APPARTUS AND METHOD FOR AFFECTING CHANGE IN A TARGET USING AN INTEGRATED LIGHTING SYSTEM

• US 20100301990A1
• Filed: 05/26/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Orbital Technologies Corporation (Sierra Nevada Co. LLC)
• Original Assignee: Orbital Technologies Corporation (Sierra Nevada Co. LLC)
• Inventors: Anderson, Ronald J., Morrow, Robert, Bourget, Christopher Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/787,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20100301990A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Abstract

Methods and systems for affecting change in a target using an integrated lighting system are provided. A light source having one or more parameters and being configured to provide lighting is operably connectable to a control system. A sensor configured to detect a lighting condition from a target and/or target environment is also operably connectable to the control system. The control system may adjust the one or more parameters of the light source assembly when the detected lighting condition from the target environment is different from a desired lighting condition. The light source, sensor, and control system may be provided in connection with an enclosed environment.

Claims

1. An apparatus for affecting change in a target by using an integrated lighting system, the apparatus comprising:

a light source assembly including a plurality of LEDs having one or more parameters and being configured to provide lighting, wherein each of the plurality of LEDs are individually integrated in the assembly;

a sensor configured to detect at least one lighting condition from the target and/or the light source assembly, wherein the target is an object, including an organism, and one of the lighting conditions detected from the target is whether or not the target is present; and

a control system operably connectable to the light source assembly and the sensor, wherein the control system intelligently controls the amount and type of light provided to the target by controlling each of the plurality of LEDs and the sensor individually;

wherein when the sensor detects the lighting condition from the target and/or the light source assembly, the sensor sends a signal representing a detected lighting condition to the control system;

wherein upon receiving the signal from the sensor, the control system compares the detected lighting condition to a desired lighting condition; and

wherein if the detected lighting condition is different from the desired lighting condition, the control system adjusts the one or more parameters of the light source assembly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source assembly further comprises at least one non-LED light source.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source assembly is arranged within an enclosed environment in an overhead configuration.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source assembly is arranged within an enclosed environment in an intracanopy configuration.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enclosed environment includes a side wall and a floor which are made of or coated with an enhanced reflecting material.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising sensors configured for detecting temperature, humidity, or gas composition within an enclosed environment.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the desired lighting condition is determined by a user, which is entered into the control system.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the desired lighting condition is determined automatically by the control system.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the target is a biological organism.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the target is at least one plant in a plant growing environment and the sensor is configured to detect the stage of growth of the plant.

11. A method for affecting change in a target using an integrated lighting system, the method comprising:

providing a light source assembly including a plurality of LEDs having one or more parameters and being configured to provide lighting, wherein each of the plurality of LEDs are individually integrated in the light source assembly;

providing a sensor configured to detect at least one lighting condition from the environment and/or the light source assembly, and wherein one of the lighting conditions detected from the target is whether or not the target is present; and

providing a control system operably connectable to the light source assembly and the sensor, wherein the control system intelligently controls the amount and type of light provided to the target by controlling each LED and each sensor individually;

wherein when the sensor detects the lighting condition from the target and/or the light source assembly, the sensor sends a signal representing a detected lighting condition to the control system;

wherein upon receiving the signal from the sensor, the control system compares the detected lighting condition to a desired lighting condition; and

wherein if the detected lighting condition is different from the desired lighting condition, the control system adjusts the one or more parameters of the light source assembly.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the light source assembly further comprises a non-LED light source.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of LEDs has an output wavelength different from the output wavelength of the other LEDs.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the light source assembly is arranged within an environment in an overhead configuration.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the light source assembly is arranged within an environment in an intracanopy configuration.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the environment includes a side wall and a floor which are made of or coated with an enhanced reflecting material.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising sensors configured for detecting temperature, humidity, or gas composition within an enclosed environment.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the desired lighting condition is determined by a user, which is entered into the control system.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the desired lighting condition is determined automatically by the control system.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor is further configured to detect the presence of a plant.