# US 11,026,372 B2 · Plant growth system

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- Number: US 11,026,372 B2
- Document ID: US11026372B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/902,909
- Filed: 2014-07-04
- Published: 2016-05-26
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2014-07-04
- Assignees: Rockwool International A/S
- Applicants: Rockwool International A/S
- Inventors: Jacob Frank De Groot; Dolf van der Veen; Eelke Gjalt Hempenius
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026372B2

## CPC

- A01G 9/24: Devices {or systems} for heating, ventilating, regulating temperature {, illuminating}, or watering, in greenhouses, forcing-frames, or the like
- A01B 79/005: {Precision agriculture}
- A01G 9/124: {Means for holding stakes upright in, on, or beside pots}
- A01G 25/16: Control of watering
- A01G 31/02: Special apparatus therefor (self-acting watering devices A01G27/00)
- G05B 15/02: electric
- A01G 24/18: containing inorganic fibres, e.g. mineral wool
- Y02P 60/12: using renewable energies, e.g. solar water pumping
- Y02P 60/21: Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures
- A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12)
- A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21)
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A system and related method for monitoring plant growth conditions is provided, comprising a plurality of detectors (7) and central detector data processing means (1103); each detector (7) being arranged to measure properties indicative of a temperature, a water content, and a nutrient content, of a plant growth substrate; each detector (7) being further arranged to transmit the measured property or properties over a communications link to the central detector data processing means (1103); the central detector data processing means (1103) being arranged to store predefined irrigation data, defining a relationship between plural values for temperature, water content, pH level and/or nutrient content of the plant growth substrate; and plural desired irrigation output values; process the measured properties from each detector (7) to determine calculated properties of the substrate; and provide an output indicative of a desired irrigation input for the growth substrate, based upon measured properties received from the detectors (7) and the predefined irrigation data. A portable detector communications device (1105) for communicating configuration data relating to the detectors (7) may be included in the system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for controlling plant growth conditions in hydroponic growing systems, the system for controlling plant growth conditions comprising:
at least one wireless detector;
central detector data processing means; and
an irrigation device;
the or each detector being arranged to measure a property or properties indicative of a temperature, a water content, and a nutrient content, of a hydroponic plant growth substrate;
the or each detector being further arranged to transmit a detector identifier and the measured property or properties over a communications link to the central detector data processing means;
the central detector data processing means being arranged to:
hold in a memory predefined irrigation data defining a relationship between:
plural values for one or more of temperature, pH level, water content and/or nutrient content of the substrate; and plural desired irrigation output values;
process the measured properties received from each detector to determine calculated properties of the substrate; and
provide an output indicative of a desired irrigation input for the growth substrate in dependence on nutrient content of the substrate, the desired irrigation input, being in the form of an irrigation cycle defining lengths of on and off periods of irrigation for an irrigation cycle and a length of time over which the irrigation cycle should be applied, based upon calculated properties received from the detector or detectors and the predefined irrigation data, the output indicative of a desired irrigation input for the growth substrate being provided to control the level quantity of water provided to the growth substrate in dependence on nutrient content of the substrate; and
the irrigation device is arranged to provide water and nutrients directly to a top of the growth substrate based on the output indicative of the desired irrigation input for the growth substrate and the at least wireless detector is disposed on a side of the growth substrate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1, the system further comprising a portable detector communication device configured to:
process measured properties received from a detector of the system, to determine calculated properties of the substrate; and
display the calculated properties to a user.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A system according to claim 2, wherein the portable detector communication device is further arranged to:
receive detector data from a detector of the system; and
transmit detector data to the central detector data processing means.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1, wherein:
the central detector data processing means is further arranged to:
process the measured properties received from each detector to determine a nutrient content of a substrate associated with each detector; and
provide an output indicative of a desired irrigation input for the growth substrate, based upon the calculated nutrient content of the substrate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

A system according to claim 2, wherein the portable detector communication device is further configured to:
receive a detector identifier from a detector of the system;
receive detector data relating to the detector; and
transmit the detector identifier and the detector data to the central detector data processing means.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

A system according to claim 2, wherein the portable detector communication device is further configured to:
receive, by user input, user defined detector data;
associate the user defined detector data with the detector identifier; and
transmit the detector identifier and the user defined detector data to the central detector data processing means.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

A system according to claim 5, wherein the data associated with the detector identifier includes any or all of:
location data of the detector;
a power status of the detector;
a status of a communication link between the detector and the central detector data processing means;
information indicating a type and/or size of the growth substrate measured by the detector; and/or
a property or properties of the growth substrate measured by the detector.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

A system according to claim 2, wherein the portable detector communication device is further configured to:
receive measured properties from the detector;
associate the measured properties with the detector identifier of the detector; and
transmit the detector identifier and associated measured properties to the central detector data processing means of the system.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

A system according to claim 2, the portable detector communication device further comprising location determining means, for determining location data of the device or a detector, and being further configured to:
associate the identifier of the detector with determined location data; and
transmit the detector identifier and associated location data to the central detector data processing means of the system.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1, wherein the or each detector is further arranged to measure a property or properties indicative of a pH level of the plant growth substrate.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1, wherein a property indicative of nutrient content is an electrical conductivity of fluid in a plant growth substrate.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A method of controlling plant growth conditions, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a system according to claim 1; and
controlling an irrigation input to a plant growth substrate based upon the output indicative of a desired irrigation input for the growth substrate provided by the central detector data processing means of the system.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A central detector data processing means for the system of claim 1, the central detector data processing means being arranged to:
receive a measured property or properties from the detector or detectors over a communications link;
store predefined irrigation data, defining a relationship between:
plural values for temperature, water content, pH level and/or nutrient content of the plant growth substrate; and
plural desired irrigation output values;
process the measured properties from each detector to determine calculated properties of the substrate; and
provide an output indicative of a desired irrigation input for the growth substrate in dependence on nutrient content of the substrate, the desired irrigation input being in the form of an irrigation cycle defining lengths of on and off periods of irrigation for an irrigation cycle and a length of time over which the irrigation cycle should be applied, based upon measured properties received from the detector or detectors and the predefined irrigation data, the output indicative of a desired irrigation input for the growth substrate being provided to control the quantity of water provided to the growth substrate in dependence on nutrient content of the substrate.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A central detector data processing means according to claim 13, further arranged to receive detector configuration information associated with one or more detectors of the system from a portable detector communications device and to store the configuration information in a data storage means.

### Claim 15

A system for controlling plant growth conditions in hydroponic growing systems, the system for controlling plant growth conditions comprising:
at least one wireless detector;
central detector data processing means; and
an irrigation device;
the or each detector being arranged to measure a property or properties indicative of a temperature, a water content, and a nutrient content, of a hydroponic plant growth substrate;
the or each detector being further arranged to transmit a detector identifier and the measured property or properties over a communications link to the central detector data processing means;
the central detector data processing means being arranged to: hold in a memory predefined irrigation data defining a
relationship between:
plural values for one or more of temperature, pH level, water content and/or nutrient content of the substrate; and
plural desired irrigation output values; process the measured properties received from each detector to determine calculated properties of the substrate; and
provide an output indicative of a desired irrigation input for the growth substrate in the form of an irrigation cycle defining lengths of on and off periods of irrigation for an irrigation cycle and a length of time over which the irrigation cycle should be applied, based upon calculated properties received from the detector or detectors and the predefined irrigation data and based on maintaining an electrical conductivity of the substrate within a predetermined range to control nutrient content, the output indicative of a desired irrigation input for the growth substrate being provided to control the level quantity of water provided to the growth substrate in dependence on nutrient content of the substrate; and
the irrigation device is arranged to provide water and nutrients directly to a top of the growth substrate based on the output indicative of the desired irrigation input for the growth substrate, and the at least one wireless detector is disposed on a side of the growth substrate.

### Claim 16

A system for controlling plant growth conditions in hydroponic growing systems, the system for controlling plant growth conditions comprising:
at least one wireless detector;
central detector data processing means; and
an irrigation device;
the or each detector being arranged to measure a property or properties indicative of a temperature, a water content, and a nutrient content, of a hydroponic plant growth substrate;
the or each detector being, further arranged to transmit a detector identifier and the measured property or properties over a communications link to the central detector data processing means;
the central detector data processing means being arranged to: hold in a memory predefined irrigation data defining a
relationship between:
plural values for one or more of temperature, pH water content and/or nutrient content of the substrate; and
plural desired irrigation output values; process the measured properties received from each detector to determine calculated properties of the substrate; and
provide an output indicative of a desired irrigation input for the growth substrate in the form of an irrigation cycle defining lengths of on and off periods of irrigation for an irrigation cycle and a length of time over which the irrigation cycle should be applied, based upon calculated properties received from the detector or detectors and the predefined irrigation data to control start and stop of supply of water and nutrients to the growth substrate and adapt supply and frequency of supply of water and nutrient, the output indicative of a desired irrigation input for the growth substrate being provided to control the level quantity of water provided to the growth substrate in dependence on nutrient content of the substrate; and
the irrigation device is arranged to provide water and nutrients directly to a top of the growth substrate based on the output indicative of the desired irrigation input for the growth substrate, and the at least one wireless detector is disposed on a side of the growth substrate.