Horticultural Lighting Device with Mode Cycling for Spectrum Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing horticultural lighting devices for indoor plant growth are inefficient in utilizing the spectrum for plant growth, as they often use separate light sources for growth and inspection, leading to energy wastage and unnatural plant appearance, and lack adaptability to different growth stages and user requirements.
Innovation Solution
A horticultural lighting device with a plurality of modi that adjusts illumination based on different growth stages and user requirements, using Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and a control unit that detects power interruptions and motion to switch between modes, providing tailored electromagnetic spectra for vegetation, flowering, and visual inspection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If separate white illuminators are used for visual inspection and specialized grow lights for plant growth, then plant growth efficiency is improved, but energy wastage increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate grow lighting and visual inspection lighting into a single integrated lighting device. The housing contains both grow lights (with reflectors) and visual lights (without reflectors), allowing both functions to be performed by one device rather than requiring separate illuminators, thereby reducing energy wastage and device complexity while maintaining plant growth efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated lighting device performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides specialized spectrum lighting for plant photosynthesis and growth, and broadband white light for visual inspection and harvesting. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated devices for each function, reducing overall energy consumption and system complexity
2Use of energy by moving object
If specialized grow light spectrums are used for efficient plant growth, then energy efficiency is improved, but visual appearance becomes distorted and unnatural
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different lighting qualities to different spatial zones within the housing. Grow lights with reflectors direct specialized spectrum light downward onto the plant for efficient photosynthesis, while visual lights without reflectors provide broadband white light for natural-looking illumination during inspection. Each lighting zone is optimized for its specific function without compromising the other
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system is segmented into distinct functional components: grow lights with reflectors for photosynthesis optimization, and visual lights without reflectors for natural appearance. This segmentation allows each subset of lights to perform its specific function independently, achieving both energy efficiency for growth and natural appearance for inspection
3Illumination intensity
If LED lighting is used for broadband white illumination, then visual inspection capability is improved, but energy efficiency for plant growth decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting array is segmented into grow lights that emit specialized spectra optimized for photosynthesis and visual lights that emit broadband white light for inspection. This segmentation ensures that energy-intensive broadband illumination is used only when visual inspection is needed, while grow lights provide energy-efficient specialized lighting for plant growth during non-inspection periods
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system operates in periodic cycles, switching between grow lighting mode and visual lighting mode based on operational needs. During most of the time, energy-efficient grow lights are active for plant growth. When visual inspection is required, the system periodically switches to broadband white visual lights, minimizing overall energy consumption while maintaining both functions
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 device efficiently uses the spectrum for plant growth, reduces energy wastage, and provides a natural appearance by adapting illumination to different growth stages and user needs, enhancing plant growth and visual inspection capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
using Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and a control unit that detects power interruptions and motion to switch between modes, providing tailored electromagnetic spectra for vegetation, flowering, and visual inspection
Data Source
AI summary
A horticultural lighting device for sustaining indoor plant growth, wherein said horticultural lighting device comprises lighting unit arranged for providing illumination in accordance with one of a plurality of modi, wherein, for each modus, said lighting unit is arranged for differentiating in different growth stages of a plant by illuminating in different electromagnetic spectrums, a power unit arranged for receiving an Alternating Current, AC, mains supply voltage and for providing power to said lighting unit, and a control unit arranged for detecting interruptions in said received AC mains supply voltage and for cycling through said plurality of modi for said lighting unit triggered by detected interruptions.