Agricultural Lighting Beam Shaping for Dappled Poultry Barns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing poultry farming practices rely on uniform artificial lighting, which while optimizing production, do not adequately address animal health and wellbeing, and there is a need for lighting systems that promote both economic efficiency and animal welfare.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system comprising a plurality of spaced lighting devices with non-uniform light distribution, creating zones of varying light intensity, mimicking natural dappled light conditions to enhance animal behavior and wellbeing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If uniform artificial lighting is provided throughout the poultry barn, then production efficiency is optimized and uniformity in size and weight is promoted, but animal health and wellbeing deteriorate due to lack of natural behavior stimulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by transitioning from uniform lighting to non-uniform lighting with distinct zones. Different regions of the poultry barn receive different light intensities and spectral compositions, creating heterogeneous environmental conditions that stimulate natural bird behaviors while maintaining production efficiency. Specifically, certain zones provide higher intensity light for feeding areas while other zones provide lower intensity for resting areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by varying multiple lighting parameters including intensity, spectral composition, and temporal patterns across different zones. The lighting system adjusts these parameters dynamically to create zones that mimic natural light conditions, thereby promoting animal welfare without compromising productivity. The spectral power distribution is specifically modified to include wavelengths that stimulate natural behaviors.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If non-uniform lighting zones are created to promote natural behaviors, then animal health and wellbeing improve, but production uniformity may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the poultry barn into distinct lighting zones, each with specific characteristics tailored to promote particular behaviors. The barn is segmented into areas with different light intensities and spectral compositions, allowing birds to access multiple environments that together support both health and uniform growth. This spatial segmentation enables simultaneous fulfillment of welfare and production goals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through temporal variations in lighting patterns across different zones. The lighting system employs cyclic patterns that alternate between different intensity and spectral configurations, mimicking natural day-night cycles and seasonal variations. This periodic stimulation promotes natural behaviors while maintaining overall production uniformity through balanced temporal exposure.
3Device complexity
If lighting devices are spaced apart to create non-uniform distribution, then installation complexity is reduced, but light coverage uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion by deliberately creating non-uniform lighting distribution as the desired outcome rather than treating it as a defect to be corrected. Instead of spacing devices to achieve uniform coverage, the system intentionally positions lighting devices to create zones of varying intensity, inverting the traditional approach to lighting design in agricultural environments.
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 enriches the environment for birds, promoting natural behaviors and improving health and wellbeing while maintaining production efficiency, with potential energy savings and ease of installation.
Implementation Method 1
at least one solid-state light source arranged within the housing, wherein the at least one solid-state light source is configured to emit light source light
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides lighting system for illuminating a target surface in an agricultural environment for a flock of birds, wherein the lighting system comprises a plurality of lighting devices spaced apart on an elongated axis, wherein each lighting device comprises: a connector for electrically connecting the lighting device to a power line; a housing comprising a light exit window; at least one solid-state light source arranged within the housing, wherein the at least one solid-state light source is configured to emit light source light; wherein each lighting device is configured to shape the light source light into a light beam, and configured to emit the light beam along a main optical axis via the light exit window onto the target surface; wherein adjacent lighting devices of the plurality of lighting devices are spaced apart with a spacing (S); and wherein the light exit windows of the adjacent lighting devices are arranged at a distance (H) from the target surface; wherein each respective light beam of the adjacent lighting devices has an angular light distribution with a Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM); wherein FWHM<F∗2∗tan−1S2H; wherein FWHM is said Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM); wherein S is said spacing (S); wherein H is said distance (H); and wherein F is a factor in the range between 0.1 and 1.