Upward UV Irradiation for Leaf Underside Pest Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pest control apparatuses for plants are unable to provide localized ultraviolet light irradiation, particularly failing to effectively target insect pests inhabiting the underside of leaves, due to their design that emits light from above and cannot sufficiently illuminate shaded areas.

Innovation Solution

A portable pest control apparatus with a light source that emits UV-B light and an installing structure allowing the emission direction of ultraviolet light to be upward, enabling direct irradiation of the undersides of leaves and shaded portions by being installed within the plant's culture medium.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If conventional illumination apparatuses emit light from above the plant, then the overall plant coverage is achieved, but the undersides of leaves and shaded portions cannot be sufficiently irradiated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveultraviolet light irradiation effectivenessVSAvoidlocalized irradiation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional illumination direction by installing the light source below the plant culture medium instead of above it. This allows ultraviolet light to penetrate upward through the culture medium and directly irradiate the undersides of leaves and shaded portions that were previously inaccessible, thereby resolving the contradiction between overall coverage and localized irradiation effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new spatial dimension for light emission by placing the illumination source in the vertical dimension below the culture medium rather than in the horizontal plane above it. This dimensional change enables light to reach previously shadowed areas from a different angle, achieving both comprehensive coverage and localized effectiveness simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If illumination apparatuses are installed on the side or below the plant, then localized irradiation is possible, but shaded portions still cannot be sufficiently irradiated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplacement flexibilityVSAvoidlight coverage of shaded areas

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of placing the light source at the side of the plant where shaded portions remain unreachable, the patent inverts the placement to directly below the culture medium. This allows light to travel upward through the culture medium and directly illuminate the undersides of leaves and previously shaded areas, achieving both placement flexibility and effective light coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional apparatuses emit light from above, then installation simplicity is maintained, but pest control effectiveness on undersides of leaves is weak

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidpest control effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the installation configuration by placing the light source below the culture medium instead of above it. This simple structural inversion enables direct irradiation of leaf undersides where pests like spider mites congregate, significantly improving pest control effectiveness while maintaining installation simplicity through the straightforward below-medium mounting structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 provides a highly effective pest control by ensuring thorough ultraviolet light coverage of plant areas difficult to reach, enhancing the control of insect pests like spider mites and reducing the risk of over-irradiation damage to plants.

Implementation Method 1

a light source which is held in the main body case and emits ultraviolet light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltraviolet light emission: Light

Data Source

PatentUS11517007B2Pest control apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.12.06 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

An apparatus for controlling plant pests includes a portable case and a light source held in the case. The light source emits ultraviolet light in a predetermined direction. The case includes an installation assembly configured to be installed in a culture medium of the plant so that the predetermined direction is upward. An optical component that removes a wavelength component larger than 340 nm from the ultraviolet light emitted by the light source may also be provided.