Adaptive LED Lighting System for Uniform Illuminance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LED-based horticultural lighting systems fail to provide adequate light uniformity and spectral adaptability for indoor applications, with conventional systems producing light rays of decreased intensity as the emission angle increases relative to the optical axis, lacking control over light distribution characteristics and power efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The development of an adaptive LED lighting system utilizing a wired network for controlling spectrum and color temperature, featuring LED arrays with variable intensity and a lens array that optically varies light distribution, allowing for analog and digital control signals to ensure uniform illuminance across a large surface area, simulating natural light conditions through adjustable spectral variability and intensity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional LED-based horticultural lighting systems are used, then energy efficiency is improved, but light uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the emission characteristics of different LED arrays within the same lighting system. Specifically, different arrays are configured with different emission angles and intensities to compensate for position-dependent illuminance variations, creating locally optimized light distribution across the growing surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics through adjustable and adaptive control of LED emission parameters. The system can dynamically adjust the intensity and spectral composition of different LED arrays based on real-time measurements of illuminance and PAR, enabling adaptive compensation for non-uniform light distribution while maintaining energy efficiency.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If conventional LED-based horticultural lighting systems are used, then power consumption is reduced, but spectral adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the lighting system into multiple independently controllable LED arrays, each capable of emitting different spectral compositions. This allows the system to provide full spectral adaptability while maintaining low power consumption by activating only the necessary arrays for specific horticultural applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing a multi-functional LED lighting system that can deliver various spectral compositions (full spectrum, red-blue enriched, etc.) using the same physical infrastructure. The system can adapt its spectral output to match different plant requirements without requiring separate lighting systems for each application.
3Ease of operation
If conventional LED-based horticultural lighting systems are used, then simple control is maintained, but light distribution control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by implementing a closed-loop control system that uses sensors to measure actual illuminance and PAR levels across the growing surface. These measurements are fed back to the control system, which automatically adjusts LED array intensities and spectral compositions to achieve uniform and optimized light distribution, maintaining simplicity while improving control precision.
4Illumination intensity
If LED arrays with narrow beam angles are used, then light intensity on axis is improved, but coverage area deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by arranging LED arrays in a two-dimensional array configuration rather than using a single omnidirectional source. This allows the system to achieve both high on-axis intensity (through focused narrow-beam LEDs) and broad coverage (through the spatial distribution of multiple arrays), effectively resolving the contradiction by transitioning from a single-point to a multi-point light source configuration.
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
The system achieves uniform and increasing illuminance across a surface area, reducing 'hot spots' and 'dim spots', enabling efficient light projection with reduced vertical distance from the light source to the plant canopy, while allowing for precise control of spectral composition to mimic natural sunlight conditions.
Implementation Method 1
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been utilized since about the 1960s
Implementation Method 2
LED efficiencies, for example, may provide light output magnitudes up to 200 lumens per watt of power
Implementation Method 3
a lens array that optically varies light distribution
Implementation Method 4
a lens array that optically varies light distribution, allowing for analog and digital control signals to ensure uniform illuminance
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for an indoor horticultural system that utilizes a wired network to control lighting. The wired interface is used to relay both analog and digital intensity control information, whereby an analog signal is used to control the intensity of all LED arrays in each lighting fixture during a first mode of operation and a digital signal is used to control the intensity of each individual LED array in each lighting fixture in a second mode of operation. Both the analog and digital signals utilize the same physical interface.