AUTOMATED GROW SYSTEM

• US 20140026474A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 01/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Charles J. Kulas
• Original Assignee: Charles J. Kulas
• Inventors: Kulas, Charles J.
• Application Number:
  US13/830,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20140026474A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 47/1.7
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/00 Botany in general
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/02 Receptacles, e.g. flower-pots or boxes self-acting watering devices A01G27/00; hanging flower baskets, holders or containers for flower-pots A47G7/00; Glasses for cultivating flowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/16 Dismountable or portable greenhouses ; Greenhouses with sliding roofs
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/24 Devices or systems for heating, ventilating, regulating temperature , illuminating, or watering, in greenhouses, forcing-frames, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/25 Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor

Abstract

Embodiments generally relate to a system for growing plants or other living organisms. A container is used that includes sensors for sensing conditions of the plant. Dispensers, such as emitters, provide a way to dispense materials such as water, nutrients, insecticides, herbicides, etc. under human or machine control. A network connection allows monitoring and control of the container from a remote site. Management of plant growth can be local or remote, or a combination of the two. Control expertise can be selected by a user who is local to the container from a website. Control expertise can also be provided by a human expert who is remote from the container. Other features are described.

Claims

1. An apparatus for growing a plant, the apparatus comprising an enclosure;

a sensor for sensing a condition of a plant inside the enclosure;

a dispenser for applying a material to the plant;

a receptacle associated with the enclosure and coupled to the dispenser for dispensing the material to the plant; and

a communication module for transmitting the sensor signal over the Internet and for receiving a signal from the Internet to control dispensing of the material to the plant in response to the sensor signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor signal is conveyed to a human at a remote location.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the received signal is derived at least in part from a human at a remote location.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a local controller.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the local controller receives a profile, wherein the profile includes instructions for dispensing a material to the plant.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is inside the enclosure.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is outside the enclosure.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is powered by a battery.

9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sensor registers with the local controller.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dispenser registers with the local controller.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a cartridge for containing the material, wherein the cartridge is coupled to the receptacle.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the cartridge is identified automatically at the local controller.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a keypad for allowing a user to enter information to identify the cartridge.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein an order alert for the cartridge is generated automatically when a material level inside the cartridge reaches a predetermined level.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein one or more of the following is included as information in association with the cartridge:

prepared-on date, expiration date, brand, manufacturer, or quantity.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein cartridge information is determined by one or more of optical character recognition (OCR), bar code scanning, radio-frequency identification (RFID), or quick response (QR) code.