MARINE LIGHTING SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention provides a marine lighting system and a method of operating the system of the present invention. The system comprises a controller, at least one light and a motion detector operable to detect the pitch and roll of a vessel. The operation of the at least one light is controlled by the controller on the basis of pitch and/or roll of the vessel detected by the motion detector such that the illumination of the at least one light is based on the roll and/or pitch of the vessel.

Claims

1. A marine vessel lighting system comprising: a controller; at least one light that is capable of being controlled to vary intensity and/or colour; and a motion detector operable to detect the pitch and/or roll of a vessel in which the system is mounted; wherein the operation of the at least one light is controlled by the controller on the basis of pitch and/or roll of the vessel detected by the motion detector such that the colour and/or intensity of the at least one light is varied on the basis of pitch and/or roll of the vessel detected by the motion detector.

2. A marine vessel lighting system according to claim 1, wherein: the motion detector is operable to detect the yaw of a vessel in which the system is mounted and the operation of the at least one light is controlled by the controller on the basis of the yaw of the vessel detected by the motion detector.

3. A marine vessel lighting system according to claim 1, that is a self-contained unit comprising the controller, a light, and the motion detector.

4. A marine lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the system has a plurality of lights and only a single controller.

5. A marine lighting system according to claim 4, wherein the system has only a single motion detector.

6. A marine lighting system according to claim 4, wherein each light has an associated motion detector.

7. A marine lighting system according to claim 1, wherein one or more lights are single colour dimmable lights.

8. A marine lighting system according to claim 1, wherein one or more lights are multi-colour lights that can be cycled between colours.

9. A marine lighting system according to claim 1, in which the or each light has a orientation detector for detecting the orientation of a light relative to a vessel.

10. A method of operating a lighting system according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: i) assigning a base roll light level for the or each light for when zero roll is detected; ii) assigning a first roll light level for the or each light for a maximum positive roll and interpolating a roll light level for the or each light for any positive roll between zero and the maximum positive roll; iii) assigning a second roll light level for the or each light for a maximum negative roll and interpolating a light roll level for the or each light for any negative roll between zero and the maximum negative roll; iv) controlling the or each light to produce a roll light level according to steps (i) or (iii) based on the roll detected by the motion detector.

11. A method of operating a lighting system according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: i) assigning a base pitch light level for the or each light for when zero pitch is detected; ii) assigning a first pitch light level for the or each light for a maximum positive pitch and interpolating a pitch light level for the or each light for any positive pitch between zero and the maximum positive pitch; iii) assigning a second pitch light level for the or each light for a maximum negative pitch and interpolating a pitch light level for the or each light for any negative pitch between zero and the maximum negative pitch; iv) controlling the or each light to produce a pitch light level according to steps (i) or (iii) based on the pitch detected by the motion detector.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the base roll light level and/or the base pitch light level is zero, such that the or each light is controlled to produce no light when no roll and/or pitch is detected.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the interpolation of the light levels is an interpolation of intensity between a minimum at the base pitch and/or roll light levels and a maximum at any of the first or second roll or pitch light levels.

14. A method according to claim 10, wherein the interpolation of the light levels varies the colour of the or each light and the base pitch and/or roll light level is a different colour from the first and second roll or pitch light levels.

15. A method according to claim 10, wherein the first roll and/or pitch light level is a first colour and the second roll and/or pitch level is a second colour.

16. A method according to claim 10, wherein the interpolation is a linear interpolation.

17. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of determining an orientation of the or each light relative to the axes of the surge, sway, and heave axis of the marine vessel prior to steps (i) to (iii).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] FIG. 1 shows the six degrees of motion of a typical marine vessel; and

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a light system of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a marine vessel 1 and the six degrees of motion. As will be well understood, the marine vessel can move in six degrees of motion, each illustrated in FIG. 1. The six degrees of motion are: [0039] Surge 2 [0040] Sway 3 [0041] Heave 4 [0042] Roll 5 [0043] Pitch 6 [0044] Yaw 7

[0045] Each of surge 2, sway 3, and heave 4 are linear motion, whilst each of roll 5, pitch 6, and yaw 7 are rotational motion.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows a light system according to the method of the present invention. The system comprises three underwater lights 8 mounted on the port side of a hull of a marine vessel 1, three underwater lights 9 mounted on a starboard side of a hull of the marine vessel 1, and a controller 10 mounted within the marine vessel. The controller 10 is in communication with each of the underwater lights 8, 9. Each underwater light 8, 9 is multi-colour LED light and contains an accelerometer that can detect the motion of the vessel 1 along about each of the surge, sway, and heave axes 2, 3, 4 and that can be used to determine the orientation of the underwater light.

[0047] The system of the present invention operates in the following manner. When the underwater lights 8, 9 are installed in the marine vessel 1 their orientation relative to the vessel 1 is determined and this information is input into and stored within the controller 10. Each underwater light 8, 9 is in communication with the controller 10 either by a wired or a wireless connection. When the vessel 1 is at sea the accelerometer of each underwater light 8, 9 communicates with the controller to determine whether the vessel is pitching or rolling.

[0048] At a zero level or pitch or roll the underwater lights are controlled to be off. When the vessel rolls away from zero level in a positive direction the underwater lights 8, 9 are controlled to be illuminated in a first colour, for example red. When the vessel rolls away from the zero level in a negative direction the underwater lights 8, 9 are controlled to be illuminated in a second colour, for example green.

[0049] The intensity of the illumination is controlled based on the amount by which the vessel rolls away from the zero level between zero illumination at the zero level and a maximum level at a predetermined maximum pitch or roll level. The intensity of illumination between the zero level and the maximum level is linearly interpolated such that the illumination linearly increases as the vessel rolls away from the zero level and linearly decreases as the vessel rolls towards the zero level.

[0050] The colour and/or intensity may also be controlled in the same manner as the vessel pitches to and from the zero level.

[0051] The controller may also vary the colour and intensity of the illumination of the lights based on other criteria. For example, the controller may illuminate the lights based on a predefined illumination pattern or on the basis of user input. For example, a user may choose to disable or enable the control of the lights on the basis of the roll and/or pitch of the vessel.

[0052] Unless otherwise indicated by the claims or the description any feature of the present invention may be included in an embodiment of the present invention independently of any other feature.