Sweeping illuminator for aquarium tanks

Abstract

A sweeping illumination system illuminates an aquarium with organisms requiring simulated sunlight for survival. The illumination system includes a downward-facing light housing for illuminating a top surface of the aquarium. A support arm is coupled to the light housing and enables the light housing to sweep a pattern across the top surface of the aquarium. The sweep pattern can be semi-circular or semi-elliptical along a plane parallel to the top surface of the aquarium.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sweeping illumination system for illuminating an aquarium with organisms requiring simulated sunlight for survival, the illumination system comprising:
 a controller;   a downward-facing light housing for illuminating a top surface of an aquarium;   a support arm operatively coupled to the light housing and wherein the arm is directed by the controller and enabling the light housing to sweep a pattern across the top surface of the aquarium; and   wherein the sweep pattern is semi-circular or semi-elliptical along a plane parallel to the top surface of the aquarium.   
     
     
         2 . The illumination system of  claim 1  wherein the sweep pattern coincides with a 24-hour day and night cycle. 
     
     
         3 . The illumination system of  claim 1  wherein the illumination system is attached to the aquarium via a clamp. 
     
     
         4 . The illumination system of  claim 1  wherein the support arm is operatively coupled to a motor of the controller. 
     
     
         5 . The illumination system of  claim 4  wherein the motor is a stepper motor. 
     
     
         6 . The illumination system of  claim 4  wherein the support arm is coupled to the motor via a camming mechanism of the controller, thereby elongating the sweep pattern of the support arm. 
     
     
         7 . The illumination system of  claim 1  wherein the light housing is capable of extending and retracting relative to the support arm, thereby elongating the sweep pattern of the light housing. 
     
     
         8 . The illumination system of  claim 1  further comprising a guiding arm substantially parallel to the support arm, thereby enabling the sweep pattern of the light housing to remain substantially perpendicular to a wall of the aquarium. 
     
     
         9 . The illumination system of  claim 1  wherein the light housing includes at least one light source for illuminating the top surface of an aquarium. 
     
     
         10 . The illumination system of  claim 9  wherein the at least one light source is programmed to operate in accordance with an illumination level schedule. 
     
     
         11 . The illumination system of  claim 10  wherein the illumination level schedule coincides with a 24-hour day and night cycle. 
     
     
         12 . The illumination system of  claim 9  wherein the at least one light source is programmed to operate in accordance with a light spectrum schedule. 
     
     
         13 . The illumination system of  claim 9  wherein the at least one light source is an LED. 
     
     
         14 . The illumination system of  claim 10  wherein the illumination level schedule coincides with an annual seasonal cycle.