# US 11,029,000 B2 · Horticultural luminaire having endcap with receiving sockets > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,000 B2 - Document ID: US11029000B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/882,371 - Filed: 2020-05-22 - Published: 2021-03-04 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-30 - Assignees: Fluence Bioengineering, Inc. - Applicants: Jonathan Becker Schmidt - Inventors: Jonathan Becker Schmidt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029000B2 ## CPC - A01G 9/249: {Lighting means (with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045)} - G02B 6/0091: {of the light source relative to the light guide (G02B6/0021 takes precedence)} - A01G 7/045: {with electric lighting} - F21V 15/015: Devices for covering joints between adjacent lighting devices; End coverings - G02B 6/0063: {for extracting light out both the major surfaces of the light guide} - G02B 6/0068: {Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources} - G02B 6/0085: {Means for removing heat created by the light source from the package} - G02B 6/0088: {of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package} - F21V 21/008: Suspending from a cable or suspension line - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - G02B 6/0003: {the light guides being doped with fluorescent agents} - 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) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract Systems and methods for an intracanopy horticultural lighting fixture. In aspects, a horticultural luminaire has an edgelit lightguide or optical conduit (40) extending from a housing, a lightguide length extending along longitudinal axis L, and one or more endcaps (214) coupled to respective lateral edges extending along a height axis H, the endcap having a lightguide-receiving socket spaced (220) adjacent a lightsource housing-receiving socket (218). In other aspects the endcaps are convex curved about one or more axes transverse the longitudinal axis to prevent catch points. In another aspect a luminaire has an edgelit lightguide generating an output having downwardly directed peaks at about +/−30 degrees from vertical. Light output is preferably batwing shaped and symmetric. Another aspect is providing intracanopy lighting having a planar optical conduit, a major extent of which is disposed along its longitudinal axis (L), and supporting the optical conduit below an upper plant canopy. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A horticultural luminaire (100) for illuminating a portion of a crop having a vertical height that is measurable along an axis that is substantially vertical to ground level, the horticultural luminaire comprising: a solid-state light source (2) disposed on a substrate (4) and located within a lightsource housing (6); a lightguide (40) having a first longitudinal edge (42) and a second longitudinal edge (48) positioned opposite the first longitudinal edge; the lightguide having a longitudinal axis (L) extending along its length dimension, the lightguide further having a width (W) in a lateral direction along a width axis (X) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L); the lightguide defining at least one emission face (44;46) extending between the first and second longitudinal edges (42, 48); the lightguide being optically coupled to the light source at the first longitudinal edge (42), the lightguide receiving light emitted from the light source and transmitting that light therethrough to the at least one emission face (44; 46); and at least one endcap (214) having a longitudinal extent along a height axis (H) generally transverse the longitudinal axis (L) of the lightguide and transverse to the width (W) axis (X) of the lightguide, the at least one endcap defining a lightguide-receiving socket (220) and, longitudinally adjacent thereto along the endcap height axis (H), further defining a lightsource housing-receiving socket (218); the at least one endcap (214) being directly and immovably coupled at the lightguide-receiving socket (220) to the lightguide, and the at least one endcap (214) further being coupled at the lightsource housing-receiving socket (218) to the housing (6) of the light source (2), whereby the at least one endcap resists a separation of the lightguide away from the housing of the light source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The horticultural luminaire of claim 1, wherein the lightguide is in facing relation to the lightguide-receiving socket (220) along a lightguide peripheral edge, said lightguide peripheral edge being optically decoupled from the light source (2). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The horticultural luminaire of claim 1, wherein the lightguide abuts the lightguide-receiving socket (220) along a lightguide peripheral edge, said lightguide peripheral edge being in non-light-receiving relation to the light source (2). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The horticultural luminaire of claim 1, wherein the light-receiving first longitudinal edge (42) is oriented transverse a major longitudinal extent of the lightguide-receiving socket (220) along the height axis (H) of the at least one endcap (214). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The horticultural luminaire of claim 1, wherein the lightguide longitudinal axis (L) extends along a major length dimension of the lightguide. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The horticultural luminaire of claim 1, wherein the at least one endcap comprises first and second endcaps each coupled to a respective lateral peripheral edge of the lightguide. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The horticultural luminaire of claim 6, further comprising a clip disposed in surrounding relation to an exterior surface of the housing (6) and of the lightguide, whereby the clip couples the lightguide to the housing, the clip being disposed along the longitudinal axis intermediate the first and second endcaps. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The horticultural luminaire of claim 1, wherein a height of the lightguide between the first and second longitudinal edges (42; 48) exceeds a width of the lightguide. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The horticultural luminaire of claim 1, wherein the lightguide further comprises opposed first and second lateral peripheral edges (41, 43) at opposite ends of the longitudinal axis (L); the at least one endcap (214) being coupled at the lightguide-receiving socket (220) along at least one said lateral peripheral edge (41; 43) of the lightguide. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The horticultural luminaire of claim 1, wherein the endcap is press-fit to the lightguide. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The horticultural luminaire of claim 1, wherein the lightguide-receiving socket (220) is slot-shaped. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The horticultural luminaire of claim 1, wherein the lightguide-receiving socket (220) comprises at least one stud (216) configured to engage the lightguide. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The horticultural luminaire of claim 1, wherein the housing (6) is shaped, in cross-section, as a channel, the channel having at least one supporting lip (61) contacting the lightguide; and the lightsource housing-receiving socket (218) is shaped to conform to the channel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The horticultural luminaire of claim 1, wherein the endcap defines, at a lower region thereof, a mounting aperture, the mounting aperture configured to receive a wire or bracket. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The horticultural luminaire of claim 1, wherein the housing (6) comprises a thermally conductive material, and the light source is in thermal communication with the housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The horticultural luminaire of claim 1, wherein the housing (6) is shaped, in cross-section, as a channel, the channel having at least one supporting lip (61) contacting the lightguide; the first longitudinal edge of the lightguide being received within the housing; and the housing (6) having a reflective coating on an internal surface thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The horticultural luminaire of claim 1, wherein the lightguide transmits the light received from the light source (2) therethrough by total internal reflectance to the at least one emission face (44; 46). ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The horticultural luminaire of claim 1, wherein the lightsource housing-receiving socket (218) further comprises at least one electrical connector (213) configured to supply power to the light source. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The horticultural luminaire of claim 1, wherein the lightsource housing-receiving socket (218) is at least partially disposed in the lightguide-receiving socket (220). ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The horticultural luminaire of claim 1, wherein the endcap interconnects the lightguide (40) to the housing (6) of the light source (2). ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The horticultural luminaire of claim 1, wherein the endcap is non-movably coupled to opposed longitudinal faces of the lightguide, said longitudinal faces extending along the longitudinal axis (L). ### Claim 22 A horticultural luminaire (100) for illuminating a portion of a crop having a vertical height that is measurable along an axis that is substantially vertical to ground level, the horticultural luminaire comprising: a solid-state light source (2) disposed on a substrate (4) and located within a lightsource housing (6); a lightguide (40) having a first longitudinal edge (42) and a second longitudinal edge (48) positioned opposite the first longitudinal edge; the lightguide having a longitudinal axis (L) extending along its length dimension, the lightguide further having a width (W) in a lateral direction along a width axis (X) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L); the lightguide defining at least one emission face (44; 46) extending between the first and second longitudinal edges (42, 48); the lightguide being optically coupled to the light source at the first longitudinal edge (42), the lightguide receiving light emitted from the light source and transmitting that light therethrough to the at least one emission face (44; 46); and at least one endcap (214) having a longitudinal extent along a height axis (H) generally transverse the longitudinal axis (L) of the lightguide and transverse to the width (W) axis (X) of the lightguide, the at least one endcap defining a lightguide-receiving socket (220) and, longitudinally adjacent thereto along the endcap height axis (H), further defining a lightsource housing-receiving socket (218); the at least one endcap (214) being coupled at the lightguide-receiving socket (220) to the lightguide (40), and the at least one endcap (214) further being coupled at the lightsource housing-receiving socket (218) to the housing (6) of the light source (2), whereby the at least one endcap (214) resists a separation of the lightguide (40) away from the housing (6) of the light source; and wherein the endcap is non-movably coupled to opposed longitudinal faces of the lightguide, said longitudinal faces extending along the longitudinal axis (L).