Line-scan Camera and Spectrometer Alignment for Food Quality Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Imaging of food products to determine quality is challenging due to insufficient information from simple camera images, and coordinating data from other imaging devices with camera images is difficult because many food products appear similar.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a line-scan camera and a line-scan spectrometer, aligned via an optical filter, to simultaneously image food products at a line, allowing for the acquisition of both visible and spectroscopic data that can be coordinated to determine food product quality and identify contaminants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple imaging devices are mounted down the line from a camera on a conveyor, then more information can be acquired about food products, but coordinating data from such imaging devices with camera images becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a camera and a spectrometer into a single integrated imaging device that simultaneously captures both visual and spectroscopic data from food products on the conveyor. This merging eliminates the need to coordinate data from separate devices while providing comprehensive information for quality determination and contaminant identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated imaging device performs multiple functions: it captures visual images for appearance assessment and spectroscopic data for compositional analysis and contaminant detection. This multi-functionality replaces what would otherwise require separate imaging devices, simplifying the system while enhancing information completeness.
2Device complexity
If simple camera images are used to determine food product quality, then the system remains simple, but the images do not yield enough information to accurately determine quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges a camera with a spectrometer in a single integrated device, combining the simplicity of visual imaging with the analytical power of spectroscopy. This allows accurate quality determination through spectroscopic data while maintaining a relatively simple unified system structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from relying solely on visual parameters (color, shape) to incorporating spectroscopic parameters that provide detailed compositional information. This parameter expansion enables precise quality assessment and contaminant identification without significantly increasing system complexity.
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 accurate determination of food product quality and identification of contaminants by merging line-scan images with spectroscopic data, improving the ability to sort food products based on quality and purity.
Implementation Method 1
an optical filter configured to: convey the first wavelengths from the line to the first imaging device; and convey the second wavelengths from the line to the second imaging device
Implementation Method 2
a line-scan camera configured to acquire images of food products in a human-visible wavelength spectrum... and a line-scan spectrometer configured to acquire spectroscopic images of the food products
Data Source
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AI summary
A device and system for optically analyzing food products is provided. The device comprises first and second imaging devices respectively sensitive to first and second wavelengths; the imaging devices include a line-scan camera to acquire images of food products at a line in a food-path-facing direction, and a line-scan spectrometer to acquire spectroscopic images at the line. The device includes an optical filter configured to: convey the first wavelengths from the line to the first imaging device; and convey the second wavelengths from the line to the second imaging device. The device includes a frame to align the optical filter and respective optical axes of the first and second imaging devices, relative to each other and the food-path-facing direction, such that the first imaging device and the second imaging device are optically aligned via the optical filter to image the line.