Leaf Area Index Measurement Using Reflector Arrays

The patent uses a camera to capture images of reflectors instead of using expensive illuminometers for direct measurement. The reflectors serve as optical copies that redirect sunlight to the camera, enabling LAI measurement through image analysis rather than direct light intensity measurement. This copying approach reduces equipment cost while maintaining measurement capability

The patent introduces reflectors as intermediary objects between the sunlight source and the camera. These reflectors redirect sunlight from difficult-to-access directions toward the camera, enabling measurement of light intensity from multiple directions without requiring the camera to physically move to those positions. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the measurement system while improving measurement comprehensiveness

The patent makes the light collection system dynamic by using multiple reflectors positioned at different locations and orientations around the plant. While the camera remains stationary, the reflectors are strategically placed to capture sunlight from various directions and redirect it to the camera. This dynamic arrangement of reflectors enables the stationary camera to effectively measure light intensity from multiple directions, achieving adaptability without requiring camera movement or expensive equipment

The patent adds spatial dimensionality to the measurement system by distributing multiple reflectors in three-dimensional space around the plant. Instead of a single measurement point, reflectors are positioned at different heights, angles, and radial distances, creating a spatial array that captures sunlight from multiple directions. This dimensional expansion allows the stationary camera to gather light information from throughout the plant's canopy volume, overcoming the limitation of fixed measurement locations