Osram Sylvania Inc.

Other

John Cross

Sattva Ananda

Bernhard Ertl

Alireza Safaee

Biju Antony

Andrew Johnsen

Thomas Dreeben

Guy P Bouchard

Gerwin Thiel

Russell G Hamilton

Torsten Kuske

Walter Baetz

Andrew O Johnsen

Modular systems for propagating plants in at least one of a hydroponic environment and an aquaponics environment may include at least one tank configured to hold liquid. A modular drive assembly may be carried by the at least one tank. At least one propagation module may be drivingly engaged for rotation by the modular drive assembly. The at least one propagation module may be configured to support and propagate at least one plant. At least one pump may be disposed in fluid communication with the at least one tank. The at least one pump configured to pump the liquid from the at least one tank through the at least one propagation module. Modular methods for propagating plants in at least one of a hydroponic environment and an aquaponics environment are also disclosed.

Modular systems and methods for propagating plants in hydrophonic and aquaponic environments

Modular systems and methods for propagating plants in hydroponic and aquaponic environments

A space-efficient Printed Circuit Board (PCB)-based inductor includes a first set of inductor turns formed on the printed circuit board and arranged to form a first toroidal end section, a second set of inductor turns formed on the printed circuit board and arranged to form a first cylindrical side section, a third set of inductor turns formed on the printed circuit board and arranged to form a second toroidal end section, and a fourth set of inductor turns formed on the printed circuit board and arranged to form a second cylindrical side section. The first toroidal end section, first cylindrical side section, second toroidal end section, and second cylindrical side section are connected in series.

Space-efficient PCB-based inductor

Planter bag

A rotatable vertical growing system enhances circulation between a hydroponic network and an aquaponic network in a closed fluid circulation. The networks are interdependent and operate on a constant body of growth fluid that continuously circulates between an aquaponic vessel and a hydroponic growing container. A rotational energy and a direct pressure generated by an external fluid serve to increase the flow rate of the growth fluid during circulation. A rotatable base portion floats concentrically in the aquaponic vessel. The base portion includes a gear system that enables rotation. Protruding members extend from the rotating base portion to agitate and guide the growth fluid through the circulatory path. The external fluid discharges into the vessel to aerate the fluid, increase the flow rate of the growth fluid, and actuate the gear system. The hydroponic growing container rotates to provide uniform access to light for the plants.

Rotatable vertical growing system

Closed top planter bag

Open top planter bag

A self-mulching planter bag that is tapered such that the diameter is larger at the top providing for easy removal of the bag from the root mass. It can be used for transplantation where a user can place a planter bag into a larger planter bag as the plant grows. The larger planter bag has space for the smaller bag through the use of a core feed plug which, when removed from the larger bag, leaves a void that is equal or greater to the size of the smaller bag. The larger bag can be pre-filled with designer soils especially suited for the particular plant. The planter bag also incorporates attachment points that can be used to train the plant or to attach the bags to surfaces or even to each other. Interconnected planter bag configurations can be used in a variety of applications including erosion control and environmental restoration.

A thermal protection circuit, and system and method including same, is provided. The circuit includes a variable impedance circuit configured to be coupled to a constant current source and a plurality of solid state light sources. The constant current source provides a current to the plurality of solid state light sources and provides an output voltage to establish a supply voltage for the circuit. The circuit also includes a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the plurality of solid state light sources. The circuit also includes a control circuit configured to receive the supply voltage and to drive the variable impedance circuit based on the sensed temperature, to adjust the current to the plurality of solid state light sources when the supply voltage is a least a minimum supply voltage of the control circuit.

Thermal control of solid state light sources by variable series impedance

A current sensing circuit for sensing the current provided to LEDs by a constant current power source includes a resistive shunt in series with the load and a current mirror having a first leg connected to a first terminal of the resistive shunt and a second leg connected to a second terminal of the resistive shunt. Both legs of the current mirror are also connected to ground. The first leg provides a reference signal to the second leg, and the second leg uses the reference signal and a voltage at the second terminal of the resistive shunt to provide a ground referenced output signal indicative of the current provided to the LEDs.

Constant current driver circuit with voltage compensated current sense mirror

A current sensing circuit for sensing the current provided to LEDs by a constant current power source includes a resistive shunt in series with the load and a current mirror having a first leg connected to a first terminal of the resistive shunt and a second leg connected to a second terminal of the resistive shunt. Both legs of the current mirror are also connected to ground. The first leg provides a reference signal to the second leg, and the second log uses the reference signal and a voltage at the second terminal of the resistive shunt to provide a ground referenced output signal indicative of the current provided to the LEDs.

A vehicle lighting system receives power from a power supply and includes a lighting control module, a lamp, and a ballast having a bias control circuit. The lighting control module provides a remote enable signal to the ballast in response to an input. The bias control circuit of the ballast receives a supply voltage from a power supply and the remote enable signal and selectively energizes a bias regulator circuit of the ballast as a function of the remote enable signal. When the bias regulator circuit is energized, a controller of the ballast operates the ballast to provide power from the power supply to the lamp.

Metal halide lamp ballast controlled by remote enable switched bias supply

A ballast () for powering at least one gas discharge lamp () comprises a switching converter () and an inverter (). Switching converter () includes a transistor () and a control circuit () that provides substantially zero voltage switching of the transistor () at a very high frequency. Preferably, control circuit () includes a drive circuit (), a turn-on synchronization circuit (), a current mirror circuit (), a rail voltage regulator circuit (600), and a lamp current regulator circuit (). Drive circuit () is preferably realized by a circuit arrangement that includes a standard pulse-width modulation integrated circuit ().

Ballast with zero voltage switching converter

A temperature sensing circuit for a ballast for a HID lamp multiplexes the temperature measurement function with another function to reduce the number of pins required for the temperature measurement function performed by the microcontroller of the ballast. The circuit includes a microcontroller having a first A/D input/output pin, a second A/D input/output pin and a multifunction pin, a temperature measurement circuit connected to the second A/D pin, a timing circuit connected to the first A/D pin, and a switch connected to the multifunction pin, temperature measurement circuit and timing circuit. The switch activates the temperature measurement function by connecting the temperature measurement circuit to the multifunction pin in a first position and deactivates the function by disconnecting the temperature measurement circuit from the multifunction pin in a second position.

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Needham, MA, United States of America

John Cross