GROW LIGHT SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME

• US 20160037730A1
• Filed: 08/06/2015
• Published: 02/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Energy & Lighting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Global Energy & Lighting, Inc.
• Inventors: Whittingham, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,497,905 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: H05B 41/38 Controlling the intensity of light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses

Abstract

Grow light systems and methods for controlling the systems are described herein. The grow light system can include an integrated lamp and light emitting diodes (LEDs) structure that produces an energy signature highly conducive to plant growth, and that uses minimal energy.

Claims

1. A light system comprising:

a support member;

a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp secured to the support member;

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) secured to the support member, wherein energy produced by simultaneous operation of the HID lamp and the LEDs is characterized by a combined energy profile; and

control circuitry in operative communication with the HID lamp and the LEDs, the control circuitry is operative to;

instruct the HID lamp and the LEDs to simultaneously emit energy; and

control output of the LEDs to adjust the combined energy profile.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is operative to:

select one of a plurality of energy management profiles; and

control output of the LEDs based on the selected energy management profile.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein each one of the energy management profiles is optimized for growing a particular plant species.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the output of the LEDs exhibit a LED energy profile, and wherein the LED energy profile changes is changed over time to maximize growth potential of a plant receiving the combined energy profile.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is operative to adjust a power level of the HID lamp.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is operative to adjust a power level of each one of the plurality of LEDs.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is operative to adjust an energy frequency output of each one of the plurality of LEDs.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one camera mounted to the structure, wherein the control circuitry is operative to perform at least one action based on image data captured by the at least one camera.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one action is instructing a vertical positioning system to adjust an elevation of the light system with respect to a ground plane.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising communications circuitry in operative communication with the control circuitry.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the HID lamp exhibits a lamp energy profile, and wherein the LEDs exhibit a LED energy profile, and wherein the control circuitry is operative to control the LED energy profile to supplement the lamp energy profile to produce the combined energy profile.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the combined energy profile more accurately characterizes an energy profile of the sun than the lamp energy profile and LED energy profile.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is operative to control the LED energy profile to supplement at least one portion of the lamp energy profile.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one portion comprises electromagnetic energy ranging between 630 nm and 730 nm.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one portion comprises electromagnetic energy ranging between 660 nm and 690 nm.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one portion comprises electromagnetic energy ranging between 450 nm and 495 nm.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the support member comprises a center portion and an outer portion, and wherein the HID lamp is secured to the center portion and the LEDs are secured to the outer portion.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least two cameras mounted to the structure, wherein the control circuitry is operative to ascertain information of a plant based on image data captured by the at least two cameras.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the information comprises a height of the plant, wherein the control circuitry is operative to adjust a height of the light system to compensate for changes in detected height of the plant.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the information comprises growth mass.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the image data provides a 3D view of the plant.