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OwnerJonathan A JACKSON, Christopher J Hoffman +5inventors
InventorsJonathan A JACKSON, Christopher J Hoffman, Norman E Novotney, Joseph M CARROLL, Patrick A JACKSON, Remigio PERALES, MARK J ELTING
Estimating the term…
A change of state of weed seeds to having reduced germination viability in under one minute by illuminating a seed with at least one of 2 J/cm2 cumulative illumination energy, and 0.2 W/cm2 irradiance, but no more than 7 W/cm2 average irradiance, of at least one of an Indigo Region Illumination Distribution (IRID), and infrared radiation that is substantially Medium Wavelength Infrared (MWIR) radiation, preferably 2-8 microns. The MWIR radiation from heated borosilicate glass or glass powder at just under 500 C offered a peak MWIR emission of 3.75 microns was unexpectedly effective, and can be used in a radiant and transmissive weed seed accumulator transport belt. The process can be incorporated into a harvester combine to convert a tailings flow prior to discharge on an agricultural field. An illuminated harvest combine using an illuminator according to the invention allows reduction of the weed seed bank.
A high speed, substantially non-invasive, low-irradiance method to induce a change of state of a seed(S) to having reduced germination viability in a time under one minute, said method comprising illuminating said seed to achieve a minimum of 2 J/cm2 cumulative illumination energy, and 0.2 W/cm2 irradiance, but no more than 7 W/cm2 average irradiance, of a light wavelength distribution comprising at least one of an Indigo Region Illumination Distribution (IRID) and infrared radiation that is substantially Medium Wavelength Infrared (MWIR)) radiation.
A harvest (Q) having undergone an illumination-induced change of state to having reduced germination viability in a time under one minute, comprising at least one seed(S), after said seed has been subjected to illumination to achieve a minimum of 2 J/cm2 cumulative illumination energy, and 0.2 W/cm2 irradiance, but no more than 7 W/cm2 average irradiance, of a light wavelength distribution comprising at least one of an Indigo Region Illumination Distribution (IRID) and infrared radiation that is substantially Medium Wavelength Infrared (MWIR)) radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.