Egg Embryo Detection via 700nm Melanin Absorption Contrast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-invasive sexing techniques for poultry eggs, particularly duck eggs, face challenges such as poor lighting homogeneity, prediction errors due to low contrast between the embryo's eye and the cardiovascular system, and potential damage from aggressive agitation, which complicates industrial deployment and affects hatchability.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing a narrow spectral band of light around 700nm to highlight the absorption contrast between melanin-containing embryo organs and blood components, combined with gentle egg motion to bring the embryo's organ closer to the shell for clear imaging, allowing reliable detection of the embryo's presence and sex without invasive methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If candling with a light-emitting diode and a monochrome camera is used to detect the embryo's eye, then the detection process is non-invasive, but the contrast between the eye and the cardiovascular system is poor leading to prediction errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter of the light source from the standard visible range (400-620nm) to a specific narrow band around 700nm. This parameter change exploits the differential absorption characteristics of melanin and hemoglobin at this wavelength, where melanin absorbs strongly while hemoglobin absorption is minimized, thereby creating high contrast between the embryo's eye and cardiovascular system for reliable detection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies a narrow spectral band filter (around 700nm) to selectively enhance the absorption contrast in specific regions of the egg. This local quality enhancement focuses the detection on the wavelength range where the absorption difference between melanin-containing structures and blood vessels is most pronounced, improving measurement precision without affecting other aspects of the detection system
2Measurement precision
If shaking the egg is used to bring the eye into contact with the shell for detection, then the eye becomes visible for sexing, but the violent shaking process can be harmful to the embryo and affect hatchability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical shaking process with an optical solution. Instead of physically agitating the egg to bring the eye to the shell surface, the system uses a light source positioned to illuminate the eye directly through the shell, eliminating the need for violent mechanical movement and its associated harmful effects on the embryo
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light as an intermediary to achieve detection without mechanical contact. The light flux serves as a mediator that can penetrate the eggshell and interact with the eye's melanin content, providing detection capability without requiring the eye to be physically moved into contact with the shell through shaking
3Area of stationary object
If the light path through the egg is lengthened to improve illumination coverage, then more of the egg is illuminated, but light absorption increases resulting in poor intensity homogeneity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter to 700nm where the absorption characteristics of egg components are optimized. At this wavelength, the differential absorption between melanin and other egg components is maximized, allowing for better contrast and detection even with appropriate light path lengths, without requiring excessive illumination that would cause poor homogeneity
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 provides a reliable, non-invasive, and easy-to-implement method for detecting the presence of an embryo within an egg, enhancing sexing accuracy and reducing the risk of embryo damage, thus improving hatchability and simplifying industrial deployment.
Implementation Method 1
A step of emission through the egg, by an emission source, of a light signal
Implementation Method 2
The presence of said organ being revealed by absorption contrast between the constituent components of the egg containing blood and said organ of the embryo containing melanin
Implementation Method 3
A step of filtering the light flux in a narrow spectral band around a wavelength of 700nm
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~3B
Figure 4A~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a non-invasive method for detecting the presence of an organ of an embryo within an egg (O), the method comprising: - A step of emitting a light signal (S) through the egg by an emission source (E), - A step of filtering the light flux into a narrow spectral band around a wavelength of 700nm, - A step of imaging the egg (O) through which the light flux passes, - A step of analyzing the image of the egg (O) generated during the imaging step, - The presence of said organ being revealed by absorption contrast between the constituent components of the egg (O) containing blood and said organ of the embryo containing melanin.