APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PLANT METABOLISM MANIPULATION USING SPECTRAL OUTPUT

• US 20110125296A1
• Filed: 07/25/2009
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David A. Hillstrom III, Jeffery Bucove
• Original Assignee: David A. Hillstrom III, Jeffery Bucove
• Inventors: Hillstrom, David A. III, Bucove, Jeffery
• Granted Patent: US 8,738,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/90
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/249 Lighting means with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045
• CPC Class Codes: A01H 3/00 Processes for modifying phenotypes , e.g. symbiosis with bacteria A01H4/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/40 Monitoring or fighting invasive species
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses

Abstract

An array or multiple arrays of energy efficient LEDs are configured in proximity to plant life to emit light energy in a variety of photosynthetic promoting frequencies and power outputs. Specific light frequencies are selected after analyzing the photosynthetic properties of the plant of interest. The LEDs are remotely controlled and can be remotely controlled through a handheld device using a GUI adapted for that purpose. A variety of LEDs emitting a variety of photosynthetically useful wavelengths are arrayed together. The array can be controlled to emit pre-dawn and after-sunset glows. The array can also be used to inhibit plant growth by adjusting frequencies.

Claims

1. An apparatus for metabolism manipulation of life forms using spectral output comprising:

an at least one array of light sources having metabolic promoting spectral emissions, a remotely programmable microcontroller for controlling said spectral emissions in a desired manner operatively connected to said array, software for driving said microcontroller, a memory for storing said software, a power source operatively connected to the array and a graphic user interface for an operator input to said apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said life forms are plants and said at least one array of light sources has photosynthetic promoting spectral emissions.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said life forms are single-cell animals.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said life forms are multi-cellular animals.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said at least one array of light sources comprises a first plurality of identical light sources having a first spectral emission, a second plurality of identical light sources having a second spectral emission and a third plurality of identical light sources having a third spectral emission, wherein each of the first second and third pluralities of identical light sources are controlled by the microcontroller.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one array of light sources comprises a predetermined number of pluralities of identical light sources having a predetermined number of respective photosynthetic promoting spectral emissions so that said predetermined number of respective photo-synthetic promoting spectral emissions is compatible with the photosynthetic characteristics of a plant of interest and sufficient to promote growth thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first, second and third pluralities of light sources populate a respective first, second and third distinct surface areas of the at least one array.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first, second and third pluralities of light sources are mixed to populate the entire surface of the array.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one array and the micro-controller is fixed to a single circuit board.

10. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first, second and third spectral emissions are at respective first, second and third photosynthetic promoting wavelengths.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the microcontroller is adapted to transmit illumination commands to the at least first array of light sources.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said illumination commands include, for each specific light source plurality, on commands, off commands, intensity commands and strobe commands.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the commands further include preglow and afterglow commands.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the microcontroller is programmed to command the array to emit predetermined wavelengths of photosynthetic promoting light for a first predetermined period of time.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the microcontroller is programmed to command the array to emit predetermined wavelengths of predetermined power outputs for a second predetermined period of time.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one array of light sources is networked to another at least one array of light sources and wherein the networked array is controlled by said control means.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one array of light sources is programmable remotely from a handheld device over the Internet.

18. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said strobe commands activate the lights at a strobe frequency of 36 KHz.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said software is open source software.

21. The method of claim 12 further including the step of simulating a predawn glow.

22. The method of claim 13 further including the step of simulating an after sunset glow.

23. The method of claim 14 further including the step of strobing specific pluralities of light sources for desired time intervals at desired intensities.

20. A method for plant metabolism manipulation using spectral output comprising the steps of:

a. Determining the photosynthetic properties of a plant of interest;

b. Fabricating an array of light sources comprising in combination desired pluralities of light sources having desired spectral emissions that are compatible with said photosynthetic properties of said plant of interest;

c. Placing the plant of interest in desirable proximity to said array of light sources; and

,

d. Operatively connecting a programmable microprocessor to the array of light sources wherein the programmable microprocessor is adapted to transmit commands to the desired pluralities of light sources so that they emit the desired spectral emissions at a desired time and for a desired period at a desired intensity.