Micro-irrigation device, system, and method for plant-based cleaning of indoor air and filter bed bioregeneration

1. A system for purifying indoor air ( 1020 ) comprising:

a filter bed ( 820 , 821 ) comprising a growing medium with growing plants ( 1004 ) rooted therein and configured to be capable of sustaining an airflow ( 1021 ) therethrough between a top surface ( 1009 ) thereof and a bottom surface thereof, said filter bed comprising a substantially horizontal portion thereof;

an irrigation system ( 201 ) comprising a plurality of irrigation source outlets ( 218 , 600 , 700 ) for delivering water ( 404 , 604 , 703 , 813 , 814 , 1010 ) to said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ) in a substantially-uniform fashion;

an active region of said filter bed comprising that region of said filter bed configured so as to substantially have said airflow ( 1021 ) flowing therethrough; and

said irrigation system ( 201 ) configured such that water ( 404 , 604 , 703 , 813 , 814 , 1010 ) therefrom is capable of being projected so as to reach at least 50% of said top surface ( 1009 ) of said active region and top down moisturizing said active region; wherein:

at least some of said irrigation source outlets ( 218 , 600 , 700 ) are situated below a predominant leaf line ( 1006 ) of said plants ( 1004 ) so as to ensure a projection of water substantially unobstructed by the plant leaves ( 1007 ), at least some of said outlets projecting water ( 404 , 604 , 703 , 813 , 814 , 1010 ) above said top surface ( 1009 ) of said active region; and

at least some of said irrigation source outlets ( 218 , 600 , 700 ) are capable of projecting water emanating therefrom over a radius of at least two inches therefrom.

2. The system of claim 1 , said irrigation system ( 201 ) configured such that water being projected ( 604 , 703 ) so as to reach at least 70% of said top surface ( 1009 ) of said active region.

3. The system of claim 1 , said irrigation system ( 201 ) configured such that water ( 404 , 604 , 703 , 813 , 814 , 1010 ) therefrom is capable of being projected ( 604 , 703 ) so as to reach at least 90% of said top surface ( 1009 ) of said active region.

4. The system of claim 1 , said irrigation system ( 201 ) configured such that water ( 404 , 604 , 703 , 813 , 814 , 1010 ) therefrom is capable of being projected ( 604 , 703 ) so as to reach substantially all of said top surface ( 1009 ) of said active region.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

at least 50% of said irrigation source outlets ( 218 , 600 , 700 ) are capable of projecting water ( 604 , 703 ) emanating therefrom over a radius of at least two inches therefrom; and

each of said irrigation source outlets ( 218 , 600 , 700 ) is configured relative to all source outlets ( 218 , 600 , 700 ) immediately adjacent thereto such that, when activated, water ( 404 , 604 , 703 813 , 814 , 1010 ) emanating from at least one of said source outlets ( 218 , 600 , 700 ) is capable of reaching substantially all positions over at least 50% of the surface of said filter bed ( 1009 ).

6. The system of claim 5 , said at least 50% of the said source outlets ( 218 , 600 , 700 ) comprising at least 70% thereof.

7. The system of claim 5 , said at least 50% of the surface of said filter bed ( 1009 ) comprising at least 90% thereof.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein most of said source outlets ( 218 , 600 , 700 ) are situated twelve inches or less from a top surface ( 10009 ) of said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ).

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

integrating said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ) and plants ( 1004 ) rooted therein, into a ducting system ( 1203 ) of a habitable structure.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one canopy ( 1006 ) and/or trellis for substantially preventing plants ( 1004 ) rooted in said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ) from contacting said filter bed, thereby facilitating said delivering water ( 404 , 604 , 703 813 , 814 , 1010 ) to said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ) in a substantially-uniform fashion ( 813 , 814 ).

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an ultra violet light ( 1101 ) for application to air ( 1020 ) flowing out of said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ), for reducing mold and mildew.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a moisture sensor ( 809 ) for sensing a level of moisture in said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ); and

a controller ( 908 ) responsive to said moisture sensor ( 809 ), for controlling the water ( 404 , 604 , 703 813 , 814 , 1010 ) emanating from said source outlets ( 218 , 600 , 700 ).

13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a controller ( 908 ) which controls an airflow through said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ), in predetermined relation to when water ( 404 , 604 , 703 813 , 814 , 1010 ) is being delivered to said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ).

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a controller ( 908 ) which controls an airflow through said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ), in predetermined relation to when excess water ( 1022 ) is being drained from said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ).

15. The system of claim 13 , said predetermined relation comprising said airflow being inactive when water ( 404 , 604 , 703 813 , 814 , 1010 ) is being delivered to said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ).

16. A method for purifying indoor air ( 1020 ) comprising:

providing a filter bed ( 820 , 821 ) comprising a growing medium ( 1002 , 1003 , 820 ) suitable for growing plants ( 1004 ) rooted therein and configured to be capable of sustaining an airflow ( 1021 ) therethrough between a top surface ( 1009 ) thereof and a bottom surface thereof, said filter bed comprising a substantially horizontal portion thereof;

growing plants ( 1004 ) within said growing medium ( 1002 , 1003 , 820 );

delivering water ( 404 , 604 , 703 813 , 814 , 1010 ) to said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ) in a substantially-uniform fashion ( 813 , 814 ), using an irrigation system ( 201 ) comprising a plurality of irrigation source outlets ( 218 , 600 , 700 ) therefor;

projecting water ( 404 , 604 , 703 813 , 814 , 1010 ) from said irrigation system ( 201 ) so as to reach at least 50% of said top surface ( 1009 ) of an active region of said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ) and top down moisturizing said active region, said active region comprising that region of said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ) configured so as to substantially have said airflow flowing therethrough;

situating at least some of said irrigation source outlets ( 218 , 600 , 700 ) below a predominant leaf line ( 1006 ) of said plants ( 1004 ) so as to ensure a projection of water substantially unobstructed by the plant leaves ( 1007 ), at least some of said outlets projecting water ( 404 , 604 , 703 , 813 , 814 , 1010 ) above said top surface ( 1009 ) of said active region; and

at least some of said irrigation source outlets ( 218 , 600 , 700 ) projecting water emanating therefrom over a radius of at least two inches therefrom.

17. The method of claim 16 , said at least 50% of said top surface ( 1009 ) of said active region comprising at least 70% of said top surface ( 1009 ) of said active region.

18. The method of claim 16 , said at least 50% of said top surface ( 1009 ) of said active region comprising at least 90% of said top surface ( 1009 ) of said active region.

19. The method of claim 16 , said at least 50% of said top surface ( 1009 ) of said active region comprising substantially all of said top surface ( 1009 ) of said active region.

20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

at least a 50% of said irrigation source outlets ( 218 , 600 , 700 ) projecting water ( 404 , 604 , 703 813 , 814 , 1010 ) emanating therefrom over a radius of at least two inches therefrom; and

configuring each of said irrigation source outlets ( 218 , 600 , 700 ) relative to all source outlets ( 218 , 600 , 700 ) immediately adjacent thereto such that water ( 404 , 604 , 703 813 , 814 , 1010 ) emanating from at least one of said source outlets ( 218 , 600 , 700 ) reaches substantially all positions over at least 50% of the surface of said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ).

21. The method of claim 20 , said at least 50% of the surface of said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ) comprising at least 70%.

22. The method of claim 20 , said at least 50% of the surface of said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ) comprising at least 90%.

23. The method of claim 20 , said at least 50% of the said source outlets ( 218 , 600 , 700 ) comprising at least 70% thereof.

24. The method of claim 20 , said at least 50% of the surface of said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ) comprising at least 90% thereof.

25. The method of claim 16 , further comprising situating most of said source outlets twelve inches or less from a top surface of said filter bed ( 1009 ).

26. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

integrating said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ) and plants ( 1004 ) rooted therein, into a ducting system ( 1203 ) of a habitable structure.

27. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

facilitating said delivering water ( 404 , 604 , 703 813 , 814 , 1010 ) to said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ) in a substantially-uniform fashion, using at least one canopy ( 1006 ) and/or trellis substantially preventing plants ( 1004 ) rooted in said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ) from contacting said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ).

28. The method of claim 16 , further comprising reducing mold and mildew by applying ultra violet light ( 1101 ) to air ( 1020 ) flowing out of said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ).

29. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

sensing a level of moisture in said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ) using a moisture sensor ( 809 ) therefor; and

controlling the water ( 404 , 604 , 703 813 , 814 , 1010 ) emanating from said source outlets ( 218 , 600 , 700 ) using a controller ( 908 ) responsive to said moisture sensor ( 809 ).

30. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

controlling an airflow through said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ), in predetermined relation to delivering water ( 404 , 604 , 703 813 , 814 , 1010 ) to said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ).

31. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

controlling an airflow through said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ), in predetermined relation to when excess water ( 1022 ) is being drained from said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ).

32. The method of claim 30 , said predetermined relation comprising inactivating said airflow when delivering water ( 404 , 604 , 703 813 , 814 , 1010 ) to said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ).

33. A system for purifying indoor air ( 1020 ) comprising:

a filter bed ( 820 , 821 ) comprising a growing medium with growing plants ( 1004 ) rooted therein and configured to be capable of sustaining an airflow ( 1021 ) therethrough between a top surface ( 1009 ) thereof and a bottom surface thereof, said filter bed comprising a substantially horizontal portion thereof;

an irrigation system ( 201 ) comprising at least one irrigation source outlet ( 218 , 600 , 700 ) for delivering water ( 404 , 604 , 703 , 813 , 814 , 1010 ) to said filter bed ( 820 , 821 ) in a substantially-uniform fashion;

an active region of said filter bed comprising that region of said filter bed configured so as to substantially have said airflow ( 1021 ) flowing therethrough; and

said irrigation system ( 201 ) configured such that water ( 404 , 604 , 703 , 813 , 814 , 1010 ) therefrom is capable of being projected so as to reach at least 50% of said top surface ( 1009 ) of said active region and top down moisturizing said active region; wherein:

at least some of said irrigation source outlets ( 218 , 600 , 700 ) are situated below a predominant leaf line ( 1006 ) of said plants ( 1004 ) so as to ensure a projection of water substantially unobstructed by the plant leaves ( 1007 ), at least some of said outlets projecting water ( 404 , 604 , 703 , 813 , 814 , 1010 ) above said top surface ( 1009 ) of said active region; and

at least some of said irrigation source outlets ( 218 , 600 , 700 ) are capable of projecting water emanating therefrom over a radius of at least two inches therefrom.

34. An arboretum high efficiency plant air purifier ( 801 ) where trees and shrubs are cultivated for exhibition in an interior space, where a filter bed of the arboretum ( 820 , 821 ) and plants ( 1004 ) rooted therein are integrated into the ducting system ( 1203 ) of a habitable structure, and where said filter bed is configured to be capable of sustaining an airflow ( 1021 ) therethrough between a top surface ( 1009 ) thereof and a bottom surface thereof.

35. The system of claim 1 , said irrigation system comprising a micro-irrigation system.

36. The method of claim 16 , said irrigation system comprising a micro-irrigation system.