# US 11,304,375 B2 · Illumination device, plant storage apparatus and method for higher retention of phytochemical content of plant > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,304,375 B2 - Document ID: US11304375B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/265,210 - Filed: 2019-02-01 - Published: 2019-09-26 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-02 - Assignees: Seoul Viosys Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Seoul Viosys Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Se Ryung Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304375B2 ## CPC - A01G 7/045: {with electric lighting} - A01G 9/249: {Lighting means (with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045)} - A23B 2/53: with ultraviolet light - A23B 7/015: Preserving by irradiation or electric treatment without heating effect - H05B 47/115: by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings - H05B 47/16: by timing means - Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - A23B: PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A plant storage apparatus for higher retention of phytochemical content of a plant including a storage unit having an inner space for storing the plant, an ultraviolet (UV) unit provided to the storage unit and configured to emit UV light when the inner space is sealed, and a control unit configured to control operation of the UV unit such that the plant stored in the storage unit is irradiated with UV light to retain a higher phytochemical content than a plant not irradiated with UV light. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A plant storage apparatus for higher retention of phytochemical content of a plant, comprising: a storage unit having an inner space for storing the plant; an ultraviolet (UV) unit provided to the storage unit and configured to emit UV light when the inner space is sealed; and a control unit configured to control operation of the UV unit such that the plant stored in the storage unit is irradiated with UV light for at least 6 hours to retain a higher phytochemical content than a plant not irradiated with UV light, wherein the storage unit is configured to maintain the inner space at room temperature for a first period including a period during which UV light is emitted, and to lower the temperature of the inner space for a second period longer than the first period. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The plant storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to control the UV unit to stop UV light radiation when the inner space of the storage unit is opened. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The plant storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a timer configured to control a duration of UV light radiation from the UV unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The plant storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein a phytochemical of the plant is resveratrol. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The plant storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the phytochemical content including at least of one of glutathione and resveratrol of the plant irradiated with UV light is greater than that of a plant immediately after harvesting. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The plant storage apparatus of claim 5, wherein the phytochemical content of the plant irradiated with UV light is at least 80% of that of the plant immediately after harvesting. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The plant storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first period and the second period combined is greater than 1 day and less than 6 days. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The plant storage apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first period and the second period combined is 4 days. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The plant storage apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first period is 1 day and the second period is 3 days. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The plant storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of space partitions to divide the inner space into a plurality of isolated spaces, wherein the UV unit includes a plurality of UV lighting units configured to emit UV light to the isolated spaces, respectively. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The plant storage apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one of the UV lighting units is configured to have a duration of UV light radiation different from those of the remaining UV lighting units. ### Claim 12 A plant storage method for causing a plant to have a higher retention of phytochemical content, the method comprising: storing the plant at room temperature for a first period during which the plant is irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) light for at least 6 hours; and refrigerating the plant at a temperature lower than the room temperature for a second period longer than the first period, such that the plant has a higher phytochemical content than a plant not irradiated with UV light. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The plant storage method of claim 12, wherein a phytochemical of the plant is resveratrol. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The plant storage method of claim 12, wherein the phytochemical content of the plant irradiated with UV light is greater than that of a plant immediately after harvesting. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The plant storage method of claim 12, wherein the phytochemical content of the plant irradiated with UV light is at least 80% of that of the plant immediately after harvesting. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The plant storage method of claim 12, wherein the first period and the second period combined is greater than 1 day and less than 6 days. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The plant storage method of claim 16, wherein the first period and the second period combined is 4 days. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The plant storage method of claim 17, wherein the first period is 1 day and the second period is 3 days.