Today, I’m thrilled to share a monumental moment in my journey as an innovator in sustainable agriculture: I received the official hard copy of my US Patent No. 12,349,638 in the mail! Titled “Apparatus and Methods for a Hydroponics System with Light Control,” this patent is the culmination of years of dedication to making farming smarter, greener, and more cost-effective. Holding this embossed certificate feels like a validation of countless hours spent researching, innovating, and dreaming of a better way to grow food.
Hydroponics, the art of growing plants in nutrient-rich water without soil, is transforming urban farming, vertical gardens, and even space agriculture. But one persistent challenge has been the energy cost of lighting. Plants rely on light to photosynthesize and thrive, but traditional grow lights often waste energy by emitting spectrums plants don’t fully utilize. That’s where my invention steps in, tackling this issue head-on with a system that programmatically controls the colors of light emitted by LEDs in a hydroponics setup to deliver exactly what plants need—no more, no less.
The core innovation of this patent is energy efficiency. By programming LEDs to emit only the light wavelengths plants require, we can drastically cut energy waste. For example, consider an example grow light emitting red, green, and blue light at equal amplitude. Plants primarily use red and blue wavelengths for photosynthesis, but green light? They reflect most of it, meaning it’s largely wasted. A hypothetical system that allows farmers to dial in red and blue light while eliminating or reducing green could potentially slash energy use by one-third. That’s a direct saving on the farmer’s power bill, making hydroponics more affordable and sustainable.
This isn’t just about flipping a switch—it’s about precision. The system intelligently adjusts the LED output to match the specific needs of crops like lettuce, tomatoes, or herbs, ensuring optimal growth while minimizing electricity costs. In a world grappling with climate change, reducing energy consumption in farming is critical, and this technology also complements hydroponics’ ability to use up to 90% less water than traditional methods.
I’ll never forget the countless hours studying hundreds of pages of other patents. Filing the patent was a leap of faith, and seeing it granted on July 8, 2025, was exhilarating. But holding the physical patent today? That’s a moment I’ll cherish forever—it’s soon to be proudly displayed on my wall.
This patent is more than a document; it’s a step toward revolutionizing agriculture. I look forward to discussions with agtech companies to license this technology, and I can’t wait to see it power commercial greenhouses or compact home hydroponic kits, helping farmers save money and the planet save resources.
If you’re a hydroponics enthusiast, LED geek, or just passionate about sustainable tech, feel free to drop me a line! Have you played with custom grow lights? What’s the most energy-efficient setup you’ve tried, or the wildest plant you’ve grown hydroponically?
A huge thank you to Brian Floyd, my roommate at Woodberry Forest School that wrote the patent, Procopio, the patent law firm, fellow innovators, and the USPTO team for making this possible. Here’s to lighting the way for a greener future!
Stay efficient,
Jim Ray
Inventor & Hydroponics Enthusiast