# US 2021/0243867 A1 · Power and communication adapter for lighting system for indoor grow application

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- Number: US 2021/0243867 A1
- Document ID: US20210243867A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/237,041
- Filed: 2021-04-21
- Published: 2021-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2019-05-08
- Assignees: HGCI, Inc.
- Applicants: HGCI, Inc.
- Inventors: Dengke Cai; Martin Ray Mason, JR.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210243867A1

## CPC

- A01G 9/249: {Lighting means (with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045)}
- H05B 45/385: using flyback topology
- A01G 7/045: {with electric lighting}
- F21V 25/04: breaking the electric circuit
- H05B 45/10: Controlling the intensity of the light
- H05B 47/185: via power line carrier transmission
- H05B 47/29: Circuits providing for substitution of the light source in case of its failure
- F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED]
- H05B 45/50: responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDs; responsive to LED life; Protective circuits
- 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)
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- 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

An adapter for a greenhouse and indoor grow automated controller is provided. The adapter includes a power input, a power output, a control input, a main controller, and a first control output. The power output is electrically coupled with the power input. The control input is configured to receive an original control signal from an automated greenhouse controller. The main controller is coupled with the power input to facilitate powering of the main controller from the power source. The main controller is in signal communication with the control input and is configured to convert the original control signal from the automated greenhouse controller into an LED-compatible driver signal. The first control output is in signal communication with the main controller. The original control signal conforms to a first signal protocol and the LED-compatible driver signal conforms to a second signal protocol that is different from the first signal protocol.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An adapter for a greenhouse and indoor grow automated controller, the adapter comprising:
a power input configured to receive input power from a power source;
a power output configured for electrical coupling with an LED light fixture;
a main bus electrically coupled with the power input and the power output, the main bus being configured to pass the input power from the power input directly to the power output to facilitate powering of an LED light fixture with the input power;
a control input configured to receive an original control signal from an automated greenhouse controller;
a main controller coupled with the power input to facilitate powering of the main controller from the power source, the main controller being in signal communication with the control input and configured to convert the original control signal from the automated greenhouse controller into an LED-compatible driver signal; and
a first control output in signal communication with the main controller and configured to facilitate transmission of the LED-compatible driver signal to an LED light fixture, wherein the original control signal conforms to a first signal protocol and the LED-compatible driver signal conforms to a second signal protocol that is different from the first signal protocol.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The adapter of claim 1 further comprising a second control output in signal communication with the control input and configured to transmit the original control signal to another adapter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The adapter of claim 2 further comprising an amplifier module in signal communication with each of the control input and the second control output and configured to facilitate amplification of the original control signal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The adapter of claim 3 wherein the amplifier module is in signal communication with the main controller.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The adapter of claim 1 further comprising a transformer module electrically coupled with the power input and the main controller, wherein:
the input power from the power source has a first voltage;
the transformer module is configured to transform the first voltage of the input power into a second voltage for powering of the main controller; and
the second voltage is less than the first voltage.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The adapter of claim 5 wherein the transformer module comprises a fly back circuit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The adapter of claim 1 wherein the main controller further comprises a safety module that is configured to detect a failure condition of the adapter and facilitate shutting down of the adapter in response to the failure condition.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The adapter of claim 1 further comprising a shut-off switch electrically coupled with the power input and the power output and in signal communication with the main controller, wherein the main controller is configured to selectively actuate the shut-off switch to facilitate interruption of power to the power output.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The adapter of claim 1 wherein the main controller further comprises a feedback circuit that facilitates correction of the LED-compatible driver signal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The adapter of claim 1 further comprising:
an input power interface associated with the power input;
an input control interface associated with the control input; and
an output power/control interface associated with the power output and the first control output.

### Claim 11

A lighting system for an indoor grow facility, the lighting system comprising:
an adapter comprising:
a power input configured to receive input power from a power source;
a main bus electrically coupled with the power input;
a power output electrically coupled with the main bus;
a control input configured to receive an original control signal from an automated greenhouse controller;
a main controller coupled with the power input to facilitate powering of the main controller from the power source, the main controller being in signal communication with the control input and configured to convert the original control signal from the automated greenhouse controller into an LED-compatible driver signal; and
a first control output in signal communication with the main controller; and
an LED light fixture comprising:
an LED driver circuit in signal communication with the first control output and electrically coupled with the power output; and
a plurality of LED lights electrically coupled with the LED driver circuit, wherein:
the main bus is configured to pass the input power from the power input directly to the power output for powering of the LED light fixture with the input power;
the main controller transmits the LED-compatible driver signal to the LED light fixture to facilitate control of the plurality of LED lights; and
the original control signal conforms to a first signal protocol and the LED-compatible driver signal conforms to a second signal protocol that is different from the first signal protocol.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The lighting system of claim 11 wherein the adapter comprises a second control output in signal communication with the control input and is configured to transmit the original control signal to another adapter.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The lighting system of claim 12 wherein the adapter further comprises an amplifier module in signal communication with each of the control input and the second control output and is configured to facilitate amplification of the original control signal.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The lighting system of claim 13 wherein the amplifier module is in signal communication with the main controller.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The lighting system of claim 11 wherein the adapter further comprises a transformer module electrically coupled with the power input and the main controller, wherein:
the input power from the power source has a first voltage;
the transformer module is configured to transform the first voltage of the input power into a second voltage for powering of the main controller; and
the second voltage is less than the first voltage.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The lighting system of claim 11 wherein the main controller further comprises a safety module that is configured to detect a failure condition of the adapter and facilitate shutting down of the adapter in response to the failure condition.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The lighting system of claim 11 wherein the adapter further comprises a shut-off switch electrically coupled with the power input and the power output and in signal communication with the main controller, wherein the main controller is configured to selectively actuate the shut-off switch to facilitate interruption of power to the power output and the LED light fixture.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The lighting system of claim 11 wherein the main controller further comprises a feedback circuit that facilitates correction of the LED-compatible driver signal.

### Claim 19

An adapter for a greenhouse and indoor grow automated controller, the adapter comprising:
a power input configured to receive input power from a power source;
a power output electrically coupled with the power input and configured to transmit the input power to an LED light module;
a control input configured to receive an original control signal from an automated greenhouse controller;
a main controller coupled with the power input to facilitate powering of the main controller from the power source, the main controller being in signal communication with the control input and configured to convert the original control signal from the automated greenhouse controller into an LED-compatible driver signal; and
a first control output in signal communication with the main controller and configured to facilitate transmission of the LED-compatible driver signal to an LED light fixture;
an amplifier module in signal communication with the control input and configured to facilitate amplification of the original control signal; and
a shut-off switch electrically coupled with the power input and the power output and in signal communication with the main controller, wherein the main controller is configured to selectively actuate the shut-off switch to electrically decouple the power input from the power output, wherein:
the main controller further comprises a feedback circuit that facilitates correction of the LED-compatible driver signal;
the main controller further comprises a safety module that is configured to detect a failure condition of the adapter and facilitate shutting down of the adapter in response to the failure condition; and
the original control signal conforms to a first signal protocol and the LED-compatible driver signal conforms to a second signal protocol that is different from the first signal protocol.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The adapter of claim 19 further comprising a transformer module electrically coupled with the power input and the main controller, wherein:
the input power from the power source has a first voltage;
the transformer module is configured to transform the first voltage of the input power into a second voltage for powering of the main controller; and
the second voltage is less than the first voltage.