Published Technical Disclosure Archive

Modular Vertical Farming: Next-Gen Crop Production Tech

Publication ID: 24-11856902_0001_PTD
Published: October 26, 2025
Category:Direct Improvements & Enhancements

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Modular Vertical Farming: Next-Gen Crop Production Tech,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11856902_0001_PTD, Published October 26, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11856902_0001_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,856,902.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent disclosed a production facility layout for automated controlled environment agriculture, but it had limitations in terms of space efficiency, labor costs, and energy consumption. The new invention addresses these limitations by introducing modular, vertically-stacked nutrient and thermal corridors, zigzag-patterned grow rooms, and automated crop harvesting systems.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims introduce a novel modular design, automated crop harvesting, and energy optimization features that are not present in the original patent. These innovations provide a significant improvement over the existing design, making the new invention non-obvious and novel.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the invention could include varying the layout of the grow rooms, using different types of lighting sources, or incorporating additional automation features. These variations would ensure that the invention is adaptable to different crops, facility sizes, and operational requirements.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The modular crop production facility has significant commercial potential in the controlled environment agriculture industry, particularly for large-scale commercial growers, vertical farming operations, and research institutions. The invention's ability to increase crop yields, reduce operational costs, and optimize energy consumption makes it an attractive solution for companies seeking to improve their bottom line while reducing their environmental footprint.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A01 A01G31/06
A A01 A01G31/045

Field of Art

Controlled environment agriculture (CEA), specifically automated crop production systems with integrated facility design, focusing on vertical farming, modular layouts, and automated harvesting technologies

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A professional with expertise in agricultural engineering, automation systems, facility design, and crop production technologies, typically holding a bachelor's or master's degree in agricultural engineering, plant sciences, or related technical disciplines

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the PTD's variations represent predictable extensions of the source patent's core concepts, utilizing standard design optimization techniques and known automation technologies commonly applied in controlled environment agriculture systems. The disclosed modifications represent incremental improvements that would be apparent to a skilled practitioner seeking to enhance spatial efficiency, crop management, and energy utilization in automated production facilities.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Array of grow rooms adjacent to a nutrient and thermal corridor
PTD Variation
Vertically-stacked, modular nutrient and thermal corridor with automated crop rotation capabilities
Obviousness Reasoning
Vertical stacking and modular design are standard optimization techniques in space-constrained agricultural facilities, representing a predictable solution for maximizing production efficiency
Source Patent Element
Conveyor system for transporting harvested crops
PTD Variation
Automated harvesting system with real-time crop growth data integration and optimized transport processes
Obviousness Reasoning
Integrating sensor-based monitoring and control systems is a known technique for improving agricultural automation, representing an obvious enhancement to existing transportation technologies
Source Patent Element
Controlled environment facility with multiple functional spaces
PTD Variation
Propagation space with automated transplanting system to reduce labor costs and increase crop yields
Obviousness Reasoning
Automation of seedling transfer is a predictable solution for reducing manual labor and improving operational efficiency in controlled environment agriculture
Source Patent Element
Crop production facility with thermal management
PTD Variation
Energy optimization using LED and natural light sources with thermal energy recovery system
Obviousness Reasoning
Combining multiple light sources and implementing waste heat recovery are standard engineering approaches for improving energy efficiency in controlled environment systems
Source Patent Element
Linear array of grow rooms parallel to a corridor
PTD Variation
Zigzag room arrangement to minimize unused space and optimize facility layout
Obviousness Reasoning
Alternative spatial configurations represent design choices that would be obvious to a PHOSITA seeking to maximize production area efficiency
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11856902 and the disclosed technical variations, a person having ordinary skill in the art would find the claimed innovations obvious and lacking inventive step. The published technical disclosure demonstrates that the claimed improvements represent predictable combinations of known techniques in controlled environment agriculture, utilizing standard design optimization and automation strategies that would be apparent to a skilled practitioner in the field.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,856,902
TitleProduction facility layouts for automated controlled environment agriculture
Assignee(s)MJNN LLC