Hatching Egg Examination Using Continuous Light Shafts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the presence and sex of embryos in hatching eggs are inefficient, require invasive procedures, and suffer from scattered light interference, leading to unreliable identification.
Innovation Solution
A device with a transport system, light sources, and cameras connected to a data processing system, featuring holders with U-shaped walls and tubular pieces forming continuous light shafts, which minimizes scattered light and allows for precise examination of hatching eggs using electromagnetic waves and multiple cameras to determine embryo presence and sex.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If holders with U-shaped walls and tubular pieces forming continuous light shafts are used, then scattered light interference is reduced and examination accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is divided into multiple functional components: base plate with opening, U-shaped walls, and tubular pieces. Each component serves a specific purpose in creating the light shaft structure, allowing the complex function to be achieved through modular assembly of simpler parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The tubular pieces are inserted into the openings of the base plate, and the U-shaped walls are positioned around them, creating a nested structure. This nesting approach allows multiple components to occupy the same spatial envelope while maintaining their individual functions, reducing overall device footprint.
2Reliability
If multiple cameras and light sources are used to determine embryo presence and sex, then identification reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cameras and light sources are integrated into a single examination device, allowing simultaneous or sequential imaging from different perspectives. The data processing system combines information from all sensors to improve identification reliability through multi-parameter analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The examination device is designed to perform multiple functions: determining embryo presence, identifying embryo sex, and assessing developmental stage. The same hardware components (cameras and light sources) serve multiple examination purposes, maximizing the utility of each component.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If invasive procedures like piercing the eggshell are used to determine sex, then direct access to germinal disc is achieved, but animal welfare is compromised and procedure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invasive mechanical approach of piercing the eggshell is replaced with a non-invasive optical examination system. Light sources illuminate the egg through the shell, and cameras capture images of the internal structures, allowing germinal disc examination without physical penetration.
Solution Approach 2:
Light acts as an intermediary between the external examination device and the internal germinal disc. The electromagnetic radiation penetrates the eggshell and egg contents to reach the germinal disc, carrying information back to the cameras without requiring physical contact or penetration.
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 reliable and efficient identification of embryos and their sex in hatching eggs by reducing scattered light interference and improving examination accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
Light sources arranged in a matrix or matrices are located under holders, wherein the light sources are arranged at a distance from hatching eggs in second light shafts for exposing hatching eggs of several holders to electromagnetic waves
Implementation Method 2
The cameras are arranged above holders so that, for the examination of hatching eggs, the first light shafts and the second light shafts form common light shafts
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for examining hatching eggs with a transport device, light sources and cameras in connection with a data processing system. This is distinguished in particular by the fact that the presence of embryos in hatching eggs and their sex can be determined. For this purpose, the transport device has holders arranged next to one another for accommodating hatching eggs. The holders are located on belt drives. The holders have base plates with openings arranged in a row at a distance from one another for the placement of hatching eggs, walls arranged in a U-shape and tubular pieces so that the walls of adjacently arranged holders are tubular, and the tubular pieces and the walls are first light shafts. Light sources are located under holders, wherein they are arranged at a distance from hatching eggs in second light shafts. The cameras are arranged above holders so that, for the examination of hatching eggs, the first light shafts and the second light shafts form common light shafts, and hatching eggs are located between light sources and cameras. The cameras are connected to the data processing system.