Plant illumination device and method

• US 9,961,841 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2016
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valoya Oy
• Original Assignee: Valoya Oy
• Inventors: Aikala, Lars, Kivimki, Ilkka
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Trinh T
• Application Number:
  US15/253,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20170006783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 47 581 LS, 47 581 R, 47DIG 6, 47 17, 47 101 R, 47 60, 47 61, 257 14, 257E33008, 362231
• 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: H01L 33/06 within the light emitting region, e.g. quantum confinement structure or tunnel barrier
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/504 Elements with two or more wavelength conversion materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses

Abstract

An improved method to produce artificial light for plant cultivation, an illumination device with a semiconductor light emission solution and device suited for plant cultivation in a greenhouse environment are described. The best mode is considered to be a lighting device with binary alloy quantum dots (110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160) made by colloidal methods to produce a size distribution of quantum dots that produces an emission spectrum similar to the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) spectrum. The methods and arrangements allow more precise spectral tuning of the emission spectrum for lights used in plant (310, 311) cultivation. Therefore unexpected improvements in the photomorphogenetic control of plant growth, and further improvements in plant production are realized.

Claims

1. A plant cultivation method, the method comprising:

illuminating at least one plant with a horticultural lighting fixture in a dark cavity with zero sunlight, the horticultural lighting fixture comprising at least one light emitting diode (LED) and at least one quantum dot,

wherein the at least one LED and the at least one quantum dot exhibit

a) main spectral characteristics in the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) (400-700 nm) area, and

b) side spectral characteristics in the 700-800 nm area.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein emissions of 500-600 nm (green) spectral band of the main spectral characteristics are below emissions of adjacent 400-500 nm (blue) and 600-700 nm (red) spectral bands of the main spectral characteristics.

2. A plant cultivation method, the method comprising:

illuminating at least one plant with a horticultural lighting fixture in a dark cavity with zero sunlight, the horticultural lighting fixture comprising at least one light emitting diode (LED) and at least one quantum dot,

wherein the at least one LED and the at least one quantum dot exhibit

a) main spectral characteristics in the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) (400-700 nm) area, and

b) first side spectral characteristics in the 300-400 nm area.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one LED and the at least one quantum dot further exhibit

c) second side spectral characteristics in the 700-800 nm area.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein emissions of 500-600 nm (green) spectral band of the main spectral characteristics are below emissions of adjacent 400-500 nm (blue) and 600-700 nm (red) spectral bands of the main spectral characteristics.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein emissions of 500-600 nm (green) spectral band of the main spectral characteristics are below emissions of adjacent 400-500 nm (blue) and 600-700 nm (red) spectral bands of the main spectral characteristics.