Active Polymer Material for UV-to-Visible Light Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for agricultural technologies that enhance plant growth without genetic modifications or chemical sprays, and existing methods for manipulating light spectra in greenhouse and field settings are costly and impractical for consumer use.
Innovation Solution
The use of an active polymer material comprising a polymer matrix with suspended or embedded minerals, capable of absorbing and shifting electromagnetic radiation to enhance plant growth, is proposed. This material can absorb harmful UV light and convert it into beneficial visible light, while also managing IR radiation for optimal plant development.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If LED lighting or chemical treatments are used to enhance plant growth, then plant growth characteristics are improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts harmful UV radiation into beneficial visible light for plant growth. The active polymer material absorbs UV radiation (which would otherwise be harmful) and transforms it into visible light that promotes photosynthesis and plant development, eliminating the need for expensive LED lighting while simultaneously protecting plants from UV damage
Solution Approach 2:
The active polymer material performs self-service by autonomously managing light spectra without external power sources or chemical inputs. It automatically absorbs UV radiation and converts it to visible light, and manages IR radiation for optimal plant development, providing continuous growth enhancement without requiring expensive LED systems or chemical treatments
2Productivity
If LED lighting is used to manage light spectra for plant growth, then plant development is optimized, but the complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The active polymer material autonomously manages light spectra without requiring complex LED lighting systems, controllers, or power sources. The material itself performs the spectral management function through its inherent optical properties, dramatically simplifying the system while maintaining optimized plant development
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex LED systems to create beneficial light spectra, the patent uses the harmful UV radiation already present in sunlight and converts it into beneficial visible light through the active polymer material, eliminating the need for complex lighting infrastructure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The active polymer material improves plant growth by converting harmful UV light into visible light and managing IR radiation, leading to enhanced growth characteristics such as increased height, weight, and disease resistance, without the costs associated with LED lighting or chemical treatments.
Implementation Method 1
The active polymer material interacts with electromagnetic radiation by absorption, reflection, refraction, polarization, or wavelength shifting
Implementation Method 2
the active polymer material absorbs a greater amount of infrared radiation when compared to a material made with only the polymer matrix
Implementation Method 3
The active polymer material interacts with electromagnetic radiation by absorption, reflection, refraction, polarization, or wavelength shifting
Implementation Method 4
The active polymer material interacts with electromagnetic radiation by absorption, reflection, refraction, polarization, or wavelength shifting
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 1D
Figure 2A~3B
AI summary
The present application teaches compositions and methods of using active polymer materials to manipulate solar radiation to improve or otherwise alter plant growth, development, health and/or production. The present disclosure addresses the need for versatile materials that can, in some embodiments, be used to improve or otherwise alter plant growth, development, health and/or production. In some embodiments, an active polymer material capable of harvesting photon energy is used in an agricultural setting. In some embodiments, the present invention provides a composition of an active polymer material comprising one or more minerals suspended, embedded or otherwise incorporated in a polymer matrix which is useful in an agricultural setting.