Method and apparatus for controlling plant growth
US5077934A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 22, 1989 |
| Grant date | Jan 7, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 22, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01G7/04
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling plant growth is provided. The apparatus includes a magnetic field generator for producing a controlled, fluctuating, directionally oriented magnetic field parallel to a predetermined axis projecting through viable plant material. In one aspect, a magnetic field detector measures the magnetic flux density along the predetermined axis. The applied magnetic field may comprise a full-wave rectified signal oscillated at predetermined frequencies to maintain a preselected ratio of frequency to the non-zero average value of the flux density, where the ratio is effective in altering the natural growth characteristics of the target plant material, such as accelerating growth rate. This ratio is maintained by adjusting the frequency of the fluctuating magnetic field and/or by adjusting the intensity of the applied magnetic field after nulling out or measuring and accounting for the local magnetic field in that region containing the target plant material.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.