Abstract: A method and apparatus for a horticultural light that projects either a substantially uniform target illuminance onto a flat surface or an increasing target illuminance onto a flat surface. The horticultural light uses a refractor to receive the raw light distribution from one or more LEDs and then distributes an optically varied distribution having a minimized intensity at centerbeam with an increasing beam intensity as the beam width increases. The horticultural light utilizes both ultraviolet (UV) LEDs and non-UV LEDs arranged as an array to produce the optically varied distribution. A lens array is disposed in relation to the LED array and is comprised of UV compatible lenses and non-UV compatible lenses. A device may be disposed in relation to the UV compatible lenses to disallow incidence of UV radiation onto non-UV compatible lenses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an indoor horticultural system that utilizes a wired network to control lighting. The wired interface is used to relay both analog and digital intensity control information, whereby an analog signal is used to control the intensity of all LED arrays in each lighting fixture during a first mode of operation and a digital signal is used to control the intensity of each individual LED array in each lighting fixture in a second mode of operation. Both the analog and digital signals utilize the same physical interface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a horticultural light that projects either a substantially uniform target illuminance onto a flat surface or an increasing target illuminance onto a flat surface. The horticultural light uses a refractor to receive the raw light distribution from one or more LEDs and then distributes an optically varied distribution having a minimized intensity at centerbeam with an increasing beam intensity as the beam width increases. The horticultural light utilizes both ultraviolet (UV) LEDs and non-UV LEDs arranged as an array to produce the optically varied distribution. A lens array is disposed in relation to the LED array and is comprised of UV compatible lenses and non-UV compatible lenses. A device may be disposed in relation to the UV compatible lenses to disallow incidence of UV radiation onto non-UV compatible lenses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a light fixture that uses current sharing across any one or more parallel LED strings within the light fixture. A processor determines the current requirements of the one or more LED strings that are needed to produce a given intensity level. The processor then apportions the current generation capability of a power supply across all active LED strings using time division multiple access (TDMA) whereby each LED string conducts its apportioned current within its allocated time slot to the mutual exclusion of the remaining active LED strings in any given time period. The light fixture utilizes LEDs with increased forward voltage interspersed with LEDs having reduced forward voltage in the same LED string. A processor utilizes shunt devices across the one or more LEDs with increased forward voltage to substantially match the cumulative forward voltage of each LED string.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an indoor horticultural system that utilizes both a wireless and a wired network to control lighting. The wireless interface is used in a primary mode of operation to control all aspects of lighting including intensity, spectrum and color temperature. The wired interface is used in a secondary mode of operation, whereby an analog signal is used to control the intensity of all LED arrays in each lighting fixture and a digital signal is used to control the intensity of each individual LED array in each lighting fixture. Both the analog and digital signals utilize the same physical interface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a horticultural light for use in a horticultural facility is provided to minimize a dimension (e.g., height dimension) of the horticultural light. A sheet lens is adhered directly onto the printed circuit board and optionally the underlying metallic backing plate so as to environmentally seal the horticultural light. The sheet lens is comprised of polycarbonate and is pneumatically and/or thermally manipulated to include dome portions that are disposed in proximity to the respective one or more LEDs. Light generated by the LED is incident onto the inner surface of the respective dome portion at right angles through the entire beam angle. Accordingly, substantially none of the light is reflected back into the dome, but is rather propagated to an exterior of the light.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a wirelessly controlled, battery powered, universal serial bus (USB) charged, digital multiplex (DMX) master controller with remote device management (RDM) capability. The DMX controller includes a single DMX interface for DMX mastering that is RDM compliant. The DMX controller includes an optional DMX interface that may be used to allow miscellaneous data transfer that may not only include light intensity control information, but other non-lighting control information between serially connected devices using only DMX as a form of communication in a “token ring” arrangement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a horticultural light system for use in a greenhouse where aspects of ambient light in the greenhouse are measured and compared against a prescribed light recipe. A light controller commands a light fixture contained within the greenhouse to augment the ambient light in response to the comparison. Photosynthetic photon flux, light intensity, color temperature and color spectrum among other aspects of light generated by the light fixture are altered by the controller to fill in deficiencies of the ambient light as compared to the prescribed light recipe.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a horticultural light for use in a horticultural facility is provided to minimize a dimension (e.g., height dimension) of the horticultural light. A sheet lens is adhered directly onto the printed circuit board and optionally the underlying metallic backing plate so as to environmentally seal the horticultural light. The sheet lens is comprised of polycarbonate and is pneumatically and/or thermally manipulated to include dome portions that are disposed in proximity to the respective one or more LEDs. Light generated by the LED is incident onto the inner surface of the respective dome portion at right angles through the entire beam angle. Accordingly, substantially none of the light is reflected back into the dome, but is rather propagated to an exterior of the light.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a light fixture that uses current sharing across any one or more LED strings within the light fixture. A processor may determine the current requirements of the one or more LED strings that are needed to produce a given intensity level. The processor may then apportion the current generation capability of a power supply across all active LED strings using time division multiple access (TDMA) whereby each LED string may conduct its apportioned current within its allocated time slot to the mutual exclusion of the remaining active LED strings in any given time period. The processor may transition from a TDMA mode of operation to a direct drive mode of operation when the time duration of each of the mutually exclusive time slots are substantially equal to each other or within a percentage range of each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a horticultural light system for use in a greenhouse where aspects of ambient light in the greenhouse are measured and compared against a prescribed light recipe. A light controller commands a light fixture contained within the greenhouse to augment the ambient light in response to the comparison. Photosynthetic photon flux, light intensity, color temperature and color spectrum among other aspects of light generated by the light fixture are altered by the controller to fill in deficiencies of the ambient light as compared to the prescribed light recipe.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a horticultural light for use in a horticultural facility that projects either a substantially uniform target illuminance onto a flat surface or an increasing target illuminance onto a flat surface that increases as the beam angle increases with respect to the optical axis. The horticultural light uses a refractor to receive the raw light distribution from one or more LEDs and then distributes an optically varied distribution having a minimized intensity at centerbeam with an increasing beam intensity as the beam width increases.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a lighting network is provided whereby both legacy and next generation lighting may be controlled by a harmonized controller. Wireless controllers are deployed within the lighting network to control the operation of the harmonized controller. Wireless interconnectivity allows each of the wireless controllers to independently command the harmonized controller and allows each wireless controller to correctly display through visible feedback the current status of the lighting network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a horticultural light for use in a horticultural facility that uses current sharing across any one or more LED strings within the horticultural light. A processor determines the current requirements of the one or more LED strings that are needed to produce a given intensity level. The processor then apportions the current generation capability of a DC-DC converter across all active LED strings using time division multiple access whereby each LED string conducts its apportioned current within its allocated time slot to the mutual exclusion of the remaining active LED strings in the allocated time slot. The processor employs analog (continuous) and/or digital (discontinuous) dimming techniques within each time slot to further modulate the amount of current conducted by any LED string within its allocated time slot.

Abstract: An indoor horticultural system includes a grow bed and a lighting system arranged in proximity to the grow bed. The lighting system includes lighting fixtures having an optical axis and a light distribution whose intensity increases as the angle of the generated light increases in relation to the optical axis to increase cross-lighting. Alternately, the lighting system includes lighting fixtures mounted at varying angles and with varying beam widths so as to increase cross-lighting. Series connected light fixtures include a master light fixture that employs an intensity controller to control the intensity of light generated by each of the series-connected light fixtures, where the intensity controller derives operational power from an LED string contained within the master light fixture.