JP2015022818A - Light source device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow for control of the irradiation range of light, and the like, without having a mechanical mechanism.SOLUTION: A light source device 10 includes a light source 110, a light-receiving section 120, and a control section 130. The light source 110 irradiates a space S with light. The light-receiving section 120 faces the light source 110 across the space S. When the light source 110 is emitting light, the control section 130 controls the light source 110 based on the detection results from the light-receiving section 120. A plant is arranged in the space S, for example. In this case, the light source device 10 is used in a plant factory, for example. The space S may be a space through which a person passes. In this case, the control section 130 controls the light to be emitted from the light source 110 depending on whether or not there is a person.

Description

  The present invention relates to a light source device.

  In recent years, development of light-emitting elements such as organic EL (Organic Electroluminescence) and LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) has been promoted. One of the uses of these light emitting elements is a plant factory. A plant factory grows a plant by irradiating light from a light emitting element to the plant.

  One of technologies related to plant factories is, for example, described in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 describes a spot illumination device using an LED as a light source. The spot illumination device changes the irradiation area irradiated with light from the LED by adjusting the distance between the LED and the lens. Thereby, it is supposed that the irradiation area of light can be changed according to the growth degree of a plant.

JP 2004-221042 A

  The technique described in Patent Document 1 changes the light irradiation range by adjusting the distance between the LED and the lens with a mechanical mechanism. A device having a mechanical mechanism has low durability due to wear or the like.

  As an example of the problem to be solved by the present invention, it is possible to control the light irradiation range and the like without having a mechanical mechanism.

The invention according to claim 1 is a light source that irradiates light in a space;
A light receiving portion facing the light source across the space;
While the light source is emitting light, a control unit that controls the light source based on the detection result of the light receiving unit;
It is a light source device provided with.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the light source device which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of control of a light source. It is a figure which shows the structure of the light source device which concerns on an Example. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of a light source device. It is a flowchart which shows the 1st example of the operation | movement which a light source device performs. It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd example of the operation | movement which a light source device performs. It is a figure which shows the modification of a light source device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same components, and the description will be omitted as appropriate.

  In the following description, the control unit 130 indicates a functional unit block, not a hardware unit configuration. The control unit 130 is realized by an arbitrary combination of hardware and software centering on an arbitrary computer CPU, memory, a program loaded in the memory, a storage medium such as a hard disk for storing the program, and a network connection interface. The There are various modifications of the implementation method and apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a light source device 10 according to the embodiment. The light source device 10 includes a light source 110, a light receiving unit 120, and a control unit 130. The light source 110 irradiates the space S with light. The light receiving unit 120 faces the light source 110 across the space S. The control unit 130 controls the light source 110 based on the detection result of the light receiving unit 120 when the light source 110 emits light. Details will be described below.

  For example, plants are arranged in the space S. In this case, the light source device 10 is used in a plant factory, for example. However, the space S may be a space through which a person passes. In this case, the control unit 130 controls light emission from the light source 110 according to the presence or absence of a person.

  The light source 110 has an organic EL element or LED as a light emitting element. The presence or absence of light emission from the light source 110, the brightness, and the light irradiation range are controlled by the control unit 130. When the light source 110 has a plurality of light emitting elements having different emission spectra (light emission colors), the control unit 130 controls the light emission spectrum from the light source 110 by controlling the plurality of light emitting elements. be able to. The control performed here includes controlling the light emission intensity ratio of the plurality of light emitting elements in addition to the selection of the light emitting elements to emit light. The light source 110 may be a semiconductor laser with higher output. Even in this case, the light source 110 is preferably a surface light source.

  The light receiving unit 120 has at least one photosensor. The detection value of this optical sensor is output to the control unit 130. The control unit 130 controls at least one of the irradiation range, luminance, and emission spectrum of the light emitted from the light source 110 based on the detection value output from the light receiving unit 120.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of control of the light source 110. While the light source 110 emits light, the light receiving unit 120 detects light passing through the space S (step S10). When there is a plant in the space S, when the plant grows, the amount of light passing through the space S decreases. When there is a change in the light (passing light) detected by the light receiving unit 120 (step S20: Yes), the control unit 130 changes the light emission condition of the light source 110 (step S30). The change of the light emission condition includes, for example, at least one of extending the irradiation range of the light source 110, increasing the luminance of the light source 110, and changing the emission spectrum of the light source 110.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the light receiving unit 120 faces the light source 110 with the space S interposed therebetween. Then, the control unit 130 controls the light source 110 based on the detection result of the light receiving unit 120 while the light source 110 emits light. Therefore, the light emission condition of the light source 110 (for example, at least one of the light irradiation range, luminance, and emission spectrum) can be controlled without having a mechanical mechanism. Therefore, the durability of the light source device 10 can be increased.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the light source device 10 according to the embodiment. The light source device 10 according to the present embodiment is a device for growing plants. A plant is arranged in the space S between the light source 110 and the light receiving unit 120. This plant grows in response to light from the light source 110. And the light-receiving part 120 is arrange | positioned beside the tray in which the plant is planted, for example.

  The light source 110 includes a plurality of light emitting units 112 and a plurality of collimating lenses 114. Each of the light emitting units 112 includes a light emitting element such as an organic EL element or an LED, and can change luminance and emission spectrum. The collimating lens 114 is disposed between the light emitting unit 112 and the plant, and condenses the light from the light emitting unit 112 toward the collimating lens 114. The irradiation range of light from the light source 110 is adjusted by changing the number and position of the light emitting units 112 that emit light. The control unit 130 controls each of the plurality of light emitting units 112. And as shown in this figure, when the light emission part 112 and the collimating lens 114 are integrated, light utilization efficiency goes up further.

  The collimating lens 114 is provided for each of the light emitting units 112. One collimating lens 114 may be provided for one light emitting unit 112, or a plurality of collimating lenses 114 may be provided for one light emitting unit 112. And the irradiation area per light emission part 112 is smaller than the area which the plant which grew to some extent occupies. In addition, according to the light emission state of the light emitting part 112 and the growth state of the leaves of the plant, instead of the collimating lens 114, a convex lens, a concave lens, or a combination of these lenses is appropriately squeezed to obtain an optimum light flux and irradiation area. May be.

  The light receiving unit 120 has a plurality of optical sensors 122. The plurality of optical sensors 122 are arranged along a line (for example, a straight line or a curved line) and constitute a line sensor. The detection values of the plurality of optical sensors 122 are output to the control unit 130 together with information indicating the positions (or identification information) of the optical sensors 122. And the control part 130 judges the quantity of the light which the light-receiving part 120 detected based on the number of the optical sensors 122 which detected light. When the optical sensor 122 transmits identification information to the control unit 130, the control unit 130 stores the identification information and information indicating the position of the optical sensor 122 having the identification information in association with each other. Yes.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, as the plant located in the space S grows, the amount of light reaching the light receiving unit 120 decreases. For this reason, the control part 130 can judge the growth condition of a plant based on the detected value of the optical sensor 122 which the light-receiving part 120 has. And the control part 130 controls the irradiation range of the light which the light source 110 should irradiate to a plant, a light emission spectrum, and a brightness | luminance to an appropriate state based on the detection value of the optical sensor 122. FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a first example of an operation performed by the light source device 10. The flowchart shown in this figure corresponds to a period from when a plant located in the space S germinates until it sufficiently grows.

  First, immediately after a plant germinates, the irradiation range of light to be irradiated to the plant is narrow, and its emission spectrum (color) is different from the emission spectrum desired after the plant has grown. Therefore, the control unit 130 causes the first light emitting unit 112 to emit light of the first color (for example, blue) (step S100).

  After that, the control unit 130 continues this state when the detection value of the optical sensor 122 (first optical sensor 122) facing the first light emitting unit 112 is larger than the reference value (step S102: No).

  As the plant grows, the light from the first light emitting unit 112 is blocked by the plant, so that the amount of light reaching the first photosensor 122 decreases. Then, at any point in time, the detection value of the first optical sensor 122 becomes equal to or less than the reference value (step S102: Yes). Then, the control unit 130 causes each of the first light emitting unit 112 and the light emitting unit 112 (second light emitting unit 112) located around (for example, adjacent to) the first light emitting unit 112 to emit light. Thereby, the irradiation area of the light from the light source 110 increases. At this time, the control unit 130 changes the color of the light from the first and second light emitting units 112 from that in step S100 (second color: red, for example) (step S104). Thereby, the color of the light from the light source 110 becomes a color suitable for the growth stage of the plant. The blue light described here is, for example, light with a wavelength of 400 to 500 nm, and the red light is, for example, light with a wavelength of 600 to 660 nm.

  Thereafter, the control unit 130 detects the detection value of the optical sensor 122 (first optical sensor 122) facing the first light emitting unit 112 and the optical sensor 122 (second optical sensor 122) opposing the second light emitting unit 112. ) Is larger than the reference value (step S106: No), this state is continued.

  Then, as the plant grows, the light from the first light emitting unit 112 and the light from the second light emitting unit 112 are blocked by the plant. The amount of light that arrives decreases. At any point of time, the detection values of the first and second photosensors 122 become below the reference value (step S106: Yes). Then, the control part 130 raises the brightness | luminance of the 1st and 2nd light emission part 112 (step S108). Thereby, the intensity of light emitted from the light source 110 to the plant becomes an intensity suitable for the growth stage of the plant.

  Thereafter, the control unit 130 continues this state when the detection values of the first and second optical sensors 122 are larger than the reference value (step S110: No). Then, as the plant grows, the light from the first light emitting unit 112 and the light from the second light emitting unit 112 are further blocked by the plant. The detection value of the 1st and 2nd optical sensor 122 becomes below a reference value (step S110: Yes). Then, the control part 130 performs the process (notification process) for notifying that the plant has fully grown (step S112). This notification process is performed, for example, by changing the light emission from the light source 110.

  Note that the reference values used in steps S102, S106, and S110 are different from each other. In steps S106 and S110, the control unit 130 may exclude the detection value of the first optical sensor 122 from the determination material.

  Further, the control unit 130 may repeat the processes shown in steps S108 and 110 a plurality of times before performing the process shown in step S112.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a second example of the operation performed by the light source device 10. In the example shown in this figure, it is determined whether or not the detection value of the optical sensor 122 is equal to or less than the reference value, except that the integral value of the detection value of the optical sensor 122 is used (steps S103, S107, and S111). It is the same as the example shown in. In addition, the integration period of the detection value of the light emission part 112 is 1 day, for example. If it does in this way, it can control that control part 130 makes a mistake in processing by noise (for example, a plant moves by wind, and a detection value of optical sensor 122 changes by wind) by optical sensor 122.

  According to the present embodiment, the irradiation range, brightness, and color of the light source 110 can be controlled in accordance with the plant growth state. Further, since this control does not require a mechanical mechanism, the durability of the light source device 10 is high. In addition, since various types of control do not require manpower, the burden on the operator can be reduced.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, you may provide the several light source 110 so that light may be irradiated from a mutually different direction (For example, one is an upper side of a plant and another one is a plant lower side). In this case, for example, the first light source 110a (for example, the light source 110 located on the lower side of the plant) emits light only in the initial stage of plant growth, and the second light source 110b (for example, on the upper side of the plant). The located light source 110) may emit light from the initial stage of plant growth until the plant is harvested. Further, in this case, the first light source 110a emits light having a desired wavelength in the initial stage of plant growth, and the second light beam 110b emits light having a desired wavelength in the initial stage of plant growth. You may make it irradiate. However, both the first light source 110a and the second light source 110b may be capable of adjusting the color of light. In this case, for example, both the first light source 110a and the second light source 110b can emit red light and blue light.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment and the Example were described with reference to drawings, these are illustrations of this invention and can also employ | adopt various structures other than the above.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Light source device 110 Light source 112 Light-emitting part 114 Collimating lens 120 Light-receiving part 122 Photosensor 130 Control part S Space

Claims (8)

A light source that irradiates light in space;
A light receiving portion facing the light source across the space;
While the light source is emitting light, a control unit that controls the light source based on the detection result of the light receiving unit;
A light source device comprising: The light source device according to claim 1,
A light source device in which plants are arranged in the space. The light source device according to claim 1 or 2,
The light receiving unit detects the light passing through the space,
The control unit is a light source device that controls the light source based on a detection result of the light receiving unit. The light source device according to claim 3.
The area of light emitted from the light source to the space is controllable,
The said control part is a light source device which controls the area of the light which the said light source irradiates based on the detection result of the said light-receiving part. The light source device according to claim 3 or 4,
The spectrum of light emitted from the light source to the space is controllable,
The said control part is a light source device which controls the spectrum of the light which the said light source irradiates based on the detection result of the said light-receiving part. In the light source device according to any one of claims 3 to 5,
The brightness of light emitted from the light source to the space is controllable,
The said control part is a light source device which controls the brightness | luminance of the light which the said light source irradiates based on the detection result of the said light-receiving part. In the light source device according to any one of claims 3 to 6,
The light receiving unit has a plurality of optical sensors,
The control unit is a light source device that determines the amount of the light detected by the light receiving unit based on the number of the optical sensors that detect light. The light source device according to claim 7.
The controller is
The detection values of each of the plurality of photosensors are integrated in units of time determined in advance in units of the photosensors,
A light source device that determines that the light sensor is not detecting light when the integrated value is equal to or less than a reference value.

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