Horticulture LED Driving the Future of Farming

On the industrial scale, indoor farms are increasing in popularity, since they are better equipped to overcome spatial constraints and extreme climates. In such indoor farms, artificial light plays a crucial role in efficiently managing the rate of plant growth.

Drawing upon its LED technologies developed for other lighting markets, Samsung launched its Horticulture LED lineup in May of last year to provide advanced lighting solutions to indoor farms. LED lighting is more efficient and has a longer lifespan than previously existing artificial lighting solutions. It is also easy to control the light spectrum of LED lighting and LED solutions are becoming a more attractive option for indoor farms.

Different wavelengths of light can affect plants in different ways. For example, wavelengths of 430 to 700 nanometers are required for photosynthesis, a wavelength of 450 nanometers promotes germination, 660 nanometers stimulates growth, and 730 nanometers or more helps plants to bloom and produce fruits. It’s thanks to these properties that red wavelengths (about 600~750 nanometers) and blue wavelengths (about 400~450 nanometers) have been the prevailing trend in indoor farms.

Recent developments have also emphasized the importance of green light with a wavelength of 550 nanometers, with findings that it can penetrate the lower canopy and thus increase the photosynthesis in plants found there. Since this was observed, interaction with a blue wavelength is now actively being studied also.

Based on this research, Samsung released its White LED package last November, with an extensive spectral range, including growth-boosting blue and red wavelengths. Full-spectrum LED lights can increase the nutritional value of plants and deter disease and pests. The bright white light can also create a more pleasant work environment than narrow spectrum alternatives, allowing farmers to monitor growth and inspect for disease with relative ease.

The package is designed to deliver strong reliability, even alongside the use of chemical fertilizers or under hot and humid conditions. The package is also competitive in price when compared to red LED products, helping to reduce the cost of establishing lighting systems in indoor farms.

Samsung raised the photon efficacy level of white LED packages to the highest in the industry, thus reconfirming the company’s leadership in this field. As a result, lighting manufacturers can use 30 percent fewer packages in each luminaire to achieve the same efficacy level as other lighting equipment, ultimately reducing the costs for indoor farms.

Packages can be selected according to the types of plants and the facility’s requirements. Samsung Electronics offers five white LED packages and one white LED module. The company has also designed one blue package and two red packages with a single wavelength.

As Will Chung, a researcher in the company’s Lighting Marketing Group (LED), explained, “Although it’s been less than two years since Samsung Electronics started its horticulture LED business, we’ve already received lots of positive feedback from the market for developing high-quality LED technologies. We’re committed to developing more innovative products that support convenient food production, and will continue to enhance our offerings with testing, studies, and experts’ advice.”

Grow Your Own

In the homes of the future, it will be possible to grow your own vegetables no matter the climate. Samsung recently showcased Chef Garden at KBIS 2019, an AI farming platform that integrates with the next generation of Family Hub. The smart indoor garden uses seed capsules, allowing people to grow small fruits, vegetables and herbs with only a small part of the plant. Chef Garden controls light, temperature and humidity to optimize plant growth. The system also utilizes fogponics technology, which creates a nutrient fog that delivers water and nutrients directly to the plants so that they can grow without the need for pesticides. With water kept to the minimum required, the inside of Chef Garden always remains clean. Chef Garden can also inform users when plants are ready to harvest and recommend recipes thanks to smart integration with Family Hub.

Fruitful Investments and Research

Samsung is supporting research and development in fields such as basic sciences, materials science and ICT through the Samsung Science and Technology Foundation. Samsung has funded 500 project grants for the Korean scientific community to explore since 2013, amongst which are technology research projects examining vertical farming and the acceleration of plant growth. In addition, it is expected that further discoveries garnered from ICT projects involving AI, IoT and LEDs will foster synergy between Samsung’s technology and industrial farming’s efforts to produce healthy food.

“One of the main objectives of this support project is to consider how technology might solve the environmental and food shortage problems society faces today,” said Doochan Daniel Eum, Head of the Samsung Research & Incubation Center for Future Technology. “It’s our intention to contribute a total of 1.5 trillion Korean Won (approximately 1.3 billion USD) by 2023, investing in technologies that can effect real change for future society.”

With its decades-long technology innovation and expertise, Samsung Electronics’ Device Solutions Division provides an extensive range of semiconductor and LED solutions to meet the ever-increasing requirements of the mobile industry. While not always visible to end users, Samsung’s component solutions have been utilized comprehensively to raise the level of what’s possible for mobile devices, and help enable a world of difference in performance and user experience.

Here, we go under the hood, to take a look at some of these solutions.

Leading-edge Processor and Memory Solutions for a Seamless User Experience

One prime example of Samsung’s component innovation is the Exynos 9 Series 9810 processor, built upon the company’s latest 2^nd generation 10-nanometer LPP process technology. The processor delivers powerful mobile computing performance with its 3^rd generation CPU and seamless connectivity with a 6-mode/all network supporting 1.2Gbps DL 6CA Cat.18 LTE modem.

Working in tandem with the Exynos processor is the LPDDR4X memory chip, the industry’s most up-to-date mobile DRAM solution that provides breakthrough RAM performance and energy efficiency. Available in a compact package offering up to 8-gigabyte (GB) capacity, the LPDDR4X enables prompt multitasking and data processing for advanced mobile applications such as 4K UHD video recording and virtual computing.

Also, under today’s heavy multimedia and content use environment, users can safely store their valuable data on Samsung eUFS, an embedded high-speed mobile storage solution for flagship devices. Based on Samsung’s proprietary V-NAND technology, the eUFS features ultrafast data read and download speeds as well as abundant storage capacity as high as 512GB.

Enhanced Imaging and Video Features

The Samsung ISOCELL Fast 2L3, a 3-stack fast readout image sensor with an embedded 2Gb LPDDR4 memory, enables significantly enhanced mobile imaging and video functionality with the ability to record at 960fps for brand new features like stunning super slow-motion video shooting. Also among Samsung’s broad image sensor lineup is a front-facing ISOCELL Bright image sensor, which enables high-quality selfies on mobile devices even in very low light settings, using leading-edge pixel technologies.

In addition, Samsung’s Patterned Lens-Integrated Flash LED component, positioned next to the rear camera, enhances the quality of images even further with its high luminous intensity and uniformity.

Reinforced Security, Power and Touch Command Management 

Samsung continues to reinforce security, power, and touch command management on mobile devices through an array of component solutions. For example, its new iris sensor enables a fast yet highly secure option to unlock or authorize application access, and the touch controller enables instant feedback at the tap of one’s finger. Last but not the least, Samsung’s power management IC delivers a stable supply of power, supporting devices to perform with optimal energy efficiency.

As mobile devices continue to evolve, Samsung Electronics’ Device Solutions Division will remain committed to developing and providing its customers with semiconductor and LED technology with distinct value, and providing the best in performance, capacity, functionality and energy efficiency.