Multi-Wavelength LED Photodiode Array for Object State Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional optical sensors using monochromatic light struggle to detect colors and provide limited information about objects, while cameras relying on red, green, and blue light also face limitations in acquiring comprehensive object data.

Innovation Solution

An electronic apparatus employing a light-emitting diode array that transmits a plurality of light beams with different wavelengths, coupled with a photodiode array to receive and process these beams, allowing for the identification of object states, cooking information, and detection of rotten food through analysis of reflection intensities and wavelengths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If monochromatic light is used in optical sensors, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and information acquisition capability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical sensor structureVSAvoidobject state identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The optical sensor is segmented into multiple photodetectors, each responsible for detecting specific wavelength bands. The light source is also segmented into multiple LEDs emitting different wavelengths. This segmentation allows simultaneous multi-wavelength detection without requiring a single complex sensor, thus improving measurement precision while maintaining manageable device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from single-wavelength detection to multi-wavelength detection by adding the wavelength dimension. Multiple photodetectors are arranged to detect different wavelength bands simultaneously, converting a one-dimensional detection problem into a multi-dimensional one, thereby significantly improving object state identification accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of information

If a camera using red, green, and blue light is used, then color detection capability is improved, but the quantity of information acquired about the object remains limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobject information completenessVSAvoiddetection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the wavelength parameters by using more than three wavelengths (including infrared and other bands beyond RGB). This parameter expansion allows detection of object properties that cannot be captured by visible light alone, such as internal temperature, moisture content, and chemical composition, thereby reducing information loss and improving detection versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If multiple wavelengths are used to improve object identification, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobject state detection accuracyVSAvoidlight emitter and receiver structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple LEDs emitting different wavelengths are merged into a single light emitter assembly, and multiple photodetectors detecting different wavelength bands are merged into an integrated receiver module. This merging approach maintains measurement precision through multi-wavelength detection while reducing overall device complexity compared to using separate systems for each wavelength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 identification of object states and determination of food freshness or cooking completion by analyzing the reflection intensities of multiple wavelengths, providing more comprehensive information than traditional methods.

Implementation Method 1

a light-emitting diode array that transmits a plurality of light beams with different wavelengths

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

a photodiode array that receives light beams

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric Effect: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 3

analysis of reflection intensities and wavelengths

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3677884B1Electronic apparatus and controlling method thereof
Publication Date: 2023.04.19 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3677884B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3677884B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3677884B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed herein is an electronic apparatus and method capable of identifying a state of an object. The electronic apparatus includes a light-emitting diode array configured to transmit light beams having different wavelengths, a photodiode array configured to receive the light beams, a display, and a processor configured to control the light-emitting diode array to transmit the light beams having the different wavelengths toward an object, identify a state of the object based on intensities reflected on the object according to the light beams having the different wavelengths that are received by the photodiode array, and display information about the state of the object on the display.