LED grow light system

• US 10,149,439 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectra Harvest Lighting, LLC
• Original Assignee: Spectra Harvest Lighting, LLC
• Inventors: Hanson, James Jeffery, Sullivan McIntosh, Ricky Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Garlen, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): CATTANACH, COLIN J
• Application Number:
  US14/575,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20160178179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 2/00 Vegetative propagation plant reproduction by tissue culture techniques A01H4/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/249 Lighting means with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/67 characterised by the arrangement of fans
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/673 the fans being used for intake
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/677 the fans being used for discharging
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/763 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/12 characterised by the geometrical disposition of the light-generating elements, e.g. arranging light-generating elements in differing patterns or densities
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/40 Details of LED load circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/52 in a parallel array of LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/54 in a series array of LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/56 involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/58 involving end of life detection of LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses

Abstract

A grow light system for growing plants. The grow light system can have a carrier board assembly containing a plurality of apertures and a plurality of LED modules removably engaged with the carrier board in the apertures and forming a gap between LED module and the carrier board. The grow light system can be configured to draw air through the gap over the LEDs and along the heat sink fin to reduce the temperature of the LED module. A plurality of the LED modules can be connected in series and the carrier board can include a dedicated receptacle for a single LED module that is not connected in series with the remaining LED modules.

Claims

1. A grow light system comprising:

a housing;

a cooling fan;

a port configured to allow uploading and downloading of growing program information;

a carrier board assembly having a front side and a back side, the carrier board assembly defining a plurality of LED module apertures, and at least one LED testing module aperture;

a plurality of LED modules removably engaged with the carrier board assembly in the plurality of LED module apertures and the at least one testing module aperture, each LED module comprising;

a plurality of LEDs;

a heat sink fin;

wherein there is a vertical gap defined between each of the LED modules and the carrier board assembly;

wherein there is a lateral gap defined on either side of each of the LED modules and the carrier board assembly;

wherein there is a longitudinal gap defined on either side of each of the LED modules and the carrier board assembly;

wherein LEDs of the plurality of LED modules engaged in the plurality of LED module apertures are wired in series with each other; and

wherein the plurality of LEDs of the LED module engaged in the LED testing module aperture are not wired in series with LEDs of the plurality of LED modules engaged in the plurality of LED module apertures; and

wherein the carrier board includes circuits to electrically connect LEDs of the plurality of LED modules;

wherein the cooling fan is configured to draw air into the housing from the front side of the carrier board through the vertical gap, lateral gaps, and longitudinal gaps to the back side of the carrier board;

wherein the heat sink fin of each LED module forms a U-shape having a first wall and a second wall;

wherein the first wall and the second wall of the heat sink fin of each LED module are substantially perpendicular to the carrier board;

wherein the first wall and the second wall of the heat sink fin of each LED module extend away from the plurality of LEDs; and

wherein the heat sink fin of each LED module extends through the carrier board and extends beyond both the front side of the carrier board and the back side of the carrier board.

2. The grow light system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of LEDs of each LED module range in wavelength from about 400 nm to about 700 nm.

3. The grow light system of claim 1, wherein the vertical gap is about 0.125 inches to about 0.5.

4. The grow light system of claim 1, wherein the lateral gap on either side of each of the LED modules is about 0.003125 inches to about 0.25 inches.

5. The grow light system of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal gap on either side of each of the LED modules is about 0.00625 inches to about 0.25 inches.

6. The grow light system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of LED module apertures and at least one LED testing module aperture form a X-shaped pattern.

7. A grow light system comprising:

a housing;

a cooling fan;

a carrier board assembly having a front side and a back side, the carrier board assembly defining at least one LED module aperture;

at least one LED module removably engaged with the carrier board assembly in the at least one LED module aperture, the at least one LED module comprising;

at least one LED;

a heat sink fin;

wherein the heat sink fin has a first wall and a second wall which each extend away from the at least one LED;

wherein the carrier board includes circuits to electrically connect the at least one LED;

wherein there is a vertical gap defined between the at least one LED module and the carrier board assembly;

wherein the cooling fan is configured to draw air into the housing from the front side of the carrier board through the vertical gap to the back side of the carrier board; and

wherein the heat sink fin of the at least one LED module extends through the carrier board and extends beyond both the front side of the carrier board and the back side of the carrier board.

8. The grow light system of claim 7, wherein the at least one gap comprises a vertical gap that is about 0.125 inches to about 0.5.

9. The grow light system of claim 7, wherein the at least one gap comprises a lateral gap on either side of the at least one LED module that is about 0.003125 inches to about 0.25 inches.

10. The grow light system of claim 7, wherein the at least one gap comprises a longitudinal gap on either side of the at least one LED module that is about 0.00625 inches to about 0.25 inches.

11. The grow light system of claim 7, further comprising:

a lateral gap on either side of each of the at least one LED module; and

a longitudinal gap on either side of each of the at least one LED module.

12. The grow light system of claim 7, wherein the heat sink fin is configured to remove heat from the at least on LED by conducting heat from the at least one LED into the heat sink fin.

13. The grow light system of claim 7, wherein the cooling fan is configured to draw air over the face of the at least one LED and along the heat sink fin.

14. The grow light system of claim 7, wherein the at least one LED module aperture comprises a plurality of LED module apertures that form a X-shaped pattern.

15. The grow light system of claim 7, wherein the heat sink fin forms a U-shape, and wherein the first wall and the second wall are each substantially perpendicular to the carrier board.

16. The grow light system of claim 7, wherein the at least one LED comprises at least one LED having a wavelength in the range of about 620 nm to about 665 nm;

and

at least one LED having a wavelength in the range of about 455 nm to about 470 nm.

17. The grow light system of claim 7, further comprising a port configured to allow uploading and downloading of growing program information.