Apparatus and method for controlling lighting in plant factory

• US 9,226,454 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Kim, Kyu-Hyung, Moon, Ae-Kyeung, Lee, Soo-In
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Bao Q
• Application Number:
  US14/291,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20140376239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 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: A01G 9/26 Electric devices A01G9/249 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/14 Adjustable mountings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses

Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlling lighting in a plant factory are disclosed. The apparatus includes a weight calculation unit, a height calculation unit, a light information extraction unit, and a distance control unit. The weight calculation unit calculates the weight of at least one crop being cultivated based on a sensing result received from a weight sensor disposed in a crop cultivation bed. The height calculation unit calculates the height of the crop based on information about the growth of the crop corresponding to the weight of the crop. The light information extraction unit extracts information about artificial light corresponding to the height of the crop based on the information about the growth of the crop. The distance control unit controls the height of an artificial lighting device based on the information about artificial light.

Claims

1. A method for controlling lighting in a plant factory, the method comprising:

calculating a weight of at least one crop being cultivated based on a sensing result received from a weight sensor disposed in a crop cultivation bed;

calculating a height of the crop based on information about growth of the crop corresponding to the weight of the crop;

extracting information about artificial light corresponding to the height of the crop based on the information about growth of the crop; and

controlling a height of an artificial lighting device based on the information about artificial light.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the height of the artificial lighting device comprises:

calculating a distance between the crop and the artificial lighting device based on the information about artificial light; and

controlling the height of the artificial lighting device based on the calculated distance.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the weight of the crop comprises calculating a net crop weight by subtracting weights of other substances, such as soil, from the received sensing result.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information about growth of the crop includes information about the height of the crop corresponding to the weight of the crop and the information about artificial light corresponding to the height of the crop.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the height of the artificial lighting device comprises controlling the height of the artificial lighting device by controlling a control motor corresponding to the artificial lighting device based on the information about artificial light.

6. An apparatus for controlling lighting in a plant factory, the apparatus comprising:

a weight calculation unit configured to calculate a weight of at least one crop being cultivated based on a sensing result received from a weight sensor disposed in a crop cultivation bed;

a height calculation unit configured to calculate a height of the crop based on information about the growth of the crop corresponding to the weight of the crop;

a light information extraction unit configured to extract information about artificial light corresponding to the height of the crop based on the information about the growth of the crop; and

a distance control unit configured to control a height of an artificial lighting device based on the information about artificial light.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the distance control unit calculates a distance between the crop and the artificial lighting device based on the information about artificial light, and controls the height of the artificial lighting device based on the calculated distance.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the weight calculation unit calculates a net crop weight by subtracting weights of substances, such as soil, from the received sensing result.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a unit configured to store the information about growth of the crop, including information about the height of the crop corresponding to the weight of the crop and the information about artificial light corresponding to the height of the crop.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the distance control unit controls the height of the artificial lighting device by controlling a control motor corresponding to the artificial lighting device based on the information about artificial light.