Underwater LED Light Thermal Management and Color Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Underwater video lighting devices struggle to address color balance issues when diving below 30 feet, as existing lights compete with ambient light, causing unbalanced colors in video images, and lack efficient heat dissipation and convenient filtering solutions.
Innovation Solution
A powerful underwater LED light with a rotatable filter ring for adjustable filtration, a metal core circuit board for efficient heat dissipation, and a self-contained assembly that allows easy disconnection for FAA compliance, featuring a tight LED cluster, thermal transfer pads, and interchangeable face plate assemblies for enhanced cooling and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a powerful underwater LED light is used to provide sufficient illumination, then brightness is improved, but heat generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful heat generated by the high-power LED array into a beneficial cooling mechanism by using the surrounding water as a heat sink. The light housing is designed with thermal conductivity in mind, allowing heat to dissipate efficiently into the water environment, thus transforming the harmful thermal byproduct into an acceptable operational characteristic for underwater lighting.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple filters are included to address color balance, then color accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a rotatable filter ring that allows dynamic selection of different colored filters (red, green, blue, yellow, magenta, cyan) depending on the diving depth and ambient light conditions. This dynamic configuration enables the diver to optimize color balance in real-time without requiring multiple separate filter devices, thus managing complexity while maintaining color accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter ring serves multiple functions: it provides color correction for different depths, acts as a protective cover for the LED array when not in use, and can be rotated to select from six different filter colors. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing device complexity while achieving color accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the LED array is positioned off-center to enable filter placement, then filtering capability is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately positions the LED array off-center within the light housing to accommodate the rotatable filter ring mechanism. This asymmetric arrangement allows the filters to be effectively placed between the light source and the water, enabling proper filtering capability. The asymmetric design is integrated into the overall housing structure, managing complexity through unified design rather than separate components.
4Ease of operation
If the face plate assembly is made removable for FAA compliance, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the light into separable components: a removable face plate assembly containing the LED array and filter ring, and a main housing containing the battery and control electronics. This segmentation allows the face plate to be easily removed for FAA-compliant air travel while maintaining reliable sealing through precision-machined interfaces and O-ring seals that prevent water intrusion during underwater operation.
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 provides balanced color lighting, increased brightness and duration, efficient cooling, and convenient filtering, enabling high-quality underwater video capture while ensuring reliability and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
The tight LED array generates considerable heat, making the LED mounting board and surrounding areas hotter than would be the case if the LEDs were spread around the entire face of the housing. To dissipate the heat the LEDs are mounted onto a metal core board, and the face of the unit preferably is mostly metal and contacts the LED board. This provides an efficient heat sink for the LED array.
Implementation Method 2
One important filter preferably included on the dive light is a blue/green filter, which can be used to approximately match the projected light beam to the ambient lighting when diving in conditions of near-total red depletion from the natural light.
Data Source
AI summary
An underwater diving light includes efficient cooling of LEDs and other internal electronics by heat transfer to ambient water. The water is in contact with a metallic face plate or puck that conducts heat via contiguous metal from an LED circuit board or LED face plate. Ambient water can enter the assembly to spaces between the face plate and an intermediary plate at the front of a housing to efficiently cool the LEDs and associated electronics. In a high-output form the light can emit 8000 lumens, and in this embodiment the battery is cooled by ambient water. The face plate or puck is interchangeable, for different lighting characteristics.