JPH1014401A - Light supplementing apparatus for indoor plant - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the subject apparatus, capable of supplying necessary amount of light to a plant, small in size, excellent in space saving, inconspicuous and free from the obstruction of appreciation by placing a fixing device on an illuminant comprising an optical semiconductor. SOLUTION: A fixing device is placed directly or indirectly on an illuminant comprising an optical semiconductor (e.g. a light-emitting diode). For example, an optical semiconductor panel, etc., in which optical semiconductor lamps prepared by resin sealing of an optical semiconductor chip or by hermetic seal of the optical semiconductor chip in a container or optical chips are arranged in an area or in a line on a supporting body, is used as the illuminant. In order to increase the amount of light, a panel is suitably used since the resultant illuminant can be downsized. As the fixing device, a clip is preferable in view of handleability. In the case of indirect fixing of a device, e.g. a clip 2 is placed on an illuminant 1 through a flexible joint 5 so that the direction of the illuminant 1 can be adjusted. Further, a red color optical semiconductor, whose wave length of emitted light is in the range of 600-700nm, is preferable as the optical semiconductor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for supplementing a plant by using an optical semiconductor as a light emitter in an environment where plants lack light, such as indoors.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Plant growth requires temperature, moisture, light, nutrients, and carbon dioxide. When plants are grown indoors,
What is most lacking is light. Insufficient light may cause growth delays, or elongation of leaves and stems.
When cultivating plants indoors, artificial light sources are used to supplement light, and high-pressure sodium lamps, metal halide lamps, fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps, and the like are used as artificial light sources. It has also been proposed to use an optical semiconductor, that is, a light emitting diode or a semiconductor laser as a light source. (JP-A-4-121117, JP-A-5-115219, JP-A-8-37930)

[0003]

These lamps need to be suspended from the ceiling or have columns or supports for supporting the size of the lamps, and require equipment and space for cultivation that greatly exceed the size of the lamps. In the case of light sources other than optical semiconductors, since heat rays are emitted from the lamp, it is necessary to keep the distance between the lamp and the plant more than tens of centimeters, which also leads to an increase in equipment and cultivation space.

[0004]

The inventors of the present invention have studied for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems, and as a result, by using an optical semiconductor as a luminous body and further providing a fixing device on the luminous body, these problems have been solved. Have been found to be solved, and the present invention has been achieved. That is, the gist of the present invention is a light supplement device used for indoor plant cultivation, wherein the indoor plant has a light emitter having an optical semiconductor and a fixing device provided directly or indirectly on the light emitter. It is in the lighting device.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Optical semiconductors used as light sources in the present invention include light emitting diodes (LEDs) and semiconductor lasers. Examples of the luminous body used in the method of the present invention include: an optical semiconductor lamp in which one or more of these optical semiconductor chips are resin-sealed or hermetically sealed in a container;
An optical semiconductor panel or the like in which these optical semiconductor lamps or optical semiconductor chips are arranged in a plane or in a row on a support is used. Since the number of optical semiconductor chips enclosed in the lamp is usually one to several, it is more preferable to use a panel when increasing the amount of light because it can be downsized. Further, a plurality of lamps or chips having different emission wavelengths may be combined as needed.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an example of a luminous body constituted by using an optical semiconductor lamp. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 9 denotes an optical semiconductor lamp such as a light emitting diode. Reference numeral 10 denotes a substrate. Wiring for supplying necessary power to the lamp 9 is provided on the substrate 10. Reference numeral 11 denotes a cover for housing the substrate 10. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the light emitting body shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 illustrates a circular shape, but a square shape or a decorative shape may be used as necessary. Although not shown in the figure, a light source whose light amount is adjusted by using a reflection type light emitting device may be used.

In the present invention, by providing a fixing device for directly or indirectly fixing the luminous body to a gardening apparatus, a wall, a ceiling, or the like, the apparatus can be made more compact. The fixing device is a clip, a magnet, a suction cup, a magic tape, or the like, but a clip is desirable in terms of ease of use. Examples of providing directly include an example in which a fixing device is provided on the back surface or lower surface of the luminous body, and examples of providing indirectly include an example of inserting a support or a flexible or movable joint between the luminous body and the fixing device. Thus, the irradiation range can be greatly increased while keeping the apparatus compact.

[0008] It is desirable that the light supplement device be used in combination with a horticultural support. The horticultural support can be easily obtained at a garden store or the like at low cost, so that the support can be used by inserting the support into the soil and fixing the luminous body to the support with a clip. It is possible to adjust the irradiation range by bending the column as needed. In addition, it can be used fixed to a wall or ceiling.

The luminous body used has an emission wavelength of 6
Those using a red optical semiconductor in the range of 00 to 700 nm are preferred. Red light is the light most efficiently used for photosynthesis in plants. Therefore, supplementing light in this wavelength range is the most efficient for photosynthesis of plants, that is, energy production. Blue light having an emission wavelength in the range of 400 to 500 nm is the second most efficient light after red light. It also has the effect of suppressing internode elongation.

Light other than red or blue light is used for photosynthesis, but its utilization efficiency is lower than that of red or blue light.
Therefore, when optical semiconductors having these wavelengths are used, the color rendering properties are improved, but the number of optical semiconductors must be increased in order to irradiate plants with the required amount of photosynthesis. That is, by using an optical semiconductor in a wavelength range that is efficient for red or blue photosynthesis, the number of lamps can be reduced, and the volume of the light emitter can be reduced. In addition, since this apparatus is used in a place where water is likely to be splashed by watering the plants, it is preferable that the energized portion is subjected to waterproof treatment.

The method of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example in which a clip is provided on the back surface of the light emitting body. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a light emitter. FIG. 1 shows the back surface of the luminous body. Reference numeral 2 denotes a clip for fixing the support. Reference numeral 3 denotes a support guide groove for preventing the support from swinging. With 2 and 3, the luminous body can be fixed to the column. Reference numeral 4 denotes a power cord for supplying power.

FIG. 2 shows an example in which a flexible joint is provided between the light emitting body 1 and the clip 2. As this joint, an arbitrary one such as a so-called universal joint using a ball can be used. The luminous body 1 of FIG. 2 shows a side view. 5 can be arbitrarily bent by a flexible joint to adjust the direction of the luminous body. FIG. 3 shows an example in which a support 7 is provided between the light emitter 1 and the clip 2. Reference numeral 6 in FIG. 3 denotes a movable joint that can change the angle of the light-emitting body. FIG. 4 uses a magnet as a fixing device,
This is an example of a case where a movable joint is provided between a light emitter and a magnet. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 8 denotes a magnet for fixing to a wall or the like. Reference numeral 6 denotes a movable joint for changing the irradiation angle of the light emitter.

[0013]

【Example】

Example 1 A clip-type plant light assisting device having the structure shown in FIG. 1 was produced. As a luminous body, a red light-emitting diode having a luminescence peak wavelength of 660 nm is vertically arranged on a 7 × 7 cm substrate.
Using a luminous body incorporating 100 pieces, 10 pieces in width,
A clip was provided on the back surface of the luminous body. The connection of the five light emitting diode lamps was made in series and 20 rows in parallel.

The power supply unit was provided with functions of rectifying a 100 V commercial power supply to DC, a 24-hour timer for starting and stopping power supply to the luminous body, and controlling the amount of power supplied to the luminous body. At a temperature of 15 to 25 ° C, the photosynthetic effective photon flux density by a fluorescent lamp from the ceiling is 10 μmol /
In a room around m ² · sec, the luminous body was fixed to a horticultural support inserted in a pot so as to be at a position of 10 cm above the plant.

The cyclamen during flowering for 12 hours during the day, with a supply power of 10.0 V and 0.28 A, and a photosynthetic effective photon flux density of 100 μmol / m ^2. , Fuchsia, marigold, and mini roses were supplemented with light, and continued for 20 days to observe growth and flower life. As a result, despite irradiation from a position very close to the plant 10 cm above the plant, no abnormality in the plant due to the irradiation was observed. When there was no light supplement, growth stagnated and the number of flowering decreased sharply. However, when this plant light supplementing device was used, good growth was exhibited and the number of flowering was sufficiently maintained.

[Example 2] The light-emitting body used in Example 1 was the same as the light-emitting body used in Example 1 except that 20 blue light-emitting diode lamps having a peak emission wavelength of 450 nm were used, and the cultivated plants were changed. The same test as in No. 1 was performed. The blue light emitting diode lamps were connected in series of 4 × 5 rows. The power supplied to the blue light emitting diode lamp is 15.6
V and 0.14A. The photosynthetic effective photon flux density by blue light-emitting diode light is several μmol near plants.
/ M ² · sec.

The cultivated plants are geranium, eustoma,
Saintpaulia. As a result, despite irradiation from a position very close to the plant 10 cm above the plant, no abnormality in the plant due to the irradiation was observed. When there was no light supplement, growth stagnated and the number of flowering decreased sharply. However, when this plant light supplementing device was used, good growth was exhibited and the number of flowering was sufficiently maintained.

[0018]

According to the present invention, a device capable of supplying a required amount of light to a plant can be miniaturized more than ever, and it is excellent in space saving. Further, even in the watching scene, the device is not conspicuous and does not interfere with the watching.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a rear view showing an example of a plant lighting device used for carrying out the method of the present invention provided with a fixing device.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an example of a plant lighting device used for carrying out the method of the present invention provided with a fixing device.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing an example of a plant light assisting device used for carrying out the method of the present invention provided with a fixing device.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing an example of a plant light assisting device used for carrying out the method of the present invention provided with a fixing device.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of an example of a light emitter using an optical semiconductor lamp.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the light emitting body shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 light emitting body 2 clip 3 support guide groove 4 power cord 5 flexible joint 6 movable joint 7 support 8 magnet 9 optical semiconductor lamp 10 substrate 11 cover

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A light assisting device for indoor plant cultivation, comprising: a light emitter having an optical semiconductor; and a fixing device provided directly or indirectly on the light emitter. . 2. The indoor plant supplementary light device according to claim 1, wherein a support, a flexible joint or a movable joint is provided between the luminous body and the fixing device.