Rigs for illuminating fields and methods of illuminating plants
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- controlling a photoperiodic response of at least one photoperiodically sensitive plant subject planted in an open field by;
providing a mobile irrigation rig having a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) light sources attached to an underside of a main rig arm as a flat array of LED light sources that emit light on an upper surface of the at least one photoperiodically sensitive plant subject;
causing the mobile irrigation rig to navigate across an open field having the at least one photoperiodically sensitive plant subject planted therein, wherein the photoperiodically sensitive plant subject is a short-day plant and selectively illuminating the short-day plant is performed periodically during nighttime hours such that the short-day plant is not subject to nighttime light conditions for more than about 12 hours, about 10 hours, about 8 hours, or about 6 hours;
selectively illuminating, by a control circuit of the mobile irrigation rig, the at least one photoperiodically sensitive plant subject using the plurality of light emitting diode (LED) light sources attached to the mobile irrigation rig during nighttime hours in a wavelength range between approximately 250 nm and approximately 800 nm while the mobile irrigation rig navigates the open field to control the photoperiodic response of the at least one photoperiodically sensitive plant subject planted therein.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are various embodiments for an irrigation rig (100) comprising a plurality of light sources (103) and methods of illuminating short-day plants. As described herein, a mobile irrigation rig (100) may comprise a plurality of light sources (103) attached to a support arm of the mobile irrigation rig (100), wherein the plurality of light sources (103) are configured to emit light on a subject during a mobile or stationary operation of the irrigation rig (100). The irrigation rig (100), using the plurality of light sources (103), may illuminate a short-day plant with light to control a bloom or a flowering of a plant subject.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method, comprising:
controlling a photoperiodic response of at least one photoperiodically sensitive plant subject planted in an open field by; providing a mobile irrigation rig having a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) light sources attached to an underside of a main rig arm as a flat array of LED light sources that emit light on an upper surface of the at least one photoperiodically sensitive plant subject; causing the mobile irrigation rig to navigate across an open field having the at least one photoperiodically sensitive plant subject planted therein, wherein the photoperiodically sensitive plant subject is a short-day plant and selectively illuminating the short-day plant is performed periodically during nighttime hours such that the short-day plant is not subject to nighttime light conditions for more than about 12 hours, about 10 hours, about 8 hours, or about 6 hours; selectively illuminating, by a control circuit of the mobile irrigation rig, the at least one photoperiodically sensitive plant subject using the plurality of light emitting diode (LED) light sources attached to the mobile irrigation rig during nighttime hours in a wavelength range between approximately 250 nm and approximately 800 nm while the mobile irrigation rig navigates the open field to control the photoperiodic response of the at least one photoperiodically sensitive plant subject planted therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
11. A method, comprising:
-
controlling a photoperiodic response of at least one photoperiodically sensitive plant subject planted in an open field by; providing a mobile rig having a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) light sources attached to an underside of a main rig arm as a flat array of LED light sources that emit light on an upper surface of the at least one photoperiodically sensitive plant subject; causing the mobile rig to navigate across an open field having the at least one photoperiodically sensitive plant subject planted therein; and selectively illuminating, by a control circuit of the mobile rig, the at least one photoperiodically sensitive plant subject using the plurality of light emitting diode (LED) light sources attached to the mobile rig during nighttime hours in a wavelength range between approximately 250 nm and approximately 800 nm while the mobile rig navigates the open field to control the photoperiodic response of the at least one photoperiodically sensitive plant subject planted therein, wherein the photoperiodically sensitive plant subject is a short-day plant and selectively illuminating the short-day plant comprises selectively illuminating the short-day plant with a flash of light of about 1 millisecond, about 1 second, about 2 minutes, about 3 minutes, about 5 minutes, about 10 minutes, about 15 minutes, or about 30 minutes. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification