Arcuate Moving Grow Light for Natural Sun Path Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Indoor plant growth systems fail to fully replicate the beneficial growth factors of natural sunlight, leading to suboptimal plant development due to the limitations of existing artificial lighting solutions.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system with a boom and carriage mechanism simulating the sun's path, equipped with an electric light that travels along an arcuate path to mimic natural sunlight duration and angle changes, accompanied by optional features like carbon dioxide and water supply for enhanced growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional grow lights (HPS, MH, fluorescent, LEDs) are used to provide artificial lighting for indoor plants, then the plants receive sufficient light energy for photosynthesis, but the plants are deprived of other beneficial growth factors present in natural sunlight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic lighting system where a single light source moves along an arcuate path to simulate the sun's daily trajectory. The carriage travels from left to right across the plant area, changing the angle of light incidence throughout the day, thereby providing dynamic lighting patterns that mimic natural sunlight and potentially deliver other beneficial growth factors associated with solar exposure.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple stationary light sources are used to illuminate different sides of plants, then comprehensive light coverage is achieved, but system complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple lighting functions into a single movable light source. Instead of using multiple stationary lights positioned at different locations, one light source performs the function of multiple lights by moving across the arcuate path and illuminating different sides of plants at different times, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The single light source is made dynamic through its movement along the arcuate path. The carriage mechanism enables the light to traverse from one side of the plant area to the other, simulating the sun's movement across the sky and providing comprehensive illumination without requiring multiple fixed light positions.
3Productivity
If stationary light sources are positioned to illuminate specific areas, then lighting efficiency is maximized for those areas, but other areas receive insufficient light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a dynamic light source that moves along an arcuate path to provide uniform light distribution across the entire plant area. As the carriage travels from left to right, the light source sequentially illuminates different zones, ensuring that all areas receive adequate light exposure throughout the simulated day cycle, thereby eliminating the lighting inefficiencies of stationary sources.
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 a more natural light simulation, improving plant growth while potentially reducing energy consumption and costs by efficiently illuminating multiple plant sides with a single light source, and can also benefit indoor animal habitats.
Implementation Method 1
an electric light carried by the carriage. The carriage travels on the boom along the elongate arcuate path to simulate the path of the sun over flora and/or fauna disposed below the track
Data Source
AI summary
Lighting systems and methods of use. Such a lighting system has a carriage that carries an electric light and travels along an arcuate path to simulate the path of the sun over flora and/or fauna. A boom extends along the arcuate path, and the carriage travels along the boom. The carriage has a motor connected to a drive member operable to drive the carriage along the arcuate path. Optionally an adjustable timer may be used to set start and/or stop times for the carriage and/or the speed the carriage as the carriage travels along the arcuate path so that the lighting system can be adjusted to more closely simulate different natural sunlight conditions, such as day length, sunrise and/or sunset times, or even the period of an overall solar day cycle.