Livestock LED Lighting with Color Shift Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current livestock lighting systems fail to provide optimal lighting conditions that promote biological development in chickens, as they often lead to aggressive behaviors and stress due to infrared light and flickering, and lack efficient control over intensity and color spectrum.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic LED lighting system with a hangable LED light assembly that adjusts intensity and color output based on excitation intensity, using a dimmer to modulate AC excitation and shift spectral output, avoiding infrared light and reducing flicker, while integrating selective current diversion circuitry to minimize harmonic distortion and power factor issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If infrared lighting is used to illuminate livestock, then illumination coverage is improved, but aggressive behaviors are promoted in chickens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by using LEDs that emit different wavelengths (colors) of light to control chicken behavior. Specifically, the system uses blue light (460-480nm) to reduce aggression and stress, while avoiding infrared light that promotes aggressive behaviors. The ability to change light color allows the system to optimize both illumination coverage and behavioral outcomes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes light parameters (wavelength, intensity, duration) to achieve desired effects. By adjusting the spectral composition to emphasize blue wavelengths and eliminate infrared, the system maintains adequate illumination while preventing aggressive behaviors. The controllable LED parameters enable precise optimization of light properties for behavioral management.
2Illumination intensity
If continuous lighting is used in poultry houses, then visibility is improved, but feed conversion efficiency decreases due to increased fat deposition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through intermittent lighting schedules where lights are turned on and off at specific intervals. This allows periods of darkness that enable chickens to express natural behaviors and reduces fat deposition, while still providing sufficient visibility during illuminated periods. The systematic alternation between light and dark periods optimizes both visibility and feed conversion efficiency.
3Productivity
If high intensity light is used to promote development, then growth stimulation is improved, but stress and aggression increase in livestock
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses color changes by selecting specific wavelengths that promote growth without causing stress. Blue light (460-480nm) is used as it has been shown to reduce stress and aggression while still providing adequate stimulation for development. The spectral composition is optimized to deliver growth-promoting effects without the negative behavioral consequences of other wavelengths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs light flicker at specific frequencies (10-20 Hz) that can have calming effects on livestock. This controlled temporal variation in light intensity, rather than constant high intensity, reduces stress while maintaining adequate growth stimulation. The oscillating light pattern mimics natural environmental variations that are less stressful to animals.
4Illumination intensity
If LED excitation intensity is increased to improve illumination, then light output is improved, but harmonic distortion and power factor issues worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback through power factor correction circuits that monitor and adjust the electrical characteristics of the LED driver. By implementing active power factor correction, the system maintains high light output while correcting harmonic distortion and improving power factor. The feedback mechanism ensures that electrical performance parameters are optimized alongside optical output.
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 optimizes lighting conditions for chicken development by reducing stress and aggression, providing efficient and long-lasting illumination with controlled intensity and color shifts, reducing energy requirements and costs, and ensuring safe, water-resistant operation.
Implementation Method 1
LEDs are becoming widely used devices capable of illumination when supplied with current. Typically, an LED is formed as a semiconductor diode having an anode and a cathode. When sufficient forward bias voltage is applied between the anode and cathode, conventional current flows through the diode. Forward current flow through an LED may cause photons to recombine with holes to release energy in the form of light.
Implementation Method 2
By proper selection of semiconductor materials, individual LEDs can be constructed to emit certain colors (e.g., wavelength), such as red, blue, or green, for example. As the light intensity is decreased in response to a simple dimmer control, the spectral output of the LED downlight may shift its output wavelengths.
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatus and associated methods involve a hangable LED light assembly constructed to provide a selected color output illumination as a function of excitation intensity. In an illustrative example, the color output may be selected to promote biological development throughout livestock development stages (e.g., incubation, growth, and reproduction). The light intensity may controllable, for example, in response to a light dimmer arranged to modulate AC excitation applied to the LED downlight. As the light intensity is decreased in response to a simple dimmer control, the spectral output of the LED downlight may shift its output wavelengths. Accordingly, some exemplary installations may provide controlled combinations of intensity and color to substantially optimize lighting conditions for livestock.