Abstract:
Methods and systems of promoting fertilization of eggs of an avian. While inseminating a plurality of avian eggs a spectrum substantially concentrated within a narrow range of wavelength irradiates the plurality of inseminated avian eggs to increase the motility of the sperm to increase the probability of conception of avian from the inseminated eggs.
Abstract:
Differential illumination systems and methods selectively provide light having different spectrums in an aviary system for housing animals located within an enclosure, and in the enclosure. A first light source produces light with a first spectrum, and illuminates an internal volume of the aviary system. A second light source produces light with a second spectrum different from the first spectrum, and illuminates the enclosure outside of the aviary system. The first spectrum can have a higher red component than the second spectrum to encourage chicken to lay eggs inside of the aviary system, and the second spectrum can have a higher blue component than the first spectrum to discourage chicken from laying eggs outside of the aviary system.
Abstract:
A horticultural system having lighting elements pulsed with an off time proportional to the turnover time of the photosynthetic electron transport chain of a plant. The lighting elements emit light at a wavelength within 20 nanometers (nm) of a peak absorption of the pigment of the plant and are controlled to provide light at predetermined intervals as needed by the plant cause photosynthesis and reduce excess unproductive light.
Abstract:
Conditioning circuits are provided for driving two or more LED groups using a rectified AC input voltage. The conditioning circuits uses analog circuitry to gradually and selectively activate the LED groups based on an instantaneous value of the rectified input voltage. The circuit includes a first series interconnection of a first LED group, a first transistor, and a first resistor, and a second series interconnection of a second LED group, a second transistor, and a second resistor. In one example, the second series interconnection is connected between a drain terminal and a source terminal of the first transistor, while in another example, the second series interconnection is connected between an anode of the first LED group and a source terminal of the first transistor. The first and second LED groups are selectively activated by the rectified voltage applied across the first series interconnection.
Abstract:
A system and method of forming high nutritional fertilizer form swine feces in a reservoir underneath a swine facility. A pump system has a pump that conveys the feces to a remote location where the swine feces first goes through a filter and then into a treatment tank. The treatment tank has sugars or carbohydrates therein that combine with oxygen provided by a aerating device within the treatment tank and ammonia produced by the swine feces to create byproducts, including proteins having high nutritional value that is used for fertilizing plants and animals.
Abstract:
A method of illuminating livestock with artificial light sources. The method includes generating a first light having a first light output that provides white light at typical lumen levels for workers. Then by using a dimming device the light source can be dimmed to provide a blue light at under 3 lumen in order to provide artificial light to the diurnal avians representative of moonlight to cause the occurrence of a predetermined characteristic visual spectral response of the diurnal avian substantially enclosed habitat for diurnal avians.
Abstract:
Apparatus and associated methods involve an assembly of multiple LED light engines in which a desired number of LED lamps are mounted to a plate that forms a wall of an enclosure. In an illustrative example, three LED light engines may be mounted to a plate that may be slidably installed as a wall of an extruded housing that contains electrical connections from an AC power inlet to each light engine. In various examples, the number and layout arrangement of the LED light engines may be custom selected for a particular application.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus involve locating an algae production facility in close proximity to a livestock production facility whereby the outputs of one or both facilities promotes productivity levels in the facility. In an illustrative example, the algae production facility includes a bioreactor in fluid communication with the atmosphere inside, for example, a poultry facility. In some examples, the atmosphere inside the poultry facility may be around a substantially controlled temperature suitable for poultry. The atmosphere may further contain substantial Nitrogen-content suitable to promote algae growth. Various embodiments may symbiotically consume waste products from each facility to promote production of, for example, protein for food and algae, which may be used for animal feed, for example, and/or processed into fuel. In some examples, the algae production facility may be conveniently packaged into a module. In some examples, the module may be stored and shipped in a conventional shipping container.
Abstract:
Apparatus and associated methods reduce harmonic distortion of a excitation current by diverting the excitation current substantially away from a number of LEDs arranged in a series circuit until the current or its associated periodic excitation voltage reaches a predetermined threshold level, and ceasing the current diversion while the excitation current or voltage is substantially above the predetermined threshold level. In an illustrative embodiment, a rectifier may receive an AC (e.g., sinusoidal) voltage and deliver unidirectional current to a string of series-connected LEDs. An effective turn-on threshold voltage of the diode string may be reduced by diverting current around at least one of the diodes in the string while the AC voltage is below a predetermined level. In various examples, selective current diversion within the LED string may extend the input current conduction angle and thereby substantially reduce harmonic distortion for AC LED lighting systems.