 of the glazing pane 21 and the metal pane 22, which is typically a rectangular shape, and it can have a height H corresponding to the spacing distance D.

In that case the rigid profile 27 is preferably glued against the glazing pane 21 and the metal pane 22.

Such a profile 27 can be fabricated with a varying width W and can have a cross-section 28 that is shaped according to the needs .

Figure 15 for example illustrates a case wherein the spacer 24 comprises a rigid profile 27 which has a height H' somewhat smaller than the spacing distance D.

The spacer 24 furthermore comprises an elastic adhesive 26 in which the rigid profile 27 is embedded and which keeps the spacer 24, the glazing pane 21 and the metal pane 22 together.

The elastic material 26 such as rubber, silicone or another adhesive is applied at the top side 2 9 as well as at the bottom side 30 of the rigid profile 27.

The rigid profile 27 is in this case a hollow profile which has a mainly rectangular cross-section 28.

However, the outer corners 31 of the rigid profile 27 have been provided with a chamfer 32.

Of course, it is not excluded from the invention to apply completely different kinds of spacers 24 in order to compose a double pane panel 19 and to create a hermetically closed interior space 25.

Another important aspect of the invention is that the light sources 8 are formed by a lighting element 33 each comprising a printed circuit board 34 on which one or more LEDs (lighting emitting diodes) 35 are mounted.

These lighting elements 33 are fixedly mounted on the metal pane 22 in the interior space 25 between the glazing pane 21 and the metal pane 22.

The fact that the light sources 8 of a lighting device 1 in accordance with the invention are composed with LEDs 35 is very advantageous.

LED technology is very quickly advancing and more and more powerful LEDs 35 are available, having suitable characteristics for being used as growing lights or form illuminating breeding stables and so on.

Furthermore, LEDS are very suitable for being integrated in a system for automatically controlling the lighting devices behaviour.

LEDs 35 also have very small dimensions, which allows for a compact flat sheet design of the lighting device 1.

On the other hand, the surface of the flat sheet lighting device 1 in accordance with the invention has rather large dimensions, so that a designer or engineer is given a lot of freedom to position the LEDs 35 with small dimensions onto this large surface of the flat sheet panel 19.

Typical dimensions of the flat sheet double pane panel 19 are similar to the dimensions of a standard double glazing panel.

A typical dimension of the double pane panel 19 could therefore be 70 cm by 120 cm.

The flat sheet lighting housing 7 or lighting fixture 7 has a total thickness T which is preferably not more than 30 mm and even more preferably not more than 18 mm.

The glazing pane 21 has for example a thickness E of 3 or 4 mm, but applying other thicknesses E is of course not excluded from the invention.

The metal pane 22 can be manufactured of different metals, for example of aluminium, copper or stainless steel, and has typically a thickness F of 3 mm, but other dimensions can be applied.

One of the goals of the metal pane 22 is to provide strength to the flat sheet double pane panel 19 and to be an efficient radiator of heat in order to dissipate the heat generated by the light sources 8 to the environment.

Furthermore, the flat sheet lighting housing 7 or lighting fixture 7 has typically a square or rectangular shape with a width B which is typically not shorter than 50 cm.

The length L of the flat sheet lighting housing 7 or lighting fixture 7 can typically be about 100 cm.

Preferably, the afore-mentioned spacing distance D inside the lighting housing 7 is not more than three times the height K of the lighting elements 33 formed by the thickness L of their PCB 34 and the height M of the LEDs 35 mounted on this PCB 34.

It is obvious however, that according to the invention any other dimension or shape can be given to the different components of the lighting device 1.

In the embodiment represented in the figures the lighting device 1 is essentially consisting of the combination of the afore-mentioned lighting housing or lighting fixture 7 comprising the light sources 8, the afore-mentioned suspension means 9, the afore-mentioned means for supplying electric power 13 and the afore-mentioned controlling means 16, and nothing else.

This means that the lighting device 1 in accordance with the invention is very compact and robust and does not comprise many components .

The lighting housing 7 forms hereby a hermetically closed and very strong component, which, once fabricated, is not intended for being opened again.

In that way the durability of a lighting device in accordance with the invention is ensured.

The internal composition of the lighting device 1 and the way it is connected to the means for supplying electric power 13 as well as to the controlling means 16 is now discussed more in detail.

In particular, in the illustrated embodiment of figures 1 to 12, the lighting device 1 comprises multiple lighting elements 33 each comprising a rectangular shaped PCB 34, the length 0 of which being somewhat smaller than the width B of the lighting housing or fixture 7.

These lighting elements 33 are fixedly mounted on the metal pane 22 and extend parallel with one another along the width B of the lighting housing or fixture 7.

In this case the lighting device 1 comprises multiple such lighting elements 33 each comprising a rectangular shaped PCB 34, the width P of which being not more than 1 cm, but other dimensions are of course not excluded from the invention.

Preferably, according to the invention the lighting device 1 comprises multiple lighting elements 33 each comprising a PCB 34, wherein each such PCB 34 is provided with multiple mounting zones 36 on which LEDs 35 are or can be mounted.

In the represented embodiments these mounting zones 36 form a regular pattern on the PCBs 34.

In particular, in this case each mounting zone 36 is arranged in such a way that four LEDs 35 can be mounted on the mounting zone 36, each LED 35 forming the corner of a square shape.

Multiple such mounting zones 36 are provided at equal distances from one another over the length of the PCBs 34.

It is however clear that according to the invention mounting zones 36 can be arranged into any other regular pattern or even into a structure that has no regularity at all.

It is also clear that not necessarily all the mounting zones 36 have to be equipped with LEDs 35 and this choice is actually left to engineers and designers of the lighting device 1.

The LEDs 35 are mounted on the PCB 35 in order to connect them to the means for supplying electric power 13 and/or to the controlling means 16.

Hereto the LEDS 35 are in this case provided with three connection feet 37, 38 and 39 provided at the bottom side 40 of the LEDs 35, as is illustrated in figures 9 to 11.

The connection feet 37 can concerned PCB or any other purpose be used.

be glued or soldered to the suitable method can for this

The top side 41 of the LEDs 35 is covered by means of a lens 42 .

Each PCB is in the represented embodiments also provided with a single connection zone 43 for connecting the PCB 34 to the afore-mentioned means for supplying electric power 13 for supplying electric power to said LEDs 35 for connecting the concerned PCB 34 to the controlling means 16 for controlling the light sources 8.

In order to connect the multitude of PCBs 34 in the lighting housing 7 to the means for supplying electric power 13 and to the controlling means 16, the lighting device 1 additionally comprises interconnecting means 44 comprising in this case an electronic or electric device 45 as well as interconnecting cabling 46 and 47 for providing electric power and/or for transmitting control signals.

In other embodiments the interconnection means 44 can also additionally or as an alternative be provided with wireless connection means for connecting with the controlling means 16 outside the lighting device 1 or for interconnecting electronic or electric devices 45 in the lighting housing 7

Electronic or electric device 45 can be of any kind and can for example be a so-called driver 45.

The interconnection means 44 are also provided in the interior space 25 between the glazing pane 21 and the metal pane 22 .

In general terms, these interconnection means 44 can for example be used for interconnecting multiple lighting elements 33 with one another, one or more lighting elements 33 with the means for supplying electric power 13; and/or one or more lighting elements 33 with the controlling means

16.

It is also possible to interconnect multiple interconnecting means parts, such as drivers 45, with one another by means of the interconnection means 44, or such interconnecting means parts 45 can also be simultaneously connected to the means for supplying electric power 13 and/or to the controlling means 16 by means of the interconnection means 44.

In the embodiment represented in figure 12 the lighting device 1 comprises multiple lighting elements 33 each comprising a rectangular shaped PCB 34.

These PCBs are aligned parallel to one another on the metal pane 22 according to a first direction AA' parallel to the width B in this case.

In this case, an afore-mentioned electronic or electric device 45 or driver 45 of the connection means 44 is mounted between each pair 48 of PCBs 34.

Each concerned PCB 34 of such a pair 48 of PCBs 34 is connected at the connection zone 43 by means of an aforementioned interconnection cabling 46 to the concerned electronic or electric device or driver 45.

Furthermore, all the electronic or electric devices or drivers 45 in the lighting housing 7 are interconnected by means of interconnection cabling 47 which is aligned according to a second direction BB' perpendicular to the first direction AA'.

This	interconnection	cabling 47	is	connected	to the
electric	cabling	15	of the means	for	supplying	electric
power	13	and/or	the	data cabling	18	of the controlling

means 16, or in another case the interconnection cabling 47 is formed by or is forming the electric cabling 15 and /or data cabling 18.

Cabling 15, 18 or 47 can be brought to the exterior outside the lighting housing 7 through the metal pane 22 or through the spacer 24.

Figure 13 and 14 illustrate still other, but rather similar embodiments .

In the embodiment of figure 13 the lighting elements 33 each comprise a PCB 34 having a length O' somewhat smaller than halve the length L of the lighting housing 7.

Two such lighting elements 33 are each time aligned with one another along the direction BB' parallel to the length of the lighting housing 7 in order to form a row 49 comprising a pair of such lighting elements 33.

Multiple rows 49, in particular four this time, are arranged parallel to one another on the metal pane 22.

Between pairs of PCBs 34 of two nearby rows 49 a driver 45 and each PCB 34 is connected at its connection zone 43 by means of cabling 46 to the concerned driver 45.

Furthermore, all the drivers 45 are interconnected by cabling 47 as in the preceding case and are connected to the means for supplying electrical power 13 and the controlling means 16.

It is clear that such an arrangement of the lighting elements 33 in the lighting housing 7 does not fundamentally change the functioning of the lighting device 1.

In the embodiment illustrated in figure 14 the lighting elements 33 have a length 0 somewhat smaller that the length L of the lighting housing 7 and just one pair of PCBs 34 is arranged parallel with one another along the direction BB' , i.e. parallel to the length of the lighting housing 7.

These lighting elements 33 are furthermore interconnected by means of a driver 45 and connected to the means for supplying electrical power 13 and the controlling means 13 in a completely similar manner as in the preceding cases.

According to the invention it is important to notice that the metal pane 22 is serving as a heat radiator and that the metal pane 22 thereto is interconnected with the light sources 8 by means of heat conducting elements in such a way that heat generated by the lighting sources 8 is conducted to the metal pane 22 where it is dissipated by radiation to the surrounding air.

Another aspect of the invention is related to the conditions in the interior space 25 in the lighting housing or fixture 7.

In this interior space 25 a vacuum or nearly vacuum can be applied or it can be filled with an inert gas.

For example, argon or another gas can be applied in the interior space 25 in order to protect the PCBs 34 and LEDs 35 in the lighting housing 7.

Depending on the requirements, a designer can choose to apply a pressure in the interior space 25 which is lower than atmospheric pressure or a designer can on the contrary choose to apply a pressure in the interior space 25which is higher than atmospheric pressure.

In order to prevent possible humidity from causing oxidation to components in the lighting housing 7 a desiccant can also be applied in the interior space 25.

In another interesting embodiment, a transparent paste or solid material can be applied for filling the interior space or for covering all or some of the light sources 8 or lighting elements 33, .

The glazing pane 21 is in the represented examples executed as a completely transparent and colourless glazing pane 21.

In other embodiments of a lighting device in accordance with the invention the glazing pane 21 can also be coloured or can for example be provided with light diffusing elements or can be entirely executed as a light diffusing element.

The glazing pane 21 can have a smooth outer surface or in other cases it can have a rough outer surface.

The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments of a lighting device 1 in accordance with the invention described above and represented in the drawings, but such a lighting device 1 may be realised in different shapes and dimensions, without departure from the scope of the invention.

Legend.

NR Name lighting device ceiling plants animals chickens pig's lighting housing light source suspension means pair of hollow tubes pair of hollow tubes backside of lighting device means for supplying electric power power supply electric cabling controlling means computer data cabling flat sheet double pane panel front side glazing pane metal pane circumference spacer interior space elastic material rigid profile cross-section

	29	top side of rigide profile
	30	bottom side of rigid	profile
	31	outer corners
	32	chamfer
5	33	lighting element
	34	PCB
	35	LED
	36	mounting zone on PCB
	37	connection foot
10	38	connection foot
	39	connection foot
	40	bottom side of LED
	41	top side of LED
	42	lens
15	43	connection zone
	44	connection means
	45	driver
	46	cabling
	47	cabling
20	48	pair of PCBs
	49	row of lighting elements
	D	spacing distance
	E	thickness of glazing	pane
25	F	thickness of metal pane
	H	height
	H'	height
	K	height of lighting element
	L	height of PCB
30	M	height of LED
	0	lengt of PCB
	0'	lengt of PCB

O lengt of PCB

P width of PCB

W width

Claims

Conclusions.

Lighting apparatus (1) intended for use as a light source (8) for illuminating plants (3) in a horticultural environment or animals (4) such as chickens (5) or pigs (6) in a stable or other stock of breeding environment or the like, the lighting device (1) comprising a lighting housing (7) or lighting fixture (7) comprising one or more light sources (8), means for supplying electrical energy (13) to the light sources (8) in the lighting housing or luminaire ( 7) and possibly control means (16) for controlling the lighting device (1), characterized in that the light sources (8) are formed by a lighting element (33) each comprising one or more lighting-emitting diodes (35, LEDs) and that the lighting housing or lighting fixture (7) is in the form of a flat panel with double plates (19) comprising a windscreen (21) that is at least partially transparent and a rear window (22) of the same size and which are attached to each other (23) throughout their perimeter by a spacer (24), the spacer (24) spacing the front panel (21) and the rear panel (22) apart from each other (D) so as to a hermetically sealed interior (25) to form the lighting housing or fixture (7), the lighting elements (33) being fixedly mounted on the rear panel (22) in this interior (25) between the front panel (21) and the rear panel (22) .

Lighting device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned distance (D) is no more than three times the height (K) of the lighting elements (33).

Lighting device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lighting elements (33) comprise a PCB (34) on which the LEDs (35) are mounted.

Lighting device (1) according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that said distance distance (D) is no more than three times the height (K) of the lighting elements (33) formed by the thickness (L) of their PCB (34) and the height (M) of the LEDs (35) mounted on this PCB (34).

Lighting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting housing for flat plates or lighting fixture (7) has a thickness (T) that is no more than 30 mm and preferably no more than 18 mm

Lighting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flat plate lighting housing or lighting fixture (7) has a square or rectangular shape with a width (B) that is not shorter than 50 cm.

7.

Lighting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting device (1) is designed as a hanging lamp intended to be suspended from a ceiling (2), wherein the lighting device (1) furthermore comprises a suspension means (9) contains for it

hang up illuminated of the igsarma ture lighting housing (7). or it 8. Lighting device (1) according to claim 7, with it characteristic, that it lighting device (1) in essentials consists of the combination of the for this

said lighting housing or lighting fixture (7) comprising the light sources (

8), the aforementioned suspension means (

9), the aforementioned means for supplying electrical energy (13) and possibly the aforementioned control means (16).

9. Lighting device (1) according to a from the preceding claims , with the characteristic, Which it lighting device (1) multiple lighting elements (33) includes That each a rectangular PCB (34) of which the length (0) is much smaller than the width (B) from the lighting housing or armature (7 ) , at which the

lighting elements (33) are fixedly mounted on the rear panel (22) and extend parallel to the width parallel to each other in the direction (AA ') parallel to the width (B) of the lighting housing or fixture (7).

Lighting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting device (1) comprises a plurality of lighting elements (33), each comprising a rectangular PCB (34), the width of which (P) is not more than 1 cm.

11. Lighting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting device (1) comprises a plurality of lighting elements (33), each comprising a PCB (34), each such PCB (34) being provided with a plurality of attachment zones (36) on which LEDs (35) are or can be mounted, as well as with a single connection zone (43) for connecting the PCB (34) to the aforementioned means for supplying electric current (13), in particular for supplying electric current to said LEDs (35) and / or for connecting the PCB (34) to the control means (16) for controlling the light sources (8).

The lighting device (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the attachment zones (36) form a regular pattern on the PCBs (34).

Illumination device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting device (1) additionally comprises connecting means (44) which comprise an electronic or electrical device (45) and interconnected cables (46.47) for supplying electrical energy and / or for transmitting control signals, which connection means (44) are provided in the inner space (25) between the front panel (21) and the rear panel (22) and which connect one or more of the following elements:

- several lighting elements (33) with each other;

- one or more lighting elements (33) with means

for supplying electrical energy (13); one or more lighting elements (33) with control means (16); - multiple interconnected resources (45-47) with each other; share multiple connecting means (45-47) with

means for supplying electrical energy (13); and / or sharing multiple connecting means (45-47) with control means (16).

The lighting device (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the lighting device (1) comprises a plurality of lighting elements (33) each comprising a rectangular PCB (34), the PCBs (3) being aligned parallel to each other on the rear panel (22) according to a first direction (AA ') and wherein said electronic or electrical device (45) of the connection means (16) is arranged between each pair (48) of PCBs (34), each of the PCBs (34) of a such a pair (48) of PCBs (34) is connected by means of the aforementioned interconnection cables (46) to the relevant electronic or electrical device (45) and wherein all electronic or electrical devices (45) in the lighting housing or luminaire (7) further are connected by interconnection cables (47) aligned in a second direction (BB ') perpendicular to the first direction (AA').

5. Lighting device l : d according to one of the previous conclusions, with the characteristic that it lighting device (1) is provided from control means (16) That are able to a

or perform more of the following actions: switching LEDs (35) on and off in the lighting device (1);

- change the color emitted by light sources (8) in the lighting device (1); and / or

- change in the intensity of the light emitted by light sources (8) in the lighting device (1).

16. Lighting device (1) according to one of the

previous conclusions, with it characteristic, Which it rear panel (22) one or more from the next one has: - the rear panel is a panel Which fully from

metal exists;

- the rear panel is a laminated panel and comprises one or more metal panel layers or metal film layers;

the rear panel is made wholly or partly from a metal that is aluminum, copper or stainless steel;

- the rear panel is made of glass or consists of one or more Hagen glass panels;

the rear panel is provided with improved light-reflecting properties on the side facing the interior (25) within the lighting housing (7);

the rear panel is provided with a light-reflecting film disposed on the side facing the inner space (25) within the lighting housing (7);

- the rear panel has a polished surface on the side facing the interior (25) within the lighting housing (7);

the rear panel is designed as a mirror; and / or, the rear panel is made of an improved thermally conductive material and / or has improved heat radiation properties.

Lighting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear panel (22) serves as a heat radiator and is connected to the light sources (8) by means of heat-conducting elements in such a way that the heat sources generated by light sources (8) is directed to the rear panel (22) where it is dissipated by radiation to the surrounding air.

Lighting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spacer (24) comprises one or more of the following elements:

- a rigid profile (27) made of metal, a plastic or a fiber-reinforced material and with dimensions corresponding to the perimeter (23) of the front panel (21) and the rear panel (22) and with a height (H) corresponding to the distance (D);

an elastic material (26) such as rubber, silicone or other adhesive that is applied directly between the rear panel (22) and the front panel (21);

an elastic material (26) such as rubber, silicone or other adhesive applied to both sides (29, 30) of a previously mentioned rigid profile (27).

Lighting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more of the following conditions are present in the interior space (25) in the lighting housing or fitting (7):

- a vacuum or near-vacuum is applied;

- a drying agent is used;

- the inner space (25) is filled with an inert gas;

- a transparent paste or solid material is applied to fill the inner space (25) or to cover all or some of the light sources (8);

- a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure is applied; and / or a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure is applied.

Lighting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front panel (21) has one or more of the following features:

- the front panel (21) is a completely transparent panel (21);

- the front panel (21) is a glazing (21);

- the front panel (21) is a safety glass (21);

- the front panel (21) is a glazing (21) made of solar glass;

- the front panel (21) is a glazing (21) of laminated glass;

- the front panel (21) is colorless;

- the front panel (21) is colored;

- the front panel (21) is provided with diffusing elements or is entirely designed as a diffuse element;

- the front panel (21) has a smooth outer surface; and or

- the front panel (21) has a rough outer surface.