Adaptive Light Intensity for Dust-Resistant Seed Counting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seed counting systems in seeding machines are affected by environmental dust, leading to accuracy issues and are limited by seed counting rate, typically only able to count larger grains, and are not efficient in dirty conditions.
Innovation Solution
An object detection device using a plurality of electromagnetic radiation emitters and detectors, with lenses to create semi-columnated beams of light, and a controller that adjusts the light intensity to maintain optimal detection range, accounting for dust and debris, ensuring accurate seed counting across various conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing seed counting systems are used, then the system can count seeds, but the accuracy is negatively affected by dust and environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dust and debris detection to trigger adaptive light intensity adjustment. By detecting when dust blocks the light path (harmful factor), the system increases light intensity to compensate, converting the harmful dust interference into a condition that triggers a beneficial adaptive response that maintains measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The light intensity is made dynamic rather than fixed. The controller continuously monitors the light path and adjusts the light source intensity in real-time based on detected blockages or environmental conditions, allowing the system to adapt to changing dust levels and maintain optimal detection accuracy.
2Productivity
If existing seed counting systems are used, then the system can count seeds, but the counting rate is limited to 20-60 seconds
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous operation without requiring reset or recalibration between seeds. The adaptive light adjustment and continuous detection enable uninterrupted counting, maximizing the productivity by eliminating idle time and maintaining constant detection capability throughout the counting process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing seed counting systems are used, then the system can count larger grains, but it cannot successfully count smaller grains
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the light intensity parameter dynamically to match the detection requirements of different seed sizes. For smaller grains that block less light, the system increases light intensity to ensure sufficient signal contrast, while for larger grains it adjusts to optimal levels, enabling versatile detection across different seed types with maintained precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system improves seed counting accuracy and rate by maintaining optimal light sensing resolution, effectively counting seeds in dirty and dusty environments, and can handle a wide range of seed types, including smaller grains, with high precision.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of radiation detectors configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation and output an electrical signal corresponding to an intensity of the received electromagnetic radiation
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of first lenses are arranged in a row on a first sidewall of the passageway conduit and configured to focus electromagnetic radiation emitted from the radiation emitters into a semi-columnated beams of electromagnetic radiation
Data Source
AI summary
An object detection system compensates for variations in transmission characteristics within an object passageway caused by, for example, dust or dirt. An object detection device includes a plurality of electromagnetic radiation emitters and detectors arranged in rows on opposite sides of a passageway. First lenses focus radiation from the emitters into a semi-columnated beams of radiation that together create a plane of semi-columnated electromagnetic radiation that spans substantially across a width of the passageway. Second lenses focus the received electromagnetic radiation onto corresponding ones of the plurality of radiation detectors. A controller receives a radiation intensity signal from the detectors, determines that its value is outside of a predetermined range, and adjusts an amount of electrical power supplied to the plurality of radiation emitters so that the value of the radiation intensity signal changes to become within the predetermined range.