Shading device

Abstract

The invention relates to a shading device ( 10 ) for a greenhouse ( 15 ), with a shading element ( 20 ) and at least one lighting element ( 50,50 ′), wherein the shading element ( 20 ) comprises an outer side ( 21 ) and an inner side ( 22 ), the shading element ( 20 ) is formed from interwoven electrically conductive first thread elements ( 30,30 ′) and electrically insulating second thread elements ( 40 ), the first thread element ( 30,30 ′) comprises a reflective mean ( 33 ), reflecting an ambient light ( 60 ), the lighting element ( 50,50 ′) is arranged at the inner side ( 22 ) of the shading element ( 20 ) and connected with the first thread element ( 30,30 ′), and the lighting element ( 50,50 ′) is driven by an electrical current, conducted by the first thread element ( 30,30 ′), resulting in the emission of an artificial light ( 51 ), illuminating a plant ( 80 ) growing in the greenhouse ( 15 ).

1 . A shading device for a greenhouse, comprising:
 a shading element having an outer side and an inner side, the shading element comprising interwoven electrically conductive first thread elements and electrically insulating second thread elements, wherein the electrically conductive first thread elements include a reflective layer for reflecting an ambient light, and wherein the electrically insulating second thread elements also include a reflective layer for reflecting an ambient light; and   at least one lighting element, each said lighting element being disposed at the inner side of the shading element and being connected with at least two of the first thread elements,   wherein each lighting element is driven by an electrical current, conducted by the first thread elements, resulting in the emission of an artificial light, illuminating a plant growing in the greenhouse.   
     
     
         2 . The shading device of  claim 1 , wherein the first thread element consists of a reflective material. 
     
     
         3 . The shading device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive first thread elements and the electrically insulating second thread each comprise an outer surface and an inner surface, being part of the outer side and the inner side of the shading element, respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The shading device according to  claim 3 , wherein the reflective mean is positioned on the inner surface, reflecting the ambient light, falling onto the inner side of the shading element. 
     
     
         5 . The shading device of  claim 3 , wherein the reflective layer is disposed at the outer surface of the electrically conductive first thread elements for reflecting the ambient light falling onto the outer side of the shading element. 
     
     
         6 . The shading device of  claim 1 , wherein each said lighting element is at least one of the following: an LED, an OLED, a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) lamp, a gas discharge lamp, a high intensity discharge lamp, an incandescent lamp, a fluorescent lamp or a high pressure sodium lamp. 
     
     
         8 . The shading device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive first thread elements comprise at least one of the following materials: aluminum, copper, zinc, tin, iron, silver, ITO, chromium or magnesium. 
     
     
         9 . The shading device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically insulating second thread elements comprise at least one of the following materials: a plastic, a polymer, glass, ceramic or mica. 
     
     
         10 . The shading device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the electrically conductive first thread elements and the electrically insulating second thread comprises a multilayer structure. 
     
     
         11 . The shading device of  claim 1 , wherein an amount of an artificial light emitted by the at least one lighting element is adjusted in response to an amount of an ambient light in order to achieve a constant illumination of the plants during day time;
 and the amount of artificial light emitted by the at least one lighting element is adjusted at night to a higher amount compared to the amount of the artificial light during day time.   
     
     
         12 . The shading device of  claim 11 , wherein the amount of artificial light is adjusted at night to equal the total amount of ambient light and artificial light during day time. 
     
     
         13 . The shading device of  claim 3 , wherein the reflective layer is provided at the inner surfaces of the electrically conductive first thread elements for reflecting the ambient light falling onto the inner side of the shading element. 
     
     
         14 . The shading device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lighting element comprises:
 a first lighting element for emitting blue light; and   a second lighting element for emitting red light.   
     
     
         15 . The shading device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lighting element comprises:
 a first lighting element for emitting light having a first wavelength in a first range of wavelengths; and   a second lighting element for emitting light having a second wavelength in a second range of wavelengths,   wherein the first range of wavelengths is from 400 to 500 nm, and the second range of wavelengths is from 600 to 700 nm.   
     
     
         16 . The shading device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lighting element comprises:
 a first lighting element for emitting first light which is from 80-90% red light, with a remainder being blue light.   
     
     
         17 . The shading device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically insulating second thread elements each comprise at least one of ceramic and mica.