Goodbye to LED lighting
- Thread starter nano mania
- Start date
Heinz
Active member
i dont think we have to say goodbye to LED just yet,
Tropic Marine is manufacturing and marketing LED lights too
http://www.tropic-marin.com/web/homepage.html
actually there are many german companys working on LEDs right now, one german reef forum always post news from the interzoo, and most german light manufacture are working on it,
so we are far away from saying goodbye to LED lights for reef tanks
Tropic Marine is manufacturing and marketing LED lights too
http://www.tropic-marin.com/web/homepage.html
actually there are many german companys working on LEDs right now, one german reef forum always post news from the interzoo, and most german light manufacture are working on it,
so we are far away from saying goodbye to LED lights for reef tanks
Scythanith
Premium Member
Why couldn't PFO just take their lights and market them for freshwater aquatic plant growth? Obviously they wouldn't mess with spectrum etc, just change the "intent of use" in their companys description of the product. There, no longer making a light for marine aquarium use. And if a marine enthusiast may happen across one at a horticulture store so be it.
aninjaatemyshoe
New member
There has to be prior art out there on using LEDs as a primary lighting source for marine aquaria before 2004. I'm sure people were talking about it and drawing diagrams of it throughout forums such as RC. I'm pretty sure PFO could find numerous examples to defend themselves. The question is whether they'll take it to court or settle.
aninjaatemyshoe
New member
If the foreign companies that make LED fixtures can still sell them in the US, then there will be competition. I'm not sure if that is the case though.
In any case, there still is plenty of competition for reef lighting. Even if Orbitec becomes the only company to sell LED fixtures in the US, they'll still have to deal with T5 and metal halide lighting. If they overprice, no one's going to want to buy from them. There's still plenty of options.
In any case, there still is plenty of competition for reef lighting. Even if Orbitec becomes the only company to sell LED fixtures in the US, they'll still have to deal with T5 and metal halide lighting. If they overprice, no one's going to want to buy from them. There's still plenty of options.
What I am confused about is that their patent is dated May 22 2007 according to their lawsuit. And according to the lawsuit the company believes that PFO has been making, using, and selling LED lighting for the purpose of marine aquarium since 2006. Also it amazes me that they have yet to introduce an LED fixture for use in the marine aquarium.
WZHANG
New member
And this is the wonderful product they are offering all you aquarium enthusiasts to replace your led fixtures...
and a steal at only $750.00.
leaves me speechless..
http://www.planet-llc.com/pages/sunbow/pages/research_lamp.htm
This is a real product? You have to be kidding me.
WinnipegDragon
Canuckian
No, the 'Apollo' units are the aquarium ones.
Sad, really. The patent holder probably stands to both make a lot of money, and hinder the adoption of a new, more energy efficient technology, simply by taking advantage of a clearly broken patent system. I work for a large company that is a strong patent reform proponent, but I never realized it was this bad until seeing this. Imagine the impact to US businesses if this kind of thing happens routinely. The lawyers must love it.
The patent mentions: "a housing connectable to said top edge" - would hanging an LED fixture from the ceiling circumvent the patent? LED mfgrs might legally market a hanging fixture, and supply an optional top mounting kit for non US markets.
The patent mentions: "a housing connectable to said top edge" - would hanging an LED fixture from the ceiling circumvent the patent? LED mfgrs might legally market a hanging fixture, and supply an optional top mounting kit for non US markets.
tkeracer619
New member
I love how the inhabitants pictured for the Apollo unit are not photosynthetic or are made from plastic =P
widmer
Drug Enthusiast
I read the statement to the reefers on Orbitec's website. They claim to be a "small" company of 70 employees. That doesn't sound very small to me.
All I can say is, if they did in fact create the patent after PFO had the marketable products that reefers were buying, and then proceed to sue PFO, there is something very wrong with the system and there is something even moreso wrong with Orbitec.
All I can say is, if they did in fact create the patent after PFO had the marketable products that reefers were buying, and then proceed to sue PFO, there is something very wrong with the system and there is something even moreso wrong with Orbitec.
psteeleb
Team RC
It's all a mute issue in my opinion as there is a Brit company on the verge of creating a new bulb that last 60 years that will replace incandescent, florescent and LED's. It looks like an LED. I'll see if I can find the article, they were developing it to win some sort of development award.
EDIT - After reading more, it may just be a next generation LED. I wonder if a patent would stick if the technology of the device changes. Regardless this looks promising
links here
http://news.google.com/news?tab=wn&ned=us&hl=en&ned=us&ie=UTF-8&ncl=1298357568
EDIT - After reading more, it may just be a next generation LED. I wonder if a patent would stick if the technology of the device changes. Regardless this looks promising
links here
http://news.google.com/news?tab=wn&ned=us&hl=en&ned=us&ie=UTF-8&ncl=1298357568
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that product is still a LED but just a cheaper way of making them. I have made a light fixture out of LED's similar to the solaris and tried to sell it to no avail but it is really simple to do and cost less than half of the solaris to build. I can solder really well but getting people to buy something in this market is hard. I am glad now that it didnt take off because then my dreams would be crushed instead of being let down. I now have taken the stance after seeing this that i will happily give out my circuit diagrams source of components and even "solder them up for people to be used as a diy retro type kit. this really sucks and now i dont care about profit just would love to make sure they never make a buck doing it. I guess i could sell it as a bulb to be used at your discretion with a color temp of oh say 15k. Then it would not be an aquarium light but just happens to be of the right spectrum. Maybe i can patent spectrums alltogether and start sueing all light companies that make 4k bulbs or 10k bulbs wether its halide t-5 or vho...:lol: . but as long as I can keep them out of this market anyone who wants a retro kit or wants to diy that would make me happy. I am sick of buerocratics (sp?). of course i would probably get sued for helping out people even though i never made a buck. BTW any good idea seems to have a patent that some hole put in just to sue later on when someonelse tries to actually do it.
I guess I don't see the problem. A company applies to patent an idea 2 YEARS before PFO comes out with Solaris or thier own patent. They delay product release due to other priorities. They then enforce a patent like they are legally obligated to in order to keep it in force and they are the bad guys? Do you guys know how much money it takes to submit a patent and keep in in force throughout it's life? Sorry to me PFO released a problem ridden underpowered overpriced POS to the market in flagrant disregard for future patent issues. To everyone who bought one I hope you can still get service or spare parts through a third party. PFO really screwed you over.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
my two cents
my two cents
I think it's yet another reason to fix the broken US patent system.
my two cents
I think it's yet another reason to fix the broken US patent system.
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