Aquarium Lighting with Spectral Subsets to Reduce Colored Caustics
Solution Overview
Problem
LED-based aquarium lighting systems create restlessly moving and unnatural caustic patterns and colored shadows due to the use of an array of point-like sources, which disrupt the natural appearance in aquariums.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device with a base layer and subsets of lighting elements emitting different spectra, utilizing a light transmission affecting device to pass and process light from specific subsets, aligning with geometric distributions to minimize unnatural caustic effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If an array of point-like LED sources is used for illuminating the aquarium, then the optical efficiency and spectral tunability are improved, but restlessly moving and unnatural caustic patterns and colored shadows are created
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting device is divided into multiple individual LED light sources arranged in an array, each capable of being controlled independently. This segmentation allows selective activation of specific LEDs to create a single or limited number of caustic patterns rather than multiple overlapping patterns from all LEDs being active simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic or intermittent activation of specific LED subsets rather than continuous operation of all LEDs. By controlling which LEDs are active at different time periods, the system can create stable, natural-looking caustic patterns while avoiding the restless movement that occurs when all LEDs operate continuously.
2Adaptability or versatility
If colored LEDs are used to provide spectral tunability, then the ability to emit different color spectra is improved, but colored caustic patterns and colored shadows appear which look unnatural
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions or subsets of the LED array are assigned different spectral characteristics (e.g., warm white, cool white, colored LEDs). By selectively activating specific subsets with appropriate spectra and controlling their individual intensities, the system can create natural-looking illumination while avoiding unnatural colored caustics through proper spatial and spectral distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts spectral parameters by controlling the intensity and activation state of different LED types (warm white, cool white, colored LEDs). By changing which spectral components are active and at what intensity levels, the system can achieve natural-looking lighting effects while maintaining spectral tunability for different lighting conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances the natural appearance of caustic patterns by reducing unnatural colored shadows and caustic patterns, creating a more natural lighting effect in aquariums.
Implementation Method 1
the processed second light comprises a greater amount of scattering compared to the passed first light
Data Source
AI summary
A LIGHTING DEVICE for illuminating an aquarium (100), comprising: —a base layer (111, 611); —a plurality of lighting elements (111, 112, 113, 212, 213) mounted on the base layer (111, 611) and comprising a first and a second subset (630A) of lighting elements (111, 112, 113, 212, 213) arranged for emitting a first and a second spectrum of light respectively; —a light transmission affecting device arranged for affecting the transmission of light from the plurality of lighting elements (111, 112, 113, 212, 213); wherein the light transmission affecting device is arranged for passing (420) at least a part of the light from at least one lighting element (112, 212, 213, 312) of the first subset (112) having the first emitting spectrum and processing (430) the light from at least one lighting element (112, 212, 213, 312) of the second subset (630A) having the second emitting spectrum; wherein the first emitting spectrum comprises white light or a first colored light; wherein the first colored light comprises wavelength in a first range with peak wavelength below (485) 485 nm; and the second emitting spectrum comprises a second colored light; wherein the second colored light comprises wavelength in a second range with a peak wavelength larger than 485 nm.