Sealed System for Indoor Garden Frost Cycle Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional indoor gardening systems lack the ability to induce a frost cycle, which is beneficial for improving the taste of certain plants, as they rely on ambient room temperature and cannot independently regulate temperature for multiple chambers.

Innovation Solution

A sealed refrigeration system integrated with an indoor gardening appliance that includes a controller to maintain a grow temperature, determine and implement a chill cycle with a predetermined chill time and temperature based on scheduled harvest times, allowing for selective temperature regulation within the grow chamber.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional indoor gardening systems rely on ambient room temperature, then the system structure is simple, but the ability to induce frost cycle and improve plant taste is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to induce frost cycleVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the refrigeration system with the indoor gardening appliance, integrating temperature control functionality into the grow chamber. This merging allows the system to maintain grow temperatures during normal operation and induce frost cycles when needed, resolving the contradiction between system simplicity and frost induction capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The refrigeration system is designed to perform multiple functions: maintaining optimal grow temperatures during the growing phase and inducing frost cycles before harvest. This multi-functionality allows a single system to address both normal growth requirements and special frost-induced taste improvement needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional sealed systems maintain entire grow chamber at single temperature, then temperature regulation is simple, but selective temperature control for multiple chambers is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveselective temperature controlVSAvoidtemperature regulation system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The grow chamber is divided into multiple zones or chambers that can be independently temperature-controlled. This segmentation allows different regions to be maintained at different temperatures, enabling selective temperature control for plants with different environmental requirements while using a coordinated refrigeration system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the grow chamber are assigned different temperature characteristics based on the specific needs of plants in those areas. The refrigeration system can apply localized cooling to specific zones, creating local quality variations in temperature that match the diverse requirements of different plant types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional systems lack independent temperature regulation, then energy consumption is low, but the ability to implement scheduled chill cycles is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescheduled chill cycle implementationVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses scheduled chill cycles that are planned in advance based on expected harvest times. By preemptively lowering temperatures during specific periods before harvest, the system induces frost effects that improve plant taste. The controller manages energy consumption by activating cooling only during these predetermined chill periods rather than continuously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The refrigeration system operates in periodic cycles, alternating between normal grow temperature maintenance and scheduled chill cycle activation. This periodic operation allows the system to implement frost induction at strategically timed intervals, improving plant quality while managing energy consumption through cyclical rather than continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

Enables the induction of a frost cycle to enhance the taste and quality of harvested plants by precisely controlling the temperature and humidity, addressing the limitations of conventional systems.

Implementation Method 1

a sealed system in thermal communication with the grow chamber for regulating a temperature within the grow chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefrigeration: Cooling

Data Source

PatentUS11503776B2Method of operating a sealed system for an indoor garden center

Publication Date: 2022.11.22 HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber, a grow module rotatably mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods, and a sealed system for regulating chamber temperature. A controller is configured for operating the sealed system to maintain the grow chamber at a grow temperature, obtaining a scheduled harvest time, determining a chill cycle including a predetermined chill time and a pre-harvest chill temperature based at least in part on the scheduled harvest time, and operating the sealed system to implement the chill cycle by regulating a chamber temperature to the pre-harvest chill temperature during the predetermined chill time.