Integrated sensor assembly for LED-based controlled environment agriculture (CEA) lighting, and methods and apparatus employing same
摘要
說明書
The data recorded by the sensors may be used to provide insight on various aspects of plant development including, but not limited to the health of the plants, yield rates, and projected harvest dates. The data may also be used to provide feedback to various control systems deployed in the environment in order to adjust the environmental parameters described above. These control systems may include, but are not limited to, lighting systems, heating/cooling systems (e.g., hydronics, air conditioning), air flow systems, and humidity conditioning systems.
Conventional sensors in CEA systems, however, are typically designed and deployed irrespective of other sensors disposed in the environment and the control systems to which they may be coupled to. For example, different types of sensors may each have to be installed separately even if the sensors are monitoring the same region of the environment. In some instances, a separate platform or support structure may be installed (e.g., a frame, a rafter) to enable the sensors to monitor an otherwise inaccessible region of the environment (e.g., right above the plants). In another example, each type of sensor deployed in the environment may be connected to a power source and/or a control system (e.g., a computer) using a proprietary connection mechanism (e.g., different types of cables). In an environment where numerous sensors may be deployed, the integration of the sensors into the CEA system may be hindered by practical limitations related to separately connecting each sensor to the power source/control system. In yet another example, each sensor may be communicatively coupled to a control system using a separate system (e.g. a different interface on a computer, different communication channels), which further increase the difficulty in leveraging multiple sensors to monitor and control the environment.
