Gas-delivery light fixture and method for making and using

• US 10,602,671 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2018
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heilux, LLC
• Original Assignee: Grow Lites, LLC
• Inventors: Limpert, Matthew P., DeBaun, Barbara A., Paciorek, Walter J., Golle, John T., Lemaire, Charles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnithithadha, Navin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reddy, Sunita
• Application Number:
  US15/987,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20190223386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 600 26- 28, 607 88, 47 485, 47581 LS, 47577, 362 6, 362563, 362122
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/00 Distributing devices specially adapted for liquid manure or other fertilising liquid, including ammonia, e.g. transport tanks or sprinkling wagons
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/02 Treatment of plants with carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/025 Containers and elements for greening walls for covering roofs A01G9/033
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/246 Air-conditioning systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0016 by the smell sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0066 with heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0077 with application of chemical or pharmacological stimulus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/003 Fastening of light source holders, e.g. of circuit boards or substrates holding light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/001 the elements being electrical wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0056 Audio equipment, e.g. music instruments, radios or speakers
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0096 Fans, e.g. ceiling fans forced cooling of lighting devices characterised by the arrangement of fans F21V29/67
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 : Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses

Abstract

A plant-light system that includes a plurality of ducted plant-lighting plenum sheets, wherein each ducted plant-lighting plenum sheet includes a plurality of flexible perforated LED sheets, each LED sheet including a plurality of LEDs arranged on a grid, the plurality of LEDs including LEDs emitting light that appears red, light that appears blue, light that appears white, and light that is at least mostly infrared light, wherein each plant lighting sheet has a length and a width, and wherein the plurality of lighting sheets is arranged along a length of a room; a plurality of plant-holding pockets arranged along the length of the room generally parallel to the plurality of ducted plant-lighting plenum sheets; and a plant-lighting plenum sheets motion and withdrawal system arranged to move the plurality of ducted plant-lighting plenum sheets to a plurality of different locations relative to the plurality of plant-holding pockets for different time periods.

Claims

1. A gas-delivery lighting apparatus comprising:

a housing having a support structure;

a first circuit substrate having a first plurality of perforations, the first circuit substrate connected to the support structure on a first side of the support structure, wherein the first circuit substrate has a first plurality of conductors on a first face of the first circuit substrate;

a first plurality of LEDs affixed to the first plurality of conductors, wherein the first plurality of conductors form a parallel-series circuit with the first plurality of LEDs;

a second circuit substrate having a second plurality of perforations, the second circuit substrate connected to the support structure on a second side of the support structure, opposite the first side, wherein the second circuit substrate has a second plurality of conductors on a first face of the second circuit substrate;

a second plurality of LEDs affixed to the second plurality of conductors, wherein the second plurality of conductors form a parallel-series circuit with the second plurality of LEDs; and

a first gas conduit operably coupled to the housing, wherein the housing is configured so that gas delivered to the housing through the first gas conduit is emitted through the first plurality of perforations and through the second plurality of perforations.

2. The gas-delivery lighting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first perforated transparent sheet disposed over the LEDs of the first circuit substrate and operatively coupled to the first circuit substrate with a plurality of connectors that pass the gas through openings in the plurality of connectors.

3. The gas-delivery lighting apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a second perforated transparent sheet disposed over the LEDs of the second circuit substrate and operatively coupled to the second circuit substrate with a plurality of connectors that pass the gas through openings in the plurality of connectors, and wherein the first perforated transparent sheet and the second perforated transparent sheet form outer walls for the housing.

4. The gas-delivery lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuit substrate is a flexible circuit substrate.

5. The gas-delivery lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein each one of the first plurality of LEDs emits red light with a peak wavelength in a range of 610 nm to 690 nm, inclusive, and a full-width half-maximum bandwidth of no more than 20 nm, and wherein the gas-delivery lighting apparatus further includes:

a second plurality of LEDs affixed to the conductors, wherein each one of the second plurality of LEDs emits infrared light with a peak wavelength in a range of 700 nm to 780 nm, inclusive, and a full-width half-maximum bandwidth of no more than 40 nm; and

a third plurality of LEDs affixed to the conductors, wherein each one of the third plurality of LEDs emits blue light with a peak wavelength in a range of 420 nm to 480 nm, inclusive, and a full-width half-maximum bandwidth of no more than 20 nm.

6. The gas-delivery lighting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a source of one or more aromatic chemicals useful for aroma therapy;

a temperature-adjustment device operatively coupled to the first gas conduit; and

a controller operatively coupled to the source of one or more aromatic chemicals, to the temperature-adjustment device, and to the first plurality of conductors coupled to the first plurality of LEDs, the controller configured to allow user control of light, the aroma therapy and gas temperature.

7. The gas-delivery lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first circuit substrate includes a plurality of layers of circuitry each on a separate one of a plurality of perforated circuitry sheets, wherein each one of the plurality of perforated circuitry sheets includes a plurality of LEDs.

8. The gas-delivery lighting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a source of one or more photosensitizing chemicals useful for therapy; and

a controller operatively coupled to the source of one or more photosensitizing chemicals, the controller configured to allow a health professional to control light and photosensitizing chemical delivery.

9. The gas-delivery lighting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a source of one or more plant fertilizer chemicals useful for plant growth; and

a controller operatively coupled to the source of one or more plant fertilizer chemicals, the controller configured to allow a worker to control light and plant fertilizer chemical delivery.

10. The gas-delivery lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein each one of the first plurality of LEDs emits red light with a peak wavelength in a range of 610 nm to 690 nm, inclusive, and a full-width half-maximum bandwidth of no more than 20 nm, and wherein the gas-delivery lighting apparatus further comprises:

a second plurality of LEDs affixed to the conductors, wherein each one of the second plurality of LEDs emits infrared light with a peak wavelength in a range of 700 nm to 780 nm, inclusive, and a full-width half-maximum bandwidth of no more than 40 nm;

a third plurality of LEDs affixed to the conductors, wherein each one of the third plurality of LEDs emits blue light with a peak wavelength in a range of 420 nm to 480 nm, inclusive, and a full-width half-maximum bandwidth of no more than 20 nm; and

a perforated transparent sheet disposed over the first, second, and third plurality of LEDs and operatively coupled to the first circuit substrate with a plurality of connectors that pass the gas through openings in the plurality of connectors.

11. The gas-delivery lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first circuit substrate is a flexible circuit substrate, wherein each one of the first plurality of LEDs emits red light with a peak wavelength in a range of 610 nm to 690 nm, inclusive, and a full-width half-maximum bandwidth of no more than 20 nm, and wherein the gas-delivery lighting apparatus further includes:

a second plurality of LEDs affixed to the conductors, wherein each one of the second plurality of LEDs emits infrared light with a peak wavelength in a range of 700 nm to 780 nm, inclusive, and a full-width half-maximum bandwidth of no more than 40 nm; and

a third plurality of LEDs affixed to the conductors, wherein each one of the third plurality of LEDs emits blue light with a peak wavelength in a range of 420 nm to 480 nm, inclusive, and a full-width half-maximum bandwidth of no more than 20 nm.

12. The gas-delivery lighting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a perforated transparent sheet disposed over the first plurality of LEDs and operatively coupled to the first circuit substrate with a plurality of connectors that pass the gas through openings in the plurality of connectors, wherein the first gas conduit includes:

a fan housing with an electrically powered fan mounted therein; and

an audio transducer that, at least periodically, applies an audio signal of about 600 hertz into the first gas conduit.

13. The gas-delivery lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first circuit substrate is a flexible circuit substrate, wherein the first gas conduit includes:

a fan housing with an electrically powered fan mounted therein; and

an audio transducer that, at least periodically, applies an audio signal of about 600 hertz into the first gas conduit.

14. The gas-delivery lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first circuit substrate is a flexible circuit substrate, and wherein the first circuit substrate includes a plurality of layers of circuitry each on a separate one of a plurality of perforated circuitry sheets, and wherein each one of the plurality of perforated circuitry sheets includes a plurality of LEDs.

15. The gas-delivery lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first circuit substrate is a flexible circuit substrate, wherein the first circuit substrate includes a plurality of layers of circuitry each on a separate one of a plurality of perforated circuitry sheets, wherein each one of the plurality of perforated circuitry sheets includes a plurality of LEDs, and wherein the first gas conduit includes:

a fan housing with an electrically powered fan mounted therein; and

an audio transducer that, at least periodically, applies an audio signal of about 600 hertz into the first gas conduit.

16. The gas-delivery lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first circuit substrate and the second circuit substrate form outer walls for the housing.

17. A gas-delivery lighting apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a first circuit substrate having a plurality of perforations, the substrate connected to the housing, wherein the circuit substrate has a plurality of conductors on a first face of the first circuit substrate;

a first plurality of LEDs affixed to the plurality of conductors, wherein the plurality of conductors form a parallel-series circuit with the LEDs, wherein each one of the first plurality of LEDs emits red light with a peak wavelength in a range of 610 nm to 690 nm, inclusive, and a full-width half-maximum bandwidth of no more than 20 nm;

a first gas conduit operably coupled to the housing, wherein the housing is configured so that gas delivered to the housing through the first gas conduit is emitted through the plurality of perforations;

a second plurality of LEDs affixed to the conductors, wherein each one of the second plurality of LEDs emits infrared light with a peak wavelength in a range of 700 nm to 780 nm, inclusive, and a full-width half-maximum bandwidth of no more than 40 nm; and

a third plurality of LEDs affixed to the conductors, wherein each one of the third plurality of LEDs emits blue light with a peak wavelength in a range of 420 nm to 480 nm, inclusive, and a full-width half-maximum bandwidth of no more than 20 nm, wherein each die of the first plurality of LED dice emits the blue light at a first intensity, wherein each die of the second plurality of LED dice emits the red light at a second intensity, wherein each die of the third plurality of LED dice emits the infrared light at a third intensity, and wherein the first intensity is 50 percent of the second intensity.

18. The gas-delivery lighting apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first gas conduit includes:

a fan housing with an electrically powered fan mounted therein; and

an audio transducer that, at least periodically, applies an audio signal of about 600 hertz into the first gas conduit.

19. An apparatus for mass production of plants, the apparatus comprising:

a plant-light system that includes a plurality of ducted plant-lighting plenum sheets, wherein each one of the plurality of ducted plant-lighting plenum sheets includes;

a housing having a support structure,

a first circuit substrate having a first plurality of perforations, the first circuit substrate connected to the support structure on a first side of the support structure, wherein the first circuit substrate has a first plurality of conductors on a first face of the first circuit substrate,

a first plurality of LEDs affixed to the first plurality of conductors, wherein the first plurality of conductors form a parallel-series circuit with the first plurality of LEDs,

a second circuit substrate having a second plurality of perforations, the second circuit substrate connected to the support structure on a second side of the support structure, opposite the first side, wherein the second circuit substrate has a second plurality of conductors on a first face of the second circuit substrate,

a second plurality of LEDs affixed to the second plurality of conductors, wherein the second plurality of conductors form a parallel-series circuit with the second plurality of LEDs, and

a first gas conduit operably coupled to the housing, wherein the housing is configured so that gas delivered to the housing through the first gas conduit is emitted through the first plurality of perforations and through the second plurality of perforations,

 

wherein each plant lighting sheet has a length and a width, wherein the plurality of lighting sheets is arranged along a length of a room;

a plurality of plant-holding pockets arranged along the length of the room generally parallel to the plurality of ducted plant-lighting plenum sheets; and

a plant-lighting plenum sheets motion and withdrawal system arranged to move the plurality of ducted plant-lighting plenum sheets to a plurality of different locations relative to the plurality of plant-holding pockets for different time periods.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a plurality of shelves, wherein the plurality of plant-holding pockets includes a plurality of pots configured to hold soil or soil substitute for growing plants, and wherein the pots of the plurality of pots are supported by the plurality of shelves.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a support sheet supported vertically, wherein the plurality of plant-holding pockets are attached to or formed from the support sheet and each of the plurality of plant-holding pockets is configured to hold one or more crop plants during a growth period of the crop plants.

22. A gas-delivery lighting apparatus comprising:

a housing having a support structure;

a first circuit substrate having a first plurality of perforations, the first circuit substrate connected to the support structure on a first side of the support structure, wherein the first circuit substrate has a first plurality of conductors on a first face of the first circuit substrate;

a first plurality of LEDs affixed to the first plurality of conductors, wherein the first plurality of conductors form a parallel-series circuit with the first plurality of LEDs;

a second circuit substrate having a second plurality of perforations, the second circuit substrate connected to the support structure on a second side of the support structure, opposite the first side, wherein the second circuit substrate has a second plurality of conductors on a first face of the second circuit substrate;

a second plurality of LEDs affixed to the second plurality of conductors, wherein the second plurality of conductors form a parallel-series circuit with the second plurality of LEDs; and

means for delivering a gas to the housing such that the gas is emitted out through the first plurality of perforations and out through the second plurality of perforations.