GREENHOUSE SYSTEM

• US 20100289411A1
• Filed: 10/03/2008
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno
• Original Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno
• Inventors: Smits, Jan J., Oosterhuis, Gerrit, Aulbers, Antonius Paulus
• Granted Patent: US 8,373,361 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/113
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/22 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses

Abstract

Greenhouse system may comprise an illumination, a sensor, and a controller. The illumination and controller are arranged to vary the intensity and the spectral distribution of the light emitted by the illumination. The emitted light may be pulsed light, the pulse characteristics being variable by the controller in dependency of the output of the sensor. The controller are arranged to interpret the relevant variables measured by the sensor and to assess the actual and/or expected growth of the relevant plants, and to control the intensity and/or the spectral distribution of the light emitted by the illumination. Some sensors may be provided for measuring the intensity and/or spectral distribution of the actual light in the greenhouse, other sensors for measuring plant dimensions of the relevant plants or plant groups. The illumination may comprise a heat collection which can be connected to heating or air conditioning inside or outside the greenhouse.

Claims

1. Greenhouse system for providing illumination to plants in a greenhouse for the benefit of plant growth, the system comprising

a lamp or lamps for the illumination of the plants inside the greenhouse;

a sensor or sensors for measuring one or more variables other than overall illumination intensity, which are directly or indirectly related to the growth, development or health of the plants or groups of the plants; and

a controller coupled to the lamp or lamps and the sensor or sensors and configured to control the lamp or lamps in dependency of an output of the sensor or sensors.

2. Greenhouse system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor or sensors comprise a sensor or sensors for measuring at least one of CO₂ pressure, temperature, air humidity and soil humidity, and wherein the controller is configured to limit intensity of the light emitted by the lamp or lamps in dependency of an output of the sensor or sensors for measuring at least one of CO₂ pressure, temperature, air humidity and soil humidity.

3. Greenhouse system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor or sensors comprise a sensor or sensors for measuring wavelength distribution of actual light in the greenhouse;

and wherein the controller is configured to vary intensity and spectral distribution of the light emitted by the lamp or lamps in dependency of an output of the sensor or sensors for measuring the wavelength distribution.

4. Greenhouse system according to claim 1, wherein the lamp or lamps comprises one or more arrays of semiconductor based light emitting devices (SBLEDs), the emitted light of which covers a spectral range which is relevant for the plant growth.

5. Greenhouse system according to claim 4, wherein the emitted light comprises a spectral range which is relevant for pest and/or disease control.

6. Greenhouse system according to claim 4, wherein the lamp or lamps are configured to emit pulsed light, the controller being configured to vary pulse characteristics in dependency of the output of the sensors.

7. Greenhouse system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is arranged to interpret the relevant variables measured by the sensor or sensors and to assess actual and/or expected growth of the relevant plants, and to control intensity and/or the spectral distribution of light emitted by the lamp or lamps to those relevant plants in accordance with the assessment result.

8. Greenhouse system according to claim 1, comprising one or more sensors for measuring one or more plant dimensions of the relevant plants or groups of plants.

9. Greenhouse system according to claim 3, wherein the lamp or lamps comprise a heat collector with an output connected to a heater or air conditioner inside or outside the relevant greenhouse.

10. Computer program product, comprising a program of instructions that, when executed by a programmable computer, cause the computer to interpret variables measured by a sensor or sensors in a greenhouse and to assess actual and/or expected growth of plants, and to generate a control signal for controlling intensity and/or spectral distribution of light emitted by a lamp or lamps, to those plants in accordance with a result of the assessment.