Multifunctional and Spectrally Dynamic Berth Light for Navy Shipboard Use

This SBIR Phase I proposal introduces a medical/clinical research and product development program toward a spectrally dynamic berth light system that will provide, in addition to general lighting, effective resetting of the human body clock for a wide range of naval environments, where the circadian rhythm is frequently disrupted and high levels of vigilance are required. The berth light system rests on the existing berth light fixture currently in Navy shipboard, in which the original fluorescent tube is replaced with the specially designed LED tube that consists of an array of blue and KOI modified white LED elements together with the control electronics. The clinically proved light treatment protocols will also be pre-loaded into the system. The best general lighting from the white LED is achieved by material engineering on the white LED elements. In Phase I, a demo berth lighting fixture will be developed with proved functions of general lighting and circadian rhythm management based on the clinical research input. Phase II program and beyond develops and tests the prototype berth light system followed by the product commercialization.