Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G7/00—Botany in general
  • A01G7/04—Electric or magnetic or acoustic treatment of plants for promoting growth
  • A01G7/045—Electric or magnetic or acoustic treatment of plants for promoting growth with electric lighting

Definitions

• This invention relates to plant growth. More specifically this invention relates to a method and assembly of radiating plants to enhance photosynthesis.
• photosynthetically active radiation is radiation in the spectral range from approximately 400 nanometers (nm) to 700 nm.
• chlorophyll the most abundant plant pigment and the pigment responsible for plant metabolism is most efficient at capturing red and blue light.
• the chlorophyll pigments in a plant absorb photons in order to drive a metabolic process and dissipate excess energy within the photons.
• Simultaneously other pigments that are red/farred and blue/UV-A and UV-B photosensors or photoreceptors chemically react to adjust the behavior and development of the plant.
• red and blue spectrum light plants have been shown to grow at increased rates.
• a principle object of the present invention is to enhance growth characteristics in plants utilizing an AC power source.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide cost effective lighting that enhances plant growth.
• Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a lighting assembly that is used for multiple plants.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide alternative methods of modulating light provided to plants to use of a DC power source.
• the assembly includes AC powered light source assemblies adjacent plants and adapted to the spectral sensitivity of plants.
• a light engine assembly is provided that is dimmable and through phase cutting can stop current from going to LEDs in the assembly to provide periods where no light is being emitted by the assembly.
• the light engine assembly includes a chip element that provides both red and blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) in series such that through phase cutting red and blue light emissions can be controlled.
• Fig. 1 is a side perspective view of a lighting assembly in a controlled environment for growing plant life
• Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a lighting assembly for growing plant life
• Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a tray of a lighting assembly for growing plant life
• Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a circuit for a lighting assembly for growing plant life
• Fig. 5 is a graph showing amount of light absorbed by chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B and Carotenoids over a range of wavelengths;
• Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a circuit for a lighting assembly for growing plant life.
• Fig. 7 is a graph showing the waveforms for the voltage and input currents for the circuit of Fig. 6.
• a horticultural assembly 10 can be at any location, including outdoors, in a green house, indoors or the like.
• the assembly 10 includes a container or space 12 where plants 14 that are typically planted in side by side relation are located.
• a container 12 is provided that is an incubating device that in one embodiment is generally rectangular in shape having first and second sidewalls 15 and 16 in paralleled spaced relation secured to top and bottom walls 18 and 20 also in paralleled spaced relation and a back wall 22 to form and hollow interior cavity 24.
• a front wall or door (not shown) is hingedly secured to a sidewall 14 or 16 to allow access to the interior cavity 24 of the container 12.
• the door is made of a transparent material to allow the interior cavity 24 to be seen, though in another embodiment the door completely encloses the interior cavity 24.
• the soil masses 30 are of size and shape to be received and held by the openings 29 of the trays 28.
• the trays 28 rotate or tilt to various angles to ensure complete coverage of the lights on the soil masses 30 and seedlings 31.
• a plurality of lighting elements 32 are secured to each tray 28 and electrically connected to one another.
• the plurality of lighting elements 32 are light emitting diode elements that receive an AC input.
• these assemblies incorporate AC driven LED technology from any one of the following patent applications: U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2011/0101883 to Grajcar; U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2011/0109244 to Grajcar; U.S. Pat. Pub. No.
• each lighting element 32 causes the emission of blue wavelength (450-495 nm) light, ultraviolet light and near ultraviolet light (350-450 nm), red light (620-750 nm) or electromagnetic radiation is utilized.
• lighting elements 32 have electromagnetic radiation/ultraviolet/blue wavelength lighting elements and red wavelength elements combined on the same tray 28 as shown in Fig. 3 as lighting elements 32a and 32b.
• Such blue and red wavelength lighting elements 32a and 32b in one embodiment have light duration periods that are different. So, as an example, a first blue wavelength lighting element has a light duration period of 3 ms while a red wavelength lighting element has a light duration of 2 seconds.
• the lighting elements 32a and 32b have the same duration only staggered.
• a first blue wavelength lighting element 32a has a duration or period of 3 ms of light and 3 ms of dark.
• a second red wavelength lighting element 32b is also provided on the tray that also has a duration or period of 3 ms of light and 3 ms of dark.
• the first and second lighting elements emit light at the same time or present an overlap.
• the second red wavelength lighting element is dark during the 3 ms the first blue wavelength lighting element is producing light. Then when the second red wavelength lighting element is producing light for 3 ms the first blue lighting element in dark and not emitting light.
• the lighting elements 32 are powered by an electrical power source 33 and further have a dimming device 34 that causes the intensity of the light to be reduced to less than 3 lumens.
• a constant low intensity wavelength light is emitted throughout the container 12.
• the light can be of a narrow frequency or monochromatic to direct the exact wavelength of light desired.
• a higher intensity wavelength of light can be provided.
• the lights can be left on for long durations of time.
• the intensity of the light can be reduced to less than 3 lumens, the intensity of the light similarly can be increased to output 800 lumens, 1000 lumens or more.
• light duration can be for long periods of time such as days, weeks or months, the duration between light and dark periods can also be controlled to hours, minutes, seconds and even ml seconds.
• a humidifying device 36 is also associated with the interior cavity 24 and preferable engages the top wall 18 and has a tubing element that can increase the humidity within the interior cavity 24 when the door 26 is closed. In this manner the humidity within the interior can be controlled to provide any relative humidity from 0% humidity to 100%, such that the humidity with the interior cavity 24 is predetermined. Preferably the humidity is approximately between 50-80%.
• a heating device 38 is also electrically connected to the power source 33, as depicted in Fig. 2, and disposed within the interior cavity 24 to provide a predetermined amount of heat within the interior cavity.
• a magnetic device 40 is associated with the incubating device 10. In one embodiment the magnetic device 40 is within the interior cavity to form a predetermined magnetic flux through or affecting the seedlings and resulting plants 14.
• the lighting elements 32 in one embodiment are placed or mounted adjacent the plants 14 such that at least one plant receives radiation emitted by the lighting elements 32.
• the lighting elements 32 are dimmable and are constructed as is described in U.S. Patent application No. 12/824,215 to Grajcar and/or U.S. Patent application serial No. 12/914,575 to Grajcar, both that are incorporated by reference herein.
• One such assembly is shown in Fig. 4 having an pair of input terminals 50 that are adapted to receive a periodic excitation voltage such that the terminals can receive AC current or a current of equal magnitude and opposite polarity, said current flowing in response to the excitation voltage to provide an AC input.
• the AC current is then conditioned by driving circuitry 52 that optionally includes an metal oxide varesistor (MOV) 54 and a rectifying device 55 that in a preferred embodiment is a bridge rectifier formed of a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) 56.
• MOV metal oxide varesistor
• rectifying device 55 that in a preferred embodiment is a bridge rectifier formed of a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) 56.
• the light emitting diodes (LEDs) 56 are arranged in a first network 58 where the first network 58 is arranged to conduct the current in response to the excitation voltage exceeding at least a forward threshold voltage associated with the first network 58.
• a resistor 60 or multiple resistors can be used to condition the current before reaching the first network 58.
• the LEDs 56 of the first network 58 can be of any type or color.
• the LEDs 56 of the first network 58 are red LEDs that produce light having a wavelength of approximately 600-750 nano meters (nm).
• the first network of LEDs are blue LEDs that produce light having a wavelength of approximately 350-500 nm.
• both red and blue LEDs can be provided together or other colored LEDs such as green may similarly be used without falling outside the scope of this disclosure.
• a second network 62 having a plurality of LEDs 56 is additionally provided in series relationship with the first network 58.
• the LEDs 56 of the second network 62 can be of any type or color.
• the LEDs 56 of the second network 62 are red LEDs that produce light having a wavelength of approximately 600-750 nano meters (nm).
• the second network of LEDs are blue LEDs that produce light having a wavelength of approximately 350-500 nm.
• both red and blue LEDs can be provided together or other colored LEDs such as green may similarly be used without falling outside the scope of this disclosure.
• a bypass path 64 is provided in the lighting element 32 that is in series relationship with the first network 58 and in parallel relationship with the second network 62. Also within the bypass path 64 are elements that provide a controlled impedance, which can be, for example only a transistor 66 that in one embodiment is a depletion MOSFET. Additional transistors, resistors or the like can be used within the bypass path 64 all that condition current to provide the smooth and continuous transition from the bypass path 64 to the second network 62.
• color temperature shifting as a function of input excitation waveforms may be implemented or designed based on appropriate selection of LED groups or networks 58 and 62 and arrangement of one or more selective current diversion conditioning circuits to modulate a bypass current around selected LED networks 58 and 62.
• the selection of the number of diodes in each group, excitation voltage, phase control range, diode colors, and peak intensity parameters may be manipulated to yield improved electrical and/or light output performance for a range of lighting applications.
• the lighting elements 32 are able to be modulated using the dimming device 34 without utilization of a DC power source.
• the dimming device 34 utilizes leading edge and falling edge phase cutting elements.
• a triac dimmer presents phase cutting at a leading edge while an IGBT dimmer presents phase cutting at a trailing edge.
• the dimming device having both leading edge and trailing edge phase cutting is in electrical communication with the driving circuitry 52. In this manner by utilizing both in a dimming device 34 a predetermined period of no current is provided. Thus a control device associated with the dimming device 34 can be used to determine the period of no current and thus period of dark.
• the dimming device 34 includes at least one SCR silicon controlled rectifier) and in one embodiment first and second SCRs that are utilized to cut current provided for a predetermined period of time. The cut can occur at a zero phase angle or alternatively at an angle.
• the dimming device 34 again functions as a controllable on/off switch of the lighting elements 32.
• the control device such as a control knob is in communication with first and second SCRs such that the predetermined period of light and dark can be set at any predetermined time period from 0-30 minutes.
• Fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment that allows for the staggering of different lighting elements 32a and 32b.
• This embodiment shows a circuit 68 having an AC input 70 that provides AC current to driving circuitry 69 that includes a half of a bridge rectifier 72 to supply an input in a first plurality of lighting elements 32a that in one embodiment provide a red spectral output. Then in parallel the second plurality of lighting elements 32b receive an input from the AC input through a diode 74, such as a zener diode.
• a diode 74 such as a zener diode.
• Each group of lighting elements 32a and 32b also have additional current conditioning elements that in this embodiment are provided as a transistors with controlling resistors.
• Fig. 7 shows the voltage input 80 and current inputs 82 and 84 to lighting elements 32a and 32b resulting from circuit 68.
• the first current input 82 provides a maximum current input 86 when positive voltage is applied to the circuit and no current 88 when voltage input 80 drops below zero.
• the second current input 84 provides a maximum current input 90 when voltage is negative, or below zero, while no current 92 is presented when the voltage is above zero or positive.
• the current frequency to each set of lighting elements 32a and 32b is offset such that during a period when no current is flowing to the first lighting elements 32a, causing darkness in first lighting elements 32a, current is flowing to second lighting elements 32b causing light to be provided by the second lighting elements 32b and vice versa.
• a human perceives continuous light, but the different chlorophylls A and B receive a period of wavelength of light it absorbs and then a period of light it does not absorb, and thus the individual pigments perceive light and dark periods.
• Chlorophyll A contains Chlorophyll A, Chlorophyll B or Carotenoids, or some combination of the three.
• Chlorophyll A, Chlorophyll B and Carotenoids are pigments responsible for photosynthesis within plants.
• Fig. 5 shows an exemplary plot 100 of light absorbed by
• Chlorophyll A, Chlorophyll B and Carotenoids as a function of wavelength as shown in curves 105 (Chlorophyll A), 110 (Chlorophyll B) and 115
• the curve 105 provides an exemplary representation of chlorophyll A receptiveness, or absorption of different wavelengths of light. Absorption appears with peaks evident in wavelengths between 380 and 780 nm.
• a first peak 120 of chlorophyll A occurs at about 390-395 nm
• a second peak 125 occurs at about 410-415 nm
• a third peak 130 occurs at about 690-695 nm.
• a first peak 135 occurs at about 420-425 nm.
• the second peak 140 occurs at about 470-480 nm with a final peak 145 occurring at about 665-670 nm.
• a first peak 150 occurs at about 415-420 nm.
• the second peak 155 occurs at about 465-470 and a third peak 160 occurs at about 490-500 nm.
• these examples are illustrative and not limiting.
• a type of plant to be grown is analyzed to determine the concentration of chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B and/or carotenoids that exist in the particular plant to promote photosynthesis. Then a first lighting element or first plurality of lighting elements is selected having a narrow band of wavelengths that relate to a peak 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155 or 160 of a pigment
• chlororophyll A chlorophyll B or carotenoid
• a lighting element 32a that presents the peak 125 of about 410-415 nm.
• a light element 32a having a wavelength ranging from 400 nm to 425 nm is selected.
• the next step is to determine the amount of time needed for the pigment to complete the chemical reaction of photosynthesis after receiving the dose or duration of light to be provided. So, in the embodiment where chlorophyll A is the duration of time could be determined to be 3.5 ms.
• the duration of time in one embodiment is controlled by the amount of hertz, or the frequency of the AC input.
• an AC input presents a sine wave where the input voltage is constantly fluctuating between zero volts and an operating voltage.
• the current stops flowing to the LEDs and a period of complete darkness is presented where no light is presented.
• the frequency of the sine wave is increased the periods of time between light and complete darkness is reduced, to the point where, depending on the study conducted, humans are no longer able to perceive the periods of dark at a frequency of approximately 100 Hz.
• the light appears constant.
• the duration of time can be directly controlled by the frequency in which AC input voltage is supplied to the LEDs.
• the dimming device 34 is used to control the duration of time of LEDs light and complete darkness.
• the light elements 32 are constructed to present a phase of a predetermined time duration depending on the modulation of the conditioned current provided to the lighting elements 32.
• the phase is 24 ms.
• current is not supplied to LEDs for a predetermined amount of time or period, preferably between 3.5 to 14.5 ms during each 24 ms phase to create a dark or turnover period for 3.5 to 14.5 ms.
• the plants 14 experience turnover time in order to optimize the photosynthesis process.
• predetermined periods of light and dark that stimulate continuous growth of the plant.
• predetermined periods of light and dark are measured or determined by what can be perceived by a plant 14 and represents periods when no light is being emitting by the lighting elements 32, even if the light or dark cannot be perceived by a human.
• flicker and unperceivable flicker present that is not perceived by humans is considered to provide a predetermined period of light and dark within the context of this disclosure.
• first and second SCRs are utilized and the SCRs function as a controllable on/off switch of the lighting elements 32. Such functioning allows for a predetermined period of light and a predetermined period of dark.
• the predetermined period for both the light and dark is approximately 30 minutes.
• the dimming device 34 is in
• the predetermined period of light and dark can be set at any predetermined time period from 0-30 minutes. Because an AC input is provided, the dark provided is a complete darkness where no photons are being produced as a result of no current being provided, unlike DC based flicker. In this manner one can control the predetermined durations of light and dark to match the optimum requirements of specific plants.
• the concentration of chlorophyll B is determined to select a second lighting element or plurality of lighting elements.
• the second lighting element 32b is selected having a narrow band of wavelengths that relate to a peak 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155 or 160 of a pigment (chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B or carotenoid) within the plant.
• a lighting element 32b in one embodiment is selected that presents a peak 145 or about 665-670 nm.
• a second lighting element having a wavelength ranging from about 655 nm to 680 nm is selected.
• the second lighting element 32b is selected to provide an additional peak of chlorophyll A, such as third peak 130, that being wavelengths between 690nm-695nm.
• the duration of time for the dose or amount of light needed to complete the chemical reaction of photosynthesis is determined.
• a method of providing the needed duration of light and dark, as described above is provided for the second lighting element 32b.
• both the first and second lighting elements 32a and 32b provide the exact wavelength of light and duration of light and darkness as the pigments required within the plant, thus optimizing plant growth. This method can similarly be used related to the carotenoid pigment.
• intensity of each lighting element is another consideration.
• intensity or lumens/m2 or lux on the plant 14 or seedling 31 increases the amount of energy being supplied to the plant 14 or seedling 31 is increased, thus lessening the amount of time needed to provide the proper dose, or energy needed to create the photochemical reaction, or photosynthesis.
• the dose of energy required to cause the chemical reaction increases.
• the dose needed to cause photosynthesis is dynamic. Therefore the amount of time needed to provide sufficient energy to cause the photochemical reaction or photosynthesis can actually increase during a day or over time, such that in the beginning of a period of lighting, the optimum dose is provided with a first predetermined amount of time, such as 3.5 ms and after a period of time such as 12 hours, a second predetermined amount of time, such as 14.5 ms of light is required.
• an algorithm for each plant 14 or seedling 31 can be provided that is specifically tailored or dynamically changes the frequency or photoperiod of the lighting elements 32 throughout a predetermined time period, such as twelve (12) hours, twenty- four (24) hours, forty-eight (48) hours or greater.
• a predetermined time period such as twelve (12) hours, twenty- four (24) hours, forty-eight (48) hours or greater.
• the intensity of the light can be dynamically changed by the controller 200, either by increasing and decreasing voltage and thus light output intensity or by having the controller 200 electrically connected to tray actuators 39 that mechanically raises and lowers the trays 28 to bring the lighting elements 32 closer or further away from the plants 14 or seedlings 31.
• a sensor 41 can be electrically connected to the controller 200 to determine the height of a plant 14 and automatically, and dynamically move the tray 28 away from the plant 14 to ensure the correct intensity is always provided to the plant.
• the assembly 10 includes lighting elements 32 that provide a lighting cycle or phase that includes a predetermined amount of dark or turnover time for the plant. As a result the plant 14 gets the needed rest to relieve plant stress and strain during the completion of the metabolizing process. At this point the plant 14 is then ready to absorb more light to continue metabolizing in the photosynthesis process.
• LEDs can comprise the different networks 58 and 62 of LEDs to create intermittent UV, near UV, blue light and/or red light in order to optimize the light received by the plants 14 according to the ideal PAR for that particular plant 14.
• LEDs can comprise the different networks 58 and 62 of LEDs to create intermittent UV, near UV, blue light and/or red light in order to optimize the light received by the plants 14 according to the ideal PAR for that particular plant 14.
• the control assembly 34 can be adjusted to provide this modulation. If a period of 30 minutes instead is required for maximum plant growth and enhancement of photosynthesis, the control device 34 can be adjusted and the assembly 10 can provide the modulation required. In this manner the assembly 10 can be used for numerous varieties of plants 14 without the need for a different assembly to be manufactured, thus improving on the state of the art.
• the assembly 10 that presents trays 28 that are presented in paralleled spaced relation with lighting elements 32 on each tray providing downward light to a plant below, also provides a secondary function.
• the driving circuitry 52 radiates heat directly into the tray 28 upon which the driving circuitry 52 is mounted.
• the heat is directly conveyed from the tray 28 into the soil mass 30 that is disposed through the opening 29 within the tray 28.
• This provides additional heating for the soil mass 30 providing a more suitable growing environment.
• the lighting element 32 similarly can cause enhancements in chemical reactions within fertilizer and nutrients within the soil mass 30.
• the doses can be optimized, similar to the plants 14 and seedlings 31 to promote the conversion of nitrates and phosphates into simple proteins by making the bacteria responsible for the conversion more efficient, through enhancing the chemical reaction to stimulate mitochondria within the bacteria. In this manner growth within and out of the seedling 31 is enhanced as compared to a seedling not having the light treatment.
• assemblies 10 are easily manufactured and incorporated into new and existing horticulture assemblies by mounting or placing them otherwise adjacent to the plants 14.
• current is conditioned from an AC input is utilized and pulse width modulation eliminated, the cost associated with the lighting element 32 is greatly reduced.
• the second incubator was made with identical trays with identical lighting.
• the LEDs were powered by a 100% DC input at a current of 150mA and a lighting schedule or duration of time of 18 hrs on and 6 hrs off.
• the second incubator was powered by an AC input at 200 mA at 50% with a duration regulated by presenting a frequency of merely 50 Hz. This presents a flicker, with periods of less than a second, but with power on for 24 hours a day, thus 24 hours of perceived lighting for a human was provided.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
• Botany (AREA)
• Ecology (AREA)
• Forests & Forestry (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Cultivation Of Plants (AREA)

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• 2015
  • 2015-04-17 EP EP15779295.3A patent/EP3131384A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2015-04-17 WO PCT/US2015/026285 patent/WO2015161145A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2015-04-17 JP JP2016562971A patent/JP2017511149A/ja active Pending
  • 2015-04-17 CN CN201580029126.4A patent/CN106413382B/zh active Active

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