Egg Light-Scattering Analysis for Fertility and Sex Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial hatcheries face low fertility and hatchability rates, with up to 25% of eggs being infertile and sex discrimination in poultry leading to waste disposal and animal welfare issues.
Innovation Solution
An egg analysis system using a laser for illumination, a photon detector for detecting a fluctuation of scattered light emitted from the egg, a processor, and a memory to analyze scattered light data for fertility and gender determination based on germinal disc size and structure of the germinal disc.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional egg incubation methods are used, then eggs can be processed in bulk, but fertility detection accuracy is low and infertile eggs cannot be identified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical candling methods with a laser-based optical system. A laser source illuminates the egg and a photodetector array captures scattered light patterns, enabling precise fertility detection through optical measurement rather than manual or simple mechanical inspection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates an optical copy or representation of the egg's internal structure by detecting scattered light patterns. The photodetector array captures light scattering information that replicates the egg's fertility status without physically opening or damaging the egg, allowing accurate identification of infertile eggs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If sex discrimination is practiced in poultry industry, then desired gender chicks can be selected, but waste disposal and animal welfare issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary gender detection on eggs before incubation. By identifying the gender of the embryo at the egg stage using light scattering patterns from the germinal disc, the system allows for selective incubation, preventing the birth and subsequent culling of unwanted gender chicks, thereby resolving animal welfare and waste disposal issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses light scattering patterns from the germinal disc as an intermediary to determine egg gender. The laser illumination and photodetector detection system captures optical characteristics that serve as a mediator to identify gender-specific features without requiring physical intervention or harm to the egg or embryo.
3Measurement precision
If laser illumination and photodetector detection are used, then scattered light data can be captured for analysis, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the detection task by using multiple photodetectors arranged in an array to capture scattered light from different spatial positions and angles. This segmentation allows the system to build a comprehensive light scattering pattern of the egg by combining data from individual detector elements, improving measurement precision while managing complexity through modular detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in light scattering parameters (intensity, angle, pattern) as the laser beam passes through the egg at different positions. By measuring these parameter variations across the egg surface, the system extracts fertility and gender information without requiring complex internal imaging, simplifying the overall system design.
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 effectively addresses the system efficiently identifies the technical problem by providing a system for analyzing the technical solution by providing a system for analyzing the technical solution by providing a system for analyzing the technical solution by providing a system for analyzing the scattered light data to determine egg fertility and gender with high accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a photon detector for detecting a fluctuation of scattered light emitted from the egg
Data Source
AI summary
An egg analysis system and computer-implemented methods are provided. The system comprises a light source for illuminating an egg, a photon detector for detecting a fluctuation of scattering light emitted from the egg, a processor, and a memory storing instructions which when executed by the processor configure the processor to receive scattering light data from the photon detector, digitize the scattering light data, and analyze the digitized scattering light data. One computer-implemented method comprises a light source illuminating an egg, a photon detector detecting a fluctuation of scattering light emitted from the egg, receiving scattering light data from the photon detector, digitizing the scattering light data, and analyzing the scattering light data. Another computer-implemented method comprises receiving angle, frequency and intensity data of scattering light from an egg illuminated using a light source, identifying a germinal disc in the egg from the scattering light data, and determining at least one of a fertility or a sex of the egg based on the size and structure of the germinal disc.