Plant oriented control system

• US 4,430,828 A
• Filed: 03/08/1983
• Issued: 02/14/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OCS, Inc. (Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Oglevee Computer Systems
• Inventors: Oglevee, James R., Oglevee, Kirk A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/472,889
• Time in Patent Office: 343 Days
• Field of Search: 47/17, 236/44 C, 165/21
• US Class Current: 47/17
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/246 Air-conditioning systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/25 Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor

Abstract

A system for controlling environmental conditions in greenhouses having a plurality of crop beds. The system comprises sensors stationed over crop beds comprising an aspirated enclosure and means therein for generating analog electrical signals indicative of wet bulb and dry bulb temperatures. The system comprises a microcomputer located within the greenhouse having a central processing unit with associated scratch memory and program memory sections; an analog to digital input section for receiving the analog electrical signals from the sensors; an output section for converting the computer logic signals to electrical signals at power levels to operate electromechanical apparatus; and serial digital pathway means for connecting the central processing unit, input section and output section. The system further comprises a memory programmed with a task for inputting digital data from the input section indicative of wet bulb and dry bulb temperatures and for calculating the moisture content of the atmosphere over each bed; a task for comparing the temperature and said moisture content with preselected command levels; and a task which in response to said comparison generates commands to the output section capable of initiating therethrough electromechanical action to move the temperature and moisture content toward the preselected command levels.

Claims

1. A system for controlling environmental conditions in greenhouses having a plurality of crop beds within one greenhouse enclosure arranged into a plurality of sense zones and a plurality of control zones comprising:

a. a plurality of sensors stationed over crop beds within each sense zone comprising an aspirated enclosure and means therein for generating analog electrical signals indicative of wet bulb and dry bulb temperatures and also means for generating an analog electrical signal indicative of incident light over the bed;

b. a microcomputer located within the greenhouse comprising;

i. a central processing unit with associated scratch memory and program memory sections;

ii. an analog to digital input section for receiving the analog electrical signals from the sensors;

iii. an output section for converting computer logic signals to electrical signals at power levels to operate electromechanical apparatus; and

iv. serial digital pathway means for connecting the central processing unit, input section and output section;

c. said program memory programmed with;

i. a task for inputting digital data from the input section indicative of wet bulb and dry bulb temperatures and for calculating the moisture content of the atmosphere over each bed and for inputting digital data from the input section indicative of light intensity;

ii. a task for selecting temperature and moisture command levels based upon the intensity of incident light and comparing the input temperature and moisture content with said selected command levels for each sense zone; and

iii. a task which in response to said comparison generates commands to the output section capable of initiating therethrough electromechanical action associated with each control zone to move the temperature and moisture content for each sense zone toward the selected command levels.

5. The systems according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4 wherein the tasks for selecting command levels do so to maximize crop growth.

6. The systems according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4 wherein the tasks for selecting command levels do so to maximize crop growth and minimize heating power input other than sunlight.

7. The systems according to claims 1, 2, 3, or 4 further comprising at least one sensor external the greenhouse for generating an analog signal indicative of an external condition affecting heat loss from the greenhouse and said program memory programmed with a task which in response to external conditions generates a command to the output section capable of initiating electromechanical action in all control zones therethrough to move the temperature in all sense zones in anticipation of a change in heat loss.

2. A system for controlling environmental conditions in greenhouses having a plurality of crop beds within one greenhouse enclosure arranged into a plurality of sense zones and a plurality of control zones comprising:

a. a plurality of sensors stationed over crop beds within each sense zone comprising an aspirated enclosure and means therein for generating analog electrical signals indicative of wet bulb and dry bulb temperatures and also means for generating an analog electrical signal indicative of incident light over the beds;

b. a microcomputer located within the greenhouse comprising;

i. a central processing unit with associated scratch memory and program memory sections;

ii. an analog to digital input section for receiving the analog electrical signals from the sensors;

iii. an output section for converting the computer logic signals to electrical signals at power levels to operate electromechanical apparatus; and

iv. serial digital pathway means for connecting the central processing unit, input section and output section;

c. said program memory programmed with;

i. a task for inputting digital data for the input section indicative of wet bulb and dry bulb temperatures and for calculating the moisture content of the atmosphere over each bed and for inputting digital data from the input section indicative of light intensity;

ii. a task for comparing the intensity of the incident light with a preselected command level and for selecting temperature and moisture command levels based upon the intensity of incident light and comparing the input temperature and moisture data with said selected command levels for each sense zone; and

iii. a task which in response to the comparison of the intensity of the incident light with the preselected command level generates commands to the output section capable of initiating therethrough electromechanical action to adjust intensity of the light over the bed toward the preselected command and which in response to the comparison of the input temperature and moisture content with the said selected command levels generates commands to the output section capable of initiating therethrough electromechanical action associated with each control zone to move the temperature and moisture content for each sense zone toward the selected command levels.

3. A system for controlling environmental conditions in greenhouses having a plurality of crop beds within one greenhouse enclosure arranged into a plurality of sense zones and a plurality of control zones comprising:

a. a plurality of sensors stationed over crop beds within each sense zone comprising an aspirated enclosure and means therein for generating analog electrical signals indicative of wet bulb and dry bulb temperatures and also means for generating an analog electrical signal indicative of incident light over the bed;

b. a microcomputer located within the greenhouse comprising;

i. a central processing unit with associated scratch memory program memory sections and a real time clock;

ii. an analog to digital input section for receiving the analog electrical signals from the sensors;

iii. an output section for converting the computer logic signals to electrical signals at power levels to operate electromechanical apparatus; and

iv. serial digital pathway means for connecting the central processing unit, input section and output section;

c. said program memory programmed with;

i. a task for reading the real time clock and setting and updating the duration of time a crop has been growing;

ii. a task for inputting digital data from the input section indicative of wet bulb and dry bulb temperatures and for calculating the moisture content of the atmosphere over each bed and for inputting digital data from the input section indicative of light intensity;

iii. a task for selecting temperature and moisture levels based upon the intensity of the incident light and the time the crop has been growing and comparing the input temperature and moisture data with said selected levels for each sense zone; and

iv. a task which in response to said comparison generates commands to the output section capable of initiating therethrough electromechanical action associated with each control zone to move the temperature and moisture content for each sense zone toward the selected levels.

4. A system for controlling environmental conditions in greenhouses having a plurality of crop beds within one greenhouse enclosure arranged into a plurality of sense zones and a plurality of control zones comprising:

a. a plurality of sensors stationed over crop beds within each sense zone comprising an aspirated enclosure and means therein for generating analog electrical signals indicative of wet bulb and dry bulb temperatures and means for generating an analog electrical signal indicative of incident light over the beds and also means for generating an analog electrical signal indicative of available sunlight;

b. a microcomputer located within the greenhouse comprising;

i. a central processing unit with associated scratch memory and program memory sections;

ii. an analog to digital input section for receiving the analog electrical signals from the sensors;

iii. an output section for converting the computer logic signals to electrical signals at power levels to operate electromechanical apparatus; and

iv. serial digital pathway means for connecting the central processing unit, input section and output section;

c. said program memory programmed with;

i. a task for inputting digital data for the input section indicative of wet bulb and dry bulb temperatures and for calculating the moisture content of the atmosphere over each bed and for inputting digital data from the input section indicative of light intensity over the bed and available sunlight;

ii. a task for comparing the intensity of the incident light with a preselected command level and for selecting temperature and moisture command levels based upon the intensity of incident light over the bed and comparing the input temperature and moisture data with said selected commands levels for each sense zone;

iii. a task which in response to the comparison of the intensity of the incident light with the preselected command level generates commands to the output section capable of initiating therethrough electromechanical action for each control zone to adjust intensity of the light over the bed toward the command level and which in response to the comparison of the input temperature and moisture content with the said selected command levels generates commands to the output section capable of initiating therethrough electromechanical action for each control zone to move the temperature and moisture content toward the selected command levels for each sense zone, and

iv. a task which in response to the available sunlight generates commands to the output section capable of initiating therethrough electromechanical action for each control zone to position a shading device over the bed to reduce radiation heat losses under conditions where the bed must be heated to maintain the selected level.