Abstract:
A variable color aquarium lighting system that allows for a naturalistic day and moonlight cycle. The device will mount in the hood of an aquarium and can optionally be suspended above the aquarium by other means. Another embodiment of the device will allow the device to display a selected color.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/903,896, filed 2007, Feb. 27 by the present inventors. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    This invention generally related to aquariums, specifically to an improved way of providing a natural light cycle to the aquarium. 
         [0004]    2. Prior Art 
         [0005]    Previously aquarium lighting has been primarily confined to simple white lighting with the only variation being which color temperature of white was used. More recently single color lights have been introduced for decorative purposes; among these single color lights has been blue to simulate a moonlight condition. However these approaches only allow a single color and no coordination between different lights is used to create additional colors. Additionally, aquarium lighting is very limited in how much the intensity can vary; with most aquarium lights not being able to change intensity at all. 
         [0006]    This has limited how effectively a natural environment can be modeled since natural light varies in both color and intensity throughout the day and night. From the first glows of morning to the full sun of mid-day to the orange and pink of sunset both the color and intensity varies quite a bit. Given only one or two colors at a fixed intensity the natural environment is not effectively modeled. 
         [0007]    Known in the art are the following documents: “Programmable Analog for High Power LED Color Mixing Applications” 1 , Cypress Semiconductor/December 2006. While the use of color mixing has been known for a long time, it has never been applied to aquarium lighting until now. 
         [0008]    3. Objects and Advantages 
         [0009]    Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the invention are:
       (a) to provide light for an aquarium that can simulate a natural full day and moonlight cycle;   (b) to provide a selection of color to display decoratively in the aquarium; and   (c) to provide light at different levels of intensity;       
 
         [0013]    Further objects and advantages of our invention will become apparent from a consideration of drawings and ensuing description. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0014]    The invention pertains to a variable color lighting system to be used in conjunction with an aquarium. This lighting system allows for a full natural day and moonlight cycle. In addition, the system will allow for variable light intensity and color selection. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS—FIGURES 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a drawing of the typical embodiment of the light. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a drawing of an underside view of an aquarium hood with the invention attached to it. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is an electrical schematic detailing how the invention functions. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart describing the operation of the microcontroller. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a drawing of how the invention will be placed above the aquarium. The device can mount above the aquarium in a hood as shown or suspended by other means. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Preferred Embodiment 
     FIG.  1   
       [0020]    The components of the invention are shown in  FIG. 1  as:
       (a) A lighting board that includes different LED lights, and possibly circuitry needed for the LED lights, and possibly a means to control the LEDs. The board can be optionally mounted using mounting holes  100 .   (b) Light sources shown as a red LED  102 , green LED  104 , and a blue LED  106 .   (c) For the most accurate lighting the LEDs can have temperature sensors ( 110 ,  112 , and  114 ) to account for the effect of temperature on LED light.   (d) The lights are coordinated using a microcontroller or microprocessor. The microcontroller can either be mounted on the light board (shown as  116 ) or optionally off board and controlling the lights through a connector  108 . The connector  108  also provides power.       
 
         [0025]    The method of wiring and powering the electronic components above and mounting them in a way suitable for an aquarium would be well known to those with ordinary skill in the electronic and mechanical arts. Microcontroller  116  is a standard microchip having a program that allows it to effectively mix the different color LEDs ( 102 ,  104 , and  106 ) to create other colors. For better simulation of natural light cycles the microcontroller  116  would have accurate time keeping means. 
       Operation of Invention: 
       [0026]    The invention achieves its results as follows:
       1. The microcontroller  116  controls the different fixed lights ( 102 ,  104 , and  106 ) in such as way as to create a different desired light (such as orange, violet, or even white). One way to do this using a Cypress microcontroller is described in an attached application note (Cypress App Note XZY). The lights may be either directly controlled if the microcontroller is on the same board or a connector  108  may be needed. Also, depending on how powerful the lights are additional driving circuitry may be needed. The microcontroller  116  may also interface with the optional temperature sensors ( 110 ,  112 , and  114 ) to correct for color shifts that happen to LEDs based on temperature.   2. The colors are changed in a standard sequence to simulate transitions from night to day and from day to night (i.e., sunrise and sunset). Note that both color and intensity can be changed for the best possible simulation of natural light cycles.   3. These cycles are repeated day after day.       
 
         [0030]    The user may, if desired, also use the ability to display different colors to change the color to suite their personal taste instead of simulating natural light cycles. The advantage with our invention over current lighting is that only a few lights are needed yet an incredible diverse set of colors can be created very economically. Color selection is typically implemented with just three lights: red  102 , green  104 , and blue  106 . The microcontroller  116  could cycle between a preset pattern of colors, randomly show different colors, or allow for custom colors and patterns. 
       Description and Operation of Alternative Embodiments 
       [0031]    There are several alternative embodiments of the invention that can be implemented for aquarium lighting:
       (a) Instead of using LEDs a different light generating device can be substituted in place of  102 ,  104 , and  106 . The unit in theory should operate the same but with the additional circuitry that is required for the alternative light source.   (b) Alternative methods could include the use of alternative or additional color mixing capable microcontrollers to control the LEDs. The alternative method could be a simple drop in replacement of microcontroller  116  or even an addition that microcontroller  116  can communicate with through whatever means the additional chip requires such as serial communications.   (c) With the removal of the temperature sensors a less expensive model could be fashioned that does not have the same intensity and color mixing accuracy that a model with temperature sensors could achieve.   (d) A light sensor could be added to calibrate the color output of the LEDs more accurately. The light sensor would take readings of the color output and return to the microcontroller a variable that can be used to either calibrate or adjust the LEDs to the appropriate color.       
 
       CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
       [0036]    Accordingly the reader will see that the variable light cycle of the light provides a new method of lighting an aquarium and brings a naturalistic look that would otherwise be left out with the current lighting methods. 
         [0037]    While our above description contains many specificities these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example; a color wheel could be used to rotate a piece of transparent colored plastic over a white light, allowing for the changing of colors via a mechanical method. 
         [0038]    Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiment(s) illustrated but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.