ILLUMINATION DEVICE FOR PLANTS

• US 20110234120A1
• Filed: 03/23/2010
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Great Top Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Great Top Technology Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: LIN, Yu-Chen
• Granted Patent: US 8,222,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/294
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/40 Lighting for industrial, commercial, recreational or military use
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/20 of different form
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 35/00 Electric light sources using a combination of different types of light generation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 315/04 Dimming circuit for fluorescent lamps

Abstract

An illumination device for plants includes a lighting unit mounted on a lamp seat and including a cold cathode fluorescent lamp and a light emitting diode (LED) unit. A driving unit is mounted to the lamp seat, is coupled to the cold cathode fluorescent lamp and the LED unit, and is operable so as to drive the cold cathode fluorescent lamp and the LED unit such that the cold cathode fluorescent lamp and the LED emit respectively color lights having respective wavelengths. A dimming unit is coupled to the driving unit, and is operable so as to output a dimming output to the driving unit. The driving unit drives the cold cathode fluorescent lamp and the LED unit based on the dimming output from the dimming unit so that the color light emitted by each of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp and the LED unit has a respective light intensity.

Claims

1. An illumination device for plants, comprising:

a lamp seat;

at least one lighting unit mounted on said lamp seat and including at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp and a light emitting diode (LED) unit;

a driving unit mounted to said lamp seat, coupled to said cold cathode fluorescent lamp and said LED unit of said lighting unit, and operable so as to drive said cold cathode fluorescent lamp and said LED unit of said lighting unit such that each of said cold cathode fluorescent lamp and said LED unit of said lighting unit emits color light having a respective wavelength; and

a dimming unit coupled to said driving unit and operable so as to output a dimming output to said driving unit, said driving unit driving said cold cathode fluorescent lamp and said LED unit of said lighting unit based on the dimming output from said dimming unit so that the color light emitted by each of said cold cathode fluorescent lamp and said LED unit of said lighting unit has a respective light intensity.

2. The illumination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said lighting unit further includes at least one transparent tube body mounted on said lamp seat for receiving said cold cathode fluorescent lamp therein; and

said LED unit of said lighting unit is disposed directly on said lamp seat.

3. The illumination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the color light emitted by each of said cold cathode fluorescent lamp and said LED unit of said lighting unit is one of red color light, blue color light and green color light.

4. The illumination device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the wavelength of the color light emitted by each of said cold cathode fluorescent lamp and said LED unit of said lighting unit ranges from 645 nm to 675 nm when the color light emitted by a corresponding one of said cold cathode fluorescent lamp and said LED unit of said lighting unit is red color light, ranges from 515 nm to 545 nm when the color light emitted by the corresponding one of said cold cathode fluorescent lamp and said LED unit of said lighting unit is green color light, and ranges from 435 nm to 465 nm when the color light emitted by the corresponding one of said cold cathode fluorescent lamp and said LED unit of said lighting unit is blue color light.

5. The illumination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said dimming unit includes

first and second control buttons mounted on said lamp seat and operable so as to generate respectively first and second input signals, and

a dimming circuit mounted to said lamp seat, connected electrically to said first and second control buttons and said driving unit, receiving the first and second input signals generated respectively by said first and second control buttons, and outputting to said driving unit first and second dimming control signals corresponding respectively to the first and second input signals received thereby, the first and second dimming control signals constituting the dimming output;

the light intensity of the color light emitted by said cold cathode fluorescent lamp of said lighting unit is modulated in response to the first dimming control signal; and

the light intensity of the color light emitted by said LED unit of said lighting unit is modulated in response to the second dimming control signal.

6. The illumination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said dimming unit includes

a control button mounted on said lamp seat and operable so as to generate an input signal, and

a dimming circuit mounted to said lamp seat, connected electrically to said control button and said driving unit, receiving the input signal generated by said control button, and outputting to said driving unit a dimming control signal corresponding to the input signal received thereby, the dimming control signal serving as the dimming output; and

the light intensity of the color light emitted by each of said cold cathode fluorescent lamp and said LED unit of said lighting unit is modulated in response to the dimming control signal.

7. The illumination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lighting unit further includes a transparent tube body mounted on said lamp seat for receiving said cold cathode fluorescent lamp and said LED unit therein.

8. The illumination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said LED unit of said lighting unit includes at least one LED.