Lateral Lighting for Vertical Plant Growth Bins
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vertically stacked plant growth systems, achieving uniform light irradiation while maintaining the ability to transport bins vertically is challenging due to shadowing and mechanical complications, leading to inefficiencies in light distribution and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A light projector assembly positioned outside the bin assembly, projecting light through windows in the bin walls onto a reflective ceiling, which redirects light uniformly across the bin interior, ensuring adequate and uniform irradiation of the plant-growing zone without obstructing vertical motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light sources are positioned above the plants in vertically stacked systems, then light can be provided to plants, but shadowing occurs and uniform light distribution becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional top-down lighting (vertical dimension) to lateral lighting through bin wall windows (horizontal dimension). Light projectors are positioned outside the bins and project light horizontally through windows in the bin walls, eliminating shadowing issues while simplifying the optical configuration.
2Device complexity
If light sources are made stationary to simplify the system, then mechanical complexity is reduced, but the ability to adapt to different bin positions and configurations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is segmented into multiple stationary light projectors positioned at different locations around the bins. Each projector serves a specific bin or group of bins, allowing the system to adapt to different bin configurations without requiring movable components. The modular window assemblies in bin walls also enable flexible positioning.
3Productivity
If bins are vertically stacked to increase space utilization, then productivity increases, but mechanical complications arise in maintaining light access and vertical motion capability
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing lateral lighting through windows in bin walls rather than top-down lighting, the system enables vertical stacking of bins without mechanical complications. The light projectors remain stationary outside the bins, and light enters through windows in the bin walls, allowing bins to be stacked vertically while maintaining simple, fixed mechanical structures.
4Illumination intensity
If windows are positioned in bin walls for lateral lighting, then light can enter the bin interior, but the windows must be positioned above the plant-growing zone to avoid obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs reflective surfaces (including curved or angled reflectors) inside the bins to redirect light from windows positioned above the plant-growing zone down to the plants. This allows windows to be placed in the upper bin walls for structural reasons while still achieving adequate light distribution to the plant root zones through optical reflection.
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
This solution provides acceptably uniform light distribution across the plant-growing zone with minimal light loss, reducing the need for movable light sources and mechanical complications, thus enhancing efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
the light projector configured to project light upwardly through at least a first irradiation portal corresponding to the first window of the bin
Implementation Method 2
the ceiling having a light-reflective lower surface facing the bin interior
Data Source
AI summary
A light projector assembly for irradiating the interior of a bin when the bin is in a predetermined position, the bin having walls and a ceiling. A bin interior may include a plant-growing zone proximate a bottom of the bin. The walls may include one or more light-transmissive windows above the plant-growing zone. The light projector assembly may comprise a light projector and a support structure. A light projector may be supported outside of the bin position and proximate to and spaced from one of the one or more windows when the bin assembly is in the predetermined position. The light projector may be configured to project light upwardly through the one window and toward the ceiling. A support structure may support the light projector. The support structure may be spaced from a vertical extension of the predetermined position, unobstructive of vertical access to the bin.