COMPACT HIGH BRIGHTNESS LED GROW LIGHT APPARATUS, USING AN EXTENDED POINT SOURCE LED ARRAY WITH LIGHT EMITTING DIODES

• US 20120043907A1
• Filed: 08/20/2010
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DiCon Fiber Optics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: DiCon Fiber Optics Incorporated
• Inventors: Lee, Ho-Shang, Lu, Junying Jonathan, Chiang, Brian I-Yuan
• Granted Patent: US 8,523,385 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/287
• 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: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/006 the substrate being distinct from the light source holder
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/51 using condensation or evaporation of a fluid, e.g. heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/76 with essentially identical parallel planar fins or blades, e.g. with comb-like cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses

Abstract

A compact high-brightness LED grow light fixture is described for use in growing plants under artificial light, or as a supplement to natural sunlight. The LED grow light uses a densely-packed array of high-brightness light emitting diodes (LEDs) that are not individually packaged where the array behaves similarly to a point source of light. The LED chips are distributed laterally over an area, where the LED chips have light emitting surfaces for emitting light in directions transverse to said area, wherein the dimensions of the area do not exceed 25 mm. Adjacent chips of the array are preferably separated by less than about 0.2 mm. The extended point source LED array, with its lens and associated reflector, result in a concentrated, partially-collimated light source, such that the intensity of the light does not diminish rapidly as distance from the light source increases. Thus, foliage that is lower down on the plant will receive almost as much light energy as does foliage on the top of the plant. The compact LED grow light does not block much of the natural sunlight, making the LED grow light suitable for use as a supplement to natural sunlight. The LED array contains a plurality of LED strings that may be separately controlled, thereby allowing the spectral content of the LED grow light to be varied, to facilitate desired plant growth at various stages of plant life. Multiple wavelengths of LEDs may be used within each LED string, thereby allowing the ability to further optimize the spectral content of the LED grow light. Due to the compact size of the LED grow light, the light emitted at each of the multiple different wavelengths from the array is evenly distributed, when the objects being illuminated by the array are at a distance of less than about 6 feet or even less than 1 foot from the array. Flexible mounting options allow for the use of multiple compact LED grow lights within a single plant growing area, and also allow for side or bottom lighting of plant foliage, in addition to the more typical overhead lighting.

Claims

1. A compact LED grow light apparatus, comprising:

an array of multiple LED chips without individual packaging, wherein the LED chips are distributed laterally over an area, said LED chips having light emitting surfaces for emitting light in directions transverse to said area, wherein the dimensions of the area do not exceed 25 mm;

an optical lens adjacent to the light emitting surfaces of the LED chips in said array that collects and directs light emitted by the LED chips of the array towards plants to enhance their growth; and

a reflector surrounding said array reflecting light emitted by the LED chips of the array towards plants to enhance their growth.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein adjacent chips of said array of multiple LED chips are separated by less than about 0.2 mm.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, said optical lens has a principal plane, wherein dimensions of said optical lens along said principal plane are less than about 30 mm.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, said array comprising LED chips that emit light of at least two different wavelengths from different portions of said area, wherein the light emitted at each of the at least two different wavelengths from the array is evenly distributed, when the objects being illuminated by the array are at a distance of less than about 6 feet from the array.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the light emitted at each of the at least two different wavelengths from the array is evenly distributed at distances of less than three feet.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the light emitted at each of the at least two different wavelengths from the array is evenly distributed at distances of less than one foot.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, said array comprising separate groups of the LED chips, said apparatus further comprising a plurality of drivers, each of said drivers driving one of said separate groups of the LED chips of the array, to enable light of different intensities to be emitted by the different groups of the LED chips.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least two of said groups of the LED chips emit light of different wavelengths, so that said drivers control the intensities and spectral range of light emitted by said apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising user controls that each enables users to control a corresponding one of said drivers, so that users are enabled to control individually intensities to be emitted by the different groups of the LED chips, and to control the intensities and spectral range of light emitted by said apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least one of said groups of the LED chips emit red or blue light of different wavelengths.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a controller for controlling the plurality of drivers to enable light of one intensity and spectral content to be emitted according to one state of a plurality of different pre-defined user-selectable light output states.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a selector switch that enables a user to select a desired state from said plurality of pre-defined user-selectable light output states.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said selector switch is operable by wireless means.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, said plurality of pre-defined user-selectable light output states including states of light output optimized for specific desired effects related to plant growth, propagation, or prevention of specific undesirable plant effects.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, said specific desired effects including maximum vegetation growth or flowering or development of fruits or seeds.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, said specific desired effects including minimal plant growth while maintaining plant health.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a USB interface through which pre-defined user-selectable light output states are loaded into said controller.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a real time clock wherein said controller is programmable to select from said plurality of pre-defined user-selectable light output states based on time of day, date or growing season based on time of said real time clock.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vapor chamber and a heat sink removing heat from all of the multiple LED chips.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more drivers supplying current pulses to the LED chips.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a supporting structure comprising at least two different layers of anodized aluminum oxide, including a porous anodized aluminum oxide layer and a non-porous anodized aluminum oxide layer;

said array of LED chips bonded to said supporting structure.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hanging mount for supporting the array, the optical lens and reflector that enable the supply of light from above the plants.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a stand mount and a flexible elbow for supporting the array, the optical lens and reflector that enable the supply of light from a side or bottom direction relative to plants.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said stand mount is telescopic so that height of the array, the optical lens and reflector is adjustable.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising additional arrays of multiple LED chips without individual packaging, wherein the LED chips in each additional array are distributed laterally over a corresponding area, said LED chips in each additional array having light emitting surfaces for emitting light in directions transverse to said corresponding area, wherein the dimensions of the corresponding area in each additional array do not exceed 25 mm;

a plurality of additional optical lenses, each of the lenses adjacent to the light emitting surfaces of the LED chips of a corresponding one of said additional arrays, said additional optical lenses collecting and directing light emitted by the LED chips of such additional arrays towards plants to enhance their growth; and

a plurality of additional reflectors, each of the additional reflectors surrounding a corresponding one of said additional arrays, reflecting light emitted by the LED chips of the additional arrays towards plants to enhance their growth.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a motorized rack to move the array, optical lens and reflector.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said motorized rack causes rotational motion, oscillating motion, or rectilinear motion of the array, optical lens and reflector, or a combination thereof.