Installation evaluation apparatus for greenhouse, insolation regulation apparatus for greenhouse, and program

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10506767-B2
Application number	US-201414787512-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2014
Priority date	May 13, 2013
Publication date	Dec 17, 2019
Grant date	Dec 17, 2019

Abstract

An installation evaluation apparatus 10 for a greenhouse includes an input device 11 , an insolation evaluation unit 12 , and a presentation device 13 . The input device 11 is configured to receive input of position information relating to a planned location for installing the greenhouse. The insolation evaluation unit 12 is configured to determine variation, according to the date and time, in an insolation amount in the planned location by performing a computer simulation using the position information input into the input device 11 . The presentation device 13 is configured to visualize and present the variation in the insolation amount according to the date and time, determined by the insolation evaluation unit 12.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An installation evaluation apparatus for a greenhouse, comprising:
an input device into which position information relating to a planned location for installing the greenhouse is input;
an insolation evaluation unit that determines variation, according to a date and time, in an insolation amount in the planned location by performing a computer simulation using the position information input into the input device;
a presentation device that visualizes and presents the variation in the insolation amount according to the date and time, determined by the insolation evaluation unit; and
a region extraction unit that extracts a region, in which the insolation amount satisfies a determination condition, using the variation in the insolation amount according to the date and time, determined by the insolation evaluation unit,
wherein the presentation device is configured to visualize and present the region extracted by the region extraction unit.

2. The installation evaluation apparatus for a greenhouse according to claim 1 , wherein the input device is configured to receive input of a position and dimensions of an obstruction that exists on a periphery of the planned location and that may therefore form a sun shadow on the planned location, in addition to the position information relating to the planned location, and
the insolation evaluation unit is configured to determine the variation, according to the date and time, in the insolation amount in the planned location using the position and the dimensions of the obstruction in addition to the position information.

3. The installation evaluation apparatus for a greenhouse according to claim 1 , further comprising a disposition setting unit that determines a candidate disposition and candidate dimensions of the greenhouse for obtaining a desired insolation amount using the variation in the insolation amount according to the date and time, determined by the insolation evaluation unit,
wherein the presentation device is configured to visualize and present the candidate disposition and the candidate dimensions of the greenhouse, determined by the disposition setting unit.

4. The installation evaluation apparatus for a greenhouse according to claim 3 , wherein the disposition setting unit is configured to determine the candidate disposition and the candidate dimensions of the greenhouse based on a type of crop to be cultivated in the greenhouse in addition to the variation in the insolation amount according to the date and time so that a suitable insolation amount for the crop is obtained.

5. The installation evaluation apparatus for a greenhouse according to claim 3 , wherein the input device is configured to receive also input of a number of greenhouses installed in the planned location, and
when the greenhouse is installed in a plurality, the disposition setting unit is configured to determine an interval between greenhouses automatically.

6. The installation evaluation apparatus for a greenhouse according to claim 1 , wherein the region extraction unit comprises:
an integration unit that determines an integrated value of the insolation amount in the planned location over a specific period; and
a determination unit that extracts a region serving as a candidate installation location of a sensor that monitors an environment of the greenhouse using the determination condition, the determination condition being satisfied when the integrated value is within a reference range set in order to extract the installation location of the sensor.

7. The installation evaluation apparatus for a greenhouse according to claim 6 , wherein the determination unit is configured to determine the reference range based on the insolation amount.

8. The installation evaluation apparatus for a greenhouse according to claim 7 , wherein during a season in which the insolation amount equals or exceeds a preset upper limit value, the determination unit is configured to set a range equaling or exceeding a representative value determined from the integrated value in the planned location as the reference range.

9. The installation evaluation apparatus for a greenhouse according to claim 7 , wherein during a season in which the insolation amount is equal to or smaller than a preset lower limit value, the determination unit is configured to set a range not lower than a representative value determined from the integrated value in the planned location as the reference range.

10. The installation evaluation apparatus for a greenhouse according to claim 6 , wherein the sensor includes at least one type of sensor selected from a group including a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a soil moisture sensor.

11. The installation evaluation apparatus for a greenhouse according to claim 1 , wherein the region extraction unit comprises:
an integration unit that determines an integrated value of the insolation amount in the planned location over a specific period; and
a determination unit that extracts a region serving as a candidate installation location of a sensor that monitors an external environment of the greenhouse in the planned location using the determination condition, the determination condition being satisfied when the integrated value is within a reference range set in order to extract the installation location of the sensor.

12. The installation evaluation apparatus for a greenhouse according to claim 11 , wherein during a season in which the insolation amount equals or exceeds a preset upper limit value, the determination unit is configured to set a range equaling or exceeding a representative value determined from the integrated value in the planned location as the reference range.

13. The installation evaluation apparatus for a greenhouse according to claim 11 , wherein the sensor includes an illuminance sensor or a solar radiation sensor.

14. An insolation regulation apparatus for a greenhouse, comprising:
an input device into which position information relating to a planned location for installing the greenhouse is input;
an insolation evaluation unit that determines variation, according to a date and time, in an insolation amount in the planned location by performing a computer simulation using the position information input into the input device;
a control device that controls an operation of an environment regulation device that regulates a cultivation environment of a crop in the greenhouse;
a presentation device that visualizes and presents the variation in the insolation amount according to the date and time, determined by the insolation evaluation unit; and
a region extraction unit that extracts a region, in which the insolation amount satisfies a determination condition, using the variation in the insolation amount according to the date and time, determined by the insolation evaluation unit,
wherein the control device determines control content for obtaining a suitable insolation amount for cultivating the crop using the variation in the insolation amount according to the date and time, determined by the insolation evaluation unit, and
wherein the presentation device is configured to visualize and present the region extracted by the region extraction unit.

15. The insolation regulation apparatus for a greenhouse according to claim 14 , wherein the input device is configured to receive input of a position and dimensions of an obstruction that exists on a periphery of the planned location and that may therefore form a sun shadow on the planned location, in addition to the position information relating to the planned location, and
the insolation eval

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd

Inventors

• Nagatomo Shingo
• Tanizawa Takayoshi
• Kodama Naofumi

Classifications

• G01W1/12

  Sunshine duration recorders (measuring intensity of sunshine G01J) · CPC title

• G01J1/00

  Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter (spectrophotometry G01J3/00; specially adapted for radiation pyrometry G01J5/00 {; exposure meters built in cameras G03B17/06}) · CPC title

• G01J2001/4266

  for measuring solar light · CPC title

• A01G9/24 Primary

  Devices {or systems} for heating, ventilating, regulating temperature {, illuminating}, or watering, in greenhouses, forcing-frames, or the like · CPC title

• A01G9/243 Primary

  Collecting solar energy (in general F24S) · CPC title