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US 9,433,160 B2Granted
Hydroponic array for the individualized delivery of nutrients
AssigneeDisney Enterprises, Inc.
InventorElaine Soohoo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods configured to deliver fluids to an array of plant deliver different fluids to different plants or groups of plants. The fluids include one or more of nutrients, dyes, insecticides, and/or herbicides. Delivery may be controlled such that a graphic and/or image is depicted by an array of plants or groups of plants.
Claims18
A system configured to deliver fluids to an array of plant sites, wherein the array of plant sites includes a first plant site holding a first plant and a second plant site holding a second plant, the system comprising:
- a set of containers configured to hold fluids, wherein the set of containers includes a first container and a second container, the first container holding a first fluid, the second container holding a second fluid that is different from the first fluid, wherein the first fluid includes one or more active ingredients that are not included in the second fluid, and wherein the second fluid includes one or more active ingredients that are not included in the first fluid;
- a set of conduits forming fluid paths between the containers and the plant sites, the fluid paths including fluid paths between the first container and the first plant site, between the first container and the second plant site, between the second container and the first plant site, and between the second container and the second plant site, wherein the conduits are configured to transport fluids from the set of containers through the fluid paths to the array of plant sites;
- a regulator configured to be controllably deliver the fluids to specific ones of the plant sites from the containers through the fluid paths;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- control the regulator such that the amounts of each of the first fluid and the second fluid that are delivered to the first plant site are controlled separately from each other and separately from the amounts of the first fluid and the second fluid that are delivered to the second plant site,
- the first fluid including a first dye such that the first plant is colored by the first dye during growth, and the second fluid including a second dye of a different color than the first dye such that the second plant is colored by the second dye during growth;
- obtain image information defining an image captured by a camera;
- and
- adjust the control of the regulator based on the image information, such that the amounts of each of the first fluid and the second fluid that are delivered to the first plant site are adjusted based on the image information, and the amounts of the first fluid and the second fluid that are delivered to the second plant site are adjusted based on the image information, and
- the adjustment of the control of the regulator being such that a graphic is depicted by the array of plant sites based on the delivery of the first fluid and the second fluid, the graphic corresponding to the image information.
8 more elements
A method for delivering fluids to an array of plant sites, wherein the array of plant sites includes a first plant site holding a first plant and a second plant site holding a second plant, the method comprising:
- holding a first fluid in a first container;
- holding a second fluid in a second container, wherein the second fluid is different from the first fluid, wherein the first fluid includes one or more active ingredients that are not included in the second fluid, and wherein the second fluid includes one or more active ingredients that are not included in the first fluid;
- selectively controlling delivery of the first fluid and the second fluid to one or both of the first plant site and/or the second plant site such that the amounts of each of the first fluid and the second fluid that are delivered are controlled separately from each other and specific per individual plant site;
- controlling delivery of the first fluid and the second fluid to individual ones of the plant sites in the array such that the amounts of each of the first fluid and the second fluid that are delivered to the first plant site are controlled separately from each other and separately from the amounts of the first fluid and the second fluid that are delivered to the second plant site;
- and
- wherein the first fluid includes a first dye such that the first plant is colored by the first dye during growth, wherein the second fluid includes a second dye of a different color than the first dye such that the second plant is colored by the second dye during growth, and wherein delivery of the first fluid and the second fluid is controlled such that a graphic is depicted by the array of plant sites.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.