Modular Laser Component for Targeting Small Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural systems lack efficient methods for selectively targeting and treating weeds within crops without harming other plants, animals, or humans.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural treatment system incorporating a laser light source, redirection components, safety components, and an exit component to precisely target and treat weeds by redirecting a laser beam, maximizing its strength at the target while minimizing it elsewhere.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a laser beam is used to target weeds, then the effectiveness of weed treatment is improved, but the risk of harming surrounding plants, animals, or humans increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a highly concentrated laser beam that delivers maximum energy density precisely at the target weed location. The beam is focused so that only the specific weed receives the full intensity, while surrounding areas receive minimal or no laser energy, thus treating the target effectively without harming neighbors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a tapered beam geometry that transitions from a wider aperture at the source to a narrow focal point at the target. This dimensional transformation concentrates the laser energy in the depth dimension (along the beam path) while maintaining lateral precision, allowing the beam to pass through or around surrounding vegetation without affecting them.
2Power
If the laser beam strength is maximized at the target, then the treatment effectiveness is improved, but the safety risk at other locations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary action by using optical elements (lenses or mirrors) positioned before the laser exits the apparatus to pre-focus and shape the beam. This preliminary optical conditioning ensures that the beam converges to a tight focal point at the target distance, maximizing power delivery there while minimizing stray radiation and scattered light at intermediate and distant locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical intermediaries (such as focusing lenses or reflective optics) between the laser source and the target. These intermediaries act as mediators that control the beam's propagation, concentrating energy where needed while dispersing or blocking harmful radiation in other directions, thus decoupling high power at the target from high hazard elsewhere.
3Measurement precision
If the laser beam is directed at a specific angle, then the targeting accuracy is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the redirection component (such as a mirror or prism assembly) movable and adjustable. This allows the beam angle to be dynamically changed to track moving weeds or adjust for different field conditions, improving targeting accuracy without requiring multiple fixed optical paths. The movable component can be actuated by motors or other mechanisms controlled by a sensor system.
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 effectively kills weeds while ensuring safety for surrounding plants, animals, and humans, providing an improved method for targeted agricultural treatments.
Implementation Method 1
a laser light source configured to emit a laser beam
Implementation Method 2
a redirection component configured to receive the laser beam and redirect the laser beam
Implementation Method 3
a converging lens configured to focus the laser beam to a focal point located at or proximate the agricultural target object
Implementation Method 4
The at least one safety component can include a converging lens located between the laser light source and the redirection component
Implementation Method 5
a diverging lens configured to expand a width of the laser beam from the diverging lens to the converging lens
Implementation Method 6
The enclosure can be formed from a material configured to block light from the laser light source from passing therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural treatment system can include a laser light source, a redirection component, an exit component, and safety component(s). The laser light source can emit a laser beam within the system in a first direction. The redirection component can be a mirror that can receive the laser beam and redirect it in a second direction toward an agricultural target object outside the system. The exit component can transition the laser beam from within to outside the system and toward the agricultural target object. Safety component(s) can facilitate maximizing the strength of the laser beam at or proximate the agricultural target object while also reducing the strength of the laser beam at locations away from the agricultural target object. Safety component(s) can include a converging lens and a diverging lens, which can be adjusted to locate a focal point of the laser beam at or proximate the agricultural target object.