Hyperspectral Selector Machine With Continuous Infrared LED Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing selector machines face challenges in providing precise spectral analysis, particularly in the infrared spectrum, and are often costly due to the use of halogen or incandescent lamps, or LEDs with wide spectra, which are hard to find and expensive.
Innovation Solution
The selector machine employs a configuration of LEDs arranged in groups to emit a continuous spectral infrared band without interruptions, combined with hyperspectral cameras for precise analysis, using infrared and visible light emitters to ensure comprehensive spectral coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If halogen or incandescent lamps are used to provide continuous spectral illumination, then spectral analysis precision is improved, but device cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous spectral illumination is achieved by segmenting the light source into multiple discrete LED chips with different spectral characteristics. Each LED chip emits in a specific spectral range, and collectively they cover the entire visible spectrum, replacing the need for expensive halogen or incandescent lamps while maintaining continuous spectral coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of the light source from thermal radiation (halogen/incandescent) to electroluminescence (LED). By selecting LEDs with appropriate peak wavelengths and spectral widths, the system achieves continuous spectral coverage through parameter optimization rather than relying on broad-spectrum thermal sources.
2Ease of manufacture
If LEDs with wide spectrum are used, then device cost is reduced, but spectral resolution and analysis precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single wide-spectrum LED, the invention segments the illumination source into multiple narrow-spectrum LEDs with specific peak wavelengths. This segmentation allows precise control over the spectral content, providing both cost-effectiveness and high spectral resolution simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the spectrum are illuminated by LEDs optimized for those specific regions. Each LED contributes its optimal spectral output to a particular wavelength range, ensuring local spectral quality is maximized while maintaining overall system cost-effectiveness.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If infrared cameras are used to detect chemical-physical characteristics, then detection capability is improved, but illumination requirements become more stringent and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges visible light LEDs with infrared LEDs into a single illumination system. This combination provides both visible illumination for color detection and infrared illumination for chemical-physical characteristic detection, simplifying the overall system while enhancing detection capabilities across multiple spectral ranges.
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
This configuration allows for efficient, reliable, and cost-effective spectral analysis of small-sized products, enabling precise separation based on external appearance and chemical-physical properties, even for similar-shaped or colored items.
Implementation Method 1
The optical emitters comprise at least one row of LEDs arranged for emitting, towards the analysis section of the advancement path, electromagnetic radiation in spectral bands adjacent to each other, extended for a given continuous spectral infrared band
Implementation Method 2
optical emitters which emit white light (for detecting the actual colors by means of the color cameras) and further optical emitters which emit infrared light
Implementation Method 3
hyperspectral cameras, which allow providing a spectral resolution much higher than the hyperspectral cameras (being able to distinguish also more than one hundred spectral bands placed adjacent to each other)
Implementation Method 4
infrared cameras, adapted to detect chemical-physical characteristics of the loose product which are not detectable or easily detectable by means of the analysis of the actual colors of the product itself
Data Source
AI summary
Selector machine, which includes a conveyance system which defines an advancement path for a loose product formed by multiple solid elements, advances such loose product via falling in an analysis section of the advancement path. Moreover, the selector machine includes an optical detection system provided with optical emitters arranged for emitting towards the analysis section electromagnetic radiation, and with an optical sensor arranged for intercepting electromagnetic radiation coming from the loose product irradiated by the optical emitters. The optical emitters have multiple infrared LEDs which emit infrared radiation in corresponding different spectral infrared bands, so that the sum of such spectral bands forms a continuous spectral infrared band. The optical sensor includes a hyperspectral camera, which has a spectral range that covers the aforesaid continuous spectral infrared band, so as to be able to generate hyperspectral images in the infrared of the loose product.