Integrated Sensor Assembly for CEA Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sensors in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) systems are typically installed and connected separately, leading to increased complexity and burden for users, as well as higher system complexity due to proprietary connection mechanisms, making it difficult to integrate multiple sensors effectively.
Innovation Solution
An integrated sensor assembly that combines multiple sensing modalities, such as natural light, air temperature, relative humidity, air flow, and CO2 sensors, into a single unit with a standardized connector like USB, facilitating easy installation and connectivity to control systems, and allowing for flexible deployment and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple conventional sensors are deployed separately in a CEA environment, then each sensor can be optimized for its specific function, but the system complexity increases and the burden on users to integrate various sensors grows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing modalities (light sensing, temperature sensing, humidity sensing, CO2 sensing) into a single integrated sensor assembly. This merging approach maintains the reliability of individual sensors while significantly reducing system complexity by eliminating the need for separate sensor installations and proprietary connection mechanisms for each sensor type.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensor assembly is designed with a universal connector that can interface with various control systems through a standardized connection mechanism. This multi-functionality allows the single sensor assembly to perform multiple sensing functions while providing a unified interface, thereby reducing the burden on users to integrate different sensors with different connection requirements.
2Reliability
If each sensor type has a proprietary connection mechanism, then each sensor can be optimized for its specific interface requirements, but the ease of integration decreases and installation becomes more burdensome
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor assembly employs a universal connector design that can interface with different control systems through a standardized connection mechanism. This allows the integrated sensor to maintain reliable connections while significantly improving ease of integration, as users no longer need to deal with multiple proprietary connection mechanisms for different sensor types.
3Reliability
If multiple sensors are installed separately, then each sensor can be independently optimized, but the installation and maintenance time increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple sensing functions into a single integrated assembly, the patent reduces installation time from installing and connecting multiple separate sensors to installing and connecting one unified sensor assembly. This maintains sensing accuracy through dedicated sensors for each modality while dramatically reducing the time and effort required for installation and maintenance.
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 integrated sensor assembly simplifies the monitoring and control of environmental parameters, enhancing plant growth conditions by providing a plug-and-play configuration that reduces system complexity and improves the integration of sensing modalities within CEA systems.
Implementation Method 1
the natural light sensor is configured to detect photosynthetically active radiation (PAR)
Implementation Method 2
the IR temperature sensor is configured to capture thermal images of multiple plants at a spatial resolution that would allow the temperature of individual leaves to be detected
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated sensor assembly provides multiple sensing modalities to monitor an agricultural environment, and may be employed in or used with controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems to control and maintain improved growth conditions for various plants. In one exemplary implementation, an integrated sensor assembly includes sensors to monitor parameters important to plant growth, such as a natural light sensor, an air temperature sensor, a relative humidity sensor, an air flow sensor, a carbon dioxide (CO2) sensor, and a remote infrared (IR) temperature sensor. The sensors are mounted onto a single circuit board, which is then placed inside a housing for protection from the ambient environment. The housing can include one or more openings and apertures to facilitate sensing with protective covers where appropriate. A USB port can be included to supply electrical power and transfer of data to and from the integrated sensor assembly (e.g., to provide plug-and-play functionality).