Handheld Fruit Sugar Measurement Using Ring LED Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nondestructive measurement apparatuses for fruit and vegetables struggle to accurately measure the sugar content of thick-skinned fruits and vegetables due to insufficient light penetration, and they require a large number of samples to obtain a calibration curve, which is costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A compact nondestructive measurement apparatus that uses a ring-shaped light source group with adjustable light intensity, a ring lens, and photo sensors to measure absorbance and obtain a calibration curve for sugar content based on multiple light intensities and Brix values, allowing for precise measurement of sugar content distribution in fruit and vegetables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional LED light sources are used in a compact apparatus, then space and electricity consumption are reduced, but light intensity is insufficient to penetrate thick skin fruits and vegetables
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is divided into multiple LEDs arranged in a ring shape around the measurement target, with each LED contributing to the overall light intensity. This segmentation allows the compact apparatus to achieve sufficient light intensity for penetrating thick skins while maintaining a compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The light sources are arranged in a ring shape in the circumferential direction around the measurement target, transitioning from a single-point light source to a distributed ring-shaped light source. This dimensional arrangement increases the total light intensity reaching the target without increasing the apparatus volume.
2Device complexity
If a single light intensity level is used, then the apparatus structure is simple, but insufficient data is obtained to create an effective calibration curve for thick-skinned fruits
Solution Approach 1:
The light amount control portion dynamically adjusts the light intensity output by controlling the drive current to the LED ring, enabling the apparatus to operate at multiple light intensity levels. This dynamic control capability provides sufficient data points for creating accurate calibration curves for thick-skinned fruits without requiring complex hardware modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus changes the light intensity parameter by varying the drive current to the LEDs, allowing measurement at multiple intensity levels. This parameter variation enables the collection of sufficient data for calibration curve generation while maintaining a relatively simple apparatus structure.
3Illumination intensity
If light intensity is increased to penetrate thick skin, then light penetration improves, but the apparatus requires larger size and higher power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is segmented into multiple LEDs arranged in a ring, where each LED contributes a portion of the total light intensity. This segmentation achieves high light penetration capability through collective output while keeping individual components small and the overall apparatus compact.
Solution Approach 2:
The light sources are distributed in a ring shape around the measurement target in the circumferential direction, utilizing spatial arrangement to increase total light output. This dimensional distribution achieves high light intensity without requiring a single large light source, maintaining compact apparatus size.
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 apparatus enables accurate measurement of sugar content in thick-skinned fruits and vegetables, reduces the need for numerous samples to obtain a calibration curve, and provides a compact, handheld solution for easy use in various stages of fruit and vegetable development.
Implementation Method 1
a light source group including a plurality of light sources which are arranged separately in a circumferential direction in an interior of the casing; a light amount control portion for controlling the light amount emitted from the light source group
Implementation Method 2
photo sensors arranged inside the casing, for detecting light emitted from the other end surface of the light guide member
Implementation Method 3
a ring lens arranged in a ring shape smaller than an inner portion surrounded by said abutting portion, for emitting light coming from the light source group toward an outside of the casing as ring shape light as a ring shaped beam
Implementation Method 4
a light guide member having one end surface exposed to an inner side of the ring lens and the other end surface positioned in the interior of the casing, the light guide member being configured to emit light, for emitting the light entered from the one end surface to the outside from the other end surface
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a nondestructive measurement apparatus and method for fruit or vegetable by which a plurality of internal information therein even if the skin is thick is obtained. A nondestructive measurement apparatus includes a casing including a grip portion capable of being held in one hand and a measurement portion having a ring shaped abutting portion to be abutted to a measurement target such as fruit or vegetable; a light source group including a plurality of light sources arranged separately in a circumferential direction in an interior thereof; a light intensity controller for controlling the amount of light emitted from the light source group, the light intensity controller controlling the light source group to emit at least two different light amount; a ring lens arranged in a ring shape smaller than the abutting portion at an inner portion of the abutting portion, for emitting lights from the light source group to an external of the casing in a ring shape; and a light guide member having one end surface exposed to an inner side of the ring lens and another end surface positioned in the interior of the casing, for emitting lights incident from the one end surface to the external from the another end surface; a photo sensor arranged in the casing, for receiving light emitted from the another end surface of the light guide member; and a light intensity processor for obtaining absorbance based on the light intensity from the photo sensor.