Non-invasive Wine Analysis via Evanescent Wave Spectroscopy
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of wine and its susceptibility to external influences make it difficult to predict the quality and flavor profile of wine without opening the bottle, as existing methods lack the ability to non-invasively detect molecular composition in sealed containers.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a computing device to process light signals scattered from wine bottles, employing machine learning and spectroscopic techniques to identify molecular characteristics, including the presence of molecules like TCA, by illuminating the bottle with an incident light beam and processing the scattered light through a spectrometer, allowing for non-invasive analysis of wine contents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If non-invasive detection methods are used to analyze wine in sealed bottles, then the wine quality and molecular composition can be detected without opening the bottle, but the measurement precision and detection accuracy are insufficient with existing methods
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the detection process into distinct functional modules: light source module, optical path module with total internal reflection, spectrometer module, and data processing module. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system precision for detecting molecular composition in sealed bottles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical system using total internal reflection at the bottle wall interface. This intermediary mechanism allows light to interact with the wine contents through the glass wall without direct contact, enabling non-invasive detection while maintaining sufficient measurement precision through the evanescent wave interaction.
2Ease of operation
If light scattering analysis is performed through the bottle wall, then non-invasive detection is enabled, but the glass bottle interferes with the light signal and reduces measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the optical parameters by utilizing total internal reflection at specific angles and wavelengths. By operating in the near-infrared region and controlling the angle of incidence, the system optimizes the evanescent wave penetration through the glass wall, minimizing glass interference while maintaining non-invasive detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from direct transmission measurement to a different dimensional approach using total internal reflection. The light interacts with the sample through the evanescent field at the glass-liquid interface, creating a new measurement dimension that bypasses the limitations of direct transmission through the curved bottle wall.
3Measurement precision
If machine learning systems are trained to identify wine characteristics, then accurate quality prediction and flavor profiling are achieved, but the system requires extensive training data and computational resources
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by collecting and organizing spectral data from diverse wine samples during the training phase. The machine learning model is pre-trained on extensive datasets containing spectral fingerprints, wine compositions, and quality ratings, enabling it to make accurate predictions with minimal additional data required during actual wine quality assessment.
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 detection of wine quality and flavor profiles without opening the bottle, preventing the sale of tainted wine and providing precise molecular analysis for wine authentication and recommendation systems.
Implementation Method 1
directing the incident light beam to totally internally refract within a wall of the sealed bottle and thereby cause an evanescent wave within the liquid to generate scattered or absorbed light
Implementation Method 2
cause an evanescent wave within the liquid to generate scattered or absorbed light
Implementation Method 3
processing one or more signals representative of the scattered or absorbed light, the signals indicative of one or more molecules indicative of a characteristic being present in the liquid
Implementation Method 4
processing one or more signals representative of the scattered or absorbed light
Data Source
AI summary
A method of illuminating and extracting scattered and transmitted light from a liquid within a sealed glass bottle, the method comprising initiating transmission of an incident light beam from a light source to the sealed bottle, directing the incident light beam to totally internally refract within a wall of the sealed bottle and thereby cause an evanescent wave within the liquid to generate scattered or absorbed light, receiving the scattered or absorbed light from the liquid contained in the sealed bottle, and processing one or more signals representative of the scattered or absorbed light, the signals indicative of one or more molecules indicative of a characteristic being present in the liquid contained in the sealed bottle.