Milking System Reagent Pad Optical Sensor Inversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milking systems face issues with unsatisfactory analysis results due to halos or artefacts at the rim of the reagent pad and inadequate temporal development monitoring, which limits the information obtained.
Innovation Solution
The milking system employs a reagent carrier with a transmissive base tape layer where the reagent pad faces away from the optical sensor, allowing the sensor to view the underside of the reagent, preventing surface artefacts and contamination, and enabling better monitoring of the reaction development without interference from surplus liquid or opaque substances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the optical sensor views the reagent pad from the surface side, then the setup is simpler, but halos and artefacts appear at the rim of the reagent pad
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional viewing arrangement by positioning the optical sensor on the opposite side of the reagent pad from where the milk sample is applied. Instead of viewing from the surface side, the sensor detects optical signals through the base tape layer from the reverse side, thereby eliminating halos and rim artefacts that plague surface-level detection.
2Device complexity
If the reagent pad is viewed from the surface side, then the configuration is straightforward, but temporal development of the response cannot be followed well
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the detection geometry to view through the base tape from the reverse side, the system gains clear visibility of the reagent's temporal development without interference from surface liquid or accumulating response products. This inverted perspective enables continuous monitoring of the reaction progression.
3Ease of operation
If the first side of the base tape faces the optical sensor, then the setup is conventional, but surplus liquid and opaque substances interfere with the optical path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reverses the conventional arrangement by positioning the optical sensor to view through the base tape from the side opposite to where the milk sample is applied. This inversion ensures that surplus liquid and opaque reaction products do not block the optical path, maintaining clear detection throughout the reaction process.
4Measurement precision
If the reagent pad surface is exposed to the optical sensor, then direct detection is possible, but contamination of the sensor by milk sample is more likely
Solution Approach 1:
The base tape layer serves as an intermediary through which optical signals pass from the reagent pad to the sensor without requiring direct contact. This intermediate barrier prevents milk sample contamination of the optical sensor while still enabling effective optical detection of the reagent response.
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 improves the clarity of the reaction, reduces artefacts, and allows for more accurate and timely analysis of milk quality, enhancing the reliability of the milking system's monitoring capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
an optical radiation source for emitting optical source radiation onto the reagent pad, and an optical sensor device arranged to detect optical response radiation emitted by the reagent pad in response to said emitted source radiation received by said reagent pad
Implementation Method 2
the base tape layer is transmissive to the optical radiation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A milking system comprises milking means with a milking control, a milk line, a sampling/analysis device (14). The milking control controls the milking based on said analysis. The sampling/analysis device comprises a reagent carrier, comprising a tape (23) with a first side with a reagent pad (24) that detects the presence of a substance in the milk sample and a second side, a dosing device to provide a droplet of said sample onto the reagent pad, a source (26) for emitting source radiation onto the reagent pad, and a sensor (28) to detect response radiation emitted by the reagent pad, and to analyse the detected response radiation to indicate the presence or concentration of said substance. The first side faces away from the sensor during analysing by the sensor. By viewing "from below", the observed reaction in the reagent is cleaner, and suffers less from artefacts, and the camera will stay cleaner.