Patents by Inventor Lars AIKALA

Lars AIKALA has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20170071135
    Abstract: A lighting fixture for facilitating plant growth and a light emitting component. The fixture includes a single light emission source LED device which provides at least two emission peaks in the wavelength range of 300-800 nm and at least one of the emission peaks has Full Width of Half Maximum (FWHM) at least 50 nm or higher. The emission peaks of the LED match well with a plant photosynthesis response spectrum and is therefore particularly suitable for high efficiency artificial lighting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Lars AIKALA
  • Publication number: 20170071044
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and system for providing horticultural light to a plant. The said method and system includes at least one computer, at least one database, a communication network and a horticultural light emitting diode (LED) array configured to provide light to plants. The user provides an input to the computer and said computer accesses the databases to identify an outdoor light spectrum corresponding to the said input. Further, the said computer determines LED instruction parameters corresponding to the identified outdoor light spectrum and communicates the identified LED instruction parameters to the horticultural LED array. The horticultural LED array receives said instruction parameters and produces emission corresponding to the said outdoor light spectrum. The said outdoor light spectrum produced by the said horticultural LED array shines on at least one plant that corresponds to the selected user inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventor: Lars AIKALA
  • Publication number: 20170013786
    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 and/or dark growth chamber environment are described. The best mode is considered to be a lighting device with LEDs that produces an emission spectrum similar to the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) spectrum in a dark growth chamber. 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, especially in dark growth chambers, such as basements, are realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Lars AIKALA, Ilkka KIVIMAKI
  • Publication number: 20170006783
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Lars AIKALA, Ilkka KIVIMÄKI
  • Patent number: 9516818
    Abstract: A lighting fixture for facilitating plant growth and a light emitting component. The fixture includes a single light emission source LED device which provides at least two emission peaks in the wavelength range of 300-800 nm and at least one of the emission peaks has Full Width of Half Maximum (FWHM) at least 50 nm or higher. The emission peaks of the LED match well with a plant photosynthesis response spectrum and is therefore particularly suitable for high efficiency artificial lighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: VALOYA OY
    Inventor: Lars Aikala
  • Patent number: 9485920
    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 and/or dark growth chamber environment are described. The best mode is considered to be a lighting device with LEDs that produces an emission spectrum similar to the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) spectrum in a dark growth chamber. 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, especially in dark growth chambers, such as basements, are realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: VALOYA OY
    Inventors: Lars Aikala, Ilkka Kivimaki
  • Patent number: 9456556
    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 and/or dark growth chamber environment are described. The best mode is considered to be a lighting device with LEDs that produces an emission spectrum similar to the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) spectrum in a dark growth chamber. 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, especially in dark growth chambers, such as basements, are realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: VALOYA OY
    Inventors: Lars Aikala, Ilkka Kivimaki
  • Patent number: 9450144
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: VALOYA OY
    Inventors: Lars Aikala, Ilkka Kivimaki
  • Patent number: 9318648
    Abstract: An illumination device with a semiconductor light emission solution has a wavelength up conversion feature and is suited for plant cultivation in a greenhouse environment. The best mode is considered to be a light device with at least one blue LED (101) with wavelength up conversion binary alloy quantum dots (110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160) made by colloidal methods that are arranged to produce an emission spectrum similar to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) spectrum with the blue LEDs. The methods and arrangements allow more precise spectral tuning of the emission spectrum for lights used in plant cultivation. Therefore unexpected improvements in the photomorphogenetic control of plant growth, and further improvements in plant (310, 311) production are realized. The device is especially advantageous for greenhouses that already have legacy LED systems. These LED systems can often just be upgraded by adding the quantum dot array to arrive at the lighting solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: VALOYA OY
    Inventors: Lars Aikala, Ilkka Kivimaki
  • Patent number: 9232700
    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 and/or dark growth chamber environment are described. The best mode is considered to be a lighting device with LEDs that produces an emission spectrum similar to the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) spectrum in a dark growth chamber. 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, especially in dark growth chambers, such as basements, are realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: VALOYA OY
    Inventors: Lars Aikala, Ilkka Kivimaki
  • Publication number: 20150342126
    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 and/or dark growth chamber environment are described. The best mode is considered to be a lighting device with LEDs that produces an emission spectrum similar to the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) spectrum in a dark growth chamber. 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, especially in dark growth chambers, such as basements, are realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Lars AIKALA, Ilkka KIVIMAKI
  • Patent number: 9185852
    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 and/or dark growth chamber environment are described. The best mode is considered to be a lighting device with LEDs that produces an emission spectrum similar to the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) spectrum in a dark growth chamber. 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, especially in dark growth chambers, such as basements, are realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: VALOYA OY
    Inventors: Lars Aikala, Ilkka Kivimaki
  • Publication number: 20150223403
    Abstract: Lighting method and devices can be used to treat a seedling in a growth chamber or greenhouse prior to the introduction of the seedling to outdoors. A light by which the plants can be prepared for the outdoors, by giving them certain wavelengths of light they do not currently receive from the light in the greenhouse or growth chambers. The light can be applied in smaller doses during the major part of nursing of the seedlings or as a “sun-shock” period in the end of the indoors nursing period. By giving the seedlings this light, they are prepared to Sun light and do not need to spend a few weeks under the sunshade curtains. Thus, the growth cycle of tree seedlings is shortened, the proportion of viable seedlings is enhanced, and one work phase in the growth process is eliminated, thereby improving the economics of seedling cultivation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Lars AIKALA, Ilkka KIVIMAKI
  • Publication number: 20150201562
    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 and/or dark growth chamber environment are described. The best mode is considered to be a lighting device with LEDs that produces an emission spectrum similar to the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) spectrum in a dark growth chamber. 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, especially in dark growth chambers, such as basements, are realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Lars AIKALA, Ilkka KIVIMAKI
  • Publication number: 20150128490
    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 and/or dark growth chamber environment are described. The best mode is considered to be a lighting device with LEDs that produces an emission spectrum similar to the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) spectrum in a dark growth chamber. 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, especially in dark growth chambers, such as basements, are realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Lars AIKALA, Ilkka KIVIMAKI
  • Publication number: 20140373442
    Abstract: The invention relates to the cultivation of insect (840) pollinated plants (710, 711) in a greenhouse (700, 701 and 802) environment. In more particular, the invention relates to a lighting device and a method of illumination designed to enhance insect pollination in plants, such as the tomato. The best mode of the invention is considered to be the use of a LED (101, 102, 103 and 104) lighting device having emission peaks (401, 402, 403, 410 and 510) matching the photosynthetic relative absorption peaks of green plants, and the relative reflectance peaks of flowers of plants being cultivated and the relative sensitivity peaks of the insect's vision being used in the pollination. The inventive lighting device and method reduces insect mortality and increases pollination efficiency, photosynthetic growth and thereby increases the productivity of plant cultivation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Lars AIKALA, Ilkka KIVIMAKI, Titta KOTILAINEN
  • Patent number: 8850743
    Abstract: A lighting fixture for facilitating plant growth and a light emitting component. The fixture comprises a single light emission source LED device which provides at least two emission peaks in the wavelength range of 300-800 nm and at least one of the emission peaks has Full Width of Half Maximum (FWHM) at least 50 nm or higher. The emission peaks of the LED match well with a plant photosynthesis response spectrum and is therefore particularly suitable for high efficiency artificial lighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Valoya Oy
    Inventor: Lars Aikala
  • Publication number: 20140268635
    Abstract: A horticultural light for use in green houses and growth chambers of plants, includes multiple LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) configured to excite a single remote phosphor up-conversion unit, typically realized on a replaceable cover glass of the light. The LED emitters are also replaceable, and preferably attached to a trunk, and not a circuit board. The distance between the plurality of LEDs and the remote phosphor up-conversion unit is configured so that the temperature of the remote phosphor up-conversion unit is 40±10 C.°, and the LED is at 130±30 C.° temperature. The combination of being able to control a separation between the remote phosphor up-conversion unit and the LEDs and having multiple LEDs emit to a single remote phosphor up-conversion unit has a great synergistic advantage: this provides a very energy efficient way of designing complex emission spectra that can be used on an industrial scale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Valoya Oy
    Inventors: LARS AIKALA, ILKKA KIVIMAKI, JUHA RANTALA
  • Publication number: 20130318869
    Abstract: A lighting fixture for facilitating plant growth and a light emitting component. The fixture comprises a single light emission source LED device which provides at least two emission peaks in the wavelength range of 300-800 nm and at least one of the emission peaks has Full Width of Half Maximum (FWHM) at least 50 nm or higher. The emission peaks of the LED match well with a plant photosynthesis response spectrum and is therefore particularly suitable for high efficiency artificial lighting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: VALOYA OY
    Inventor: Lars AIKALA
  • Patent number: D705470
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Valoya Oy
    Inventors: Tuomo Kuikka, Ari Karkkainen, Juha Rantala, Ilkka Kivimaki, Lars Aikala