HORTICULTURE MASTER AND SLAVE LIGHTING DEVICES

The invention concerns a horticulture master lighting device (11) comprises a light source and a processor configured to determine one or more horticulture master light settings and control the light source to render horticulture master light based on the one or more horticulture master light settings. The horticulture master light illuminates a plant (3) from a first position and further comprises a modulated light communication signal. The invention further concerns a horticulture slave lighting device (21) comprises a light sensor, a light source, and a processor configured to receive, via the light sensor, the horticulture master light from the horticulture master lighting device, determine one or more horticulture slave light settings based on the modulated light communication signal, and control the light source to render horticulture slave light based on the one or more horticulture slave light settings. The horticulture slave light illuminates the plant from a second position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to horticulture lighting devices for illuminating a plant in a plant growing environment.

The invention further relates to methods of illuminating a plant in a plant growing environment.

The invention also relates to computer program products enabling a computer system to perform a method of illuminating a plant in a plant growing environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Growing of crops in greenhouses has been common practice for a long time.

For the photosynthesis of the plants, the sun is being used as a main source of light. In recent years, the dark periods of the day have been filled in with artificial lighting to boost the growth of the crops. First, HID lamps were used. The HID lamps are in the process of being replaced by LED. Advantages of LED are the capability to spectrally tune the LEDs according to the plants' and humans' needs or desires, the higher efficacy of LED as compared to HID, and the fact that they can be instantaneously dimmed or boosted.

One of the issues in horticulture lighting is that when plants reach a certain size, their leaves prevent light from above to reach the lower parts of the plant. In order to illuminate the lower parts of the plant, inter-lighting devices and/or bottom-lighting devices can be used to illuminate the plants from a different angle. For example, JP2015092861A discloses an arrangement wherein the plant is surrounded by LEDs arranged at the top, LEDs arranged at the sides and LEDs arranged near the bottom. Each attachment angle is configured to be adjustable so that light can be irradiated to the crop at an arbitrary angle.

A drawback of the use of inter-lighting devices and/or bottom-lighting devices is that the light settings of these horticulture lighting devices need to be configured seperately, requiring the plant grower to perform extra work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a first object of the invention to provide horticulture lighting devices, which enable use of inter-lighting devices and/or bottom-lighting devices without requiring separate configuration of light settings.

It is a second object of the invention to provide methods, which enable use of inter-lighting devices and/or bottom-lighting devices without requiring separate configuration of light settings.

In a first aspect of the invention, a horticulture slave lighting device for illuminating a plant in a plant growing environment comprises a light sensor for receiving horticulture master light from a horticulture master lighting device, said horticulture master light comprising a modulated light communication signal and said horticulture master light illuminating said plant from a first position, a light source, and at least one processor configured to receive, via said light sensor, said modulated light communication signal, determine one or more horticulture slave light settings based on said modulated light communication signal, and control said light source to render horticulture slave light based on said one or more horticulture slave light settings, said horticulture slave light illuminating said plant from a second position. Said modulated light communication signal may be a visible light communication signal or an infrared light communication signal, for example.

Said horticulture slave light may be different from said horticulture master light, i.e. at least one light characteristic of said horticulture slave light and said horticulture master light may be different, wherein the at least one light characteristic may be a spectral light distribution and/or a light intensity. Characteristics of the horticulture master light may be determined from the horticulture master light itself as received by the sensor or from horticulture master light settings included in the modulated light communication signal received by the sensor.

For instance, the horticulture slave lighting device may be an inter-lighting device which generates grow light output in accordance with grow light properties detected from the top-lighting device. The inter-lighting device may be a portable lighting device temporarily positioned between the plants in order to illuminate the lower parts of the plant, for example.

By determining one or more horticulture light settings for a first horticulture lighting device, which illuminates a certain plant, based on a modulated light communication signal transmitted by a second horticulture lighting device, which illuminates the same plant from a different position, no separate configuration of light settings is required for the first horticulture lighting device. For example, the light settings may be transmitted using modulated light communication in the manner disclosed in US 2016/0338173 A1. The modulated light communication signal transmitted by the second horticulture lighting device can be used to determine the light settings for the first horticulture lighting device despite the fact that the horticulture lighting devices illuminate the same plant from a different position.

Said horticulture master light illuminates said plant from a first angle and said horticulture slave light illuminates said plant from a second angle. These angles are from the perspective of the plant or a part thereof (e.g. a central/gravity point of the plant). Therefore, as the plant or plant part is considered the reference point, a position of the light source (whether master or slave) relative to the plant or plant part also determines the angle of illumination of the plant or plant part. Light sources which illuminate the plant from two different positions illuminate the plant under different angles. The difference between the first illumination angle and the second illumination angle typically exceeds 30 degrees and may be larger than 90 degrees, e.g. if the horticulture master lighting device is a top-lighting device and the horticulture slave lighting device is a bottom-lighting device.

Said horticulture slave lighting device may be one of: a top-lighting device, an inter-lighting device and a bottom-lighting device, for example. Said horticulture slave lighting device may be adapted to move together with said plant in said plant growing environment. For instance, plants may move through zones with different light and/or climate conditions. This makes it possible to use light conditions that depend on the growth stage of a plant without requiring the light settings of the stationary top-lighting devices to be regularly adjusted. However, in certain situations, it is beneficial to have the horticulture slave lighting device move together with the plant, e.g. when the horticulture slave lighting device is embedded in a plant tray, plant gully, or plant pot or attached to a plant, plant tray, plant gully, or plant pot in order to provide optimal lighting.

Said received modulated light communication signal may comprise one or more of: said one or more horticulture slave light settings, one or more horticulture master light settings, a horticulture light protocol identifier, and an identifier of said horticulture master lighting device.

Said received modulated light communication signal may comprise said one or more horticulture slave light settings, for example. This allows the horticulture slave lighting device to be relatively simple, but this requires the horticulture master lighting device to determine the horticulture slave light settings, which may increase the complexity of the horticulture master lighting device.

Said received modulated light communication signal may comprise said one or more horticulture master light settings, for example. In that case, said at least one processor may be configured to determine said one or more horticulture slave light settings based on said one or more horticulture master light settings by adjusting said one or more horticulture master light settings. Since the horticulture master and slave lighting devices illuminate different portions of the plant, it may be beneficial to use horticulture slave settings that are different than the horticulture master light settings. For example, in the case of growing medicinal cannabis plants during their flowering stage, the horticulture master light setting(s) above the plant may be optimized for medicinal content production of the flowers (implying high light intensity levels and stressing the plant). At the same time, the horticutlure slave light setting(s) may be optimized for photosynthesis in the lower part of the plants. In the case of growing high-wire tomato plants, the horticulture master light setting(s) above the plant may be optimized for photosynthesis, while the horticulture slave light setting(s) may (partially) illuminate the tomatoes and be optimized for vitamin C production in the tomatoes.

Said received modulated light communication signal may comprise said light protocol identifier and/or said identifier of said horticulture master lighting device, for example. Said horticulture slave lighting device may further comprise a transmitter and a receiver and said at least one processor may be configured to transmit, via said transmitter, said light protocol identifier and/or said identifier of said horticulture master lighting device to a server system, and receive, via said receiver, said one or more horticulture slave light settings and/or one or more horticulture master light settings from said server system in response to said transmission. Said identifier of said horticulture master lighting device may identify a location of said horticulture master lighting device, for example.

This may make the horticulture slave lighting device a bit more complex, because it needs to comprise a transmitter and a receiver, but this allows the horticulture slave lighting device to retrieve detailed information about the applicable (e.g. growth) light protocol and/or retrieve horticulture slave light settings optimized for the specifics of the horticulture slave lighting device. To achieve the latter, said at least one processor may be configured to transmit information describing hardware characteristics of said horticulture slave lighting device to said server system along with said light protocol identifier and/or said identifier of said horticulture master lighting device, and receive said one or more horticulture slave light settings from said server system in response to said transmission, said one or more horticulture slave light settings being determined based on said hardware characteristics of said horticulture slave lighting device.

Said one or more horticulture master light settings and/or said one or more horticulture slave light settings may comprise a spectral light distribution setting and/or a light intensity level, for example.

Compared to the light intensity level above the plant, the light intensity level at the location of the horticulture slave lighting device, e.g. between the plants or close to the bottom of the plants, may be attenuated due to light interception by the plant's canopy. The degree of attenuation is an indication of the plant status or the plant's growth stage. For example, in case of a mature healthy vigorous plant with a dense foliage, there will be a large attenuation of the daylight and master light while travelling downwards into the plant. In case of a young and not yet well-developed plant, the attenuation will be much less. In embodiments the horticulture slave lighting device may be equiped with an additional light sensor to measures the light intensity level (e.g. the photon flux density, or the photosynthetic photon flux density, or the spectrum as a whole) at the location of the horticulture slave ligthing device. The additional light sensor may be integrated/combined with the light sensor for measuring the horticulture master light setting(s) and the modulated light communication signal. The desired horticulture slave light settings, in terms of spectrum and/or intensity level, may be determined from a horticulture light protocol. In this case, the horticulture master lighting device receives from a server system the desired horticulture master light setting(s) as well as a desired horticulture slave light setting(s). The horticulture master lighting device communicates the desired horticulture slave light setting(s) to the horticulture slave lighting device, using the modulated light communication signal. Then, the horticulture slave lighting device uses the light sensor to measure the actual horticulture light setting(s), in terms of spectrum and/or intensity level, at the location of the horticulutre slave lighting device and compares this with the received desired horticulture slave light setting(s). In case the desired horticulture slave light setting(s) deviate from the actual horticulture light setting(s), the missing spectrum or light intensity is augmented by the horticulture slave lighting device to, as close as possible, result in the desired horticulture slave light setting(s). Alternativly, the desired horticulture slave light settings, in terms of spectrum and/or intensity level, may be determined by the service system. In this case, the additional sensor at the horticulture slave lighting device measures the actual horticulture light setting(s) at the location of the horticulture slave lighting device and communicates this to the server system (preferably wirelessly). This information is processed by the server system to determine a desired horticulture slave light setting(s). This desired horticulture slave light setting(s) is communicated back to the horticulture slave lighting device (preferably wirelessly). In a further alternative, but slightly more complex, the additional sensor at the horticulture slave lighting device measures the actual horticulture light setting(s) at the location of the horticulture slave lighting device and communicates this to the horticulture master lighting device through another modulated light communication signal. In this case, the horticulture master lighting device and the horticulture slave lighting device both have a light sensor for detecting horticulture light and modulated light communication signals comprised therein and both devices can communicate bidirectionally with each other via such modulated light communication signals. The information on the actual horticulture light setting(s) at the location of the horticulture slave lighting device is processed by the horticulture lighting device to determine a desired horticulture slave light setting(s), which is communicated back to the horticulture slave lighting device via modulated light communication signals in the horticulture master light.

Further reasons why the horticulture slave light (settings) may be different from the horticulture master light (setings) include the position of the lighting devices relative to the plant (e.g. top lighting, inter-lighting, bottom-lighting) and therewith the plant part being illuminated (e.g. leaves versus fruits), the type of lighting devices (e.g. LED, SON-T, etc.), the capabilites of lighting devices in terms of their specifications such as light spectrum and/or available spectral tunability and/or light intensity levels, etc., and the functionality of the lighting devices (e.g. photosynthetic light, flowering light, fruit ripening light, plant nutritional value improving light, etc.). Nonetheless, although the horticulture slave light (settings) may be different from the horticulture master light (settings) they still are related via the plant's position, the plant's needs (in terms of illumination) and/or the plant's growth stage.

In a second aspect of the invention, a horticulture master lighting device for illuminating a plant in a plant growing environment comprises a light source and at least one processor configured to determine one or more horticulture master light settings and control said light source to render horticulture master light based on said one or more horticulture master light settings, said horticulture master light further comprising a modulated light communication signal, said modulated light communication signal comprising at least one of: said one or more horticulture master light settings, one or more horticulture slave light settings, and a horticulture light protocol identifier.

In a third aspect of the invention, a horticulture lighting system for illuminating a plant in a plant growing environment comprises said horticulture slave lighting and said horticulture master lighting device. Said horticulture master lighting device may be stationary within said plant growing environment and said horticulture slave lighting device may be adapted to move with said plant in said plant growing environment, for example.

In a fourth aspect of the invention, a method of illuminating a plant in a plant growing environment with horticulture slave light comprises receiving, via a light sensor, horticulture master light from a horticulture master lighting device, said horticulture master light comprising a modulated light communication signal and said horticulture master light illuminating said plant from a first position, determining one or more horticulture slave light settings based on said modulated light communication signal, and rendering said horticulture slave light based on said one or more horticulture slave light settings, said horticulture slave light illuminating said plant from a second position. Said method may be performed by software running on a programmable device. This software may be provided as a computer program product.

In a fifth aspect of the invention, a computer program or suite of computer programs comprises at least one software code portion or a computer program product storing at least one software code portion, the software code portion, when run on a processor of said horticulture slave lighting device, being configured for performing said method of illuminating a plant in a plant growing environment with horticulture slave light.

In a sixth aspect of the invention, a method of illuminating a plant in a plant growing environment with horticulture master light comprises determining one or more horticulture master light settings and rendering said horticulture master light based on said one or more horticulture master light settings, said horticulture master light further comprising a modulated light communication signal, said modulated light communication signal comprising at least one of: said one or more horticulture master light settings, one or more horticulture slave light settings, and a horticulture light protocol identifier. Said method may be performed by software running on a programmable device. This software may be provided as a computer program product.

In a seventh aspect of the invention, a computer program or suite of computer programs comprises at least one software code portion or a computer program product storing at least one software code portion, the software code portion, when run on a processor of said horticulture master lighting device being configured for performing said method of illuminating a plant in a plant growing environment with horticulture master light.

Moreover, a computer program for carrying out the methods described herein, as well as a non-transitory computer readable storage-medium storing the computer program are provided. A computer program may, for example, be downloaded by or uploaded to an existing device or be stored upon manufacturing of these systems.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores at least a first software code portion, the first software code portion, when executed or processed by a computer, being configured to perform executable operations comprising receiving, via a light sensor, a modulated light communication signal, wherein said modulated light communication signal is comprised in horticulture master light from a horticulture master lighting device, said horticulture master light received by said light sensor and illuminating a plant from a first position, determining one or more horticulture slave light settings based on said modulated light communication signal, and rendering horticulture slave light based on said one or more horticulture slave light settings, said horticulture slave light illuminating said plant from a second position.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores at least a second software code portion, the second software code portion, when executed or processed by a computer, being configured to perform executable operations comprising determining one or more horticulture master light settings and rendering horticulture master light based on said one or more horticulture master light settings, said horticulture master light further comprising a modulated light communication signal, said modulated light communication signal comprising at least one of: said one or more horticulture master light settings, one or more horticulture slave light settings, and a horticulture light protocol identifier.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a device, a method or a computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit”, “module” or “system.” Functions described in this disclosure may be implemented as an algorithm executed by a processor/microprocessor of a computer. Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied, e.g., stored, thereon.

Corresponding elements in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numeral.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG.1shows a first embodiment of the horticulture lighting system in a plant growing environment. In the embodiment ofFIG.1, the horticulture lighting system comprises a horticulture top-lighting device11and two horticulture bottom-lighting devices21. The horticulture top-lighting device11illuminates a plant3from a first position. The horticulture bottom-lighting devices21illuminate the plant3from second positions. In the embodiment ofFIG.1, the two horticulture bottom-lighting devices21have been attached to a plant tray20. The plant tray20comprises a plant pot1, which comprises the plant3. Alternatively, the horticulture bottom-lighting devices21may be embedded in the plant tray20, may be attached to the plant3, or may be embedded in or attached to the plant pot1.

In the example ofFIG.1, the horticulture bottom-lighting devices21are adapted to move together with the plant3in the plant growing environment. Multiple plant trays, including plant tray20, are moving on a conveyor belt5. In an alternative embodiment, the plant3is planted in a plant gully and moving in a mobile gully system and the horticulture bottom-lighting devices21have been embedded in or attached to the plant gully. In an alternative embodiment, the plant3does not move, but is stationary.

The horticulture top-lighting device11and the horticulture bottom-lighting devices21are described in more detail in relation toFIG.2. The horticulture top-lighting device11comprises a light source17, a receiver13, a transmitter14, and a processor15. The processor15is configured to determine one or more horticulture master light settings and control the light source17to render horticulture master light based on the one or more horticulture master light settings. The horticulture master light further comprises a modulated light communication signal.

In the embodiment ofFIG.2, the processor15is configured to determine the one or more horticulture master light settings by transmitting, via transmitter14, a request message to a server system9and receiving, via receiver13, a response message in return. The response message comprises at least the one or more horticulture master light settings and may comprise the entire light protocol. The horticulture top-lighting device11is referred to in this embodiment as a horticulture master lighting device.

The horticulture bottom-lighting devices21each comprise a light sensor22, a processor25, a power supply26, and a light source29. The processor25is configured to receive, via the light sensor22, the modulated light communication signal from the horticulture top-lighting device11, determine one or more horticulture slave light settings based on the modulated light communication signal, and control the light source29to render horticulture slave light based on the one or more horticulture slave light settings. The power-supply26may comprise a wireless power receiver and/or a battery, for example. The horticulture bottom-lighting devices21are referred to in this embodiment as horticulture slave lighting devices.

The one or more horticulture master light settings and/or the one or more horticulture slave light settings preferably comprise a spectral light distribution setting and/or a light intensity level. In the embodiment ofFIG.2, the modulated light communication signal comprises the one or more horticulture slave light settings and/or the one or more horticulture master light settings. The processor25may be configured to determine the one or more horticulture slave light settings based on one or more received horticulture master light settings by adjusting the one or more received horticulture master light settings.

FIG.3shows a second embodiment of the horticulture lighting system in the plant growing environment. In this second embodiment, the modulated light communication signal comprises a horticulture light protocol identifier and/or an identifier of the horticulture master lighting device and a horticulture bottom-lighting device31comprises an additional receiver33and an additional transmitter34compared to bottom-lighting device21ofFIG.2.

The horticulture bottom-lighting device31comprises a processor35that differs from the processor25of horticulture bottom-lighting device21ofFIG.3in that it transmits, via the transmitter34, a request message comprising the light protocol identifier and/or the identifier of the horticulture master lighting device to the server system9and receives, via the receiver33, the one or more horticulture slave light settings from the server system9in response to the transmission of the request message.

FIG.4shows a third embodiment of the horticulture lighting system in the plant growing environment. In the embodiment ofFIG.4, the horticulture lighting system comprises the horticulture top-lighting device11ofFIG.2and a horticulture inter-lighting device51. The horticulture top-lighting device11illuminates the plant3from a first position. The horticulture inter-lighting device51illuminates the plant3from a second position.

The horticulture inter-lighting device51is described in more detail in relation toFIG.5. The horticulture inter-lighting device51comprises a light sensor52, a processor55, a power supply56, and three light sources57-59. The processor55is configured to receive, via the light sensor52, the modulated light communication signal from the horticulture top-lighting device11, determine one or more horticulture slave light settings based on the modulated light communication signal, and control the light sources57-59to render horticulture slave light based on the one or more horticulture slave light settings. The power-supply56may comprise a power connector and/or a battery, for example. The horticulture inter-lighting device51is referred to in this embodiment as a horticulture slave lighting device.

In the embodiment ofFIG.5, the modulated light communication signal comprises the one or more horticulture slave light settings and/or the one or more horticulture master light settings. The processor55may be configured to determine the one or more horticulture slave light settings based on one or more received horticulture master light settings by adjusting the one or more received horticulture master light settings.FIG.5also shows the horticulture top-lighting device11ofFIG.2.

FIG.6shows a fourth embodiment of the horticulture lighting system in the plant growing environment. In this fourth embodiment, the modulated light communication signal comprises a horticulture light protocol identifier and/or an identifier of the horticulture master lighting device and a horticulture inter-lighting device61comprises an additional receiver63and an additional transmitter64compared to inter-lighting device51ofFIG.5.

The horticulture inter-lighting device61comprises a processor65that differs from the processor55of horticulture inter-lighting device51ofFIG.5in that it transmits, via the transmitter64, a request message comprising the light protocol identifier and/or the identifier of the horticulture master lighting device to the server system9and receives, via the receiver63, the one or more horticulture slave light settings from the server system9in response to the transmission of the request message.

FIG.7shows a fifth embodiment of the horticulture lighting system in the plant growing environment. In the embodiment ofFIG.7, the horticulture lighting system comprises a horticulture inter-lighting device81and the horticulture bottom-lighting devices21ofFIG.2. The horticulture inter-lighting device81illuminates the plant3from a first position. The horticulture bottom-lighting devices21illuminate the plant3from second positions.

The horticulture inter-lighting device81is described in more detail in relation toFIG.8. The horticulture inter-lighting device81comprises the same power supply56and light sources57-59as the horticulture inter-lighting devices51and61ofFIGS.5and6, respectively. The horticulture inter-lighting device81further comprises the same receiver63and transmitter64as the horticulture inter-lighting device61ofFIG.6. The horticulture inter-lighting device81further comprises a processor85. The processor85is configured to determine one or more horticulture master light settings and control the light sources57-59to render horticulture master light based on the one or more horticulture master light settings. The horticulture master light further comprises a modulated light communication signal.

In the embodiment ofFIG.8, the processor85is configured to determine the one or more horticulture master light settings by transmitting, via transmitter64, a request message to a server system9and receiving, via receiver63, a response message in return. The response message comprises at least the one or more horticulture master light settings and may comprise the entire light protocol. The horticulture inter-lighting device81is referred to in this embodiment as a horticulture master lighting device.

FIG.9shows a sixth embodiment of the horticulture lighting system in the plant growing environment. In this sixth embodiment, the horticulture light system comprises the horticulture inter-lighting device81ofFIG.8and the horticulture bottom-lighting device31ofFIG.3. The modulated light communication signal comprises a horticulture light protocol identifier and/or an identifier of the horticulture master lighting device.

FIGS.10and11show a seventh embodiment of the horticulture lighting system in the plant growing environment. In the embodiment ofFIGS.10and11, the horticulture lighting system comprises the horticulture top-lighting device11and the horticulture bottom-lighting devices21ofFIG.2and the horticulture inter-lighting device51ofFIG.5. The horticulture top-lighting device11illuminates the plant3from a first position. The horticulture inter-lighting device51illuminate the plant3from a second position. The horticulture bottom-lighting devices21illuminate the plant3from third positions.

FIG.12shows an eight embodiment of the horticulture lighting system in the plant growing environment. In the embodiment ofFIG.12, the horticulture lighting system comprises the horticulture top-lighting device11ofFIG.2, the horticulture bottom-lighting devices31ofFIG.2and the horticulture inter-lighting device61ofFIG.6. The horticulture top-lighting device11illuminates the plant3from a first position. The horticulture inter-lighting device61illuminate the plant3from a second position. The horticulture bottom-lighting devices31illuminate the plant3from third positions.

In the embodiments shown inFIGS.1to12, the lighting devices comprises one processor. In an alternative embodiment, one or more of the lighting devices comprises multiple processors. The processors may be, for example, application-specific processors, e.g. LED controller ICs. The processor may be programmable. The receivers and transmitters may be simple, e.g. receive and transmit analog signals, or complex, e.g. Wi-fi, Zigbee or Bluetooth transceivers. The light sources may each comprise one or more LEDs, for example.

In the embodiments shown inFIGS.1to12, a separate receiver and a separate transmitter are used. In an alternative embodiment, the receiver and the transmitter are combined into a transceiver. The lighting devices may comprise other components typical for a lighting device. The invention may be implemented using a computer program running on one or more processors.

A first embodiment of the methods of illuminating a plant in a plant growing environment with horticulture master light and horticulture slave light is shown inFIG.13. A step101comprises a horticulture master lighting device determining one or more horticulture master light settings. A step103comprises the horticulture master lighting device rendering horticulture master light based on the one or more horticulture master light settings. The horticulture master light illuminates the plant from a first position and comprises a visible light communication (VLC) signal.

In the embodiment ofFIG.13, step103is implemented in a step121. Step121comprises rendering the horticulture master light including a VLC signal that comprises one or more horticulture slave light settings. This allows the horticulture slave lighting device to work standalone, i.e. without requiring a network connection. The VLC signal may comprise the entire light protocol, for example. The horticulture master lighting device may determine these one or more horticulture slave light settings also in step101.

A step111comprises a horticulture slave lighting device receiving, via a light sensor, the horticulture master light from the horticulture master lighting device. A step113comprises the horticulture slave lighting device determining one or more horticulture slave light settings based on the VLC signal. In the embodiment ofFIG.13, step113is implemented in a step131. Step131comprises extracting the one or more horticulture slave light settings comprised in the VLC signal from the VLC signal. A step115comprises the horticulture slave lighting device rendering horticulture slave light based on the one or more horticulture slave light settings. The horticulture slave light illuminates the plant from a second position. In the embodiment ofFIG.13, the horticulture slave lighting device renders exactly the same light settings that it has received.

A second embodiment of the methods of illuminating a plant in a plant growing environment with horticulture master light and horticulture slave light is shown inFIG.14. Step101comprises a horticulture master lighting device determining one or more horticulture master light settings. Step103comprises the horticulture master lighting device rendering horticulture master light based on the one or more horticulture master light settings.

The horticulture master light illuminates the plant from a first position and comprises a visible light communication (VLC) signal. In the embodiment ofFIG.14, step103is implemented in a step141. Step141comprises rendering the horticulture master light including a VLC signal that comprises the one or more horticulture master light settings.

Step111comprises the horticulture slave lighting device receiving, via a light sensor, the horticulture master light from the horticulture master lighting device. Step113comprises the horticulture slave lighting device determining one or more horticulture slave light settings based on the VLC signal. In the embodiment ofFIG.14, step113is implemented in steps151and153.

Step151comprises extracting the horticulture master light settings comprised in the VLC signal from the VLC signal. Step153comprises determining one or more horticulture slave light settings based on the one or more extracted horticulture master light settings by adjusting the one or more extracted horticulture master light settings. In other words, the horticulture slave lighting device determines one or more dependent (interplant) light settings, e.g. a dependent (interplant) light protocol, in step151.

A step115comprises the horticulture slave lighting device rendering horticulture slave light based on the one or more horticulture slave light settings. The horticulture slave light illuminates the plant from a second position. Since the one or more master light settings were adjusted in step153, the horticulture slave light is different than the horticulture master light. For example, the slave light could be aimed at promoting growth or quality aspects of certain plant organs in particular, such as fruits.

A third embodiment of the methods of illuminating a plant in a plant growing environment with horticulture master light and horticulture slave light is shown inFIG.15. Step101comprises a horticulture master lighting device determining one or more horticulture master light settings. Step103comprises the horticulture master lighting device rendering horticulture master light based on the one or more horticulture master light settings.

The horticulture master light illuminates the plant from a first position and comprises a visible light communication (VLC) signal. In the embodiment ofFIG.14, step103is implemented in a step161. Step161comprises rendering the horticulture master light with a VLC signal that comprises a light protocol identifier and/or an identifier of the horticulture master lighting device.

Step111comprises the horticulture slave lighting device receiving, via a light sensor, the horticulture master light from the horticulture master lighting device. Step113comprises the horticulture slave lighting device determining one or more horticulture slave light settings based on the VLC signal in the received horticulture master light. In the embodiment ofFIG.14, step113is implemented in steps171-175.

Step171comprises the horticulture slave lighting device transmitting a request message comprising the light protocol identifier and/or the identifier of the horticulture master lighting device to a server system. Step173comprises the horticulture slave lighting device receiving the one or more horticulture slave light settings from the server system in response to the transmission of the request message. Step175comprises the horticulture slave lighting device extracting the one or more horticulture slave light settings from the server system's response message. The one or more horticulture slave light settings are typically different than the one or more horticulture master light settings. In other words, the horticulture slave lighting device typically determines/extracts one or more dependent (interplant) light settings, e.g. a dependent (interplant) light protocol, in step175.

In an alternative embodiment, step173comprises receiving one or more horticulture master light settings from the server system in response to the transmission of the request message and step175comprises extracting the one or more horticulture master light settings from the server system's response message. In this alternative embodiment, step153ofFIG.14may be performed after step175.

A step181comprises the server system receiving the request message from the horticulture slave lighting device. A step183comprises the server system determining one or more horticulture light settings from a light protocol associated with the light protocol identifier and/or the identifier of the horticulture master lighting device included in the request message. The light protocol may be stored in a database of light protocols. A step185comprises transmitting a response message comprising at least the one or more horticulture light settings determined in step183to the horticulture slave lighting device. The response message may comprise details from the associated light protocol like spectrum, brightness, schedule, and growth stage, for example.

If the request message does not comprise a light protocol identifier, the server system may be able to identify the light protocol active at the horticulture master lighting device based on the device identifier. The identifier of the horticulture master lighting device may identify a location of the horticulture master lighting device, for example.

The light protocol may specify one or more horticulture light settings per type of device, e.g. one or more horticulture light settings for a top-lighting device, one or more horticulture light settings for an inter-lighting device, and one or more horticulture light settings for a bottom-lighting device. The request message may comprise information indicating the type of the horticulture slave lighting device or the type of the horticulture slave lighting device may be pre-defined, for example. The server system may obtain the one or more horticulture light settings associated with this type of device from the light protocol in step183.

Alternatively, the light protocol may specify only one set of one or more horticulture light settings. In this case, the server system may obtain this set of one or more horticulture light settings and determine the one or more horticulture slave light settings by adjusting the obtained set of one or more horticulture light settings in step183. In this case, step183may comprise step153ofFIG.14or a similar step as sub step, for example.

The request message may comprise information describing hardware characteristics of the horticulture slave lighting device. In this case, step183comprises obtaining one or more horticulture light settings from the light protocol based on the hardware characteristics of the horticulture slave lighting device or adjusting or more horticulture light settings obtained from the light protocol based on the hardware characteristics of the horticulture slave lighting device.

Information describing the type of the horticulture slave lighting device may also be usable as information describing hardware characteristics of the horticulture slave lighting device, e.g. if the type indicates more than just the height of the horticulture slave lighting device or if the height of the horticulture slave lighting device is associated with certain hardware characteristics in this plant growing environment. In an alternative embodiment, the request message comprises an identifier of the horticulture slave lighting device and the server system obtains hardware characteristics of the horticulture slave lighting device based on this identifier.

Thus, based on the request message, the server system sends back one or more horticulture light settings which are customized for the detected light protocol and hardware characteristics of the horticulture slave lighting device. In other words, the one or more horticulture slave light settings received by the horticulture slave lighting device in step173are determined based on the hardware characteristics of the horticulture slave lighting device.

Step115is performed after the one or more horticulture master light settings have been extracted from the server system's response message in step175. Step115comprises the horticulture slave lighting device rendering horticulture slave light based on the one or more horticulture slave light settings. The horticulture slave light illuminates the plant from a second position.

In the embodiments ofFIGS.13to15, the horticulture master light comprises a visible light communication signal. In a variation on these embodiments, the master light comprises a different type of modulated light communication signal, e.g. an infrared light communication signal.

FIG.16depicts a block diagram illustrating an exemplary data processing system that may perform the method as described with reference toFIGS.13to15.

As shown inFIG.16, the data processing system300may include at least one processor302coupled to memory elements304through a system bus306. As such, the data processing system may store program code within memory elements304. Further, the processor302may execute the program code accessed from the memory elements304via a system bus306. In one aspect, the data processing system may be implemented as a computer that is suitable for storing and/or executing program code. It should be appreciated, however, that the data processing system300may be implemented in the form of any system including a processor and a memory that is capable of performing the functions described within this specification.

The memory elements304may include one or more physical memory devices such as, for example, local memory308and one or more bulk storage devices310. The local memory may refer to random access memory or other non-persistent memory device(s) generally used during actual execution of the program code. A bulk storage device may be implemented as a hard drive or other persistent data storage device. The processing system300may also include one or more cache memories (not shown) that provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the quantity of times program code must be retrieved from the bulk storage device310during execution. The processing system300may also be able to use memory elements of another processing system, e.g. if the processing system300is part of a cloud-computing platform.

Input/output (I/O) devices depicted as an input device312and an output device314optionally can be coupled to the data processing system. Examples of input devices may include, but are not limited to, a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, a microphone (e.g. for voice and/or speech recognition), or the like. Examples of output devices may include, but are not limited to, a monitor or a display, speakers, or the like. Input and/or output devices may be coupled to the data processing system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers.

In an embodiment, the input and the output devices may be implemented as a combined input/output device (illustrated inFIG.16with a dashed line surrounding the input device312and the output device314). An example of such a combined device is a touch sensitive display, also sometimes referred to as a “touch screen display” or simply “touch screen”. In such an embodiment, input to the device may be provided by a movement of a physical object, such as e.g. a stylus or a finger of a user, on or near the touch screen display.

As pictured inFIG.16, the memory elements304may store an application318. In various embodiments, the application318may be stored in the local memory308, the one or more bulk storage devices310, or separate from the local memory and the bulk storage devices. It should be appreciated that the data processing system300may further execute an operating system (not shown inFIG.16) that can facilitate execution of the application318. The application318, being implemented in the form of executable program code, can be executed by the data processing system300, e.g., by the processor302. Responsive to executing the application, the data processing system300may be configured to perform one or more operations or method steps described herein.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the implementations in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles and some practical applications of the present invention, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the present invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.