Adaptive Horticultural Lighting with Dynamic Beam Shaping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current greenhouse lighting systems face challenges in efficiently illuminating horticultural growths as they cannot adjust to changing leaf area and growth, leading to light pollution, high energy costs, and inadequate light distribution, which affects plant growth and aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
An illumination arrangement with a lighting unit, electromagnetic wave sensor, and control unit that adapts the beam's optical properties, such as beam shape and spectrum, based on real-time data from sensors to optimize light delivery to horticultural growths, minimizing waste and ensuring efficient illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fixed beam shape lighting systems are used, then installation is simple, but light distribution becomes inefficient as plants grow and leaf area changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamically adjustable beam shaping elements that can change the light distribution pattern in real-time. The beam shape is adapted based on the growth stage of plants, transitioning from narrow beams for seedlings to wider beams for mature plants with larger leaf areas, thereby maintaining optimal light distribution efficiency throughout the plant's development cycle
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes optical parameters such as beam angle, beam shape, and light intensity distribution by adjusting the position or orientation of beam shaping elements. This allows the lighting system to optimize its performance for different plant sizes and growth stages without requiring complete system replacement
2Area of stationary object
If wide beam angle lighting is used to cover large areas, then light coverage is improved, but light pollution increases and energy is wasted on areas without plants
Solution Approach 1:
The beam angle and light distribution pattern are dynamically adjusted based on the actual plant location and growth stage. The system narrows the beam when plants are small and located in specific positions, then progressively widens it as plants mature, ensuring light is directed only where needed while minimizing energy waste from illuminating empty spaces
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that detect plant presence, position, and growth stage to provide feedback for controlling the beam shaping elements. This feedback mechanism enables the lighting system to adapt its illumination pattern to match the actual horticultural needs, preventing energy waste on areas without plants
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed spectrum lighting is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different plant types and growth stages is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system uses multiple independent light sources emitting at different wavelengths (e.g., blue LEDs, red LEDs, green LEDs) that can be controlled separately. This segmentation allows the spectrum to be precisely adjusted for different plant types and growth stages without requiring a completely different lighting system for each application
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a universal lighting platform with interchangeable or adjustable light sources that can serve multiple functions - supporting different plant types (vegetables, fruits, flowers), accommodating different growth stages (seedling, vegetative, flowering), and adapting to various environmental conditions through spectral modulation
4Illumination intensity
If light intensity is increased to compensate for small beam angle, then illumination of small plants is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the balance between beam angle and intensity by using adjustable beam shaping elements that can concentrate light into narrower beams for small plants while maintaining reasonable intensity levels, rather than simply increasing overall intensity regardless of plant size. This optimized distribution reduces energy waste while providing adequate illumination
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures optimal light distribution and energy use by adjusting beam properties to match the growth stage and type of plants, reducing light pollution and enhancing growth conditions while minimizing energy waste.
Implementation Method 1
The illumination arrangement comprises (a) a lighting unit arranged to generate a beam of light
Implementation Method 2
an electromagnetic wave sensor arranged to sense the horticultural growth(s) and to generate a sensor signal
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides an illumination arrangement (1) for illuminating horticultural growths (100) with for instance LEDs as a light source. These LEDs are placed in a lighting unit (10). The lighting unit may especially have the ability to direct substantially all light from the light source (here the LEDs) to the horticultural growths (in the greenhouse). Additionally, a horticultural growth-recognition system (50) can be implemented in the illumination arrangement, so that the system can adapt for instance its beam (11) to the location of the horticultural growth(s) (in the case of growth or moving of plants, etc).