Programmable Light Dosing System for Photosynthetic Organisms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for controlling light dosages for photosynthetic organisms lack precise control over wavelength, intensity, and duration, making it difficult to reliably reproduce desirable characteristics, and are cost-prohibitive for commercial scales due to the need for large arrays of expensive light emitters producing non-standard wavelengths.
Innovation Solution
A light dosing system with programmable light emitters, filters, and a conveyor system that adjusts the position of light emitters relative to the target area, allowing for controlled application of specific wavelengths, intensities, and durations of light, using a combination of technologies like LEDs, fluorescent, and HID lights, and incorporating sensors for feedback to optimize light delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a large light array with many light emitters is used to treat a large number of photosynthetic organisms on commercial scale, then the treatment capacity and productivity are improved, but the system cost becomes prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large light array into multiple independent modules, each containing a subset of light emitters. These modules can be independently controlled and positioned, allowing the system to treat large numbers of organisms without requiring a single massive array of expensive light emitters. The segmentation enables scalable deployment where modules can be added or repositioned based on production needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a conveyor system that dynamically moves photosynthetic organisms through the light treatment area, and a control system that dynamically adjusts the positioning and operation of light emitter subsets. This dynamic approach allows a smaller number of light emitters to effectively treat a larger number of organisms over time, reducing the total number of expensive light emitters needed while maintaining high productivity.
2Manufacturing precision
If precise control over wavelength, intensity and duration of light is implemented, then the reproducibility of desirable characteristics is improved, but the device complexity and control system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns different functional characteristics to different subsets of light emitters, with each subset optimized for specific wavelength ranges or treatment parameters. The control system can selectively activate specific subsets based on the desired treatment outcome, allowing precise control over wavelength, intensity, and duration without requiring every light emitter in the system to be individually controllable. This local specialization reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a control system that can dynamically change operational parameters (wavelength, intensity, duration) by selectively activating different subsets of light emitters with predefined characteristics. Rather than requiring continuous fine-tuning of all light emitters, the system achieves precise parameter control by switching between predefined subsets, simplifying the control architecture while maintaining manufacturing precision.
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
Enables highly reproducible and controlled induction of desirable characteristics in photosynthetic organisms, such as hardiness and disease resistance, while reducing the number of light emitters required, thus lowering costs and scaling up for commercial use.
Implementation Method 1
one or more light emitters positioned above a target area to emit light onto the target area
Implementation Method 2
a means for controlling one or more characteristics of the light emitted by the light emitters
Data Source
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AI summary
A light dosing system for promoting preferred characteristics in plants, the light dosing system configured to direct light onto a target area upon which the plant resides, the light dosing system including one or more light emitters positioned above the target area, a means for controlling one or more characteristics of the light emitted by the light emitters, a conveyor configured to alter the relative positions of the light emitters and the target area, and a lighting controller configured to read a media having a predefined dosage regime stored thereon for promoting the preferred characteristics of the plant, characterized in that the lighting controller is configured to alter one or more characteristics of the light emitted by the, or each, of the one or more light emitters onto the target area in accordance with the predefined dosage regime.