Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
LED GROW LIGHT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This patent application relates to the LED grow light in the fields of
industrialized agriculture,
horticulture and tissue-culture, etc., where LED stands for light emitting
diode, which herein in this
application includes LED, organic LED, and polymer LED, and its plurality emit
not only human
visible light but also ultraviolet rays and infrared rays.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The LED grow light is expected to replace the fluorescent and HIP grow lights,
attributable to
LEDs' adjustable light spectrum, higher radiant efficiency, less waste heat,
and consequently lower
power consumption.
It is widely observed that LED grow lights are made into flat-plane structures
and for hanging
level above plants, and that, in order to combat attenuation, higher power LED
chips are pursued
and bigger and more complex heatsinks or forced-air cooling parts are
employed. These LED grow
lights either produce low illumination or generate excessive amount of waste
heat and light leaks.
.. As a result, the energy saving goal cannot be met as expected.
Prior art of LED grow lights have yet been able to provide a flexible lighting
structure that can
adapt to different plant canopies. Some plants have tall canopies. Illuminated
by lamps with flat-
plane lighting structures and above-hanging installation, the bottom foliage
is disadvantageous in
capturing light energy due to attenuation, blockage, and small incidence angle
of light rays. This
situation induces plants to grow unnecessarily taller, wasting nutrition and
energy and prolonging
growth cycles.
Patent U59618178 and U58523385 propose adding extra lamps by the root of
plants and
supplementing illumination to the bottom part of the canopies from sides, but
increasing the quantity
of lamps doesn't improve lamps against light attenuation and leakage problems
per se.
Patent US9851062 conceives supplementing illumination from the bottom under
the foliage,
while US10508790 proposes emitting light rays from within the foliage through
a pipe. Regardless
of the low illumination intensity those methods can produce, the assumption
that the lower surface
of leaves would absorb light energy is doubtful.
Leaves of many plants naturally drop down in an angle to face sunlight and the
light rays
scattered from ground objects, but leaves of other plants do not. Therefore a
good LED grow light
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-20
shall be flexible enough to illuminate not only the canopies from around in
perigon but also the
foliage or leaves perpendicularly.
Patent US10842082 embodies a bent-down structure of LED grow light bars that
can illuminate
the top part of plant canopies from top and sides. But for tall canopy plants,
this improvement has
35 little benefit for bottom foliage. Besides, the structure does not
consider the situation when the light
bars need to bend upwards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to conquer all the problems mentioned above, the ideal LED grow
lights shall be
assembled and configured to engage foliage, i.e. being placed as close as
possible to leaves, and to
40 surround plants and illuminate the foliage in an incidence angle as
straight as possible, with
minimum light attenuation and leakage. Then lower power LED chips can be
opted, less waste heat
will be generated, simple and lightweight heatsinks can be employed, and as a
result costs are cut by
energy saving and parts simplification. The present invention proposes a
solution to achieve all
these goals.
45 The present invention discloses a flexible LED grow light structure
that features one to twelve
LED light arms mounted on and around a body frame, like drawbridges,
illuminating plants beside
or under it by configuring light arms in raised-up, level, or drooping
positions simply using
attaching instruments such as hooks, hinges and/or draglines, and illuminating
in a projection angle
ranging from horizontally outward to vertically downward and to horizontally
inward in terms of the
50 spatial relationship with the body frame axis. This structure allows the
light arms to engage plants
by sticking itself into the foliage or clinging right on leaves or canopy in a
desired incidence angle.
Light arms are preferably configured to surround the body frame in an
axisymmetric pattern, but in
case of non-axisymmetric, balance weight(s) are added on the arm support to
keep the body frame
upright. This LED grow light can fit into many different planting needs such
as embosoming and
55 illuminating underneath plant(s), and filling gaps among plants grid so
that a fleet of grow lights
closely surround and fully illuminate each plant in the grid.
The body frame can be separated into parts including arm supports and one or
more columns.
Parts join with each other or external fixtures using screw mechanism or
bonding materials. The
parts can be joined together in different ways to build single, taller,
layered or stacked body frames
60 and LED grow lights. For example, two columns can be joined together to
make a longer column,
while two basic body frames can be joined together to make a stacked or
layered body frame. The
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-20
body frame supports pendent mount and base mount on external structures.
Two forms of the arm supports are disclosed in the present invention. One is
bracket daisy that
features twelve brackets radiating from a center shaft and having holes or
notches for mounting light
65 arms. The other form is rack wheel that features a hoop surrounding a
center shaft through spokes
and providing mounting supports for light arms.
Each light arm is a bar-shaped LED light module that forms a simplex LED grow
light by itself.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the
specification,
70 illustrate several embodiments of the presently claimed invention and,
together with the description,
serve to explain the principles of the presently claimed invention. The
drawings are only for
illustrating preferred embodiments of the presently claimed invention and are
not to be construed as
limiting the presently claimed invention.
FIG. 1 is the perspective view of an embodiment of the LED grow light of the
present invention,
75 which is assembled with four LED light arms configured in a raised-up
position and in an
axisymmetric pattern surrounding the body frame. The arm supports of the body
frame in this figure
embody the bracket daisy structure defined in the present invention.
FIG. 2 is the perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the LED grow
light of the present
invention, which is assembled with three LED light arms configured in a
drooping position and in an
80 axisymmetric pattern surrounding the body frame. The arm supports of the
body frame in this figure
embody the rack wheel structure defined in the present invention.
FIG. 3 is the exploded view of the body frame, the screw mechanism that joins
parts, and the
pendent mount mechanism using cord and final. In the figure, rack wheels are
used to represent arm
supports of the body frame.
85 FIG. 4 is the perspective view of a bracket daisy and the exploded view
of mounting a light arm
on the bracket daisy by using a hinge structure. In order to focus on
presenting the target views, an
imaginary cut line excludes the irrelevant part of the light arm in this
figure.
FIG. 5 is the elevation view of two-layer LED grow lights of the present
invention and their
engagement with plants. Light arms are configured in different angular
positions in order to
90 optimize illumination against plants canopies from top to bottom.
Balance weights are added on
body frames for them to stay upright when light arms are assembled non-
axisymmetric at grow
room edges.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-20
FIG. 6 is the top view of the deployment of LED grow lights of the present
invention among
grow-room plants that are arranged in square grid on the floor. These LED grow
lights are each
95 assembled with four light arms in axisymmetric and raised-up
configuration, and are filled and
immerged in the gaps between every four plants in a square, so that each plant
is fully surrounded
and illuminated by four grow lights.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred and
alternative embodiments
100 of the present invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same,
FIGS. 1-5 show the structures
and configuration examples of the LED grow light of the present invention, and
FIGS. 5-6 show the
examples of the deployment of this LED grow light and its engagement with
plants while used in
planting.
The LED grow light of the present invention comprises a body frame 100 and one
to twelve
105 detachable LED light arms 200 mounted on and around the body frame 100.
The body frame 100 is separable into parts including primarily an upper arm
support, a lower arm
support, and a column 101 interconnecting the upper and lower arm supports. An
arm support
includes a center shaft 130 and a surrounding structure for light arms 200 to
mount on. Two
preferred forms of arm supports are embodied herein to present the idea of the
present invention in
110 detail. One form is bracket daisy 110 as illustrated in FIGS. 1&4 and
the other form is rack wheel
120 as illustrated in FIGS. 2&3.
As shown in FIG. 4, the bracket daisy 110 has twelve brackets 111 radiating
from the center shaft
130 in a rotational symmetric pattern. Every bracket 111, at its far end from
the center shaft 130,
has a hole 112 or a notch for mounting a light arm 200. Those twelve brackets
111 enable
115 axisymmetric configurations for a set of 2, 3, 4, 6, or 12 light arms
200 to surround the body frame
100.
As shown in FIG. 3, the rack wheel 120 has a hoop 122 that connects to the
center shaft 130 by
spokes 121. The hoop 122 is for mounting light arms 200. The hoop 122 has
twelve holes 123 or
notches evenly distributed along the hoop 122, providing mounting points for
configuring a set of 2,
120 3, 4, 6, or 12 light arms 200 to surround the body frame 100 in an
axisymmetric pattern.
In case light arms 200 are configured to surround the body frame 100 non-
axisymmetric, balance
weight(s) 107 are added on the arm support to keep the body frame 100 upright.
As an example
shown in FIG. 5, a balance weight 107 is added on the bracket daisy arm
support 110 of each grow
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-20
light at edges, because those grow lights are assembled only one side.
125 The light arms 200 mount on the body frame 100 like drawbridges, with
one end of each light
arm 200 suspending from or being hinged to the lower arm support as a pivot
end, and with the
other end of each light arm 200 being linked to the upper arm support by a
dragline 206 as a
movable end. By adjusting the length of the dragline 206, the movable end can
be pulled to swivel
the light arm 200 around the pivot end so as to adjust the angular position of
the light arm 200 from
130 straight up to level and to straight down, and let the light arm 200 to
illuminate in a projection angle
ranging from horizontally outward to vertically downward and to horizontally
inward in terms of the
spatial relationship with the axis of the body frame 100. The angular mobility
of the light arms 200
in elevation is demonstrated by comparing FIG. 1 and 2, in the former the
light arms 200 are raised
up while in the latter drooping with longer draglines 206.
135 Each light arm 200 is a bar-shaped LED light module that forms a
simplex LED grow light by
itself. The light arm 200 has LED chips 201, printed circuit board(s) 202,
heatsink(s) 203, and the
power supply 204, assembled together for emitting light rays to illuminate and
stimulate plants to
grow. As shown in FIGS. 1&2, the light arm 200 has two fixture rings 205
attached to the heatsink
203 at each end. Either fixture ring 205 is for suspending from the lower arm
support by suspension
140 instruments such as hooks 207, ropes and wires, or for linking to the
upper arm support by a
dragline 206. The fixture ring can be replaced by other fixture structures
such as a hinge structure
shown in FIG. 4, which can be attached directly onto a bracket daisy 110. The
hinge leaves 211,
protruding from the heat sink 203, are for sandwiching a bracket 111 and
matching its holes 212
with the hole 112 on the bracket 111. A bolt 214 and a nut 213 fasten the
hinge structure with the
145 bracket 111 and, in this case, act as the hinge pin for the light arm
200 to swivel.
When a light arm 200 is suspended from the lower arm support with a fixture
ring 205, the
dragline 206 shall, as shown in FIGS. 1&2, attach to two mounting points on
the upper arm support
to prevent the light arm 200 from swinging and collapsing to sides, though
slight swing would still
exist due to surrounding factors such as wind blows. The slight side swing of
the light arm 200 is
150 beneficial when the LED chips 201 are closely engaged with foliage,
because a LED chip may be
narrow-banded in terms of spectrum and the slight side swing helps smooth
light intensity and
spectrum distribution on the foliage. The side swing of the light arm 200 is
totally preventable by
using other fixture structures instead of a fixture ring. For example, the
hinge structure shown in
FIG. 4 is an alternative for mounting the pivot end of a light arm 200 to a
bracket daisy lower arm
155 support 110.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-20
What can be used as the hook 207 includes snap hooks, carabiners, or swivel
hooks. What can be
used as the dragline 206 includes but not limited to ropes, cords, cables,
wires, chains, bungee cords,
elastic bands, and leather strips. The ropes can be made of but not limited to
natural fibers, synthetic
fibers, or metal wires.
160 As shown in FIG. 3, a column 101 preferably has internal threads at
both ends. A center shaft
130 preferably has male thread at one end and female thread at the other end.
Therefore one column
101 can join another column 101 using a nipple or a double-end stud bolt 106
to build a longer
column for a taller body frame and taller LED grow light.
Using nipple(s) or double-end stud bolt(s) 106, two or more LED grow lights
can be bolted
165 together and stack one on another to build a taller and layered grow
light. One arm support can be
spared by joining the column 101 of one grow light directly to the arm support
of another grow light
in the pattern of "arm support"-column-"arm support"-column-"arm support". The
usage of a
double-end stud bolt 106 in this scenario is illustrated in FIG. 3. Several
two-layer LED grow lights
of the present invention are shown in FIG. 5, in which light arms 200 are
configured in various
170 raised-up angles so as to closely engage and illuminate tall plants 900
from top to bottom according
to plant canopy outlines.
The screw mechanism is not the only option to join parts of the body frame.
Using bonding
materials are alternative ways to avoid threading on parts. For example,
solvent cement can be used
to bond columns and center shafts made of PVC pipes.
175 A preferred column 101 and preferred center shaft 130 are made of
pipes. By passing a cord 105
through these body frame pipes and attaching the cord 105 to a final 104 under
the body frame 100,
this LED grow light can be suspended from an above structure, such as ceiling,
by the cord 105.
The final 104 has a bigger size than the hollow section of the body frame
pipes. This pendent mount
mechanism is illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, &5. As an alternative method, the cord
can simply attach to
180 the upper arm support brackets 111 or spokes 121 without using a final.
The present invention also
supports base mount on external fixtures. For example, by using the female
thread in the center
shaft 130 of the lower arm support, this LED grow light can be bolted onto a
base on the floor. With
a moveable base, this LED grow light becomes portable.
As shown in FIG. 1, a preferred assembly of this LED grow light has a body
frame 100 that
185 features a bracket daisy arm support 110, and four light arms 200
configured in axisymmetric
surrounding pattern and in a raised-up position to illuminate plants beside.
This configuration style
fits especially into grow room usage where a grid of this LED grow lights
immerge in the gaps
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-20
among a grid of plants, wrapping each plant with complete illumination from
side to side and from
top to bottom, and with minimum light attenuation and leakage. FIG. 6 provides
the top view of this
190 grow room usage. As shown in FIG. 2, a preferred alternative assembly
of this LED grow light has
a body frame 100 that features a rack wheel arm support 120, and three light
arms 200 configured in
axisymmetric surrounding pattern and in drooping position to embosom and
illuminate plants
underneath. These two embodiments of the present invention demonstrate the
capability of this
LED grow light in stretching its light arms out from the body frame in any
angular positon. For
195 example, the light arms can cling right on or stick into foliage to
engage and illuminate the foliage
as close as possible.
For grow floors on which plants are arranged in a grid, a preferred deployment
of the LED grow
lights of the present invention is to place the grow lights in the middle gaps
among plants and
configure the light arms 200 to stay in raised-up position. As shown in FIG. 6
in which the
200 observation is from the top of the grow floor that is arranged in a
square grid, LED grow lights each
seen from FIG. 1 as with a body frame 100 and four raised-up light arms 200
are placed in the
middle gaps among every four plants 900 that stand in a square. This
deployment saves grow floor
space, improves engagement between LED lights and foliage, increases
illumination on bottom
foliage, minimizes light attenuation and leakage, lowers the requirement on
LED chip power level,
205 reduces waste heat, lowers the requirement on heatsink grade and
complexity, and consequently
saves costs on energy and parts. This top view shown in FIG. 6 also renders a
clearer view on the
usage of dragline 206, each attaches to the according body frame with two
mounting points to avoid
light arm swing and collapse to sides.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-20
