Patents Assigned to Fluence Bioengineering, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11029000
    Abstract: Systems and methods for an intracanopy horticultural lighting fixture. In aspects, a horticultural luminaire has an edgelit lightguide or optical conduit (40) extending from a housing, a lightguide length extending along longitudinal axis L, and one or more endcaps (214) coupled to respective lateral edges extending along a height axis H, the endcap having a lightguide-receiving socket spaced (220) adjacent a lightsource housing-receiving socket (218). In other aspects the endcaps are convex curved about one or more axes transverse the longitudinal axis to prevent catch points. In another aspect a luminaire has an edgelit lightguide generating an output having downwardly directed peaks at about +/?30 degrees from vertical. Light output is preferably batwing shaped and symmetric. Another aspect is providing intracanopy lighting having a planar optical conduit, a major extent of which is disposed along its longitudinal axis (L), and supporting the optical conduit below an upper plant canopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Fluence Bioengineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Becker Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11013187
    Abstract: Systems and methods for an intracanopy horticultural lighting fixture. In aspects, a horticultural luminaire has an edgelit lightguide or optical conduit extending from a housing with its major dimension extending along longitudinal axis L, and one or more endcaps coupled to respective lateral edges, endcaps being convex curved about one or more axes transverse the longitudinal axis to prevent catch points. The endcap can be coupled to the housing to hinder separation of the lightguide. In another aspect a horticultural luminaire has an edgelit lightguide generating an output having downwardly directed peaks at about +/?30 degrees from vertical. Light output is preferably batwing shaped and symmetric. Another aspect provides a method for intracanopy lighting having an entirely planar optical conduit, a major extent of the optical conduit disposed along its longitudinal axis (L), and supporting the optical conduit, preferably its entirety, below an upper plant canopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Fluence Bioengineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Becker Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20210100171
    Abstract: A lighting system for temporal, irradiance-controlled photoacclimation includes a photoacclimation controller configured to generate control signals based on a photoacclimation schedule, a user interface configured to receive user input to the photoacclimation controller, the photoacclimation schedule based on the user input, a plurality of luminaires configured to emit light suitable for photosynthesis in plants at a plurality of different selectable levels of light output, and a communications network via which the control signals are provided to the plurality of luminaires, the luminaires adjusting the light output in response to the control signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: Fluence Bioengineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Graves, Gregory Hovagim, M. Travis Higginbotham
  • Publication number: 20210059122
    Abstract: Systems and methods for an intracanopy horticultural lighting fixture. In aspects, a horticultural luminaire has an edgelit lightguide or optical conduit extending from a housing with its major dimension extending along longitudinal axis L, and one or more endcaps coupled to respective lateral edges, endcaps being convex curved about one or more axes transverse the longitudinal axis to prevent catch points. The endcap can be coupled to the housing to hinder separation of the lightguide. In another aspect a horticultural luminaire has an edgelit lightguide generating an output having downwardly directed peaks at about +/?30 degrees from vertical. Light output is preferably batwing shaped and symmetric. Another aspect provides a method for intracanopy lighting having an entirely planar optical conduit, a major extent of the optical conduit disposed along its longitudinal axis (L), and supporting the optical conduit, preferably its entirety, below an upper plant canopy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Fluence Bioengineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Becker Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20210062999
    Abstract: Systems and methods for an intracanopy horticultural lighting fixture. In aspects, a horticultural luminaire has an edgelit lightguide or optical conduit extending from a housing with its major dimension extending along longitudinal axis L, and one or more endcaps coupled to respective lateral edges, endcaps being convex curved about one or more axes transverse the longitudinal axis to prevent catch points. The endcap can be coupled to the housing to hinder separation of the lightguide. In another aspect a horticultural luminaire has an edgelit lightguide generating an output having downwardly directed peaks at about +/?30 degrees from vertical. Light output is preferably batwing shaped and symmetric. Another aspect provides a method for intracanopy lighting having an entirely planar optical conduit, a major extent of the optical conduit disposed along its longitudinal axis (L), and supporting the optical conduit, preferably its entirety, below an upper plant canopy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Fluence Bioengineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Becker Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20210063006
    Abstract: Embodiments may utilize a series of exposed fins, which increase the surface area of the heat sink creating additional air flow. As hotter air rises within the system, cooler is drawn into the heatsink. The fins may be exposed on both sides of the longitudinal axis, allowing cooler air to be drawn towards the longitudinal axis above the heatsink and flow upward. This process may cool the fins. Additionally, the spacing between the fins may have to be wide enough to allow for air to freely enter the heatsink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Fluence Bioengineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Dung Duong, Randall Johnson, Nicholas Klase
  • Publication number: 20210063000
    Abstract: Systems and methods for an intracanopy horticultural lighting fixture. In aspects, a horticultural luminaire has an edgelit lightguide or optical conduit (40) extending from a housing, a lightguide length extending along longitudinal axis L, and one or more endcaps (214) coupled to respective lateral edges extending along a height axis H, the endcap having a lightguide-receiving socket spaced (220) adjacent a lightsource housing-receiving socket (218). In other aspects the endcaps are convex curved about one or more axes transverse the longitudinal axis to prevent catch points. In another aspect a luminaire has an edgelit lightguide generating an output having downwardly directed peaks at about +/?30 degrees from vertical. Light output is preferably batwing shaped and symmetric. Another aspect is providing intracanopy lighting having a planar optical conduit, a major extent of which is disposed along its longitudinal axis (L), and supporting the optical conduit below an upper plant canopy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Fluence Bioengineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Becker Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20210063633
    Abstract: Systems and methods for an intracanopy horticultural lighting fixture. In aspects, a horticultural luminaire has an edgelit lightguide or optical conduit extending from a housing with its major dimension extending along longitudinal axis L, and one or more endcaps coupled to respective lateral edges, endcaps being convex curved about one or more axes transverse the longitudinal axis to prevent catch points. The endcap can be coupled to the housing to hinder separation of the lightguide. In another aspect a horticultural luminaire has an edgelit lightguide generating an output having downwardly directed peaks at about +/?30 degrees from vertical. Light output is preferably batwing shaped and symmetric. Another aspect provides a method for intracanopy lighting having an entirely planar optical conduit, a major extent of the optical conduit disposed along its longitudinal axis (L), and supporting the optical conduit, preferably its entirety, below an upper plant canopy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Fluence Bioengineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Becker Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10914462
    Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure are related to systems and methods for lighting fixtures. More particularly, embodiments disclose lighting fixtures utilizing metal core PCB (MCPCB) for thermal, mechanical, and/or optical controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Fluence Bioengineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Dung Duong
  • Patent number: 10914890
    Abstract: Systems and methods for an intracanopy horticultural lighting fixture. In aspects, a horticultural luminaire has an edgelit lightguide or optical conduit extending from a housing with its major dimension extending along longitudinal axis L, and one or more endcaps coupled to respective lateral edges, endcaps being convex curved about one or more axes transverse the longitudinal axis to prevent catch points. The endcap can be coupled to the housing to hinder separation of the lightguide. In another aspect a horticultural luminaire has an edgelit lightguide generating an output having downwardly directed peaks at about +/?30 degrees from vertical. Light output is preferably batwing shaped and symmetric. Another aspect provides a method for intracanopy lighting having an entirely planar optical conduit, a major extent of the optical conduit disposed along its longitudinal axis (L), and supporting the optical conduit, preferably its entirety, below an upper plant canopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Fluence Bioengineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Becker Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10897853
    Abstract: A lighting system for temporal, irradiance-controlled photoacclimation includes a photoacclimation controller configured to generate control signals based on a photoacclimation schedule, a user interface configured to receive user input to the photoacclimation controller, the photoacclimation schedule based on the user input, a plurality of luminaires configured to emit light suitable for photosynthesis in plants at a plurality of different selectable levels of light output, and a communications network via which the control signals are provided to the plurality of luminaires, the luminaires adjusting the light output in response to the control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Fluence Bioengineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Graves, Gregory Hovagim, M. Travis Higginbotham
  • Patent number: 10893584
    Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure are related to systems and methods for voltage interfaces between legacy control systems and light sources. An example voltage interface may include a control loop including a first op-amp, an output loop including a second op-amp, and an optical isolator configured to electrically isolate the control loop from the output loop, the optical isolator being configured to receive an input signal from the control loop and transmit an output signal to the output loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Fluence Bioengineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Morgenstern
  • Publication number: 20200404859
    Abstract: A lighting system for temporal, irradiance-controlled photoacclimation includes a photoacclimation controller configured to generate control signals based on a photoacclimation schedule, a user interface configured to receive user input to the photoacclimation controller, the photoacclimation schedule based on the user input, a plurality of luminaires configured to emit light suitable for photosynthesis in plants at a plurality of different selectable levels of light output, and a communications network via which the control signals are provided to the plurality of luminaires, the luminaires adjusting the light output in response to the control signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: Fluence Bioengineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Graves, Gregory Hovagim, M. Travis Higginbotham
  • Publication number: 20200399612
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein describe systems and methods associated with light mounting systems. Embodiments may include lighting shelves that are configured to be mounted to a fixed structure, such as to a wall or supports within a room via a cantilever design that is mounted to strut channels. The lighting shelves may be anchored at only a single end to the strut channels, and the lighting shelves may protrude away from the strut channels. The lighting shelves may have a sufficient width and length to cover an entire region of interest below the lighting shelves, which may enable to lighting shelves to uniformly distribute light to plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: Fluence Bioengineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Klase, Randall Johnson
  • Patent number: 10859246
    Abstract: Systems and methods for collapsible lighting fixtures are disclosed. In aspects, a horticultural luminaire 100 has first and second light fixtures 110, 120 coupled in movable relation between storage and deployed positions by a coupling element 130 applying a retarding torque. Coupling element can be coupling shaft 250 providing friction, or friction hinge cartridge 260. In aspects, hinge 130 has ledge surfaces 218, 228 adjacent rotational hinge faces 216, 226 and extending transverse the rotational plane. In aspects, a horticultural luminaire has an articulated cableway extending through hinge 130 coupling light fixtures 110, 120 and guiding a cable entering from the exterior into cable passageways in light fixtures 110, 120, thereby lessening a cable pinch point during rotation and deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Fluence Bioengineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Marthinus Christoffel Van Der Schyf, Jonathan Becker Schmidt, Kenneth B. Frame
  • Patent number: D906989
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Fluence Bioengineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Dung Duong, Randall Johnson, Nicholas Klase
  • Patent number: D907592
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Fluence Bioengineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Dung Duong, Randall Johnson, Nicholas Klase
  • Patent number: D908269
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Fluence Bioengineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Dung Duong, Randall Johnson, Nicholas Klase
  • Patent number: D908948
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Fluence Bioengineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Dung Duong, Randall Johnson, Nicholas Klase
  • Patent number: D921957
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Fluence Bioengineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Klase, Randall Johnson