System of photomorphogenically enhancing plants

• US 7,905,052 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2007
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth M. Morrow, William E. Hurst
• Original Assignee: Kenneth M. Morrow, William E. Hurst
• Inventors: Hurst, William E., Morrow, Kenneth M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swiatek; Rob
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hayes; Kristen C
• Application Number:
  US11/943,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20080298052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 522/045, 47/17, 47/293, 47/581.LS
• US Class Current: 47/29.4
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses

Abstract

A system for radiating plants with photon radiation to induce photomorphogenic growth is described. The system includes a light assembly operable to transmit photon radiation, a light transmittive material located between the light assembly and a plant, a power supply connected to the light assembly, a failsafe switch connected to and located between the power supply and the light assembly and a photomorphogenic growth controller connected to the light assembly. The power supply is operable to energize the light assembly and the failsafe switch is operable to de-energize the light assembly when a safety signal is received by the failsafe switch. The photomorphogenic growth controller is operable to selectively energize the light assembly.

Claims

1. A system for radiating a plant with photon radiation to induce photomorphogenic growth comprising:

a light assembly operable to generate photon radiation of ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation;

a light transmittive material located between said light assembly and a plant and having an optical transmission point of inflection of between 280 and 320 nanometers;

a power supply connected to said light assembly, said power supply operable to energize said light assembly;

a failsafe switch connected to and located between said power supply and said light assembly, said failsafe switch operable to de-energize said light assembly when a safety signal is received by said failsafe switch; and

a photomorphogenic growth controller connected to said light assembly, said photomorphogenic growth controller operable to selectively energize said light assembly.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said safety signal is received from an electronic device, said electronic device selected from the group consisting of motion detector, door position detector, window position detector, emergency off switch and combinations thereof.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said photomorphogenic growth controller selectively energizes said light assembly as a function of a plant growth cycle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said photomorphogenic growth controller selectively energizes said light assembly as a function of as function of an input datum, said input datum selected from the group consisting of user input, time of day, cumulative time of plant exposure to photon radiation from said light assembly, ambient light intensity, humidity level and combinations thereof.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said photomorphogenic growth controller selectively energizes said light assembly to periodically irradiate the plant with ultraviolet B photons during a day.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said photomorphogenic growth controller selectively energizes said light assembly as a function of a position of said light assembly relative to the plant.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said position of said light assembly is selected from the group consisting of directly above the plant, off to the side but generally above the plant, directly to the side of the plant, off to the side but generally below the plant and any position therebetween.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said photomorphogenic growth controller irradiates the plant with ultraviolet B photons independent of visible light photons.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a light assembly positioner connected to said light assembly, said light assembly positioner operable to position said light assembly relative to the plant.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said light assembly positioner is operable to position said light assembly relative to the plant as function of a plant growth cycle.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said light assembly positioner is operable to position said light assembly relative to the plant as function of an input datum, said input datum selected from the group consisting of user input, time of day, cumulative time of plant exposure to photon radiation from said light assembly, ambient light intensity, humidity level and combinations thereof.

12. A system for radiating a plant with ultraviolet and longer wavelength radiation to induce photomorphogenic growth comprising:

a light assembly operable to transmit ultraviolet light, visible light and infrared light;

a light transmittive glass material having a transmissivity with a point of inflection between 280 nanometers and 320 nanometers located between said light assembly and a plant;

a power supply connected to said light assembly, said power supply operable to energize said light assembly;

a failsafe switch connected to and located between said power supply and said light assembly, said failsafe switch operable to de-energize said light assembly when a safety signal is received by said failsafe switch; and

a photomorphogenic growth positioner connected to said light assembly, said photomorphogenic growth positioner operable to position said light assembly at a particular location relative to the plant.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said safety signal is received from an electronic device, said electronic device selected from the group consisting of motion detector, door position detector, window position detector, emergency off switch and combinations thereof.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said light assembly positioner is operable to position said light assembly relative to the plant as function of the plant growth cycle.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein said light assembly positioner is operable to position said light assembly relative to the plant as function of an input datum, said input datum selected from the group consisting of user input, time of day, cumulative time of plant exposure to photon radiation from said light assembly, ambient light intensity, humidity level and combinations thereof.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising a photomorphogenic growth controller connected to said light assembly, said photomorphogenic growth controller operable to selectively energize said light assembly.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said photomorphogenic growth controller selectively energizes said light assembly as a function of a plant growth cycle.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said photomorphogenic growth controller selectively energizes said light assembly as a function of a plant environment monitor.