Electrical Weed Killer With Impedance-Matched Power Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for controlling plant growth, such as herbicides, face environmental concerns and resistance issues, making them ineffective, and existing electrical weed control apparatuses struggle with variable plant resistance and electrode movement, limiting their market adoption.

Innovation Solution

An electrical apparatus with an energy supply unit, applicator and return electrodes, and circuitry that controls impedance to optimize electrical energy application, using a plant monitoring system to adjust voltage, current, and power based on changing plant impedance, and employing a resonant circuit to efficiently deliver energy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electrical energy is applied to kill plants, then weed control effectiveness is improved, but variable electrical resistance of the plant during treatment causes difficulty in effective energy application

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweed control effectivenessVSAvoidadaptability to variable plant resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply unit dynamically adjusts its output impedance in real-time during treatment based on the plant's changing electrical resistance. As the plant cells break down and resistance decreases, the system adapts by modifying its impedance to maintain optimal energy transfer, ensuring consistent effectiveness throughout the treatment process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the electrical resistance of the plant during treatment and uses this feedback to adjust the power supply unit's output impedance. This closed-loop control ensures that the energy application remains optimized despite the plant's resistance changing as treatment progresses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If conventional herbicides are used to control plant growth, then ease of operation is improved, but environmental harm and human/animal exposure risks worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of weed controlVSAvoidenvironmental and health harm

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces chemical herbicides with an electrical energy-based treatment mechanism. By using controlled electrical energy to kill weeds through cellular breakdown, the system eliminates the need for chemical substances that cause environmental contamination and health risks, while maintaining operational effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Power

If electrical energy is applied at high voltage, then power delivery is improved, but safety concerns and energy loss worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower delivery to plantVSAvoidsafety risks

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply unit dynamically adjusts its output impedance to optimize power delivery while maintaining safety. By matching the impedance to the plant's resistance in real-time, the system delivers maximum effective power without requiring excessively high voltages that would pose safety risks or cause unnecessary energy loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes multiple electrical parameters simultaneously (voltage, current, impedance) to optimize power delivery. By adjusting the output impedance in conjunction with voltage and current control, the system achieves efficient energy transfer at safer operating voltage levels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 apparatus effectively kills weeds by optimizing energy delivery based on real-time impedance measurements, ensuring safety and efficiency while avoiding herbicide-related drawbacks.

Implementation Method 1

an electrical energy is applied at 14.4 kV at 60±5 Hz to plants

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical energy:

Implementation Method 2

the electrical circuitry is arranged to control an electrical impedance of the electrical energy supply unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical impedance:

Implementation Method 3

employing a resonant circuit to efficiently deliver energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentUS20220095605A1Apparatus and Method for Electrically Killing Plants

Publication Date: 2022.03.31 UBIQUTEK

AI summary

Electrical apparatus to kill a plant or at least attenuate plant growth, the apparatus comprising: an electrical energy supply unit; an applicator unit comprising an applicator electrode; a return unit comprising a return electrode; electrical circuitry; the electrical energy supply unit arranged to apply electrical energy through a transmission circuit comprising the applicator electrode, and the return electrode, wherein the electrical circuitry arranged to control an electrical impedance of the electrical energy supply unit to control a property of the electrical energy to the electrodes.