South Carolina Patent of the Month – April 2021
With the advent of sustainable farming, indoor and vertical farming have entered the limelight. Due to the nature of being indoors, these farms require powered lighting to give the plants what they need for photosynthesis. Traditional light sources – fluorescent, high-pressure sodium, and LEDs – are tailored to the human eye or to maximizing lumen content. Plants have different needs, responding better to blue and red lights. Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc. (SETi) has designed an improved plant lighting system focused on red and blue wavelengths and ultraviolet radiation.
The system uses a set of visible light sources, a set of UV radiation sources, and a set of sensors. One sensor detects fluorescence emitted from the plant due to UV radiation. A second sensor detects fluorescence emitted from the plant due to the visible radiation. These two measurements help to calculate the FT ratio (UV fluorescence: Visible fluorescence). The FT ratio indicates the level of flavonoid in the plant, at which point the system can adjust how much of each light is emitted to increase the flavonoid content. The plant itself would be potted in a planter with soil. The planter system is configured to deliver water, CO2, nutrients, ventilation, temperature control and so on. The complete planter and light system provides ideal growing conditions that are customized to various plants, thereby improving the efficiency of indoor and vertical farming.
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