Egg Candling via Embryo Heartbeat Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current egg candling methods are inadequate for accurately identifying live and non-live eggs in wet, harsh environments of poultry facilities, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs due to the sensitivity of electronic components and the need for manual removal of non-live eggs.
Innovation Solution
A candling apparatus with a waterproof housing, light sources emitting visible light between 600 nm and 740 nm, and a photodetector shielded by a bumper to detect cyclical and non-cyclical variations in light intensity, indicating embryo pulse and movement, respectively, allowing for automated identification of live eggs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electronic components are used in egg candling apparatus, then automated identification accuracy is improved, but sensitivity to wet and harsh environments causes reliability deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a waterproof housing as an intermediary protective structure that isolates sensitive electronic components (light sources, photodetector, processor) from the wet and harsh incubator environment. This mediator allows the electronic components to function accurately while being protected from moisture and environmental damage, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and reliability.
2Device complexity
If manual removal of non-live eggs is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity deteriorates due to increased labor requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automated feedback system where the photodetector detects light intensity variations from eggs, the processor analyzes these signals to identify live versus non-live eggs, and the system automatically removes non-live eggs based on this feedback. This feedback loop enables high-speed automated processing without requiring complex manual intervention, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical removal of non-live eggs with an automated optical-detection-and-removal system. The light-based detection method identifies non-live eggs, and an automated mechanism removes them, substituting human labor with an automated system that increases processing speed and efficiency while managing complexity through integrated design.
3Quantity of substance
If in ovo injection is performed on all eggs, then treatment coverage is improved, but loss of substance increases due to injecting non-live eggs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting and identifying non-live eggs through automated candling before the in ovo injection process. This preliminary identification allows the system to selectively inject only live eggs, ensuring that treatment substances are not wasted on non-live eggs while maintaining comprehensive coverage of all viable eggs, thus resolving the contradiction between treatment coverage and substance loss.
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
Enables accurate and automated identification of live and non-live eggs, reducing manual intervention and costs associated with handling non-live eggs, while protecting sensitive electronic components from harsh environments.
Implementation Method 1
although egg shells appear opaque under most lighting conditions, they are in reality somewhat translucent, and when placed in front of direct light, the contents of the egg can be observed
Implementation Method 2
a photodetector at the free end that generates an output signal corresponding to intensity of light from the at least one light source leaving the egg
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An apparatus for candling eggs includes a waterproof housing having a free end, a light source configured to emit visible light from the housing free end and illuminate an egg positioned adjacent to the housing free end, and a photodetector that generates an output signal corresponding to intensity of light from the light source leaving the egg. The photodetector is shielded from external light and from direct light from the light source. The light source and photodetector are disposed within the waterproof housing, and a replaceable bumper is removably secured to the housing free end. The bumper is configured to engage an egg in contacting relation therewith, and to shield the photodetector from external light and from direct light from the light source. A processor processes output signals from the photodetector to identify cyclical variations in light intensity and/or non-cyclical variations in light intensity.