Lightguide Optical Element for Hydroponic Light Homogeneity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydroponic systems face challenges in providing efficient and targeted light distribution to plants, often resulting in light loss and uneven illumination, especially in environments with inadequate natural sunlight.
Innovation Solution
An optical element with a lightguide portion is integrated into the mount system of a hydroponic system, allowing the light to be focused onto the plants from a top lamp, either supplementing or replacing the natural light, using batwing or bulbous lenses to direct light laterally and prevent internal light loss, and adjustable mount components to adapt to different plant growth stages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If light sources are arranged within a housing component without optical guidance, then the structure is simple, but light loss occurs and illumination is not homogeneous
Solution Approach 1:
An optical element with lightguide portions is introduced as an intermediary component between the light sources and the plants. The lightguide portions receive light from the light sources and guide it along defined paths to achieve homogeneous illumination of the plants, thereby reducing light loss while maintaining structural simplicity through modular integration
Solution Approach 2:
The optical element is divided into multiple lightguide portions, each corresponding to a specific light source. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each light path while maintaining overall system simplicity, enabling homogeneous light distribution without requiring complex integrated structures
2Illumination intensity
If light is distributed without directional control, then the system is simple, but illumination is not homogeneous and environmental light loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The optical element acts as a mediator that shapes and directs light from the sources to achieve homogeneous illumination. The lightguide portions are designed with specific geometries to control light distribution patterns, providing uniform lighting across the plant canopy while preventing light loss to the environment
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the optical element are designed with varying lightguide properties to achieve homogeneous illumination across different areas. The lightguide portions are positioned and shaped to deliver appropriate light intensity to specific zones, ensuring uniform overall illumination without requiring complex active control systems
3Adaptability or versatility
If the mount system uses fixed components, then the structure is stable, but it cannot adapt to different plant growth stages
Solution Approach 1:
The mount system incorporates adjustable components that allow the optical element and light sources to be repositioned according to plant growth stages. The mounting structure includes movable elements with defined adjustment ranges, enabling adaptation to different plant heights and configurations while maintaining structural stability through controlled mechanical connections
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 ensures homogeneous and efficient light distribution to plants, stimulating growth and health while minimizing light loss and environmental illumination, thereby enhancing plant growth and reducing the need for additional lighting.
Implementation Method 1
The lightguide portion is configured to focus, when arranged in said position, light of the one or more light source/s to an exterior environment of the housing component
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
Disclosed is an optical element 1, 1' for a hydroponic system 100 comprising a top lamp 20 and a mount system 10 holding the top lamp 20. The optical element comprises at least one lightguide portion 2, 2' configured to be placed, through one or more openings/s O of a housing component 4, 4' of the mount system 10, on or over one or more light source/s 13, 13' facing the one or more openings O and being mounted on a printed circuit board 12, 12' arranged within the housing component 4, 4'. In such position, the lightguide portion 2, 2' is further configured to focus light of the one or more light source/s 13, 13' to an exterior environment of the housing component 4, 4'. Further disclosed are a mount system component 11, 11' comprising such optical element 1, 1', and a hydroponic system 100 comprising one or more such mount system component/s 11, 11'.