Multiple colors, and color palettes, of narrowband photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) time-staged over hours, days, and growing seasons yields superior plant growth

Abstract

Plants are optimally grown under artificial narrowband Photosynthetically Active Radiation (“PAR”) of multiple colors, and color palettes, applied in but partially time-overlapping cycles. As well as a long, growing season, cycle, the colored lights are cyclically applied on a short, diurnal, cycle that often roughly simulates a peak-season sunny day at the earth latitude native to the plant. Bluer lights are applied commencing before redder lights, and are likewise terminated before the redder lights. Infrared light in particular, is preferably first applied at a time corresponding to early afternoon, and is temporally extended past a time corresponding to sunset. The colored lights and light palettes preferably rise to, and fall from, different peak intensities over periods from 10 minutes to 2 hours, and relative peak intensities of even such different colors as are used at all vary up to times two (×2) in response to differing PAR requirements of different plants. Computer-controlled colored LED lights realize all.

Claims

1. A method of providing artificial PAR to a plant for growing, the method comprising: independently delivering diurnally at and during at least three different time periods a least three different spectra of PAR drawn from the group consisting of 1) a spectra called “ultraviolet” containing light in a narrow band of wavelengths not broader than 70 nanometers Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM), and including light of 385 nanometers which affects early light-inducible protein, 2) a spectra called “ultra blue” containing light in a narrow band of wavelengths not broader than 75 nanometers Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM), and including light of 420 and 439 nanometers which affects chlorophyll A, alpha carotene, and carotenoids, 3) a spectra called “aqua blue” containing light in a narrow band of wavelengths not broader than 70 nanometers Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM), and including light of 450 and 475 nanometers which affects chlorophyll B, beta carotene, and carotenoids, 4) a spectra called “green” containing light in a narrow band of wavelengths not broader than 50 nanometers Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM), and including light of 525 nanometers which affects CO2 fixation and intermodal distance, 5) a spectra called “gold orange” containing light in a narrow band of wavelengths not broader than 95 nanometers Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM), and including light of 590 and 625 nanometers which affects phycoerythrin and phycocyanin, 6) a spectra called “red” containing light in a narrow band of wavelengths not broader than 60 nanometers Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM), and including light of 645 nanometers which affects chlorophyll B, chlorophyll C, and allophycocyanin, 7) a spectra called “ultra red” containing light in a narrow band of wavelengths not broader than 50 nanometers Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM), and including light of 667 nanometers which affects chlorophyll A and phytochrome, and 8) a spectra called “far red” containing light in a narrow band of wavelengths not broader than 50 nanometers Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM), and including light of 735 nanometers which affects chlorophyll D and phytochrome.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the independently delivering diurnally at and during at least three different time periods of the least three different spectra of PAR does still further and also independently deliver 9) a spectra called “white” containing broadband light used for plant inspection and maintenance.

3. The method of according to claim 1 wherein the independently diurnally delivered spectra called “ultraviolet” essentially contains all light flux in a band of wavelengths from 340 to 410 nanometers; wherein the independently diurnally delivered spectra called “ultra blue” essentially contains all light flux in a band of wavelengths from 390 to 465 nanometers; wherein the independently diurnally delivered spectra called “aqua blue” essentially contains all light flux in a band of wavelengths from 430 to 500 nanometers; wherein the independently diurnally delivered spectra called “green” essentially contains all light flux in a band of wavelengths from 500 to 550 nanometers; wherein the independently diurnally delivered spectra called “gold orange” essentially contains all light flux in a band of wavelengths from 565 to 650 nanometers; wherein the independently diurnally delivered spectra called “red” essentially contains all light flux in a band of wavelengths from 620 to 680 nanometers; wherein the independently diurnally delivered spectra called “ultra red” essentially contains light in a band of wavelengths from 640 to 670 nanometers; and wherein the independently diurnally delivered spectra called “far red” essentially contains light in a band of wavelengths from 705 to 755 nanometers.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the independently delivering diurnally at and during at least three different time periods of the least three different spectra of PAR is also independently delivering these at least three spectra at at least three different intensity, or flux, levels.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the independently delivering diurnally at and during at least three different time periods of the least three different spectra of PAR at at least three different intensity, or flux, levels, is for such three or more of the spectra as are delivered, so delivering the different spectra at the following relative intensity, or flux, levels: 1) the spectra called “ultraviolet” is delivered at a relative flux level of 40±10, 2) the spectra called “ultra blue” is delivered at a relative flux level of 70±10, 3) the spectra called “aqua blue” is delivered at a relative flux level of 80±10, 4) the spectra called “green” is delivered at a relative flux level of 20±10, 5) the spectra called “gold orange” is delivered at a relative flux level of 80±10, 6) the spectra called “red” is delivered at a relative flux level of 80±10, 7) the spectra called “ultra red” is delivered at a relative flux level of 160±10, and 8) the spectra called “far red” is delivered at a relative flux level of 20±10.

6. A method of providing artificial PAR to a plant for growing, the method comprising: independently delivering diurnally at and during at least three different flux levels at least three different spectra of PAR drawn from the group consisting of 1) a spectra called “ultraviolet” containing light in a narrow band of wavelengths not broader than 70 nanometers Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM), and including light of 385 nanometers which affects early light-inducible protein, 2) a spectra called “ultra blue” containing light in a narrow band of wavelengths not broader than 75 nanometers Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM), and including light of 420 and 439 nanometers which affects chlorophyll A, alpha carotene, and carotenoids, 3) a spectra called “aqua blue” containing light in a narrow band of wavelengths not broader than 70 nanometers Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM), and including light of 430 and 475 nanometers which affects chlorophyll B, beta carotene, and carotenoids, 4) a spectra called “green” containing light in a narrow band of wavelengths not broader than 50 nanometers Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM), and including light of 525 nanometers which affects CO2 fixation and intermodal distance, 5) a spectra called “gold orange” containing light in a narrow band of wavelengths not broader than 95 nanometers Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM), and including light of 590 and 625 nanometers which affects phycoerythrin and phycocyanin, 6) a spectra called “red” containing light in a narrow band of wavelengths not broader than 60 nanometers Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM) and including light of 645 nanometers which affects chlorophyll B, chlorophyll C, and allophycocyanin, 7) a spectra called “ultra red” containing light in a narrow band of wavelengths not broader than 50 nanometers Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM), and including light of 667 nanometers which affects chlorophyll A and phytochrome, and 8) a spectra called “far red” containing light in a narrow band of wavelengths not broader than 50 nanometers Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM), and including light of 735 nanometers which affects chlorophyll D and phytochrome.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the independently delivering diurnally at and during at least three different flux levels the least three different spectra of PAR does still further and also independently deliver 9) a spectra called “white” containing broadband light used for plant inspection and maintenance.

8. The method of according to claim 6 wherein the independently diurnally delivered spectra called “ultraviolet” essentially contains all light flux in a band of wavelengths from 340 to 410 nanometers; wherein the independently diurnally delivered spectra called “ultra blue” essentially contains all light flux in a band of wavelengths from 390 to 465 nanometers; wherein the independently diurnally delivered spectra called “aqua blue” essentially contains all light flux in a band of wavelengths from 430 to 500 nanometers; wherein the independently diurnally delivered spectra called “green” essentially contains all light flux in a band of wavelengths from 500 to 550 nanometers; wherein the independently diurnally delivered spectra called “gold orange” essentially contains all light flux in a band of wavelengths from 565 to 650 nanometers; wherein the independently diurnally delivered spectra called “red” essentially contains all light flux in a band of wavelengths from 620 to 680 nanometers; wherein the independently diurnally delivered spectra called “ultra red” essentially contains light in a band of wavelengths from 640 to 690 nanometers; and wherein the independently diurnally delivered spectra called “far red” essentially contains light in a band of wavelengths from 705 to 755 nanometers.

9. The method according to claim 6 wherein the independently delivering diurnally at and during at least three different intensities, or flux levels, of the least three different spectra of PAR is also so delivering those of the at least three spectra that are in fact delivered at the following relative intensity, or flux, levels: 1) the spectra called “ultraviolet” is delivered at a relative flux level of 40±10, 2) the spectra called “ultra blue” is delivered at a relative flux level of 160±10, 3) the spectra called “aqua blue” is delivered at a relative flux level of 50±10, 4) the spectra called “green” is delivered at a relative flux level of 20±10, 5) the spectra called “gold orange” is delivered at a relative flux level of 80±10, 6) the spectra called “red” is delivered at a relative flux level of 80±10, 7) the spectra called “ultra red” is delivered at a relative flux level of 160±10, and 8) the spectra called “far red” is delivered at a relative flux level of 20±10.

10. A method of artificially illuminating a plant for growth comprising: providing at least three illumination palettes of one or more lights of one or more colors each palette, at least one of the lights of each palette being of a color different from all other palettes; and cyclically applying illuminations from the at least three illumination palettes to grow a plant wherein at least a temporal portion of the times of application of each palette is partially, but not completely, temporally overlapping with the times of application of all other palettes.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the providing of the at least three illumination palettes includes: proving at least one palette having one or more lights all of which are of a longer wavelength, or “redder”, than are the lights of at least one other palette, this palette of lights of longer wavelengths being called a “red palette”; thus ensuring that at least one other palette has one or more lights all of which are of a shorter wavelength, or “bluer”, than are the lights of the “red palette”, this palette of lights of shorter wavelengths being called a “blue palette”.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the cyclically applying further comprises: first commencing to apply lights of the “blue palette” before second commencing to also apply lights of the “red palette”, thus making that upon said second commencing light from both “blue” and “red” palettes is applied at the same time, and also making that at a first time between the first commencing and the second commencing the plant receives more blue light than red light; and then first ceasing to apply lights of the “blue palette” before second ceasing to also apply lights of the “red palette”, thus making that at a second time between the first ceasing and the second ceasing the plant receives more red light than blue light.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the cyclically applying further comprises: third commencing, at a time after the first commencing and the second commencing and before the first ceasing and the second ceasing to apply a palette of having one or more lights producing illuminations at least some of illuminations are of a still longer wavelengths, or “infrared”, to even those wavelengths of light than are associated with the lights of the “red palette”, this palette being called an “infrared palette”; and third ceasing, after both the first ceasing and the second ceasing and while no light from the “blue” or the “red” palettes is being applied to the plant, to apply lights from the “infrared palette”.

14. A method of artificially illuminating a plant for growth comprising: providing a plurality of illumination palettes of one or more lights of one or more colors each palette; and cyclically applying light illuminations from the plurality of illumination palettes to grow a plant wherein said light illuminations from each palette neither commence nor cease instantaneously, but do instead ramp up to from no to full illumination intensity, and do also ramp down from full illumination intensity to no illumination intensity, over “turn on” and “turn off” periods of at least ten minutes duration each light palette.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the cyclically applying is over a time cycle lasting from two days to two hours.

16. A method of artificially illuminating a plant for growth comprising: illuminating the plant over a time cycle lasting from two days to two hours upon a first plurality of periods each cycle, illumination during any period that is not dark being in accordance with one of a second plurality of illumination color palettes; wherein the collective color palettes as are applied to illuminate the plant upon the collective periods collectively serve to simulate a sunlit day upon the surface of the earth in the earth.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the time cycle is one day.

18. The method according to claim 16 wherein the first plurality of periods is greater than four in number.

19. A method of growing a plant with PAR comprising; applying artificial PAR from a plurality of different color palettes that are not identical to the plant at a plurality of different time intervals across the duration of but one single day; wherein the plant is not radiated with artificial PAR of the same colors upon each of the plurality of time intervals, but is instead radiated with artificial PAR of different colors upon each of the plurality of different time intervals

20. A lighting system for producing photosynthetically active radiation (“PAR”) comprising: multiple pluralities of narrowband light emitters, each one of the plurality of emitters emitting light at a plurality of wavelengths associated with the individual emitters that are within the plurality; and a multiplicity of power sources each for controllably energizing an associated one or ones of the multiple pluralities of narrowband light emitters; a time-of-day clock; and a computer responsive to the clock for controlling the multiplicity of power sources so that each does energize an associated one or ones of the multiple pluralities of narrowband light sources upon a diurnal basis, and does cause the narrowband light sources of that plurality to emit colored lights, making that a composite PAR is generated over the course of a day wherein the colors do change over time in response to the time-of-day clock.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0093] FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of an LED-based lighting system in accordance with the present invention controllable for producing those nine complex spectrums of artificial PAR seen in FIG. 2.

[0094] FIG. 2a is a graph showing an exemplary prior art application of PAR illumination to a plant to engender growth of the plant.

[0095] FIGS. 2b and 2c are graphs showing the phased application of a nominal nine (9) different color palettes of PAR to the growing of kale plants at the middle of the growing season for kale.

[0096] FIG. 3, consisting of FIGS. 3a through 3c, are top plan views of three different LED chip carriers, 8×10=80 LED chips each carrier, the LED chips of each carrier being controllably selectively in three groups (20 or 40 LED chips per group) to produce three “color palettes” of multiple narrowband colored LED lights that are collectively used to realize the PAR spectrums shown in FIG. 2; wherein each figure has a legend listing the three color palettes, or spectra, produced by the three groups (20 of 40 LED chips per group) that are upon that chip carrier.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0097] A block diagram of an LED-based lighting system in accordance with the present invention controllable for producing complex spectrums of artificial PAR (later seen in FIG. 2) is shown in FIG. 1. A USER WIRELESS DEVICE normally in the form of a SMARTPHONE 1a, or a COMPUTER 1b or the like wirelessly controls a selectable one of a number of LIGHT FIXTURES, for example LIGHT FIXTURE 2a or LIGHT FIXTURE 2b. The LIGHT FIXTURE 2a receives the wireless control signal from the USER WIRELESS DEVICE 1a, 1b in its WIRELESS COMMUNICATION MODULE 21, and furthers these control signals to drive and ONBOARD COMPUTER 22 that itself controls a MASTER CONTROLLER 23, LIGHT ENGINES 25, 26, 27 for, ultimately, the control of a POWER SUPPLY 34 having nine separate level-controllable LED DRIVERS 241-249 the power outputs of which are distributed to a plurality of LIGHT ENGINES (or fixtures) 25, 26, 27. All nine LED DRIVERS 241-141 are of equal construction, and thus have the same current and voltage outputs. Likewise, all the LIGHT ENGINES 1-9 have the same number of LEDs (although of different colors), and thus consumer roughly the same power.

[0098] A first group of four LED DRIVERS 241-244 controls a like first number of LIGHT ENGINES 1-4 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d. A second group of four LED DRIVERS 245-248 controls an like second number of LIGHT ENGINES 5-8 26a, 26b, 26c and 26d. A third and final LED DRIVER 249 controls a single LIGHT ENGINE 9 27. The power outputs of the nine LIGHT ENGINES 1-9 are variously physically distributed to power groups of LEDs on chip carrier of three different types as will ultimately be seen in FIGS. 3a-3c.

[0099] Three graphs showing the phased application of a nominal nine (9) different color palettes of PAR to the growing of kale plants at the middle of the growing season for kale are shown in FIGS. 2b and 2c.

[0100] FIG. 2a is a prior art graph of an exemplary application of power (electrical energization) to grow lights in the prior art. As may be observed all lights—whatsoever type(s), color(s) and intensity(ies) they may be—are most commonly “OFF for certain number of hours—nominally 12 hours in the FIG. 2a graph—and “ON’ for a complementary number of hours—again nominally 12 hours in the FIG. 2a graph. In accordance with the present invention this simplistic application of PAR is not optimal to either (1) save electricity, nor (2) grow the plant (the kale). A very greatly more sophisticated application of PAR is optimal both to save electricity—typically up to one-half—and optimally grow the plant—up to times two (×2) greater mass—in less time—typically up to 10% less.

[0101] The phased application of a nominal nine (9) different color palettes of narrowband LED lights to produce, by way of example, a composite PAR suitable to the growing of, by way of example, of kale plants at, by way of example, the middle of the growing season for kale, is shown in the graphs of FIGS. 2b and 2c. FIG. 2b is a graph of the dynamic power level of each of the nine light arrays verus the time of day, and FIG. 2c is a graph of the radiant power of the same nine color palettes verus the time of day.

[0102] As may be observed, the nine color palettes of PAR are cyclically produced and applied on a diurnal, daily, 24-hour period. At least one, and typically two or more, of the individually colored lights of each palette are of a color different from all other palettes, as will be better seen in FIG. 4. The nine palettes, and an exemplary wavelength contained within that palette are thus: [0103] (1) “UV” ultraviolet palette 31, UV; contains 360±20−390±20 nm., or 340-410 nm.; [0104] (2) “UB” ultra blue palette 32, contains 410±20−445±20 nm., or 390-465 nm.; [0105] (3) “AB” aqua blue palette 33, contains 450±20−480±20 nm., or 430-500 nm.; [0106] (4) “G” green palette 34, contains 520±20−530±20 nm., or 500-550 nm.: [0107] (5) “GO” gold orange palette 35, contains 585±20−630±20 nm., or 565-650 nm.; [0108] (6) “R” red palette 36, contains 640±20−660±20 nm., or 620-680 nm.; [0109] (7) “UR” ultra red palette 37, contains 660±20−670±20 nm., or 640-690 nm.; and [0110] (8) “FR” infrared, or far red, palette 38, or IR, contains 725±20−735±20 nm., or 705-755 nm.; and [0111] (9) “W” white palette 39, contains light of 4000-6000 degrees Kelvin color temperature

[0112] As may noted from the graphs of FIGS. 2b and 2c, at least a temporal portion of the times of application of each color palette is partially, but not completely, temporally overlapping with the times of application of all other palettes.

[0113] At least one palette, for example color palette 37, has one or more lights all of which are of a longer wavelength, or “redder”, than are the lights of at least one other palette, for example color palette 33. This palette of lights of longer wavelengths is called a “ultra red palette” 37 and the pallette of lights of shorter wavelengths is called the “aqua blue palette” 33. The importance of this is that lights of the “aqua blue palette” 33 are, within the 24-hour cycle, applied at a first time (about 7:00 A.M.) before the lights of the “ultra red palette” 37 are applied at a second time (about 9:00 A.M.). This clearly makes that, between the first time and the second time, the plant receives more blue light than red light. Next note that at a third time, about 18:30, lights of the “aqua blue palette” 33 are no longer applied while it is only at a later, fourth time, approximately 19:00. that lights of the “ultra red palette” 37 cease. This clearly makes that, between the third time and the fourth time, the plant receives more red light than blue light.

[0114] Between, on the one hand, the first and the second times, and, on the other hand, the third and the fourth times, and while light from both the “aqua blue palette” 33 and the “ultra red palette” 37 are both still being applied at the same time to the plant, yet another pallets having one or more lights producing illuminations at least some of which illuminations are of a still longer wavelengths, or “infrared”, to even those wavelengths of light than are associated with the lights of the “ultra red palette” 37, are applied. This palette is called “far red (infrared) palette” 38. Notably for this “far red (infrared) palette” 38, it also ceases to be applied, but only after both the third time (when light from the aqua blue palette 33 ceases) and the fourth time (when light from the red palette 37 ceases). In fact, this “far red (infrared) palette” 38 is preferably the last palette to start, and the last palette to cease, of all the palettes of applied light palettes 31-39.

[0115] As may also be observed in FIGS. 2b and 2c, the cyclical application of light illuminations from the plurality of color illumination palettes 31-39 to grow a plant is preferably so that the full colored light illuminations from each color palette 31-39 neither commence nor cease instantaneously, but instead ramp up to from “no” to “full” illumination intensity, and also ramp down from “full” illumination intensity to “no” illumination intensity. It does so over “turn on” and “turn off” periods that are most preferably of durations of at least ten minutes each.

[0116] Although the cyclic period shown in FIGS. 2b and 2c is 24 hours, the period may be as short as two hours and as long as two days.

[0117] The collective color palettes 31-39 as are applied to illuminate the plant collectively serve to simulate a sunlit day upon the surface of the earth in the earth latitudes to which the plant—kale—is native.

[0118] The preferred nine (9) color palettes of PAR are preferably produced in and by three different chip carriers. Each carrier nominally has 8 columns of 20 LEDs per column for a total of 160 LEDs per carrier. Each carrier is nominally independently powered in four groups of two columns each group, thus making that 2 columns×20 LEDs each column=40 LEDs are powered in each group. Each carrier nominally independently selectively produces (in accordance that the associated groups are or are not powered) three (3) of the nine (9) total palettes.

[0119] For example, the LED chip carrier “type A” shown in FIG. 3a carries on a “channel 1” one (only) column having some 40 LEDs of 4000-6000 degrees Kelvin color temperature, otherwise known as a “white” palette. See FIGS. 2b and 2c. LED chip carrier “type A” shown in FIG. 3a also carries on a “channel 2” some two columns of 40 LEDs each column (80 LEDs total) all of 660-670 nm. wavelengths, otherwise known as a “ultra red” palette. Again see FIGS. 2b and 2c. Finally LED chip carrier “type A” shown in FIG. 3a still further carries on a “channel 3” a column of (a) some LEDs all of 450-495 nm. wavelengths plus (b) other 12 LEDs if 470-380 nm. wavelengths, these 40 LEDs collectively emitting a spectrum known as an “aqua blue” palette. Still yet again see FIGS. 2b and 2c.

[0120] Note that energization of the “channel 1” energizes some 40 “white” LEDs, energization of the “channels 2” energizes some 80 “ultra red” LEDs, and energization of the “channel 4” will energize some 40 “aqua blue' LEDs. Consider the relative power, or intensities of the palettes of different colors as are shown in FIG. 2c. The total power, or intensity, of the “ultra red” spectrum (as and when fully energized) is roughly twice (×2) that of the “white”, or of the “aqua blue” palette as and when these palettes are energized. This difference in power, and in intensity, is quite clearly due to the number of LEDs that are within each palette.

[0121] Note also that the LEDs are powered in groups of 40, or of 80, as such groups are present upon a single chip carrier. The controllable output LIGHT ENGINES 1-9 25a-d, 26a-d and 27 shown in the schematic block diagram of FIG. 1 are allocated among and between the groups of LED lights as are shown in FIGS. 3a-3c. Clearly as the LIGHT ENGINES 1-9 are separately independently controllable then so are the LED lights that are within the groups upon each chip carrier, making that the spectra of FIGS. 2b and 2c, and still others, may be realized.

[0122] Continuing in FIG. 3, the LED chip carrier “type B” shown in FIG. 3b carries on a “channel 1” some 40 LEDs of 640-660 nm. wavelength, otherwise known as a “red” palette. See FIGS. 2b and 2c. LED chip carrier “type B” shown in FIG. 3b also carries on “channel 2” some LEDs of 410-430 nm. wavelengths plus other LEDs of 435-495 nm. wavelengths, or a total of 80 LEDs collectively otherwise known as a “ultra blue” palette. Again see FIGS. 2b and 2c. Finally LED chip carrier “type B” shown in FIG. 3b still further carries on a “channel 3” some LEDs of 585-595 nm. wavelengths plus other LEDs if 620-660 nm. wavelengths, or a total of 40 LEDs collectively emitting what is otherwise known as a “gold orange” palette. Still yet again see FIGS. 2b and 2c.

[0123] Finally in FIG. 3, the LED chip carrier “type C” shown in FIG. 3c carries on a “channel 1” some 40 LEDs of 520-560 nm. wavelengths, otherwise known as a “green” palette. See FIGS. 2b and 2c. LED chip carrier “type B” shown in FIG. 3c also carries on “channels 2” some LEDs of 360-379 nm. wavelengths plus other LEDs of 380-410 nm. wavelengths, or a total of 80 LEDs collectively emitting a what is known as an “ultraviolet” palette of light. Again see FIGS. 2b and 2c. Finally LED chip carrier “type c” shown in FIG. 3c still further carries on a “channel 3” some 40 LEDs of 725-735 nm. wavelengths collectively otherwise known as a “far red” palette. Still yet again see FIGS. 2b and 2c.

[0124] The color palettes, the timing of the illuminations of the same, shown in FIGS. 2b and 2c are thus due to the arrays of colored LEDs in the LED chip carriers types A-C shown in FIGS. 3a-3c, and in the selective energization of each of these total nine (9) different groups of LEDs, or “color palettes”, by the nine LIGHT ENGINES 1-9 25a-d, 26a-d and 27 shown in FIG. 1.

[0125] According to these variations, and still others within the skill of a practitioner of the artificial grow light, or PAR, arts, the present invention should be considered in accordance with the following claims, only, and not solely on accordance with those embodiments within which the invention has been taught.