Greenhouse system

• US 9,003,697 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2008
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RingCentral Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Scheuten S.A.R.L.
• Inventors: Giesen, Leon, Rutten, Gied, Geyer, Volker, Villari, Valentino
• Primary Examiner(s): Swiatek, Rob
• Assistant Examiner(s): EVANS, EBONY E
• Application Number:
  US12/679,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20100257782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,405 Days
• Field of Search: 47/17, 47/191, 47/192, 47/201, 47/291, 47/292, 47/293, 47/294
• US Class Current: 47/17
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/1438 Covering materials therefor; Materials for protective coverings used for soil and plants, e.g. films, canopies, tunnels or cloches
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10055 with at least one intermediate air space
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10229 Metallic layers sandwiched by dielectric layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/25 Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor

Abstract

There is provided a greenhouse system. An exemplary greenhouse system comprises at least one plant culture. At least part of a glazing of the greenhouse system comprises at least one functional layer that is adapted to the plant culture.

Claims

1. A greenhouse system, comprising:

at least one specific plant culture; and

a glazing of the greenhouse system, at least part of the glazing having at least one functional layer that is configured to ensure conditions for the specific plant culture and whereby said functional layer comprises at least one silver layer and at least one aluminum-doped zinc oxide layer.

2. The greenhouse system recited in claim 1, wherein the functional layer influences the transmittance of the glazing in at least a given wavelength range or influences the fraction of diffused transmitted.

3. The greenhouse system recited in claim 1, wherein the transmittance of the glazing is adapted to ensure conditions for the specific plant culture by varying a thickness of the silver layer.

4. The greenhouse system recited in claim 3, wherein the silver layer is applied onto a glass pane of the glazing of the greenhouse system, the glass pane being near the exterior of the greenhouse system.

5. The greenhouse system recited in claim 3, wherein the silver layer is applied onto a glass pane of the glazing of the greenhouse system, the glass pane being near the interior of the greenhouse system.

6. The greenhouse system recited in claim 3, wherein the at least part of the glazing of the greenhouse system comprises at least two glass panes that are arranged in parallel and joined to each other, thus forming at least one sealed interstice.

7. The greenhouse system recited in claim 1, wherein the at least part of the glazing of the greenhouse system comprises at least two silver layers.

8. The greenhouse system recited in claim 1, wherein the at least part of the glazing of the greenhouse system comprises at least two metal or metal oxide layers of different thicknesses.

9. The greenhouse system recited in claim 1, wherein the at least part of the glazing of the greenhouse system comprises at least one translucent polymer film.

10. The greenhouse system recited in claim 1, wherein at least one functional layer is applied onto a glass pane of the glazing of the greenhouse system, the glass pane being near the exterior of the greenhouse system.

11. The greenhouse system recited in claim 1, wherein at least one functional layer is applied onto a glass pane of the glazing of the greenhouse system, the glass pane being near the interior of the greenhouse system.

12. The greenhouse system recited in claim 1, wherein the at least part of the glazing of the greenhouse system comprises at least two glass panes that are arranged in parallel and joined to each other, thus forming at least one sealed interstice.

13. The greenhouse system recited in claim 1, wherein the at least part of the glazing of the greenhouse system comprises at least one break-proof layer.

14. The greenhouse system recited in claim 1, wherein the at least part of the glazing of the greenhouse system comprises at least one polymer film arranged between two glass panes.

15. The greenhouse system recited in claim 1, wherein the at least part of the glazing of the greenhouse system comprises at least one PVB film arranged between two glass panes.

16. The greenhouse system recited in claim 1, wherein the at least part of the glazing of the greenhouse system comprises at least one laminated safety glass pane arrangement.

17. The greenhouse system recited in claim 1, wherein the at least part of the glazing of the greenhouse system comprises at least one measure for reducing light reflection.

18. The greenhouse system recited in claim 1, wherein the at least part of the glazing of the greenhouse system is configured in such a way that at least one light source is either integrated into the glazing itself or installed on the edge of the glazing, so that it can irradiate the at least one specific plant culture located underneath it.

19. The greenhouse system recited in claim 1, wherein the functional layer influences the transmittance of the glazing in at least a given wavelength range and influences the fraction of diffused transmitted light.

20. The greenhouse system recited in claim 1, wherein the at least part of the glazing of the greenhouse system comprises at least two metal and metal oxide layers of different thicknesses.

21. A greenhouse system comprising:

at least two different zones;

at least one specific plant culture; and

a glazing of the greenhouse system, at least part of the glazing having at least one functional layer that is configured to ensure conditions for the specific at least one plant culture, and whereby said functional layer comprises at least one silver layer and at least one aluminum-doped zinc oxide layer.

22. The greenhouse system recited in claim 21, wherein the at least two different zones have different glazing each of which is configured to ensure conditions for a different plant culture located in that particular zone by virtue of different functional layers.

23. The greenhouse system recited in claim 21, wherein the transmittance of the glazing is adapted to ensure conditions for the specific plant culture of each zone by varying a thickness of the silver layer.

24. A method of operating a greenhouse system, comprising:

providing at least one specific plant culture; and

providing a glazing of the greenhouse system, at least part of the glazing having at least one functional layer that is configured to ensure conditions for the specific at least one plant culture, and whereby said functional layer comprises at least one silver layer and at least one aluminum-doped zinc oxide layer.

25. The method recited in claim 24, wherein the at least part of the glazing of the greenhouse system comprises at least one silver layer, whereby the transmittance of the glazing is adapted to ensure conditions for the specific plant culture by varying a thickness of the silver layer.