Patent US3876907A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3876907A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plant growth system
Assignee: Controlled Environmental Systems Corp
•
Filing: 1973-04-02
•
Granted: 1975-04-08
•
Expires: 1993-04-02
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a method and apparatus for growing plant life under controlled conditions including gas discharge lamps with electronic means utilized to provide predetermined pulses of electric current to the lamps so that bursts of radiant energy are supplied to the plant life, these bursts of energy being of a duration in the order of microseconds and at a periodicity that is favorable to the plant growing processes. The radiant energy supplied to the plant life is within the spectral range required for photosynthesis and is uniform to the photoreceptors of the plant life.
Inventors
- 👤 Don F Widmayer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 21:26
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G7/00; A01G7/04; A01G7/045; H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/36; H05B41/38; H05B41/39; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P60/00; Y02P60/14; Y10; Y10S; Y10S315/00; Y10S315/05; Y10S47/00; Y10S47/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for growing plant life under controlled conditions comprising, in combination, a plurality of seriesconnected fluorescent lamps operating in the arc discharge region, and circuit means providing a current source for energizing said lamps, said circuit means including a high frequency active electronic switching means for electronically pulsing said lamps on and off cyclicly so as to provide light pulses which are of a uniform, controlled duration of less than 1 millisecond, the light pulses being uniform bursts of radiant energy and the ratio of the duration of the cycle to the duration of a pulse being at least ten to one.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for growing plant life under controlled conditions comprising, in combination, a plurality of seriesconnected fluorescent lamps operating in the arc discharge region, and circuit means providing a current source for energizing said lamps, said circuit means including a high frequency active electronic switching means for electronically pulsing said lamps on and off cyclicly so as to provide light pulses which are of a uniform, controlled duration of less than 1 millisecond, the light pulses being uniform bursts of radiant energy and the ratio of the duration of the cycle to the duration of a pulse being at least ten to one.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein switching means includes a tube pulser connected in the circuit means for energizing said fluorescent lamps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the circuit means further includes a condenser connected in parallel with said switching means and charging choke connected in series with said switching means.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
100 words
An apparatus for growing plant life under controlled conditions comprising, in combination, a plurality of series-connected fluorescent lamps operating in the arc discharge region, and circuit means providing a current source for energizing said lamps, said circuit means, including a triode and means for controlling the voltage on the grid of said triode, for electronically pulsing said lamps on and off cyclicly so as to provide light pulses which are of a uniform controlled duration of less than 1 millisecond, the ratio of the duration of a cycle to the duration of a pulse being at least ten to one.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
100 words
An apparatus for growing plant life under controlled conditions comprising, in combination, a plurality of series-connected fluorescent lamps operating in the arc discharge region, and circuit means providing a current source for energizing said lamps, said circuit means, including a triode and means for controlling the voltage on the grid of said triode, for electronically pulsing said lamps on and off cyclicly so as to provide light pulses which are of a uniform controlled duration of less than 1 millisecond, the ratio of the duration of a cycle to the duration of a pulse being at least ten to one.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said circuit means further includes a source of D.C. voltage, and an energy storage capacitor connected to said source for storing energy and for discharging said energy through said lamps responsive to said switching means changing state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said circuit means further comprises a control circuit for controlling the state of said electronic switching means, and a charging coil connected between said source said energy storage capacitor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said source comprises a filtered D.C. source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said source comprises a full wave rectifier connected to an A.C. source, said circuit means further comprising means for connecting said control circuit to said A.C. source to provide synchronous control of said electronic switching means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further comprising means comprising a further D.C. source and a current limiting resistor, connected in series with said lamps, for providing a minimum current flow through said lamps.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein grid voltage controlling means includes feedback means for sensing at least one parameter associated with said lamps.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said parameter is light intensity and said feedback means includes a light sensing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said parameter is the load current through said lamps and said feedback means includes a sensing resistor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said voltage controlling means comprises a grid control circuit for controlling the voltage on the grid of said triode and a signal generator for producing a command signal for controlling the operation of said grid control circuit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switching means provides switching pulses to said lamps of substantially square waveform.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3243918A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |