BE1020512A3 - LED LIGHTING SYSTEM. - Google Patents

Description

LED LIGHTING SYSTEM Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a light emitting diode lighting system, particularly for horticultural use.

State of the art

[0002] Research carried out by the Haute Ecole of the Province of Hainaut - Condorcet, CARAH and the company Colasse SA on the growth of plants have confirmed the effectiveness of LED lighting (English light- emitting diode, called the light emitting diode in French) red / blue compared to conventional horticultural lighting sources such as HPI lamps (metal halide lamps).

Current LED horticultural lighting systems are equipped with several individual LEDs. From these systems are presented. in US 2004/0230102, CA 2,467,852 and WO 2010/010540. ..

The wavelengths of these LEDs are variable: for the blue LEDs from 430 to 460 nm, for the red LEDs from 640 to 680 nm, the LEDs can be as white or "of any other color. for example, a horticultural LED light projector (Vegeled © B42W) can have 42 blue and red LEDs (14 x 1W blue 450nm + 28 x 1W red 660nm).

These lighting systems using large numbers of low power LEDs have the disadvantage of being expensive and bulky.

[0006] There are LED projectors equipped with matrix LEDs, that is to say having a group of LED junctions of a given color grouped together in a single housing, which makes it possible to reduce the space requirement. However, these existing LED junctions are not optimal for photosynthesis, the light emitted by a cold white LED projector being used only 51% by the plant for its photosynthesis against 98% for a projector Vegeled © B42W.

Goals of 11 invention

The invention aims to provide an LED lighting system of small size and cost whose light radiation is optimized for photosynthesis and / or for the increase in the manufacture of secondary metabolites of the plant.

Main characteristic elements of the invention

The present invention relates to a housing for a lighting system, said housing comprising a plurality of groups of light emitting diode junctions, a first group and a second group of junctions respectively emitting blue radiation from 430 to 460 nm and a red radiation of 640 to 680nm.

According to particular embodiments of the invention, the housing comprises at least one or an appropriate combination of the following characteristics: the number of groups is between two and six; it comprises a third group of junctions emitting a red radiation close to the infrared at 700-750 nm or a white radiation; - the number of junctions varies between six and two hundred and ten; the number of junctions emitting respectively a blue radiation and a red radiation varies in proportions ranging from 1 / 3-2 / 3 to 2 / 3-1 / 3; - it has maximum dimensions of 60 * 50 * 5mm3.

The present invention also relates to a light-emitting diode lighting system comprising a housing as described above.

According to particular embodiments of the invention, the lighting system comprises at least one or a suitable combination of the following features: it furthermore comprises a power supply, an external box, a reflector and a protection on the front face ; it can comprise means for independently driving each group so as to be able to vary the total intensity as well as the balance between the different groups; it may comprise a separate supply channel for each group; it may comprise a single supply channel feeding simultaneously the different groups.

The present invention further relates to the use of the lighting system as described above for photosynthesis and / or for increasing the production of secondary metabolites of a plant.

Brief description of figures, lexicon of technical terms and legend

Figure 1 shows a front view of the housing according to a first embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the housing has three groups of twenty junctions with a first group on the left of red LED junctions (in solid lines), a second group in the middle of blue LED junctions (in broken lines) and a third group on the right. red LED junctions (in solid lines). Each group is powered by a separate power channel, the arrows indicating the direction of the current in the different channels. The dimensions of the housing are indicated by way of non-limiting illustration.

FIG. 2 represents a view from the front and the side of the case according to a second embodiment of the invention in which all the groups are powered by a single feed channel represented by the signs + and - for the direction of current flow. For the sake of clarity, the groups of junctions are not represented, the object of the diagram being only to represent the case where the different groups of junctions are fed by a single channel. The dimensions of the housing are also indicated by way of nonlimiting illustration.

Lexicon

The term "junction" means the junction of semiconductors forming the light emitting diode.

The term "package", also called housing, the mechanical assembly for grouping the junctions in a single set. ,

The term "matrix LED" means the matrix of junctions assembled in a group within a housing and forming a finite electroluminescent assembly.

Legend (1) Enclosure (2) Group (3) Junction

Detailed description of the invention

According to the present invention, the lighting system comprises at least one light-emitting diode housing. This box comprises at least two groups of LED junctions where each group has a set of junctions of a given color. The two groups of LED junctions emit radiation useful for photosynthesis, namely blue from 430 to 460 nm and red from 640 to 680 nm. Additional groups can be integrated in the housing. Thus, the number of groups can be increased to include a group of junctions close to the infrared 700-750nm to promote fruiting and / or a group of junctions. white to facilitate plant care. In total, the case can contain up to six groups. The number of junctions per group can also be adapted according to the integration in the final lighting product. The new system can have from 6 to 210, preferably from 33 to 66, blue and red junctions in proportions ranging from 1 / 3-2 / 3 to 2 / 3-1 / 3 in a single housing.

FIG. 1 represents a first mode of

embodiment of the invention where the LED housing

matrix 1 is equipped with three groups 2 of twenty junctions 3 controllable independently. A first group of LED junctions shown on the left emits a red radiation of 640 to 680nm, a second group in the middle emits a blue radiation of 4 to 4 60nm and a third group represented on the right a red radiation close to the red infrared at 700-750nm. As already mentioned, the third group can be replaced by a group of LED junctions emitting white radiation or any other color. It will be specified that the placement of the groups within the housing can be modified.

Each group 2 is powered by a separate power channel, shown schematically by the signs + and - in Figure 1. This allows a gradual control of each group so as not only to vary the total intensity but also the balance between the different groups. By balancing the amount of red and blue differently, it is possible to act directly on the growth of the plant, its height, the shape of the leaves, the thickness of the leaves, taste etc. The control can be carried out by means of interfaces which make it possible to modulate the current per supply channel according to a setpoint given by a controller. A proprietary communication bus (or DMX or other standard) is used to transmit controller information to the interfaces.

The system can also be simplified and have only one feed channel as shown schematically in Figure 2 with the signs + and -, simultaneously feeding the different groups (not shown).

According to the invention, the housing is small in size to be compact. For example, its maximum dimensions are 60 * 50 * 5mm3. Preferably, the maximum dimensions are 56 * 40 * 5mm3.

The present invention covers the lighting system provided with at least one light emitting diode housing as shown above and the housing as such. The lighting system may, in addition to the housing, comprise a power supply with a single or several supply channels as already mentioned above, an external box, a reflector and a transparent or translucent protection on the front face (not shown). .

The lighting system according to the invention has been described for a horticultural application. By changing the wavelengths of the different groups constituting the housing, other applications are possible. Thus, a lighting system according to the invention can be used for captive reptiles. The housing then comprises different groups of LED junctions emitting ultraviolet radiation. For example, the housing may comprise a first group of LED junctions emitting a useful radiation of 280-310 nm and a second group of LED junctions emitting a useful radiation of 350-380 nm. Other groups can also be integrated such as,. for example, groups of LED junctions emitting blue radiation. According to the invention, the LED junctions can be covered with a phosphor to create a white light whose spectral components allow the reptile to live and develop optimally.

Advantages

A "horticultural" matrix LED according to the invention makes it possible to reduce manufacturing costs in a "drastic manner (-40% to -60%), offers a possibility of reducing the size and weight of the systems of lighting, drastically (-90%) through the possible use of active cooling, which makes it possible to achieve photosynthetic fluxes in pmol / m2 / s that are much higher than traditional sources, which opens up new perspectives for research. horticultural.

Claims (12)

Housing (1) for a lighting system, said housing (1) comprising a plurality of groups (2) of light-emitting diode junctions (3). A first group (2) and a second group (2) of junctions (3) respectively emitting a blue radiation of 430 to 460nm and a red radiation of 640 to 680nm. 2. Housing (1) according to claim 1, wherein the number of groups (2) is between two and six. 3. Housing (1) according to claim 1 or 2, y; comprising a third group (2) of junctions (3) emitting near-infrared red radiation at 700-750nm or white radiation. 4. Housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of junctions (3) varies between six and two hundred and ten. Housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the. number of junctions (3) respectively emitting blue and. a red radiation varies in proportions ranging from 1 / 3-2 / 3 to 2 / 3-1 / 3. 6. Housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, having dimensions of up to 60 * 50 * 5irun3. A light emitting diode illumination system comprising a housing (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 8. Lighting system according to claim 7, further comprising a power supply, an outer casing, a reflector and a protection on the front face. 9. Lighting system according to claim 7 or 8, comprising means for independently driving each group (2) so as to vary the total intensity and the balance between the different groups (2). 10. Lighting system according to claim 9, comprising a separate supply channel for each group (2). 11. Lighting system according to claim 7 or 8, comprising a single supply channel simultaneously supplying the different groups (2). 12. Use of the lighting system according to any one of claims 7 to 11 for photosynthesis and / or for increasing the production of secondary metabolites of a plant. · ·,