Lighting apparatus

Abstract

A lighting apparatus is disclosed. The lighting apparatus includes an emitter having a plasma bulb and a driver which provides an RF signal to the emitter to drive the plasma bulb. The lighting apparatus may be used for various applications including illuminating plants and organisms in an aquatic environment, growing plants, facility lighting, and other applications.

1 . A lighting apparatus, comprising:
 a driver unit which generates a radio frequency (RF) signal;   an emitter unit coupled to the driver unit through a cable, the emitter unit configured to generate light energy with a plasma bulb from the received radio frequency signal;   a window positioned below the plasma bulb, light produced by the plasma bulb passing through the window; and   a mounting structure which is coupled to the driver unit, the emitter unit, and the window, wherein the driver unit, the emitter unit, and the window are suspended from the mounting structure.   
     
     
         2 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing, the driver unit being positioned in an interior of the housing, a lower surface of the housing being below the plasma bulb and an upper surface of the housing being above the plasma bulb, the mounting structure extending above the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a power supply positioned within the housing, the power supply provides DC power to the driver unit. 
     
     
         4 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the lighting apparatus is suspended over water in an aquarium. 
     
     
         5 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the lighting apparatus is suspended over plants. 
     
     
         6 . A method of growing plants, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing an artificial light source which produces light having a micromoles/lumen value of greater than about 2.0;   positioning the artificial light source over the plants; and   illuminating the plants with light produced by the artificial light source.   
     
     
         7 . A method of illuminating water of an aquarium, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing an artificial light source which produces light having a coloring rendering index value of about 95;   positioning the artificial light source over the water of the aquarium; and   illuminating the aquarium with light produced by the artificial light source.   
     
     
         8 . A lighting apparatus, comprising:
 a first unit including
 a power supply which provides DC power; and 
 a driver unit which receives the DC power and generates a radio frequency (RF) signal; and 
   a second unit including
 an emitter unit coupled to the driver unit through a cable, the emitter unit configured to generate light energy with a plasma bulb from the received radio frequency signal; wherein the first unit is spaced apart from the second unit and the first unit is coupled to the second unit. 
   
     
     
         9 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first unit includes a first heat sink associated with the driver unit and the second unit includes a second heat sink associated with the emitter unit. 
     
     
         10 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the second unit is pivotably coupled to the first unit. 
     
     
         11 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 10 , the second unit further comprising a housing having an interior in which the driver unit is positioned. 
     
     
         12 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a pole mounting portion provided within the housing, the housing including an aperture adapted to receive a street pole which is to be coupled to the pole mounting portion. 
     
     
         13 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a pole mounting portion coupled to the housing and extending from a first end of the housing, the first unit extending from a second end of the housing opposite the first end, the pole mounting portion adapted to receive a street pole which is to be coupled to the pole mounting portion. 
     
     
         14 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 8 , the second unit further comprising a housing having an interior in which the driver unit and the power supply are positioned, the housing having a first housing member and a second housing member rotatably coupled to the first housing member. 
     
     
         15 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the driver unit is coupled to the first housing member and the power supply is coupled to the second housing member and rotates therewith relative to the first housing member. 
     
     
         16 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first housing member is cast and includes at least one heat sink associated with the driver unit. 
     
     
         17 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a pole mounting portion provided within the housing, the housing including an aperture adapted to receive a street pole which is to be coupled to the pole mounting portion. 
     
     
         18 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a pole mounting portion coupled to the housing and extending from a first end of the housing, the first unit extending from a second end of the housing opposite the first end, the pole mounting portion adapted to receive a street pole which is to be coupled to the pole mounting portion.