Heliospectra, a world leader in intelligent lighting technology for plant research and greenhouse cultivation, has had its U.S. patent application approved by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The patent concerns methods in optimizing LED lighting for plants as well as to make working processes more efficient in greenhouse environments of the future.

"The United States is one of our most crucial markets and it has great potential as a market for this technology," said Heliospectra CEOStaffan Hillberg. "The fact that our patent has now been approved in the U.S. is an important step towards capturing significant market share and it creates very favorable conditions for Heliospectra's future, both in the U.S. and other markets."

Heliospectra is conducting an active patent strategy in collaboration with the patent agency Awapatent and the patent strategy firm Prospero Management. During the past two years, this team has submitted six patent applications as supplements to the basic patent application previously submitted on behalf of Heliospectra in 2007. The basic patent application has already been approved in Russia,China and Hong Kong, and now, also in the United States. The approved patent application (United States Patent no.: US 8,850,742) in summary:

The technology involves systems for quality control and light optimization in greenhouses based on the different qualities of plants. One result is that the appearance, color and taste of the final product can be influenced. Produce can be grown with greater quality yet with lower energy consumption and a simple adaptation of optimum lighting for different types of greenhouses in different environments. This innovation will provide growers with a tool for creating new opportunities to offer a broader and better selection of produce available much closer to their markets.

For Heliospectra, the approved patent in the United States is a very important step. The company's products, primarily the grow operation software, will receive a unique position and status.  Moreover, this also means that the prospects for approval of other submitted patent applications on other markets are excellent.

"Heliospectra is conducting a very active and successful patent strategy, which gives the company a unique position as one of the world leading companies in this sector," said Timo Pohjanvuori, CEO at patent strategy firm Prospero Management, which works continuously with global patent matters in collaboration with the management at Heliospectra.

Heliospectra is known for developing and marketing "intelligent" LED lighting solutions for food crop science and horticulture applications. LEDs are semiconductor devices that emit light when conducting current.

What makes Heliospectra technology unique is that based on Internet of Things (IoT) technology, it combines sensors – which monitor the condition of plants and how they use the light – with state-of-the-art software that controls the lighting. This complete biofeedback system is protected by a portfolio of patents and patents pending.

Heliospectra's premier product is its patented, energy-efficient LX60 Series LED system.  The LX60 is the most sophisticated, modular LED lamp available for commercial and R&D grow operations worldwide.  The LX60 is wi-fi enabled, allowing for online monitoring, scheduling and control. Among other features, external sensors and software can be added to the system.