Horticultural lighting system

• US 20060006820A1
• Filed: 07/07/2004
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Douglas Lee Roseman, Noah Greenfield Mervine
• Original Assignee: Douglas Lee Roseman, Noah Greenfield Mervine
• Inventors: Roseman, Douglas Lee, Mervine, Noah Greenfield
• Application Number:
  US10/885,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20060006820A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/312
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/20 Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses

Abstract

A versatile yet highly specialized lighting system comprising a light source that emits specific and specialized light spectra and is adjustable through the use of a control interface, which is able to support plants form seedling to mature flowering and fruiting adults. The lighting system utilizes a power source to energize a lighting fixture. A given lighting fixture includes high efficiency luminary devices that may have varying color combinations and spatial arrangements. A substrate provides support and thermal management. Electrical connectors allow multiple lighting fixtures to be connected to a single power source. A switching device allows linear control of intensity, time and color parameters of the emitted light, and is programmable to simulate photoperiods and spectrum shift. The system is optimized to stimulate growth in plants during times of different light-intensity and light-spectrum needs. The design of the present invention takes into consideration various factors so the claimed lighting system operates at the highest possible efficiency and exhibits the longest possible life.

Claims

1. ) A horticultural lighting system comprised of:

A master unit further comprising;

A chassis comprising a sturdy enclosure whereby all electrical components are adequately protected; and

A power cord comprising suitable conductive, insulative and tensile members; and

A power supply.

A fixture further comprising;

A main substrate.

At least one luminary group comprising one to a plurality of luminaries.

A link cable comprising a plurality of electrically-conductive bundles providing electrical connectivity between said master unit and said fixture.

2. ) The system as claimed in claim 1 further including a disconnectable connection means comprised of:

A quick connect plug further comprising;

a suitable electrically-insulative structure mechanically bonded to said link cable whereby said link cable operates in a structurally-sound fashion; and

a set of electrically conductive pins each electrically bonded to each of said bundles respectively.

A complementary quick connect receptacle further comprising;

a similar electrically insulative material and electrically conductive receptacles structurally complementary in nature needs electrically and mechanically bonded to said master unit.

whereby said plug plugs into said complementary receptacle and therefore said fixture derives power from said master unit.

3. ) The system as claimed in claim 1 further including at least one additional receptacle whereby a plurality of fixtures may derive power from the electronic device.

4. ) The link cable as claimed in claim 1 comprising a duplicity of conductors whereby current will continue to flow and the luminary elements continue to emit light in spite of a hypothetical failure of a given current path, and therefore operation is made more reliable.

5. ) The disconnectable connection means as claimed in claim 2 further including a water-impermeable seal and a locking mechanism whereby dust, water and other contaminants are adequately repelled and electrical connection is insured.

6. ) The fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein said substrate comprises a section of material being of heat diffusive and physically supportive properties whereon said luminary group is mounted and operates at a temperature essentially the same as the surrounding air whereby operational efficiency and life-span are maximized.

7. ) The fixture as claimed in claim 1 further including a strain relief means comprising a physical support affixed to said substrate and serving to clamp said link cable to said substrate whereby physical strain originating from said link cable is transferred to said substrate and isolated from said luminary elements.

9. ) The fixture as claimed in claim 1 further including second substrate fixably mounted to said main substrate forming a protective zone using a suitable fastener whereby hookup wires which connect to said luminary group are protected from damaging elemental forces.

10. ) The fixture as claimed in claim 1 further including secondary electronic components whereby current through said luminary is limited to an acceptable level.

11. ) The fixture as claimed in claim 1 further including a current bypass means comprising solid state components connected in avalanche fashion making electrical connections on the respective upstream and downstream sides of a given luminary group whereby, in the event of a hypothetical failure of a luminary group, any other luminary group may operate through said bypass in spite of the hypothetical failure in conjunction with a the series connection of the hypothetically-failed luminary group with the other luminary groups.

12. ) The fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein groups of luminary elements comprise series-connected luminaries whereby current regulation in many luminaries is accomplished using a single current regulator.

13. ) The fixture as claimed in claim 1 further including a polymer-coating impervious to a liquid whereby said lighting fixture may be operated normally while submerged in said liquid, further that said link cable is similarly impervious to said liquid.

14. ) The luminary group as claimed in claim 1 wherein a given luminary element is a light emitting diode (LED) whereby maximum efficiency, life span and durability are attained.

15. ) The luminary group as claimed in claim 1 wherein

said luminary group comprise two subgroups of devices wherein a first subgroup is rated to emit dominant wavelengths 400 to 500 nanometers and a second subgroup is rated to emit dominant wavelengths about 620 to 690 nanometers

whereby basic plant growth lighting needs are met.

16. ) The luminary group as claimed in claim 1 wherein

a majority of luminary elements comprise two subgroups of devices wherein a first subgroup is rated to emit dominant wavelengths about 400 to 500 nanometers and a second subgroup is rated to emit dominant wavelengths of about 630 to 690 nanometers;

and

a minority of luminary elements comprise two subgroups of devices wherein a subgroup is rated to emit dominant wavelengths about 510 to 560 nanometers and another subgroup is rated to emit dominant wavelengths about 590 to 630 nanometers

whereby photosynthesis, phototropism, chlorophyll synthesis are enhanced and trace light requirements are met and desired growth is further enhanced.

17. ) The luminary group as claimed in claim 1 wherein

a majority of luminary elements comprise two subgroups of devices wherein a first subgroup is rated to emit dominant wavelengths from 350 to 480 nanometers and a second subgroup is rated to emit dominant wavelengths about 630 to 690 nanometers whereby photosynthesis, phototropism, fruiting and flowering may be selectively controlled;

and

a first minority of devices comprise two luminary subgroups wherein a subgroup is rated to emit dominant wavelengths between 510 to 560 nanometers and another subgroup is rated to emit dominant wavelengths between 610 to 630 nanometers whereby the trace light requirements for photosynthesis are met; and

a second minority of devices comprising a luminary subgroup rated to emit dominant wavelengths between 705 to 745 nanometers whereby the phytochrome reversion reaction may be selectively accelerated; and

a third minority of devices comprising a luminary subgroup rated to emit dominant wavelengths near 290 and 320 to 380 nanometers whereby cryptochrome is stimulated to a great extent.

18. ) The link cable as claimed in claim 1 comprising

a flexible and insulative layer independently encapsulating each of said conductive bundles;

and

a resilient outer jacket whereby the electrical integrity of said insulative members and said conductive members is insured.

19. ) The master unit as claimed in claim 1 further including an impedance-matching power supply means comprising at least one inductive element wherein an alternating voltage is used to match the impedance of the power source with the impedance of the luminaries whereby power is conserved allowing maximum possible overall efficiency.

20. ) The master unit as claimed in claim 1 further including an external means to set the specific output of a given light wavelength comprising at least one manually-actuated device mechanically coupled to a variable electronic element and mounted in the front panel of said electronic device, whereby the spectral output from said fixture may be manually controlled.

21. ) The master unit as claimed in claim 1 further including a timer circuit to energize and de-energize luminary groups at specified times.

22. ) The master unit as claimed in claim 1 further including brightness control by which intensity of each color output may be programmed whereby the growing seasons may be simulated and maximum yield produced.

23. ) The master unit as claimed in claim 20 further including a solid state microcontroller whereby said intensity and said times are programmable and preset programmed seasons may be included for fast and easy startup.

24. ) The master unit as claimed in claim 21 further including a means for-one touch nighttime operation comprising a manually-actuated electrical switch gating power to an green or amber-light-emitting luminary group whereby illuminated human interaction with plants during an ordinarily-dark period may occur without disturbing a photoperiodistic season.

25. ) The master unit as claimed in claim 1 further including a backup power unit comprising a battery charger, a low-battery cutout circuit and battery-interface hardware.

26. ) The power supply as claimed in claim 1 further including a fault-current disconnect, a power switch and a power indicator.

27. ) The power supply as claimed in claim 1 further including a switching regulator circuit which produces an oscillating power signal whereby the impedance-matching function may be utilized given a direct current source.