US 11,744,234 B2
Aquarium system and methods to increase light intensity due to motion
Stanley James Owens, Oak Park, CA (US); Joseph Michael Flora, Simi Valley, CA (US); and Chad William Robbins, Moorpark, CA (US)
Assigned to Spectrum Brands, Inc., Middleton, WI (US)
Filed by Spectrum Brands, Inc., Middleton, WI (US)
Filed on Feb. 22, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/282,521.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/634,606, filed on Feb. 23, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2019/0261607 A1, Aug. 29, 2019
Int. Cl. A01K 63/06 (2006.01); A01K 63/04 (2006.01)
CPC A01K 63/06 (2013.01) [A01K 63/04 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aquarium system comprising:
(a) a cabinet comprising a plurality of aquarium tanks;
(b) a motion sensor mounted to the cabinet and adapted to sense motion within a predetermined distance from the plurality of aquarium tanks; and
(c) a plurality of fixed light sources, wherein at least one of the plurality of fixed light sources is mounted above each aquarium tank and activated in response to the motion sensor when motion is sensed within the predetermined distance; the light source having a controllable intensity of light brightness, in which the controllable intensity can be decreased resulting in a dimming of brightness of the light source;
wherein the light source is configured to project light into the plurality of aquarium tanks and control or vary said controllable intensity of the light responsive to motion sensed by the motion sensor that provides for said dimming of brightness of the plurality of fixed light sources; the plurality of fixed light sources being constructed and arranged to vary said controllable intensity to minimize algae growth and prevent stressing fish in the plurality of aquarium tanks;
wherein the controllable intensity includes a no-motion intensity and a motion intensity, and wherein,
(i) the no-motion intensity being a light brightness less than 50% of light brightness of the motion intensity;
(ii) the plurality of fixed light sources is configured to project light into the plurality of aquarium tanks at the no-motion intensity until motion is sensed by the motion sensor;
(iii) the plurality of fixed light sources is configured to gradually change the controllable intensity from the no-motion intensity to the motion intensity in less than 30 seconds to result in the motion intensity being maintained for a predetermined time, when the motion sensor senses motion.