# US 10,440,940 B2 · Lighting unit and method of controlling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,440,940 B2 - Document ID: US10440940B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/839,054 - Filed: 2017-12-12 - Published: 2018-07-05 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-22 - Assignees: Ecotech Marine, LLC - Applicants: EcoTech Marine, LLC - Inventors: Justin Lawyer; Patrick Clasen; Timothy Marks; Mark Lindenmoyer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10440940B2 ## CPC - A01K 63/06: Arrangements for heating or lighting in, or attached to, receptacles for live fish - F21V 29/67: characterised by the arrangement of fans - H05B 45/20: Controlling the colour of the light - H05B 45/56: involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs - F21W 2131/308: for aquaria - F21Y 2105/10: comprising a two-dimensional [2D] array of point-like light-generating elements - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract A lighting unit for illuminating a habitat is provided. The lighting unit includes a housing and a light emitter. The operating parameters of the lighting unit may be adjusted to mimic different natural conditions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lighting unit comprising: a housing; a light emitter assembly at least partially received in the housing, the light emitter assembly comprising a light emitter; a heat sink disposed vertically over the light emitter assembly; and a fan assembly at least, partially received in the housing and disposed laterally adjacent to the emitter assembly, the fan assembly comprising a fan blade for generating airflow, and a curved baffle situated over the fan blade for directing the airflow. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the curved baffle is configured to direct airflow in the direction of the heat sink. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The lighting unit of claim 1, further comprising a microprocessor electrically connected to the light emitter assembly and the fan assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The lighting unit of claim 3, wherein the light emitter comprises a first light emitter having a first color and the light emitter assembly further comprises a second light emitter having a second color, the first light emitter being controlled on a first channel and the second light emitter being controlled on a second channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The lighting unit of claim 3, further comprising a communication unit operably connected to the microprocessor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a bottom cover having openings for receiving the fan assembly and the light emitter assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A habitat comprising: a marine aquarium; and the lighting unit of claim 1 above the marine aquarium. ### Claim 8 A lighting unit comprising: a core comprising a first side region, a second side region, and an interior region disposed between the first side region and the second side region, the interior region comprising an opening and a heat sink for dissipating heat; a first light emitter assembly connected to the core, the first light emitter assembly comprising a first light emitter device; a second light emitter assembly connected to the core, the second light emitter assembly comprising a second light emitter device; and a fan disposed between and laterally to the first and second light emitter assemblies, the fan configured for generating airflow along the heat sink. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The lighting unit of claim 8, wherein the fan comprises: a fan blade for generating the airflow; a blade housing at least partially receiving the fan blade; a grate; and a hood for directing the airflow to the heat sink. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The lighting unit of claim 9, wherein the hood comprises a first curved baffle and a second curved baffle situated over the fan blade. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The lighting unit of claim 10, wherein the heat sink comprises a first heat sink and a second heat sink, and wherein the first curved baffle directs air from the fan to the first heat sink and the second curved baffle directs air from the fan to the second heat sink. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The lighting unit of claim 8, wherein the first and second light emitter devices comprise light emitting diodes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The lighting unit of claim 11, wherein the core is a unitary piece of extruded material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The lighting unit of claim 11, further comprising a microprocessor electrically connected to the first and second emitter assemblies and the fan. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The lighting unit of claim 8, wherein the first emitter assembly further comprises a total-internal-reflection lens. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the fan assembly is disposed laterally in a same plane as the light emitter assembly. ### Claim 17 (depends on 8) The lighting unit of claim 8, wherein the fan is disposed laterally in a same plane as the first and second light emitter devices. ### Claim 18 (depends on 8) A habitat comprising a marine aquarium; and the lighting unit of claim 8 above the marine aquarium. ### Claim 19 A habitat, comprising: a marine aquarium; a lighting unit positioned to emit light on the marine aquarium, the light unit comprising a housing, a light emitter assembly at least partially received in the housing, a heat sink disposed vertically over the light emitter assembly, and a fan assembly at least partially received in the housing; a pump configured to control water flow in the marine aquarium; and a microprocessor configured to control both the lighting unit and the pump to thereby affect environmental conditions within the marine aquarium. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The habitat of claim 19, wherein the microprocessor is configured to control both the light emitter assembly and the fan assembly of the lighting unit. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The habitat of claim 19, further comprising a communication unit configured to communicate with both the light emitter assembly and the pump to provide operating information.