Greenhouse LED Panel Grid for Uniform Light Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plant LED lamps in greenhouses have a low profile and compact design, leading to non-uniform light distribution due to the inverse square law of light radiation, resulting in inadequate light energy reaching plants beyond a small area directly under the lamps, causing uneven growth.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system comprising a grid of interconnected LED panels with small-power LED chips, arranged to form planar light sources that can be adjusted to cover larger areas, and a detachable power supply that dissipates heat outside the greenhouse, ensuring uniform light energy distribution across the growing area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If compact plant LED lamps with concentrated LED chips are used, then device complexity is reduced, but illumination uniformity deteriorates due to non-uniform light distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is divided into multiple independent LED panels that can be arranged in a grid pattern. Each panel contains LED chips distributed across its surface, and multiple panels work together to provide uniform illumination across the entire growing area, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and uniform light distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from point-source LED lamps to planar LED panels, changing the dimensional characteristic of the light source. This planar configuration allows light to be distributed more evenly across the growing area, improving illumination uniformity while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If LED chips are concentrated in a small footprint, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but light source area is limited resulting in non-uniform illumination
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a few high-power concentrated LED chips, the system segments the total light output requirement into multiple lower-power LED chips distributed across several panels. This approach increases the effective light source area for uniform illumination while keeping individual chip specifications standard and cost-effective.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple LED panels are merged into a grid configuration to create a large-area light source. The combined effect of multiple panels provides both increased light source area and uniform illumination, while each individual panel remains simple and cost-effective to manufacture.
3Ease of operation
If power supply is placed inside greenhouse, then installation simplicity is improved, but heat dissipation becomes problematic requiring additional cooling systems
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply is extracted from the greenhouse environment and placed outside. This separation allows the power supply to dissipate heat in the external environment without affecting the greenhouse's thermal conditions, eliminating the need for additional cooling systems while keeping installation relatively simple through external placement.
4Area of stationary object
If distance from light source to plants is increased to cover larger area, then growing area coverage is improved, but light energy radiated to plants decreases due to inverse square law
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from point-source illumination to planar panel illumination. This dimensional change allows light to be emitted from a larger surface area, improving the distribution of light energy across the growing area without requiring increased distance, thus maintaining adequate light energy levels while expanding coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system is segmented into multiple panels arranged in a grid, with each panel positioned to illuminate a specific zone. This segmentation allows optimized positioning of each panel to maintain effective light energy delivery while collectively covering a large growing area, overcoming the inverse square law limitation.
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 provides uniform light energy to all plants in the growing area, improving growth uniformity and reducing energy consumption by dissipating heat externally without additional cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
the lighting grid includes a plurality of LED panels, wherein a plurality of LED lamps are arranged in each LED panel
Implementation Method 2
As per the inverse square law of light radiation, the longer the distance from a light source is, the lower the amount of radiated light energy will be
Implementation Method 3
the power supply can be arranged outside of a greenhouse in practical use so that heat generated by the power supply in operation can be dissipated directly outside of the greenhouse
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to the field of horticulture in a greenhouse and disclosures a system for supplementing light to plants, the system including a lighting grid and a power supply detachable from each other, wherein: the lighting grid includes a plurality of LED panels, wherein a plurality of LED lamps are arranged in each LED panel, and any adjacent LED panels are joined to each other by a joining member; and the power supply is electrically connected with the LED lamps in the respective LED panels through a cable.