Tunable LED Light Array with Waveguide for Uniform Horticulture Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional horticultural lighting systems using LEDs face issues with non-uniform light intensity and wavelength distribution, leading to inefficient photosynthesis and increased power consumption, which results in reduced plant growth and wasted light due to the need for large distances between lighting fixtures and plants.
Innovation Solution
The development of LED lighting fixtures with a waveguide structure and brightness enhancing film that mix and direct light uniformly across the fixture, allowing for adjustable wavelengths and intensities tailored to specific plant species, reducing power consumption and enabling closer placement to plants for improved growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional LED lighting fixtures are used, then power consumption is reduced compared to traditional lighting, but light intensity is non-uniform across the fixture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light guide plate as an intermediary component between the LED light source and the plant canopy. The light guide plate receives light from LEDs and redistributes it uniformly across the fixture area, maintaining energy efficiency while solving the non-uniform light distribution problem
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the optical parameters of the lighting system by using a light guide plate with specific optical properties (refractive index, surface structure) to transform the light distribution pattern from non-uniform to uniform, thereby changing the illumination characteristics without increasing power consumption
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional LED lighting fixtures are used, then various wavelengths can be provided, but wavelength distribution is non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate serves as an optical intermediary that not only distributes light spatially but also mixes different wavelengths uniformly, ensuring that plants receive consistent spectral composition across the entire illuminated area
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple LED chips emitting different wavelengths within the light guide plate structure, allowing the wavelengths to mix and distribute uniformly throughout the fixture, thereby achieving both wavelength variety and uniform distribution
3Illumination intensity
If lighting fixtures are placed at large distances from plants, then light intensity can be maintained, but light waste increases due to shadowing and non-uniform distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate changes the spatial distribution parameter of light, transforming concentrated LED output into uniform illumination that can be delivered at closer distances without causing hot spots or shadowing, thereby reducing light waste
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from point-source LED illumination to a planar uniform light distribution through the light guide plate, effectively adding a dimensional transformation that enables closer placement to plants while maintaining uniformity and reducing waste
4Productivity
If multiple LED chips with different wavelengths are used, then photosynthesis can be optimized, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it distributes light uniformly, mixes different wavelengths, and provides a standardized platform for mounting multiple LED chips, thereby managing manufacturing complexity while achieving photosynthesis optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the lighting fixture into modular components (LED modules, light guide plate, housing), allowing independent manufacturing and assembly of each component, which simplifies the overall manufacturing process despite the complexity of integrating multiple wavelength sources
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 solution provides a high-efficiency, spatially uniform, and controllable photosynthetic active radiation that optimizes plant growth, reduces power consumption, and increases production per square foot by ensuring even illumination and minimizing shadowing and light waste.
Implementation Method 1
a waveguide structure coupled to the plurality of LEDs causing a mixing of the light from the plurality of LEDs
Implementation Method 2
a brightness enhancing film coupled to the waveguide structure to generate output light, wherein the brightness enhancing film is structured to control a directionality of the waveguide output light
Implementation Method 3
The plurality of LEDs is controlled by a plurality of drivers and a processor to produce a predetermined proportion of the different colors
Implementation Method 4
provide the correct wavelengths of light (300-800 nanometers (nm)) for photosynthesis
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are devices, methods, and techniques for providing photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) for plants, i.e. lighting. Devices including light emitting diodes (LEDs) are disclosed than can be used as lighting for plants grown indoors or outdoors. The disclosed LEDs significantly reduce power consumption for horticulture lighting, provide the wavelengths needed by plants to optimize growth, and provide growers with the ability to control PAR in order to optimize grow strategies. The disclosed LEDs provide the correct wavelengths of light (300-800 nanometers (nm)) for photosynthesis with a uniform intensity across the LED device thereby providing an even photon delivery to plant canopy and into the underlying leaves within the plant canopy. The intensity and mixture of wavelengths provided by the LED device can be controlled by adjusting the electrical power delivered to individual LEDs included in the LED device.