Multi-Wavelength Diamond Detection in Kimberlite Streams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing diamond detection methods, such as laser-based systems, struggle to accurately identify partly liberated diamonds in a flow of rock particles like Kimberlite, often misclassifying other transmissive minerals, leading to diamond loss and damage during processing.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a multi-wavelength beam comprising a monochromatic SWIR laser beam and IR scatter/anti-scatter laser beams to capture and separate reflected and scattered light signals, producing distinct SWIR and IR signals for diamond classification, thereby improving diamond detection and recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single bandwidth laser beam is used for diamond detection, then the detection process is simple, but partly liberated diamonds may be missed due to spectral peak variations
Solution Approach 1:
The single laser beam is segmented into multiple beams with different bandwidths. The system uses a first laser beam with a first bandwidth and a second laser beam with a second bandwidth, allowing simultaneous detection of diamonds with varying spectral peaks while maintaining a manageable detection system architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the bandwidth parameter of the laser beams used for detection. By employing beams with different bandwidths (first bandwidth and second bandwidth), the system can detect diamonds across a range of spectral peak variations, improving reliability without excessive complexity
2Reliability
If multiple bandwidth laser beams are used to improve detection reliability, then diamond detection reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is segmented into distinct laser sources with different bandwidth characteristics. This allows the system to achieve improved reliability through multiple bandwidths while maintaining modular complexity that can be managed through systematic arrangement of the laser beams and their corresponding detectors
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple laser beams with different bandwidths serve universal detection purposes - they can detect various types of diamonds (liberated and partly liberated) with different spectral characteristics using a single integrated system, reducing the need for multiple separate detection systems
3Productivity
If traditional laser detection is used, then detection speed is maintained, but transmissive minerals are misclassified as diamonds
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different bandwidth characteristics to different detection needs. By using a first laser beam with a first bandwidth and a second laser beam with a second bandwidth, the system can locally optimize detection for different mineral types, improving identification accuracy while maintaining detection speed through parallel processing
Solution Approach 2:
The system detects variations in the spectral 'color' (bandwidth characteristics) of reflected light from different materials. By analyzing how different minerals respond to laser beams of different bandwidths, the system can distinguish diamonds from transmissive minerals like quartz and calcite, improving measurement precision without sacrificing productivity
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
This approach enhances diamond recovery by accurately identifying partly liberated diamonds, reducing breakage, and minimizing misplacement, resulting in higher purity and recovery rates without relying on costly density media separation.
Implementation Method 1
capturing a portion of said at least one monochromatic SWIR laser beam after said monochromatic SWIR laser beam has been reflected and/or scattered by the material
Implementation Method 2
capturing a portion of said at least one monochromatic SWIR laser beam after said monochromatic SWIR laser beam has been reflected and/or scattered by the material
Implementation Method 3
separating and thereafter capturing a reflected portion of said at least one IR scatter-/anti-scatter laser beam after said at least one IR scatter-/anti-scatter laser beam has been reflected by the material
Implementation Method 4
capturing a first portion of said at least one IR scatter-/anti-scatter laser beam after said at least one IR scatter-/anti-scatter laser beam has been scattered and optionally reflected by the material
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for identifying the presence of partly liberated diamonds in a material stream.