Greenhouse, Apparatus Or Method Patents (Class 47/17)
  • Patent number: 11895958
    Abstract: A structure for growing plants comprising a main support, vertical supports along the perimeter of the foundation, a perimeter frame connected to the vertical supports, cables connected to the main support, vertical supports and perimeter frame, and an inner and outer shell formed from transmissive panels supported by the cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventors: Troy McClellan, Ingo Mueller
  • Patent number: 11877548
    Abstract: An aeroponic growing system includes a plurality of parallel vertical aeroponic growing apparatuses each having a closable loop articulated wall made up of vertical strips or panels that are pivotally attached side-by-side together with flexible joints. The motor-driven articulated wall moves on rails as an oblong-shaped carousel. The panels are provided with numerous plant-growing cups such that the growing plant extends outwardly out of the cup while the roots thereof are located inwardly of the wall. A spraying system delivers nutrients to the roots in darkness. On the external side, plants are exposed to controlled lighting provided by a programmable vertical LED system. Every growing step of the plants is optimized and supported by sensors and interactive software. The articulated wall is disengageable from its aeroponic growing apparatus to be displaced along a railing system between a grow room and other areas, and/or inverted for the roots to face outward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: CYCLOFIELDS INDOOR FARMING
    Inventors: Eric Deschambault, Antoine Deschambault
  • Patent number: 11825787
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and method comprising a vertical farm where the plants are nourished by an aqueous nutrient solution and where all operations of the farm: the circulation of aqueous nutrient solution, replenishment of nutrients and supplements to the solution, as well as the seeding, growing, harvesting and packaging of plants are able to be effected in an automated manner and controlled by the farm controller system. It is possible for the operations of the present invention to be non-automated, semi-automated, or fully-automated, or any combination of non-automated, semi-automated and fully-automated operations, and to be controlled either centrally or locally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Cloud Produce Inc.
    Inventors: Philipp Hertel, Ian Mathieson
  • Patent number: 11802990
    Abstract: An optical system that obtains characteristics of a transmission path in atmosphere, when laser light propagates through this transmission path, at a place separated from this transmission path and before the propagation, and corrects wavefront of the laser light based on the obtained characteristics, is provided. The optical system is provided with an irradiation device and an atmospheric characteristics obtaining system. The irradiation device irradiates an external target with light via a first optical path. The atmospheric characteristics obtaining system is arranged in a second optical path separated from the first optical path and obtains characteristics of atmospheric environment in the first optical path with respect to the irradiated light. The irradiation device is provided with wavefront correction optics. The wavefront correction optics correct wavefront of the irradiated light based on the obtained characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD., RIKEN, INSTITUTE FOR LASER TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Masashi Iwashimizu, Hiroyuki Daigo, Shingo Nishikata, Kazunori Masukawa, Atsushi Ochiai, Toshikazu Ebisuzaki, Satoshi Wada, Yoshiyuki Takizawa, Masayuki Maruyama, Shinji Motokoshi
  • Patent number: 11801475
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for microalgae carbon fixation regulated based on natural environmental changes, which includes the following units: a microalgae cultivation unit; a light condensing unit configured to receive sunlight and increase light power density, the light condensing unit including one or more angle-adjustable light-condensing reflective panels; a light splitting unit configured to receive and split light transmitted from the light condensing unit, the light splitting unit including one or more angle-adjustable light splitting panels, the light splitting panel being capable of transmitting light within a spectral band in which microalgae has highest photosynthetic efficiency to thus allow the light to irradiate the microalgae cultivation unit, while being capable of reflecting light within other spectral bands; and a thermosiphon temperature control unit configured to control a temperature of the microalgae cultivation unit by controlling an opening degree of an air regulating va
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics
    Inventors: Xiaoyi Yang, Ziyu Liu, Shujun Han
  • Patent number: 11793132
    Abstract: It relates to a straightforward system, which can be used in any greenhouse, as it is not linked to the greenhouse, and which can maximise the area of crop plants per hectare. For this purpose, the invention proposes a system that is supported by struts (1) with a horizontal shaft (3) on which a support mechanism (4) for pairs of supports (5) of the hydroponic crop in question swings, so that they can adopt a position in which they are aligned horizontally, and another position in which they are aligned vertically, so that this position allows access to the plants for harvesting their fruit and therefore not having to leave unused spaces when the plants are aligned horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventors: Manuela Belmonte Mula, Valentin Abad
  • Patent number: 11730089
    Abstract: Techniques and examples for servicing a horticultural operation are described. A method may involve receiving data from one or more autonomous vehicles. The data pertains to the horticultural operation or one or more targets located within the horticultural operation. The received data is analyzed to determine one or more conditions of the horticultural operation or one or more targets. Based on the analyzing, one or more recommendations for addressing the one or more conditions are determined. The determined conditions and recommendations are sent to a user interface. When authorized via the user interface, data is transmitted to the one or more autonomous vehicles that are indicative of follow-on actions for the horticultural operation or target. Additional data is received, when available, based on the follow-on actions for further analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: iUNU, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Charles King, Ethan Victor Takla, Adam Phillip Takla Greenberg
  • Patent number: 11723318
    Abstract: An indoor plant-growing system is an apparatus that includes a housing, at least one trellis, a reflective foil, at least one panel light, and a plurality of strip lights. The housing contains the at least one trellis, the at least one panel light, and the plurality of strip lights. The housing maintains an environment to grow a variety of plants, preferably, vine-type plants. The housing includes a growing chamber and a nutrient reservoir. The growing chamber houses variety of plants, and the nutrient reservoir supplies the growing chamber with a water supply and nutrients. The nutrient reservoir maintained preferably with fish in addition to at least one environmental sensor and at lease one aerator. The at least one panel light and the plurality of strip lights provide thorough lighting needed by the variety of plants. The reflective foil reflects the light to ensure lighting within a fully grown vine plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventors: Matthew Sean Rubin, John August Merryman, Anthony John DeMatteo
  • Patent number: 11719100
    Abstract: The system extracts water from lunar regolith and includes a regolith intake having a digging bucket that collects lunar regolith soil and a gravel separator that separates and discharges gravel and passes a mixture of ice-regolith powder having ice grains that are about 10-100 microns along the conveyor. A pneumatic separator receives the ice-regolith powder and pneumatically splits the ice-regolith powder into streams of different sized lithic fragments and ice particles per the ratio of inertial force and aerodynamic drag force of the lithic fragments and ice particles. Each split stream may include a magnetic separator that separates further the magnetic and paramagnetic lithic fragments from ice particles to discharge up to 80 percent of lithic fragments to slag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventor: Philip Metzger
  • Patent number: 11700804
    Abstract: Facility layouts and configurations for an automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture. In particular implementations, the core of the facility comprises a controlled growth environment and a central processing system. The controlled growth environment includes systems for exposing crops housed in modules, such as grow towers, to controlled environmental conditions. The central processing system may include various stations and functionality both for preparing crop-bearing modules to be inserted in the controlled growth environment for harvesting crops from the crop-bearing modules after they have been extracted from the controlled growth environment, and for cleaning or washing crop-hearing modules for re-use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: MJNN LLC
    Inventors: Gage Goodspeed Coffin, Michael Peter Flynn, Brice Leon Klein, Alexandre Le Roux, Nathaniel R. Storey, Tamara Tahir Hasoon, Merritt Jonathan Jenkins, Maria Alexandria Malone, Matthew James Matera, Kelly Catherine Casie LaBuff, Alan Colbrie Schoen
  • Patent number: 11684024
    Abstract: Disclosed is a plant growing system (100), comprising: a plurality of plant growing zones (122); a control apparatus (120) configured to control one or more environmental conditions in each of the plurality of plant growing zones (122); and a receiver (142) configured to receive input data indicating plant type characteristics of a plurality of plant characteristics types to be grown in a plant growing apparatus (120). Also disclosed is a plant growing apparatus (120) configured to grow a plurality of plant types, a method to control a plant growing apparatus (120) configured to grow a plurality of plant types, and a computer program including computer-readable instructions executable to perform a method to control a plant growing apparatus (120) configured to grow a plurality of plant types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: EVOGRO LTD
    Inventors: Paul Adams, Jason Hirst
  • Patent number: 11678615
    Abstract: A flexible growcenter includes a mobile container, a behind-the-meter power input system, a power distribution system, a growcenter control system, a climate control system, a lighting system, and an irrigation system. The growcenter control system modulates power delivery to one or more components of the climate control system, the lighting system, and the irrigation system based on unutilized behind-the-meter power availability or an operational directive. A method of dynamic power delivery to a flexible growcenter using unutilized behind-the-meter power includes monitoring unutilized behind-the-meter power availability, determining when a growcenter ramp-up condition is met, and enabling behind-the-meter power delivery to one or more computing systems when the growcenter ramp-up condition is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: LANCIUM LLC
    Inventors: David Henson, Michael T. McNamara, Raymond E. Cline, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11641810
    Abstract: Vertical growing uses a plurality of shelves to support plants. The system provides nitrogen and light to help grow the plants placed on the shelves. The system also circulates air that is filtered and mixed with the nitrogen before being distributed to the plants. The filters can remove odors from the circulating air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Pipp Mobile Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Lawrence Bogner, James Allen Cunningham
  • Patent number: 11639632
    Abstract: The window treatment includes a top member, a shade unit, and an outdoor temperature indication arrangement. The top member is adapted for mounting at a ceiling of the window frame. The shade unit is downwardly suspended from the top member and being moved between a closed position and an opened position, wherein at the closed position, the shade unit is moved for covering the window glass to control an amount of light in a space, and at the opened position, the shade unit is moved for uncovering the window glass. The outdoor temperature indication arrangement is formed with the shade unit for indicating an outdoor temperature when the shade unit is moved at the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Inventor: Candice Cheung
  • Patent number: 11632915
    Abstract: Vertical growing uses a plurality of shelves to support plants. The system has an air filtration and ultraviolet (UV) air purification system. The purified and filtered air is mixed with nitrogen, which is directed towards plants. The system can include lights to help grow the plants placed on the shelves. The filters can remove odors from the circulating air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Pipp Mobile Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Lawrence Bogner, James Allen Cunningham
  • Patent number: 11622508
    Abstract: In a method and device for cultivating a crop, cultivation takes place in an at least a substantially daylight-free, climate-conditioned cultivation space. The cultivation space extends between a first side and an opposite second side, wherein the crop is exposed to photosynthetically active radiation from an array of spatially separated artificial light sources. An airflow is guided over the crop from the first side to the second side. The artificial light sources are spatially distributed over the crop. Downstream light sources of the array of light sources produce a higher dosage of photosynthetically active radiation than light sources located further upstream as seen in the flow direction of the airflow guided over the crop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: PRIVA HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Gerardus Johannes Jozef Maria Meews, Cornelia Henrica Petronella Maria Meeuws-Aben, Marc Kreuger, Cornelis Marinus Gijsbertus Adrianus Maria Breukel
  • Patent number: 11618593
    Abstract: Disclosed is an environment forming apparatus suitable for biological cultivation in extraterrestrial space. The apparatus includes a shell and a biological cabin configured in an upper space of the shell. A light management system for importing light of biological growth from external world is configured in the upper space, a thermal management system for at least balancing a temperature of the upper space and a water supplying system and configured for providing water for creatures growth are both configured on the shell. The biological cabin and the like are set at the appropriate part of the shell, an environment which is relatively suitable for biological growth or cultivation can be created and simulated on an extraterrestrial star, a condition is provided for ecological cultivation of the extraterrestrial space, an ecosystem of the extraterrestrial space can be formed, and a smooth extraterrestrial space biological experiment process is guaranteed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignees: Chongqing University, Beijing Institute of Technology, Shandong Aerospace Electronic Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Gengxin Xie, Yuanxun Zhang, Xiaojun Yang, He Zhang, Zhe Zhang, Youwei Zhang, Xuan Zhou, Miaocheng Weng, Xi Wang
  • Patent number: 11606912
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method that can effectively/efficiently increase the amount of a phenolic compound such as a polyphenol. The invention provides a method for increasing an amount of a phenolic compound in a plant, or a method for producing a plant containing an increased amount of a phenolic compound, the method comprising irradiating the/a plant with ultraviolet light, wherein a fluence at wavelengths of 270 to 290 nm is 1500 to 50000 ?mol/m2 and a fluence at wavelengths of 310 to 400 nm is less than 50% of that at wavelengths of 270 to 290 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Okazawa, Yasuo Fujikawa, Tomohiro Tsurumoto
  • Patent number: 11586799
    Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods for automatically eliminating connectivity mismatches in a mask layout block are provided. The disclosed systems and methods maintain the process design rules (DRC Clean), connectivity (LVS Clean) correctness, and obey Reliability Verification (RV) and DFM (Design for Manufacturability) constraints. Disclosed systems and methods analyze a physical connection of a selected polygon or net in a mask layout block and obtain connectivity information associated with the selected polygon or net from a netlist or external constraints file. The physical connection of the selected polygon or net is compared with the obtained connectivity information to determine whether there is a connectivity mismatch associated with the selected polygon or net.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: GBT Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Danny Rittman, Mo Jacob
  • Patent number: 11547082
    Abstract: The power barn system provides a way to eliminate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock. The power barn system seals and traps the methane gas that is emitted from the livestock and converts the methane into electric power and carbon dioxide to enhance plant growth. The power barn system uses PV solar arrays and plastic sheeting to make sealed, airtight structures. The carbon dioxide is provided to one or more sealed greenhouse areas. The plants use the carbon dioxide and release oxygen, thereby completely eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from livestock. The power plant uses the methane at peak times at night while solar panels supply power during the day producing zero emission and 24/7 electricity at better than market rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventor: Mark Ellis
  • Patent number: 11528851
    Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module rotatably mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A moisture management system includes an evaporator plenum in fluid communication with the grow chamber and a fan assembly that recirculates air from the respective grow chambers and/or the ambient environment through an evaporator positioned within the evaporator plenum. In this manner, chamber humidity may be regulated while water is extracted from the air which may be used by a hydration system to hydrate plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Hunter, Michael Goodman Schroeder, Louis A. Wantland, John Alexander Gardner, Brian Allgeier
  • Patent number: 11528855
    Abstract: A method to grow cannabis is described, wherein the method includes providing and treating a source of water, mixing the water with an additive to form a liquid mixture, transferring the liquid mixture to a plurality of cannabis plants grown in a growing medium including a mycorrhiza fungus, and growing the cannabis using a humidity control method, then harvesting the cannabis plants. Trimming and grinding the cannabis along with use of environmental control methods including temperature, humidity, lighting schedules, and carbon dioxide concentrations are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: INSECTERGY, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Michael Leo
  • Patent number: 11528852
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a positive pressure greenhouse including one or more plants disposed on a plant table surface, wherein the plant table surface is disposed above ground level and has an area below the plant table surface and above the ground, one or more upper wall tubes including one or more upper wall tube fans disposed above the plant table surface, one or more lower sidewall tubes comprising one or more lower side wall tube fans disposed below the plant table surface which may be at or near ground level. The one or more lower sidewall tube fans may be configured to draw air from the area below the plant table surface, wherein air is further drawn down from above the plant surface table, e.g., the area of the upper wall tubes and upper wall tube fans, to ground level of the greenhouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Inventor: David Avila
  • Patent number: 11457571
    Abstract: A modular lighting system is provided. The modular lighting system includes a first LED board. The first LED board includes one or more LED arrays. The one or more LED arrays include one or more ultraviolet LED light sources and one or more non-ultraviolet LED light sources. The first LED board further includes one or more constant current LED drivers configured to output a driver current for the one or more LED arrays. The modular lighting system further includes a second LED board. The second LED board includes one or more LED arrays. The one or more LED arrays include one or more non-ultraviolet LED light sources. The second LED board further includes one or more constant current LED drivers configured to output a driver current for the one or more LED arrays of the second LED board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan Andrew Waymeyer, Joseph Thomas Waugh, Erik Stennis, Darin Franks
  • Patent number: 11375675
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method for tomato soilless cultivation with suspended trough, including four aspects: setting of soilless cultivation substrate trough, preparation of soilless cultivation substrate, efficient and economical grafting and plant management. The efficient and economical grafting includes seedling raising, preparation of new scion, grafting and healing culture. The plant management includes planting, pruning and vine raising, flower and fruit management, and plant type maintenance. the present disclosure utilizes a soilless cultivation substrate trough, which can overcome the shortcomings of poor water retention, difficult control of temperature and water and fertilizer application in substrate bag cultivation and give full play to the characteristics of the cultivation substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIAN ARGICULTURE AND FORESTRY UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Fenglin Zhong, Jin Wang, Chunyu Shang, Ru Xu, Shubin Wang, Jiaming Li, Lu Chen, Xiaoli He, Danqing Yang
  • Patent number: 11350575
    Abstract: A system and adjustable apparatus for applying CO2 gas to improve Cannabis production. The system includes upstream and downstream stages or subsystems. The upstream subsystem receives and stores gas, particularly CO2 gas. It monitors the environment of the downstream subsystem, determines when and how to apply gas to plants growing in the downstream system, acquires gas stored in the upstream subsystem, and distributes it to the downstream system. It also has various monitoring, command and control, management, and reporting features. The downstream subsystem includes one or more plant growth areas or plots, gas distribution means, such as gas conduits, tubes or lines from the midstream subsystem, and the high efficiency, adjustable gas applicator, and various sensing and monitoring devices communicatively connected to the upstream subsystem. Also disclosed are odor mitigation and humidity control features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: The Agricultural Gas Company
    Inventor: Stewart E. Erickson
  • Patent number: 11343977
    Abstract: Illustrative configurations of greenhouse shading systems are disclosed. One illustrative system includes a plurality of main trusses supporting a translucent material defining an interior space, a plurality of gantries; and a plurality of shades attached to the gantries and the main trusses. The main trusses, gantries, and shades cooperate to move the shades between a closed position and an open position thereby regulating the amount of light the entering interior space of the greenhouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventor: Mikeal D. Jones
  • Patent number: 11337379
    Abstract: A plant growing apparatus is disclosed that enables users to grow edible vegetation and other plants in all climates and year round. The plant growing apparatus includes a framework, a solar assembly coupled to said framework at a predetermined angle, the solar assembly including at least one photovoltaic panel operable to receive solar energy. A planting bed is coupled to said framework. A lighting assembly is connected to the photovoltaic panel and operably directed to emit light toward said planting bed. The plant growing apparatus includes a watering assembly having a misting conduit in fluid communication with a water source and positioned proximate the photovoltaic panel and defining an aperture and a wiper assembly operably coupled to said at least one photovoltaic panel, said wiper assembly including a pulley system and a wiper blade movable along the photovoltaic panel when said pulley system is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Inventor: Tammy L. James
  • Patent number: 11310976
    Abstract: Modular systems for propagating plants in at least one of a hydroponic environment and an aquaponics environment may include at least one tank configured to hold liquid. A modular drive assembly may be carried by the at least one tank. At least one propagation module may be drivingly engaged for rotation by the modular drive assembly. The at least one propagation module may be configured to support and propagate at least one plant. At least one pump may be disposed in fluid communication with the at least one tank. The at least one pump configured to pump the liquid from the at least one tank through the at least one propagation module. Modular methods for propagating plants in at least one of a hydroponic environment and an aquaponics environment are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Inventor: John Thomas Cross
  • Patent number: 11297777
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to agricultural growing apparatuses and methods. More specifically the present invention relates to a dynamic, modular, rotating apparatus, and methods related to the apparatus' use and/or function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Inventor: John H. Oberthier
  • Patent number: 11259471
    Abstract: A cover member for an in-store greenhouse is disclosed, with which radiation exiting the in-store greenhouse can be influenced or modified, so that outgoing total radiation has a white color on the Planck curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: OSRAM GmbH
    Inventors: Guido Angenendt, Timo Bongartz, Norbert Haas
  • Patent number: 11246266
    Abstract: An approach for controlling light exposure of a light sensitive object is described. Aspects of this approach involve using a first set of radiation sources to irradiate the object with visible radiation and infrared radiation. A second set of radiation sources spot irradiate the object in a set of locations with a target ultraviolet radiation having a range of wavelengths. Radiation sensors detect radiation reflected from the object and environment condition sensors detect conditions of the environment in which the object is located during irradiation. A controller controls irradiation of the light sensitive object by the first and second set of radiation sources according to predetermined optimal irradiation settings specified for various environmental conditions. In addition, the controller adjusts irradiation settings of the first and second set of radiation sources as a function of measurements obtained by the various sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Shur, Alexander Dobrinsky, Maxim S. Shatalov, Arthur Peter Barber, III
  • Patent number: 11199020
    Abstract: A structure that includes strut tubes that receive and hold within them a granular material—soil, sand, gravel, regolith, or plastic pellets—to which compression is applied after loading. By this means the struts are stiffened to facilitate its use as a durable shelter. The structure is erected by inflating the strut tubes with a fluid which is then displaced with the granular material before compression is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Inventor: Morgan Gendel
  • Patent number: 11185017
    Abstract: A system for controlling light in a facility may include at least one rail longitudinally affixable to an inner portion of a frame of the facility between a first end and a second end of the facility and at a rail-height above a floor of the facility; and at least one opaque/reflective covering tightly and opaquely affixable to the inner portion of the facility frame at a cover-height above the facility floor in a first plane that faces the facility floor and slidably connectable to the at least one rail, the at least one opaque/reflective covering being extendable along the at least one rail between a first covering position and a second covering position to opaquely cover respective at least one longitudinal section of the facility in the first plane when in the second covering position, without substantially covering the facility walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Palram Applications (1995) Ltd.
    Inventor: Geva Katz
  • Patent number: 11129338
    Abstract: An upward, vertically extending agricultural gas distribution system is disclosed. The gas distribution system is useable for orchards, plantations, and other permanent or semi permanent crops. The gas delivery system includes a gas supply, a flexible tube, and a rigid tube. The gas supply is adapted to be disposed proximate the bottom of a plant. The flexible tube is connected to the gas supply and has a lumen for communication of gas from the gas supply. The flexible tube is adapted to be oriented vertically along the vertical length of the plant. The rigid tube is connected to the flexible tube and also has a lumen for communication of gas from the flexible tube. The rigid tube has at least one gas emitter for release of gas from the rigid tube lumen to the exterior environment. The rigid tube is adapted to be oriented vertically along the vertical length of the plant, above the flexible tube. Tree couplers, gas wands, gas flow indicators, and gas flow control valves are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Inventor: Stewart E. Erickson
  • Patent number: 11083142
    Abstract: A system for growing a plant (1) in an at least partly conditioned environment includes a cultivation base (11) for receiving a culture substrate (3) with a root system (4) of the plant therein. Root temperature control elements (12) are provided which are able and adapted to impose a predetermined root temperature on the root system, and lighting elements (20,21,22) which are able and adapted to expose leaves of the plant to actinic artificial light. Leaf heating elements are also provided, which are able and adapted to impose on the leaf of the plant a leaf temperature varying from an ambient temperature. In a method for growing the plant a carbon dioxide assimilation management of a leaf system of the plant is thus influenced, and a supply of actinic light, the root temperature and the carbon dioxide assimilation management are adapted to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: PLANTLAB GROEP B.V.
    Inventors: John Van Gemert, Martinus Kers, Gerardus Johannes Jozef Maria Meeuws
  • Patent number: 11067524
    Abstract: A system for testing for contaminants in an assembly line grow pod includes a tray moving along a track arranged in an assembly line grow pod, a plurality of cells arranged on the tray and a contaminant sensor. Each cell supports seeds, plants, or both, and a selected cell includes side walls and a base that define a cavity. The contaminant sensor is arranged in the cavity of the selected cell. The contaminant sensor includes a sensing device and a control device. The sensing device directly senses a characteristic of a content present in association with the selected cell. The control device is coupled to the sensing device and operable to receive a signal from the sensing device. The control device may determine a likelihood of contamination based on the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Grow Solutions Tech LLC
    Inventor: Gary Bret Millar
  • Patent number: 11064660
    Abstract: A system can be installed in a cabinet for growing plants. The system has a divider. The divider hermetically separates a plant space of the cabinet from a control space of the cabinet. The divider has a plant side, a control side, and electro-magnetic radiation (EMR) emitters, mounted on the plant side of the divider. The EMR emitters are adapted to EMR frequencies primarily at or near visible light. There is a filtered vent in the divider. The filtered vent has an air filter, a fan for pulling air through the filtered vent, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor controls the fan and the EMR emitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Inventors: Craig Adams, David Orologio
  • Patent number: 11058069
    Abstract: A multilayered polymeric film for covering an agricultural structure or greenhouse is described herein, wherein the film contains adjacent layers that are capable of delamination from one another. A method of covering an agricultural structure or greenhouse with the multilayered polymeric film can comprise inserting gas between adjacent layers of the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Plastika Kritis S.A.
    Inventors: Ioannis Lempidakis, Emmanouil Lempidakis, Michail Lempidakis
  • Patent number: 10993382
    Abstract: A modular greenhouse assembly may include one or more grow containers, each having a plant space, and one or more support containers. The containers may be positioned side by side and stacked on top of each other. By properly, but easily, aligning corresponding ports in the containers, light and air can be conveyed to properly care for the plants in the plant space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Inventor: Stephen Kee
  • Patent number: 10986789
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, includes computer programs encoded on a storage device, for sensor-assisted indoor gardening. In one aspect, a monitoring system is disclosed that includes a processor and a computer storage media storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations may include determining that a particular plant type is growing in a zone of a property, determining, based on sensor data generated by one or more sensors installed at the property, whether a current value of an environmental attribute of the zone of the property satisfies a threshold environmental value for the particular plant type, and performing, by the monitoring system, one or more operations configured to instruct a configurable device installed at the property to modify the current value of the environmental attribute of the zone of the property towards the threshold environmental value for the plant type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventor: Aaron Lee Roberts
  • Patent number: 10955098
    Abstract: A light harvester or collector collects solar radiation from an unshaded location adjacent a growing plant. The light harvester can be either imaging (e.g., parabolic reflectors) or non-imaging (e.g., compound parabolic concentrator). The concentrated solar radiation is projected into a light transmitter that conducts the light through the plant's outer canopy and into the inner canopy to a diffuser which disperses and reradiates the light into the inner canopy. The diffused light transforms a non-productive, potentially leafless zone of the plant into a productive zone so that more fruit can be produced per volume of land surface. The system can prevent transmission of infrared into the inner canopy so that the inner canopy zone is not heated and the amount of water lost to transpiration is reduced. The system can also modify other spectral components to affect plant development and to control pests and diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: OPTI-HARVEST, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Farkas, Nicholas Booth, Nadav Ravid
  • Patent number: 10939624
    Abstract: A netting material is knitted from at least two synthetic material yarns of which one is an opaque and the other is a transparent or translucent or different opaque yarn. A knitted netting material comprises a plurality of primary yarns knitted to form a mesh construction having an arrangement of primary apertures defined by yarn intersections and yarn connecting portions between yarn intersections, and a plurality of secondary yarns crossing over the primary apertures to form secondary apertures within the primary apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: NINE IP LIMITED
    Inventor: Jonathan Dallas Toye
  • Patent number: 10918022
    Abstract: An automated plant training system and related methods are designed to train medium to tall plants to grow in a height restricted space by adjusting the plant's direction of growth through the use of phototropism. The device can physically control the plant's main stem, branches and foliage from excessive vertical growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Trella Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Aja N. Atwood, Andres Chamorro, III
  • Patent number: 10884327
    Abstract: A light source apparatus includes a plurality of light sources, a heat receiver configured to receive heat from the plurality of light sources, a cooler configured to cool the heat receiver, a first detector configured to detect a temperature near a first light source among the plurality of light sources, a second detector configured to detect a temperature near a second light source among the plurality of light sources; and a controller configured to control the cooler based on detection results of the first detector and the second detector. When the detection result of the first detector cannot be used, the controller controls the cooler based on a value of the detection result of the second detector without using the detection result of the first detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Noda
  • Patent number: 10874064
    Abstract: An illustrative embodiment of a grow board may include an outer member that may be engaged with an inner member such that a grow media may be positioned therebetween, secured, and/or tightened by the engagement between the inner and outer members. The outer member may have one or more slots formed therein to allow a plant to grow from the grow media through the slots, wherein the root of the plant may be positioned adjacent the inner member. The inner member may be configured with risers along the periphery and interior to provide a sufficient gap between stacked grow boards to allow for improved penetration of light and air into the seeded and stacked grow boards to aid in seed germination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: LIVING GREENS FARM, INC.
    Inventors: Dana Anderson, Raymond L. Carriere, Richard Stoner, Daniel Lagro
  • Patent number: 10849281
    Abstract: An agricultural netting material has a construction profile across the width of the netting in which one or more construction elements varies across the width of the netting, a construction element in a first region of at least 20 cm width of the netting being different to the construction element in a second region of at least 20 cm width of the netting, the construction element being one of a yarn thickness, a yarn width, a yarn transmittance, a yarn pigmentation, a yarn reflectance, a yarn absorbance, a netting aperture size, a netting construction pattern and a netting cover factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: NINE IP LIMITED
    Inventor: Jonathan Dallas Toye
  • Patent number: 10842081
    Abstract: An approach for controlling light exposure of a light sensitive object is described. Aspects of this approach involve using a first set of radiation sources to irradiate the object with visible radiation and infrared radiation. A second set of radiation sources spot irradiate the object in a set of locations with a target ultraviolet radiation having a range of wavelengths. Radiation sensors detect radiation reflected from the object and environment condition sensors detect conditions of the environment in which the object is located during irradiation. A controller controls irradiation of the light sensitive object by the first and second set of radiation sources according to predetermined optimal irradiation settings specified for various environmental conditions. In addition, the controller adjusts irradiation settings of the first and second set of radiation sources as a function of measurements obtained by the various sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Shur, Alexander Dobrinsky, Maxim S. Shatalov, Arthur Peter Barber, III
  • Patent number: 10806100
    Abstract: An energy efficient system for a grow cabinet that maintains optimum growing conditions by reducing the heat contribution of the lighting and distributing air throughout the cabinet to maintain a set temperature uniformly. The system, using a LED lighting module with a reflective light guide plate, provides cool light uniformly to a plurality of plants in the grow cabinet, thereby reducing the amount of cooling required inside to maintain temperature. The lighting module is separate from the growing area, minimizing heat transfer to a grow chamber within the grow cabinet. The system advantageously dissipates heat through a plurality of metal components and beneficial air flow throughout the lighting module and growing chamber. The grow cabinet in the system provides precision control of the light and temperature while having a small footprint and low vertical clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Mendel Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Trtilek
  • Patent number: 10795253
    Abstract: A projection apparatus including a light source section, a projection section that projects light outputted from the light source section, and a control section that acquires captured image data produced by an imaging section, identifies a region of a projection target contained in the acquired captured image data and an image captured position of the region in the captured image data, determines a projection range over which the projection section projects light and a wavelength band of the light to be projected over the projection range based on the identified region and image captured position, and controls the projection section to cause the projection section to project light in the determined wavelength band over the determined projection range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Miyoshi, Kiichi Hirano