Portable Casing for Leaf Nutrient Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting nutrient deficiencies in plants are inadequate and overly complex, often relying on visual discolorations that can be influenced by various factors, making them inefficient for accurate assessment.
Innovation Solution
A portable casing system with a camera and light source, featuring a light-blocking design and a color calibration pattern, allows for high-quality image acquisition and analysis of leaf images along specific lines to estimate nutrient deficiencies, using a processing device to determine age, color, and leaf components for accurate nutrient deficiency detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing visual inspection methods are used to detect nutrient deficiencies, then detection can be performed, but the accuracy is reduced due to influence from various factors and the methods are overly complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the detection process into distinct functional components: a standardized casing structure that isolates the leaf, a controlled illumination system with calibrated light sources, an imaging device for capture, and a processing device for analysis. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, improving overall detection accuracy while maintaining manageable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements parameter changes by controlling illumination conditions through standardized light sources with known spectral characteristics, adjusting camera exposure and white balance settings, and using a standardized casing geometry. These controlled parameter changes eliminate variability from uncontrolled environmental factors, significantly improving measurement precision without requiring complex adaptive systems.
2Measurement precision
If a portable casing system with controlled illumination is used, then image quality and color consistency are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple functions into a single integrated portable casing: the light-blocking enclosure, the standardized illumination sources, the color calibration pattern, and the imaging device all work together as one unified system. This merging improves image quality by ensuring consistent controlled conditions while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate devices that would need to be coordinated.
Solution Approach 2:
The system includes self-calibrating features such as the color calibration pattern with known reference colors that automatically compensates for illumination variations, and the light-blocking casing that inherently eliminates the need for additional complex lighting control systems. These self-service features improve image quality without requiring complex external calibration equipment or procedures.
3Measurement precision
If color calibration patterns and controlled illumination are implemented, then color analysis accuracy is improved, but the ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calibrating the illumination sources with known spectral characteristics, pre-positioning the color calibration pattern with reference colors, and pre-configuring the camera settings within the portable casing. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the system is deployed, color analysis accuracy is automatically maintained without requiring the operator to perform complex calibration procedures in the field.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a color calibration pattern with known reference colors that provides automatic color standardization. The controlled illumination sources emit light with consistent spectral characteristics, and the camera captures images where the reference colors serve as automatic white balance references. This approach improves color analysis accuracy while maintaining operational simplicity, as the system self-calibrates through the embedded color pattern rather than requiring manual adjustment.
4Measurement precision
If a portable casing system is used for field detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but the portability and ease of carrying are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a nested structure where the imaging device is housed within the portable casing, which itself contains the illumination sources and color calibration pattern. The casing can be folded or collapsed into a compact form that fits within a small carrying case or backpack. This nesting approach allows the system to maintain its controlled environment for accurate detection while being portable enough for field use by agronomists.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable casing utilizes flexible or collapsible construction with thin-walled light-blocking materials that maintain their light-tight properties while being lightweight and foldable. This allows the rigid light-blocking enclosure necessary for accurate controlled illumination to be transformed into a portable form that can be easily carried to field sites without sacrificing detection accuracy.
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 system provides a cost-effective, user-friendly method for agronomists to accurately detect nutrient deficiencies in plants, enabling timely fertilization recommendations and improving yield by minimizing economic losses.
Implementation Method 1
The walls of the casing, including the top and bottom surfaces, may be a light-blocking (non-transmissive) material so that it prevents natural light to enter the casing and influence the measurement
Implementation Method 2
an imaging device including a camera and a light source... an image is acquired of the leaf
Data Source
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AI summary
A casing (6) for use in a system for estimating a deficiency of a nutrient in a leaf (100) from a plant, and a system and method using such a casing (6). The casing (6) comprises an upper cover (8) adapted to receive an imaging device including a camera (3) and a light source, wherein the upper cover (8) comprises at least one opening (9) to allow the camera (3) and light source to access an interior of the casing (6), a bottom plate (12) having a surface (13) facing the interior of the casing (6), which surface (13) is provided with a pattern including areas having a predefined color, and a side wall (7), wherein, in use, a leaf (100) is placed on the surface (13) and an image (200) is acquired of the leaf (100), whereby the areas allow color calibration of an acquired image.