Viscosity measuring device and viscosity measuring method

Abstract

A viscosity measuring device and a viscosity measuring method, the viscosity measuring device comprises a measuring container and an optical detection processing device. The measuring container is used to contain a substance to be measured and a sphere. The optical detection processing device comprises an optical detector, a processing unit, a database, a control unit and a power supply unit. The optical detector is arranged on one side of the measuring container and is configured to obtain an image to be measured from the measuring container. The processing unit is connected to the optical detector by signal and is used to process and analyze the image to be measured. The database is configured to store the image to be measured. The control unit is connected to the optical detector and the processing unit by signal and is used to control the operation of the optical detector and the processing unit. The power supply unit is configured to provide the required electricity for the optical detector, the processing unit and the control unit. The viscosity measuring device and the viscosity measuring method of the present invention use an optical detector to detect the process of the sphere moving in the substance to be measured, and calculate the viscosity of the substance to be measured by image analysis, so that the measurement accuracy can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a viscosity measuring technology, and in particular to an optical viscosity measuring device and a viscosity measuring method using the device. Background Art

[0002] People often have the experience of pouring honey or water into a cup. The liquids have different flow rates due to their different properties. For example, the flow rate is slower when pouring honey, while it is faster when pouring water. Or, when cooking with olive oil, as the temperature of the pot gets higher, the oil slides more easily. The reason for this phenomenon is that different liquids, or the same liquid at different temperatures, have different viscosities. Viscosity is a measure of the resistance of a liquid to flow or deform when subjected to forces, such as shear stress and tensile stress.

[0003] For liquids, from a macroscopic perspective, viscosity decreases as temperature increases, while viscosity increases as temperature decreases. From a microscopic perspective, increasing liquid temperature is equivalent to increasing the speed of molecular movement, so it is easier to overcome the attraction between molecules, resulting in a decrease in viscosity. On the other hand, since viscosity is affected by the attraction between molecules, the more molecules that can establish intermolecular attraction, the higher the viscosity. In addition, the size and shape of the molecule will also affect the viscosity.

[0004] Common viscosity measuring devices include, for example, the viscosity measuring device disclosed in Taiwan Invention Publication No. 201205061, or the rotary viscometer disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 5287732 and 6240770. However, these viscosity measuring devices are not only difficult to operate, but also expensive and inaccurate. Summary of the invention

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a viscosity measuring device and a viscosity measuring method, which have better measurement accuracy and measurement speed.

[0006] According to the above-mentioned purpose of the present invention, a viscosity measuring device is provided. The viscosity measuring device includes a measuring container and an optical detection processing device. The measuring container is configured to contain a substance to be measured and a sphere. The optical detection processing device is disposed on one side of the measuring container, and is configured to obtain an image to be measured of the measuring container, and analyze the image to be measured. The optical detection processing device includes an optical detector, a processing unit, a database, a control unit, and a power supply unit. The optical detector is disposed on one side of the measuring container, and the optical detector is configured to obtain an image to be measured from the measuring container. The processing unit is signal-connected to the optical detector, and the processing unit is configured to process and analyze the image to be measured. The database is signal-connected to the processing unit and the optical detector, and the database is configured to store the image to be measured obtained by the optical detector and the image to be measured processed by the processing unit. The control unit is signal-connected to the optical detector and the processing unit, and the control unit is configured to control the operation of the optical detector and the processing unit. The power supply unit is electrically connected to the optical detector, the processing unit, and the control unit, and the power supply unit is configured to provide the required power for the optical detector, the processing unit, and the control unit.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the optical detection processing device further comprises a display device, which is signal-connected to the processing unit, the control unit and the power supply unit, wherein the display device is configured to display the analysis result of the processing unit.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the viscosity measuring device further comprises a light emitting element, wherein the light emitting element and the optical detector are located at two opposite sides of the measuring container, and the light emitting element is electrically connected to the control unit and the power supply unit.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the measuring container is a light-transmitting container, and a plurality of scales are disposed on the surface of the measuring container.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the image to be tested is a dynamic image, and the dynamic image includes a moving image of a sphere in the material to be tested, and the processing unit is configured to convert the liquid viscosity of the material to be tested according to the shooting time of the dynamic image.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the optical detector includes a motion detection element, and the motion detection element is configured to detect the movement of the ball.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the image to be measured is a static image, and the static image includes a picture of the sphere in the substance to be measured. The processing unit compares the static image with the reference image in the database to determine whether the sphere touches the inner wall of the measuring container.

[0013] According to the above-mentioned purpose of the present invention, a viscosity measurement method is proposed, comprising the following steps. Provide the above-mentioned viscosity measurement device. Fill the substance to be measured in a measuring container. Put a sphere into the measuring container containing the substance to be measured. Use an optical detector to capture an image of the sphere moving in the measuring container as an image to be measured. Use a processing unit to analyze the image to be measured to obtain the liquid viscosity of the substance to be measured.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the image to be tested is a dynamic image, and the dynamic image includes a moving image of a sphere in the material to be tested, and the processing unit is configured to convert the liquid viscosity of the material to be tested according to the shooting time of the dynamic image.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the optical detector includes a motion detection element, and the motion detection element is configured to detect the movement of the ball.

[0016] As can be seen from the above, the viscosity measuring device of the present invention mainly uses an optical detector to detect the movement of the ball in the substance to be measured, and calculates the viscosity of the substance to be measured by image analysis, thereby improving the overall measurement accuracy. On the other hand, the overall structure of the present invention is simplified compared to the previous technology, so it has the advantages of easy operation and low device cost. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to make the above and other objects, features, advantages and embodiments of the present invention more clearly understood, the accompanying drawings are described as follows:

[0018] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a viscosity measuring device according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0019] Figure 2 A block diagram illustrating an optical detection processing device in a viscosity measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0020] Figure 3 The figure is a schematic flow chart showing a viscosity measurement method according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Please also refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 ,in Figure 1 FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a viscosity measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2The block diagram of an optical detection processing device in a viscosity measuring device according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The viscosity measuring device 100 includes a measuring container 200 and an optical detection processing device 300. The measuring container 200 is configured to contain a substance to be measured S1 and a sphere A1. In one embodiment, the measuring container 200 is a light-transmitting container, and a plurality of scales 201 are provided on the surface of the measuring container 200. These scales 201 are configured to display the distance moved by the sphere A1 in the substance to be measured S1, or these scales 201 near the top and bottom of the measuring container 200 can be used as marks of the starting position and the end position. The optical detection processing device 300 is disposed on one side of the measuring container 200, and is configured to obtain an image to be measured of the measuring container 200, and analyze the image to be measured, and then calculate the liquid concentration of the substance to be measured S1 in the measuring container 200.

[0022] Please continue to refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The optical detection processing device 300 includes an optical detection device 310, a processing unit 320, a database 330, a control unit 340, a power supply unit 350, and a display device 360. The optical detection device 310, the processing unit 320, the control unit 340, and the display device 360 ​​are electrically connected to the power supply unit 350, respectively, and the power supply unit 350 can mainly provide the optical detection device 310, the processing unit 320, the control unit 340, and the display device 360 ​​with the required power.

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, the optical detector 310 is disposed on one side of the measuring container 200, wherein the optical detector 310 is configured to obtain an image to be measured of the measuring container 200. In one embodiment, the optical detector 310 may be a camera, which may obtain a dynamic image or a static image of the movement of the sphere A1 in the substance to be measured S1 in the measuring container 200 as the image to be measured. The dynamic image is a video recorded by the camera of the sphere A1 moving from the initial position to the final position in the substance to be measured S1 in the measuring container 200; the static image is a plurality of photos of the sphere A1 in the substance to be measured S1 in the measuring container 200 taken by the camera.

[0024] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the viscosity measuring device 100 of this embodiment further includes a light emitting element 400. The light emitting element 400 and the optical detector 310 are respectively located at two opposite sides of the measuring container 200, and the light emitting element 400 is electrically connected to the control unit 340 and the power supply unit 350. Specifically, the optical detector 310 is disposed in front of the measuring container 200 to take an image, and the light emitting element 400 is located behind the measuring container 200 to illuminate. The purpose of the light emitting element 400 being disposed behind the measuring container 200 to illuminate is mainly to overexpose the background to highlight the image contrast obtained by the optical detector 310. When the substance S1 to be measured is placed in the light-transmissive measuring container 200, the illumination of the light emitting element 400 can avoid the influence of tiny bubbles in the substance S1 to be measured when the optical detector 310 is detecting. In other examples, the optical detector 310 may include a camera and a dynamic detection element, such as an infrared or laser sensor, to sense the movement of the sphere A1 in the measuring container 200.

[0025] like Figure 2 As shown, the processing unit 320 is signally connected to the optical detector 310. The processing unit 320 is configured to process and analyze the image to be measured obtained by the optical detector 310. In some examples, the processing unit 320 can process the image to be measured by image processing. The database 330 is signally connected to the processing unit 320 and the optical detector 310, wherein the database 330 is configured to store the image to be measured obtained by the optical detector 310, the image to be measured processed by the processing unit 320, a plurality of reference images for reference comparison, or other parameter data such as the density and weight of the sphere A1 and the density and temperature of the material to be measured S1. Specifically, when the image to be measured includes a dynamic image of the movement of the sphere A1 in the material to be measured S1, the processing unit 320 is configured to convert the liquid viscosity of the material to be measured S1 according to the shooting time of the dynamic image and the moving distance of the sphere A1 in the material to be measured S1. When the image to be measured includes a plurality of static images of the sphere A1 in the material to be measured S1, the processing unit 320 is configured to determine whether the sphere A1 touches the inner wall of the measuring container 200 based on the static images and the reference images in the database 330, so as to exclude data that may be inaccurately measured. In other embodiments, the processing unit 320 can also convert the liquid viscosity of the material to be measured S1 based on the shooting time of the plurality of static images and the moving distance of the sphere A1 in the material to be measured S1. In other application methods, the operator can also determine whether the sphere A1 touches the inner wall of the measuring container 200 by replaying the image to be measured in the database 330.

[0026] like Figure 2As shown, the control unit 340 is connected to the optical detector 310 and the processing unit 320. The control unit 340 is configured to control the operation of the optical detector 310 and the processing unit 320, such as opening and closing the optical detector 310 or setting the processing unit 320. In a specific example, the control unit 340 can be an operation interface of a computer. The display device 360 ​​is configured to display the viscosity analysis result of the test substance S1 of the processing unit 320 and related information during the overall measurement process.

[0027] Please also refer to Figures 1 to 3 ,in Figure 3 The present invention further provides a viscosity measurement method 500, which includes the following steps. First, step 510 is performed to provide Figure 1 and Figure 2 The viscosity measuring device 100 shown in FIG. Next, step 520 is performed to fill the test material S1 in the measuring container 200. Then, step 530 is performed to drop the sphere A1 into the measuring container 200 containing the test material S1. While performing step 530, step 540 is performed to capture the image of the sphere A1 moving in the measuring container 200 using the optical detector 310 as the test image. After the test image is obtained, step 550 is performed to analyze the test image using the processing unit 320 to obtain the liquid viscosity of the test material. Since different test materials S1 have different properties and densities, after dropping the sphere A1 into the test material S1, the resistance of the test material S1 to the sphere A1 from the highest point to the lowest point in the measuring container 200 is also different, so the movement speed is also different. Therefore, after the optical detector 310 captures the image and the processing unit 320 analyzes it, the viscosity of the test material S1 can be accurately calculated.

[0028] Table 1 below shows the comparison between using the viscosity measuring device of the embodiment of the present invention to measure the viscosity of the test material and not using an optical detector. The embodiment shows that the operator only needs to put the test material into the measuring container 200 of the viscosity measuring device 100 of the present invention, and then use the control unit 340 to turn on the optical detector 310 to capture the moving image of the ball A1 in the test material S1, and then the current temperature and viscosity of the test material S1 can be obtained from the display device 360; while the comparative example is that the operator uses visual observation to observe the process of the ball falling and uses a stopwatch to calculate the ball falling time, so as to further calculate the viscosity of the test material.

[0029] Table 1. Comparison of Examples and Comparative Examples

[0030]

[0031] As shown in Table 1, the viscosity measurement experiments were performed three times using the embodiment of the present invention and the comparative example, and the comparative example showed that the variation rate of the falling process of the ball visually inspected and the falling time recorded by a stopwatch was significantly higher than that of the embodiment. This indicates that the viscosity measurement device and viscosity measurement method of the embodiment of the present invention have higher accuracy.

[0032] From the above embodiments of the present invention, it can be seen that the viscosity measuring device of the present invention mainly uses an optical detector to detect the movement of a ball in a substance to be measured, and calculates the viscosity of the substance to be measured by image analysis, thereby improving the overall measurement accuracy. On the other hand, the overall structure of the present invention is simplified compared to the prior art, so it has the advantages of easy operation and low device cost.

[0033] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed as above, they are not intended to limit the embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art may make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the embodiments of the present invention shall be determined by the definition of the appended claims.

[0034]

Explanation of symbols

[0035] 100: Viscosity measuring device

[0036] 200: Measuring container

[0037] 201: scale

[0038] 300: Optical detection processing device

[0039] 310: Optical Detector

[0040] 320: Processing unit

[0041] 330: Database

[0042] 340: Control unit

[0043] 350: Power supply unit

[0044] 360: Display device

[0045] 400: Light emitting element

[0046] 500: Viscosity measurement method

[0047] 510: Steps

[0048] 520: Steps

[0049] 530: Steps

[0050] 540: Steps

[0051] 550: Steps

[0052] A1: Sphere

[0053] S1: Substance to be tested.

Claims

1. A viscosity measuring device, characterized in that: Include: a measuring container configured to contain the substance to be measured and the sphere; and The optical detection processing device is disposed on one side of the measuring container and is configured to obtain the image to be measured of the measuring container and analyze the image to be measured, wherein the optical detection processing device includes: An optical detector is disposed on one side of the measuring container, wherein the optical detector is configured to obtain the image to be measured from the measuring container; A processing unit, signal-connected to the optical detector, the processing unit being configured to process and analyze the image to be detected; A database, signal-connected to the processing unit and the optical detector, wherein the database is configured to store the image to be measured obtained by the optical detector and the image to be measured processed by the processing unit; a control unit, signal-connected to the optical detector and the processing unit, the control unit being configured to control operations of the optical detector and the processing unit; as well as a power supply unit electrically connected to the optical detector, the processing unit and the control unit, wherein the power supply unit is configured to provide power required by the optical detector, the processing unit and the control unit; as well as A light emitting element, wherein the light emitting element and the optical detector are located at two opposite sides of the measuring container, and the light emitting element is electrically connected to the control unit and the power supply unit, wherein the light emitting element is arranged behind the measuring container to illuminate so as to overexpose the background, thereby highlighting the contrast of the image to be measured obtained by the optical detector, so as to avoid the influence of tiny bubbles in the substance to be measured when the optical detector is detecting.

2. The viscosity measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical detection processing device further includes a display device, which is signal-connected to the processing unit, the control unit, and the power supply unit, wherein the display device is configured to display the analysis result of the processing unit.

3. The viscosity measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The measuring container is a light-transmitting container, and a plurality of scales are arranged on the surface of the measuring container.

4. The viscosity measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The image to be tested is a dynamic image, and the dynamic image includes a moving image of the sphere in the substance to be tested. The processing unit is configured to convert the liquid viscosity of the substance to be tested according to the shooting time of the dynamic image.

5. The viscosity measuring device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The optical detector includes a motion detection element, and the motion detection element is configured to detect the motion of the ball.

6. The viscosity measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The image to be measured is a static image, and the static image includes a picture of the sphere in the substance to be measured. The processing unit compares the static image with a reference image in the database to determine whether the sphere touches the inner wall of the measuring container.

7. A viscosity measurement method, characterized in that: Include: Providing a viscosity measuring device according to claim 1; Filling the substance to be tested into the measuring container; Putting the sphere into the measuring container containing the substance to be tested; Using the optical detector to capture the image of the ball moving in the measuring container as the image to be measured; and The processing unit is used to analyze the image to be tested to obtain the liquid viscosity of the substance to be tested.

8. The viscosity measurement method according to claim 7, characterized in that: The image to be tested is a dynamic image, and the dynamic image includes a moving image of the sphere in the substance to be tested. The processing unit is configured to convert the liquid viscosity of the substance to be tested according to the shooting time of the dynamic image.

9. The viscosity measurement method according to claim 7, characterized in that: The optical detector includes a motion detection element, and the motion detection element is configured to detect the motion of the ball.

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