Compact high brightness LED grow light apparatus, using an extended point source LED array with light emitting diodes
First Claim
1. A compact LED grow light apparatus, comprising:
- an array of multiple LED chips without individual packaging, wherein the LED chips are distributed laterally over an area, said LED chips having light emitting surfaces for emitting light of different colors in directions transverse to said area, wherein the dimensions of the area do not exceed 25 mm, said array configured as multiple strings of LEDs, each of the strings containing multiple LED chips, the LED chips in at least a first one of the strings emitting red light of different wavelengths and the LED chips in at least a second one of the strings emitting blue light of different wavelengths, said apparatus further comprising a plurality of drivers, a first one of said drivers driving the first string and a second one of said drivers driving the second string, so that said drivers control the intensities and spectral range of light emitted by said apparatus;
a single optical lens adjacent to the light emitting surfaces of the LED chips in said array that collects and directs light of different colors emitted by the LED chips of the array towards plants to enhance their growth; and
a single reflector surrounding said array reflecting light emitted by the LED chips of the array towards plants to enhance their growth.
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Abstract
The LED grow light fixture uses a densely-packed array of high-brightness LEDs that are not individually packaged where the array behaves similarly to a point source of light. The extended point source LED array, with its lens and associated reflector, result in a concentrated, partially-collimated light source, such that the intensity of the light does not diminish rapidly as distance from the light source increases. The LED array contains a plurality of LED strings that may be separately controlled, thereby allowing the spectral content of the LED grow light to be varied, to facilitate desired plant growth at various stages of plant life. The light emitted at each of the multiple different wavelengths from the array is evenly distributed, when the objects being illuminated by the array are at a distance of less than about 6 feet or even less than 1 foot from the array.
90 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A compact LED grow light apparatus, comprising:
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an array of multiple LED chips without individual packaging, wherein the LED chips are distributed laterally over an area, said LED chips having light emitting surfaces for emitting light of different colors in directions transverse to said area, wherein the dimensions of the area do not exceed 25 mm, said array configured as multiple strings of LEDs, each of the strings containing multiple LED chips, the LED chips in at least a first one of the strings emitting red light of different wavelengths and the LED chips in at least a second one of the strings emitting blue light of different wavelengths, said apparatus further comprising a plurality of drivers, a first one of said drivers driving the first string and a second one of said drivers driving the second string, so that said drivers control the intensities and spectral range of light emitted by said apparatus; a single optical lens adjacent to the light emitting surfaces of the LED chips in said array that collects and directs light of different colors emitted by the LED chips of the array towards plants to enhance their growth; and a single reflector surrounding said array reflecting light emitted by the LED chips of the array towards plants to enhance their growth. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for growing plants, comprising:
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providing a compact LED grow light apparatus, which comprises; an array of multiple LED chips without individual packaging, wherein the LED chips are distributed laterally over an area, said LED chips having light emitting surfaces for emitting light of different colors in directions transverse to said area, wherein the dimensions of the area do not exceed 25 mm, said array configured as multiple strings of LEDs, each of the strings containing multiple LED chips, the LED chips in at least a first one of the strings emitting red light of different wavelengths and the LED chips in at least a second one of the strings emitting blue light of different wavelengths; driving the first string and the second string to control the intensities and spectral range of light emitted by said array; collecting and directing light of said different colors emitted by the LED chips of the array towards plants to enhance their growth; and using a reflector surrounding said array to reflect light emitted by the LED chips of the array towards plants to enhance their growth.
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Specification