Handheld Egg Yolk Color Sensor with Dome Cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for measuring the color of egg yolks lack accuracy, reproducibility, portability, and the ability to convert readings into standard color spaces, making them inefficient and costly for the egg industry's color control needs.
Innovation Solution
A handheld, cost-effective color measuring device with a dome-shaped egg yolk cover and a portable color sensor that uses LEDs and light pipes to direct light perpendicularly onto the yolk, coupled with a true color sensor and Bluetooth connectivity to convert readings into various color models, ensuring accurate and precise measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a color sensor and light source are used to measure yolk color, then measurement accuracy and precision are improved, but device size, complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light source (LED), light guiding elements (light pipes), color sensor, and processing electronics into a single integrated handheld device. This merging of components achieves quantitative color measurement with improved accuracy while keeping the device compact and manageable in complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to measure color across multiple standard color spaces (RGB, HSL, HSV, LAB, Pantone) using a single sensor unit. The universal design allows one device to serve multiple measurement needs without requiring separate specialized instruments for each color standard.
2Measurement precision
If a color sensor and light source are used to measure yolk color, then measurement accuracy and precision are improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive components such as standard LEDs for light emission, acrylic or plastic light pipes instead of expensive optical fibers, and cost-effective color sensors. These choices maintain measurement accuracy while significantly reducing manufacturing costs compared to using premium optical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical optical systems with solid-state electronic components. The use of LEDs instead of incandescent bulbs, and integrated color sensors with digital output, eliminates the need for complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms, reducing both manufacturing cost and assembly complexity.
3Measurement precision
If quantitative color measurement is performed using a color sensor, then color measurement accuracy is improved, but device portability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed as a compact handheld unit that can be easily held and moved. The segmentation of the measurement function into a portable device separate from the egg sample allows accurate measurement without requiring bulky laboratory equipment. The device fits in one hand while maintaining quantitative measurement capabilities.
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 device provides quick, accurate, and cost-effective color measurement of egg yolks, converting readings into standard color spaces like RGB, HSL, HSV, LAB, and Pantone units, ensuring cultural and industrial standards are met with minimal manufacturing costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
an LED arranged on a bottom side of the single flat printed circuit board to direct light perpendicularly away from the single flat printed circuit board
Implementation Method 2
a light pipe to direct the light away from the single flat printed circuit board at an angle theta
Implementation Method 3
the aperture includes a transparent window which impinges onto the egg yolk
Implementation Method 4
the reflected light is diffused into the sensor
Data Source
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AI summary
The present concept is a method of preparing an egg to determine the color of the egg using an egg yolk cover (200). The egg yolk cover (200) is dome-shaped with a base edge (204) and transparent inspection area (208). The egg yolk cover (200) eliminates ambient light from impinging on the egg yolk (202) and is used in combination with a light sensor to determine the color of egg yolks (202). The light sensor includes a single flat printed circuit board with a top and bottom side which includes at least one LED light and one color sensor, at least one light pipe receiving light from the LED and transmitting it onto a substrate at an angle theta and a tube frame including an optical tube for receiving light reflections from the substrate. The light pipes and the tube frame are compression fit between the printed circuit board and a lower housing. To determine the color of the egg yolk (202), the egg is first cracked onto a flat surface (210). The egg yolk cover (200) is then placed over the egg yolk (202) and the color sensor is placed onto the inspection area (208) to measure the color.