LED light timing in a high growth, high density, closed environment system

• US 10,201,132 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2016
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emirates Crop One LLC
• Original Assignee: Crop One Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Wilson, James G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Son T
• Application Number:
  US15/393,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20170105358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 47 59 R, 47 60, 47 61, 47 62 R, 47 62 N, 47 63, 47 17, 47 581 SE
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 1/00 Apparatus, or methods of use thereof, for testing or treating seed, roots, or the like, prior to sowing or planting
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 1/02 Germinating apparatus; Determining germination capacity of seeds or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 2031/006 with means for recycling the nutritive solution
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 22/00 Cultivation of specific crops or plants not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 24/00 Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor for mushrooms A01G18/20
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 31/02 Special apparatus therefor self-acting watering devices A01G27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 31/06 Hydroponic culture on racks or in stacked containers
• 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: G01N 33/0098 Plants or trees wood G01N33/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/188 Vegetation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/21 Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a high growth, high density, closed environment growing system and methods thereof. A method of accelerating plant cell growth in a growing system may include adjusting the lighting in accordance with an identified plant growth stage.

Claims

1. A method for accelerating growth of a seedling positioned in a nutrient solution in a growing system comprising the steps of:

observing a seedling to monitor growth of the seedling over a course of a plurality of plant maturity phases, wherein;

a second plant maturity phase commences when growth is first observed in the seedling and terminates with a development of a full leaf or a bud relative to other leaves or buds in the seedling;

a third plant maturity phase commences at an end of the second plant maturity phase and terminates when full plant maturity occurs in the plant as determined by the plant species; and

a fourth plant maturity phase commences with reaching full maturity and terminates when the plant is ready to be harvested;

calculating a number of hours for an LED grow light to remain on during a first portion of the second plant maturity phase by multiplying a first fraction by a recommended lighting cycle in hours for a given plant species;

calculating a number of hours for the LED grow light to remain off during the first portion of the second plant maturity phase by subtracting the first fraction times the recommended lighting cycle from twenty-four hours;

calculating a number of hours for the LED grow light to remain on during a second portion of the second plant maturity phase by multiplying a second fraction by the recommended lighting cycle in hours;

calculating a number of hours for the LED grow light to remain off during the second portion of the second plant maturity phase by subtracting the second fraction times the recommended lighting cycle from twenty-four hours; and

executing the on/off light cycles for the calculated durations in the growing system by controlling a grow light in accordance with the on/off light cycles to result in accelerated growth of the seedling.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fraction is ⅓

and the second fraction is ⅔

.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, using the recommended lighting cycle for a number of hours the LED grow light is to remain on per day during the third plant maturity phase and calculating a number of hours for the LED grow light to remain off during the third plant maturity phase by subtracting the recommended lighting cycle from twenty-four hours.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, calculating a number of hours for the LED grow light to remain on per day during the fourth plant maturity phase by multiplying ½

times the recommended lighting cycle and calculating a number of hours for the LED grow light to remain off during the fourth plant maturity phase by subtracting ½

times the recommended lighting cycle from twenty-four hours.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of a grow light wavelength, temperature, and nutrient concentration is varied over the plant maturity phases.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

withdrawing nutrient solution when the plant reaches the fourth plant maturity phase.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

terminating all light cycles when the plant reaches a harvest stage.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

reducing a temperature in the growing system when the plant reaches the fourth plant maturity phase.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the grow light is at least one of a red LED light and a blue LED light.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the grow light is of a wavelength selected in accordance with a specific plant species.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the growth is observed by a visual analysis of the seedling.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the growth of the seedling is determined by one or more of a video observation, a laser sensor, and a location/proximity sensor.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the growth of the seedling is determined by measurement of an O₂ output in the system by an O₂ sensor.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the growth of the seedling is determined by measurement of a concentration of a nutrient solution to determine a seedling consumption.

15. A method for accelerating growth of a seedling positioned in a nutrient solution in a growing system comprising the steps of:

observing a seedling to monitor growth of the seedling over a course of a plurality of plant maturity phases, wherein;

a second plant maturity phase commences when growth is first observed in the seedling and terminates with the development of a full leaf or a bud relative to other leaves or buds in the seedling;

a third plant maturity phase commences at the end of the second plant maturity phase and terminates when full plant maturity occurs in the plant as determined by a plant species; and

a fourth plant maturity phase commences with reaching full maturity and terminates when the plant is ready to be harvested;

calculating a number of hours for an LED grow light to remain on during a first portion of the second plant maturity phase by multiplying a first fraction by a recommended lighting cycle in hours for a given plant species;

calculating a number of hours for the LED grow light to remain off during the first portion of the second plant maturity phase by subtracting the first fraction times the recommended lighting cycle from twenty-four hours;

calculating a number of hours for the LED grow light to remain on during a second portion of the second plant maturity phase by multiplying a second fraction by the recommended lighting cycle in hours;

calculating a number of hours for the LED grow light to remain off during the second portion of the second plant maturity phase by subtracting the second fraction times the recommended lighting cycle from twenty-four hours;

executing the on/off light cycles for the calculated durations in the growing system by controlling a grow light in accordance with the on/off light cycles to result in accelerated growth of the seedling; and

wherein the growth of the seedling is determined by measurement of a weight of the seedling.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first fraction is ⅓

and the second fraction is ⅔

.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising, calculating a number of hours for the LED grow light to remain on per day during the fourth plant maturity phase by multiplying ½

times the recommended lighting cycle and calculating a number of hours for the LED grow light to remain off during the fourth plant maturity phase by subtracting ½

times the recommended lighting cycle from twenty-four hours.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the growth of the seedling is determined by measurement of an O₂ output in the system by an O₂ sensor.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the growth of the seedling is determined by measurement of a concentration of a nutrient solution to determine a seedling consumption.