Lighting system for plants

• US 9,756,794 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2016
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Firefly-One, LLC
• Original Assignee: Firefly-One, LLC
• Inventors: Bostdorff, Richard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, THANH T
• Application Number:
  US15/051,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20160165811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/20 Forcing-frames; Lights , i.e. glass panels covering the forcing-frames
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/249 Lighting means with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses

Abstract

A method for encouraging maturation and growth of a plant includes a provision of at least one stroboscopic lamp disposed adjacent the plant. The stroboscopic lamp is cycled through at least one on-period and at least one off-period for a predetermined cycling time. The plant is exposed to strobed high-intensity light during the at least one on-period, and not exposed to strobed high-intensity light during the at least one off-period. A maturation rate and the growth of the plant are thereby encouraged. A related system includes the at least one stroboscopic lamp and a controller for controlling the stroboscopic lamp according to the method, for encouraging maturation and growth of the plant.

Claims

1. A system for encouraging maturation and growth of a plant, comprising:

at least one stroboscopic lamp adapted to be disposed adjacent the plant;

a controller in communication with and controlling the at least one stroboscopic lamp, the controller configured to cycle the stroboscopic lamp through a first predetermined cycling time and a second predetermined cycling time where a predetermined amount of natural lighting is not available, each of the first predetermined cycling time and the second predetermined cycling time having a plurality of alternating on-periods and off-periods, and each of the on-periods and each of the off-periods further having a predetermined period of time, the predetermined period of time for each of the on-periods being a fraction of the predetermined period of time for each of the off-periods, the controller further configured to cease an exposure of the plant to a strobed high-intensity light from the stroboscopic lamp during where the predetermined amount of the natural lighting is available,

wherein the stroboscopic lamp has a strobe tube for producing strobed high-intensity light wavelengths between 450 nanometers and 950 nanometers, an intensity of greater than about 100,000 peak candela, and a flash rate between about 25 and about 150 flashes per minute.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the stroboscopic lamp includes one of a clear lens and a colored lens.

3. The system of claim 1, including a non-rigid connector coupled to the stroboscopic lamp for suspending the stroboscopic lamp over the plant.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller permits a user to select one of the first and second predetermined cycling times and the predetermined period of time for each of the at least one on-period and at least one off-period.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a processor for receiving processor executable instructions and controlling the first and second predetermined cycling times and the predetermined period of time for each of the at least one on-period and at least one off-period according to the processor executable instructions, and a computer-readable storage medium for storing the processor executable instructions.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a user interface that permits a user to one of select and modify one of the first and second predetermined cycling times and the predetermined period of time for each of the at least one on-period and at least one off-period.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller has a user interface that permits a user to select the first predetermined cycling time for the stroboscopic lamp and the second predetermined cycling time for the stroboscopic lamp.