System for supplementing light to plants

• US 9,867,338 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2014
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Westbridge Automation (Xiamen) Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Westbridge Automation (Xiamen) Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lin, Yaoliang, Winnett, Russell Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US14/327,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20150016105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• 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: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/005 for several lighting devices in an end-to-end arrangement, i.e. light tracks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/008 Suspending from a cable or suspension line
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/00 Planar light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of horticulture in a greenhouse and disclosures a system for supplementing light to plants, the system including a lighting grid and a power supply detachable from each other, wherein: the lighting grid includes a plurality of LED panels, wherein a plurality of LED lamps are arranged in each LED panel, and any adjacent LED panels are joined to each other by a joining member; and the power supply is electrically connected with the LED lamps in the respective LED panels through a cable.

Claims

1. A system for supplementing light to plants, comprising a lighting grid and a power supply detachable from each other, wherein:

the lighting grid comprises a plurality of LED panels, wherein a plurality of LED lamps are arranged in each LED panel, and any adjacent LED panels are joined to each other by a joining member; and

the power supply is electrically connected with the LED lamps in the respective LED panels through a cable;

the plurality of LED panels are distributed in an array, wherein any two adjacent LED panels in each row of LED panels are joined to each other, and any two adjacent LED panels in each column of LED panels are joined to each other;

or the plurality of LED panels are arranged in a row, and any two adjacent LED panels are joined to each other;

wherein each LED panel is provided with a frame comprising four edges connected end-to-end sequentially;

wherein the first one of the four edges of the first one of any two adjacent LED panels is adjacent to the second LED panel, and the second one of the four edges of the second LED panel is adjacent to the first LED panel, and the first edge is arranged parallel to and against the second edge, and wherein;

the lengthwise direction of the joining member is parallel to the lengthwise direction of the first edge, and the joining member is formed with a slot into which both the first edge and the second edge are inserted; and

the slot has a first wall located on the side of the first edge away from the second edge and a second wall located on the side of the second edge away from the first edge, and the first wall is arranged against and engaged with the surface of the first edge away from the second edge, and the second wall is arranged against and engaged with the surface of the second edge away from the first edge.

2. The system for supplementing light to plants according to claim 1, wherein the first wall is arranged against and engaged with the surface of the first edge away from the second edge and the second wall is arranged against and engaged with the surface of the second edge away from the first edge in such a way that:

the surface of the first edge away from the second edge is formed with limiting slot;

the surface of the second edge away from the first edge is formed with a limiting slot;

the first wall is formed with a first limiting block engaged with the limiting slot of the first edge;

or the first wall is formed with an adjustable bolt comprising an inner end inserted into the slot and arranged against with the bottom of the limiting slot of the first edge and engaged with the limiting slot of the first edge; and

the second wall is formed with a second limiting block engaged with the limiting slot of the second edge.

3. The system for supplementing light to plants according to claim 1, wherein the first wall is arranged against and engaged with the surface of the first edge away from the second edge and the second wall is arranged against and engaged with the surface of the second edge away from the first edge in such a way that:

the surface of the first edge away from the second edge is formed with a limiting slot;

the surface of the second edge away from the first edge is formed with a limiting slot;

the first wall is formed with a limiting slot engaged with a limiting block formed on the first edge; and

the second wall is formed with a limiting slot engaged with a limiting block formed on the second edge.

4. The system for supplementing light to plants according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a lifter connected with the lighting grid to adjust the vertical height of the lighting grid.

5. The system for supplementing light to plants according to claim 1, wherein each LED lamp in the lighting grid is a monochromatic light source, and the plurality of LED lamps emit light rays in various colors.

6. The system for supplementing light to plants according to claim 5, further comprising:

a controller connected in signaling with the power supply to control the power supply to control the strengths of light rays emitted by the LEDs in the respective LED panels separately according to a preset rule.

7. The system for supplementing light to plants according to claim 4, wherein the lifter further comprises:

a drive shaft fastened to a wall of a greenhouse where the plants are grown;

a cord, wound on the drive shaft, with one end fastened to the drive shaft and the other end connected with the lighting grid; and

a steering component, fastened to the wall of the greenhouse, comprising a rotation axis vertically located immediately above the lighting grid to steer the cord so that the section of the rode between the rotation axis and the lighting grid extends vertically.

8. A system for supplementing light to plants, comprising a lighting grid and a power supply detachable from each other, wherein:

the lighting grid comprises a plurality of LED panels, wherein a plurality of LED lamps are arranged in each LED panel, and any adjacent LED panels are joined to each other by a joining member; and

the power supply is electrically connected with the LED lamps in the respective LED panels through a cable;

the plurality of LED panels are distributed in an array, wherein any two adjacent LED panels in each row of LED panels are joined to each other, and any two adjacent LED panels in each column of LED panels are joined to each other;

or the plurality of LED panels are arranged in a row, and any two adjacent LED panels are joined to each other;

wherein each LED panel is provided with a frame comprising four edges connected end-to-end sequentially;

wherein adjacent corners in any adjacent LED panels are fastened to each other by one of the joining members to have the adjacent LED panels joined to each other, and wherein the joining member comprises;

fasteners, comprising fastening holes, arranged at the corners of the frames of the LED panels; and

a connection plate, comprising vias corresponding to the fastening holes, fastened to the fasteners by connection bolts;

wherein the joining member further comprises clamps to clamp the joining edges in the frames of the respective adjacent LED panels.

9. The system for supplementing light to plants according to claim 8, wherein the system further comprises a lifter connected with the lighting grid to adjust the vertical height of the lighting grid.

10. The system for supplementing light to plants according to claim 9, wherein the lifter further comprises:

a drive shaft fastened to a wall of a greenhouse where the plants are grown;

a cord, wound on the drive shaft, with one end fastened to the drive shaft and the other end connected with the lighting grid; and

a steering component, fastened to the wall of the greenhouse, comprising a rotation axis vertically located immediately above the lighting grid to steer the cord so that the section of the rode between the rotation axis and the lighting grid extends vertically.

11. The system for supplementing light to plants according to claim 8, wherein each LED lamp in the lighting grid is a monochromatic light source, and the plurality of LED lamps emit light rays in various colors.

12. The system for supplementing light to plants according to claim 11, further comprising:

a controller connected in signaling with the power supply to control the power supply to control the strengths of light rays emitted by the LEDs in the respective LED panels separately according to a preset rule.