Horticultural Light Module Assembly with Optical Conduits
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Horticultural lighting systems face inefficiencies in stimulating plant growth throughout a plant's lifecycle, as overhead light fixtures struggle to reach lower portions of plants due to canopy blockage, leading to reduced growth and potential damage from intra-canopy fixtures.
Innovation Solution
A modular lighting system with adjustable removable lenses and optical conduits that direct light to different plant portions, allowing for varying irradiance levels and wavelengths to be applied simultaneously, reducing thermal damage and enhancing growth across the plant's life stages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If overhead light fixtures are used to illuminate plants, then light can be provided to upper portions of plants, but light cannot effectively reach lower portions of plants due to canopy blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is divided into multiple independent light modules, each equipped with specific optical elements (lenses or optical conduits) to target different plant portions. This segmentation allows simultaneous illumination of upper canopy and lower plant portions that would otherwise be shadowed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical conduits that extend laterally from the overhead fixture, delivering light in horizontal directions alongside vertical illumination. This multi-dimensional light distribution overcomes the limitation of overhead-only lighting and reaches previously inaccessible plant portions.
2Illumination intensity
If intra-canopy light fixtures are positioned close to plants to reach lower portions, then light can reach shaded areas, but thermal damage occurs to the plants
Solution Approach 1:
Optical conduits act as intermediaries that transport light from the overhead fixture to lower plant portions without requiring physical proximity between the light source and the plant. This eliminates direct thermal exposure while maintaining effective illumination of shaded areas.
3Productivity
If fixed wavelength light sources are used, then specific plant growth stages can be optimized, but adaptability across different life stages is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The light modules are designed with interchangeable optical elements (lenses and optical conduits) that can be configured for different wavelengths and distribution patterns. This universal design allows the same hardware platform to serve multiple plant life stages by simply changing the optical attachments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables dynamic reconfiguration of light properties (wavelength, direction, intensity) by swapping optical elements between light modules. This dynamic adaptability allows optimization for different growth stages without requiring complete system replacement.
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 efficiently provides optimal light to multiple plant portions, maintaining consistent irradiance and promoting growth without overheating, thus improving plant development and yield.
Implementation Method 1
a removable lens attached to the first mounting block and configured to focus light from the first plurality of light sources to a first portion of the plant
Implementation Method 2
an optical conduit attached to the mounting block and configured to focus light from the second plurality of light sources to a second portion of the plant
Implementation Method 3
the optical conduit includes at least one reflector located therein, the reflector configured to reflect light from the second plurality of light sources in the second direction
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques and architecture are disclosed for horticultural lighting systems and devices, such as a light module assembly. The assembly includes a housing with a first and second light module attached thereto. The first and second light modules include a mounting block to be received in the housing. The mounting block includes a plurality of light sources to generate light to stimulate growth of a plant. The first light module includes a first removable lens to focus light from the light sources to a first portion of the plant and in a first direction relative to the plant. The second light module includes an optical conduit attached thereto. The conduit is to focus light from the light sources to a second portion of the plant and in a second direction different from the first direction. The assembly transmits light to an upper portion and a lower portion of the plant.