Grow light systems and methods for controlling the same

• US 9,936,649 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2016
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Energy & Lighting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Global Energy & Lighting, Inc.
• Inventors: Whittingham, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Application Number:
  US15/357,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20170135289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 362231, 362293, 362800, 362805, 315152, 315297, 315307, 315312, 315362
• 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: H05B 41/38 Controlling the intensity of light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses

Abstract

Grow light systems and methods for controlling the systems are described herein. The grow light system can include an integrated lamp and light emitting diodes (LEDs) structure that produces an energy signature highly conducive to plant growth, and that uses minimal energy.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an optical sensor;

a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp;

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs); and

control circuitry in operative communication with the optical sensor, HID lamp, and the LEDs, the control circuitry is operative to;

process data obtained from the optical sensor; and

control operation of at least one of the HID lamp and the LEDs based on the processed data;

activate the HID lamp, wherein the HID lamp has a first energy profile; and

control output of the LEDs to supplement the first energy profile so that a combination of the HID lamp and the LEDs produces a second energy profile.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is operative to:

vary the output of the LEDs over time to optimize the second energy profile for growth of plant matter.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is operative to perform at least one action based on data obtained by the optical sensor.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one action is instructing a vertical positioning system to adjust an elevation of the light system with respect to a ground plane.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one action is to adjust the output of the LEDs to alter the second energy profile.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor is a camera.

7. A method for operating a light system comprising an optical sensor, a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp, and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), the method comprising:

processing data obtained from the optical sensor; and

controlling operation of at least one of the HID lamp and the LEDs based on the processed data;

activating the HID lamp, wherein the HID lamp has a first energy profile; and

controlling output of the LEDs to supplement the first energy profile so that a combination of the HID lamp and the LEDs produces a second energy profile.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising varying the output of the LEDs over time to optimize the second energy profile for growth of plant matter.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising varying the output of the LEDs based on the processed data obtained from the optical sensor.

10. A light system comprising:

a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp;

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs); and

control circuitry in operative communication with the HID lamp and the LEDs, the control circuitry is operative to;

activate the HID lamp, wherein the HID lamp has a first energy profile; and

control output of the LEDs to supplement the first energy profile so that a combination of the HID lamp and the LEDs produces a second energy profile, wherein the LEDs further increase a magnitude of at least one wavelength portion of the first energy profile.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is operative to:

vary the output of the LEDs over time to optimize the second energy profile for growth of plant matter.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is operative to adjust a power level of the HID lamp.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is operative to adjust a power level of each one of the plurality of LEDs.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is operative to adjust an energy frequency output of each one of the plurality of LEDs.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the second energy profile more more closely resembles an energy profile of the Sun than any energy profile independently generated by the HID and the LEDs.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising a support member, and wherein the HID lamp is secured to a center portion thereof and the LEDs are secured to an outer portion thereof.