Dual Plasma Luminaire for Indoor Horticulture

• US 20150109779A1
• Filed: 10/16/2014
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomas C. Dimitriadis
• Original Assignee: Thomas C. Dimitriadis
• Inventors: Dimitriadis, Thomas C.
• Application Number:
  US14/515,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20150109779A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/235
• 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: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses

Abstract

An illumination apparatus comprises a compound reflector panel for directing light energy from at least two solid state, point source light emitter into a combined emission pattern having substantially uniform spatial and spectral illumination at a predetermined target area. The first and second light emitters, mounted in respective first and second defined portions of the compound reflector panel, effectively provide point sources, each having a defined spectral characteristic. The spectral characteristics may be selected to provide appropriate bandwidth and intensity of illumination for indoor horticultural applications.

Claims

1. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

a compound reflector panel formed of first and second reflecting portions for directing light energy from at least two spaced-apart, point source light emitters into a composite light emission pattern having substantially uniform spatial and spectral illumination of a predetermined target area; and

first and second solid state plasma light emitters, having defined spectral characteristics and mounted in spaced-apart relationship in the respective first and second reflecting portions of the compound reflector panel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compound reflector panel comprises:

an array of intersecting surfaces disposed around each light source, the panels arranged to reflect emission from each light emitter into a merged pattern of illumination at the predetermined target area.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the array of intersecting surfaces comprises:

an array of flat reflecting surfaces formed by respective frustums of first and second right, rectangular or triangular pyramid-shaped shells partially merged and joined together along a common boundary.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the common boundary defines the apex of a substantially V-shaped, downward-pointing ridge disposed midway between the first and second light emitters and aligned at a right angle to a centerline between the first and second light emitting sources.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the V-shaped ridge defines a partial reflecting barrier to a proximate portion of light rays emitted laterally from each first and second light emitter.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined target area is defined by a plane of illumination spaced near the illumination apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second solid state plasma light emitters comprise:

emitters approximating point sources of light and having broadband emission characteristics within at least a portion of the visible spectrum.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compound reflective panel includes a reflective surface for each light emitter joined at a mutual boundary thereby forming a single compound surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compound reflective panel includes at least one receptacle for a light emitter disposed within each first and second defined portion of the compound reflector panel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:

a housing formed as a canopy for enclosing a backside of the compound reflector panel and circuitry for operating the first and second light emitters.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second solid state plasma light emitters comprise:

emitters approximating point sources of light, each having dissimilar defined spectral characteristics.

12. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

a compound reflector panel, formed of first and second defined reflecting surfaces and joined along a common boundary, for directing light energy from at least two spaced-apart, point source light emitters into a combined emission pattern having substantially uniform spatial and spectral illumination at a predetermined target area; and

first and second solid state light emitting diodes, each approximating point sources of light having defined emission characteristics within a substantial portion of the visible spectrum and mounted in the respective first and second defined reflecting surfaces of the compound reflector panel.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the compound reflector panel comprises:

an array of intersecting surfaces disposed around each light source, the panels arranged to reflect emission from each light emitter into a merged pattern of illumination at the predetermined target area.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the array of intersecting surfaces comprises:

an array of flat reflecting surfaces formed by respective frustrums of first and second right, rectangular or triangular pyramid-shaped shells partially merged and joined together along a common boundary.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the common boundary defines the apex of a substantially V-shaped, downward-pointing ridge disposed midway between the first and second light emitters and aligned at a right angle to a centerline between the first and second light emitting sources.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the V-shaped ridge defines a partial reflecting barrier to a proximate portion of light rays emitted laterally from each first and second light emitter.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the predetermined target area is defined by a plane of illumination spaced near the illumination apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first and second solid state light emitting diodes comprise:

emitters approximating point sources of light and having broadband emission characteristics within at least a portion of the visible spectrum.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the compound reflective panel includes a reflective surface for each light emitter joined at a mutual boundary thereby forming a single compound surface.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the compound reflective panel includes at least one receptacle for a light emitter disposed within each first and second defined portion of the compound reflector panel.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, comprising:

a housing formed as a canopy for enclosing a backside of the compound reflector panel and circuitry for operating the first and second light emitters.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first and second light emitting diodes comprise:

light emitters approximating point sources of light, each having dissimilar defined spectral characteristics.

23. An illumination apparatus for indoor horticulture, comprising:

a compound reflector panel having first and second reflecting portions for directing light energy respectively from a first and a second spaced-apart, point source light emitter;

the compound reflector panel formed as an array of reflecting surfaces disposed around each first and second light emitter, the surfaces formed by respective frustrums of first and second right, rectangular or triangular pyramid-shaped shells partially merged and joined together along a common boundary which defines the apex of a substantially V-shaped, downward-pointing ridge disposed midway between the first and second light emitters, the ridge aligned substantially at a right angle to a centerline between the first and second light emitters; and

first and second solid state plasma light emitters, having dissimilar spectral characteristics and mounted in spaced-apart relationship in the respective first and second reflecting portions of the compound reflector panel;

wherein the compound reflector panel provides a merged pattern of illumination at a predetermined target area with substantially uniform spatial and spectral illumination thereof.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the V-shaped ridge defines a partial reflecting barrier to a proximate portion of light rays emitted laterally from each first and second light emitter.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the compound reflective panel includes a reflective surface for each light emitter joined at a mutual boundary thereby forming a single compound surface.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, comprising:

a housing formed as a canopy for enclosing a backside of the compound reflector panel and circuitry for operating the first and second light emitters.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first and second light emitters comprise:

emitters approximating point sources of light and having broadband emission characteristics within at least a portion of the visible spectrum.