Multispectral Camera Removable Color Filters
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multispectral cameras lack flexibility in supporting high-quality proprietary indices and struggle to distinguish between different vegetation types, such as unhealthy and healthy trees, due to their fixed color bands and limited ability to interpret data in real-time, which can lead to inaccurate results and delays in decision-making.
Innovation Solution
A multispectral camera with removable and replaceable color elements, a security processor that stores private keys and firmware, and a positioning system to calculate index values and issue alerts, ensuring secure and accurate use of proprietary indices by verifying filter configurations and license terms, and determining height above ground level for precise image analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a multispectral camera uses a fixed set of color bands, then the hardware cost is reduced, but the ability to support proprietary indices and distinguish different vegetation types is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements removable and replaceable color filter elements that allow the camera system to dynamically change its spectral characteristics. This enables the same hardware platform to support multiple proprietary indices by swapping filters, resolving the contradiction between fixed hardware cost and adaptive capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system is designed with universal color element modules that can be configured for different spectral requirements. The security processor and filter verification system provide universal support for proprietary indices across different filter configurations, allowing one hardware platform to serve multiple specialized functions.
2Reliability
If data interpretation is performed after drone returns to base, then processing security is improved, but response time is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data processing function between onboard and ground-based systems. The security processor performs secure local processing of proprietary indices in real-time during flight, while ground-based systems handle less sensitive post-processing and archiving. This segmentation enables immediate response for critical detections while maintaining overall data security.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary data interpretation and index calculation onboard during the flight itself, rather than waiting for ground-based processing. The security processor calculates proprietary indices in real-time and can trigger immediate alerts, while still allowing subsequent verification and detailed analysis at the base.
3Device complexity
If the camera lacks filter verification capability, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement accuracy of proprietary indices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The color filter elements are equipped with machine-readable identification codes that enable self-verification of filter specifications. The security processor automatically reads and verifies filter IDs against required specifications for proprietary indices, eliminating the need for complex manual verification systems while ensuring measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces filter identification codes as an intermediary mechanism between the physical filter and the processing system. These codes serve as a simple verification interface that provides accurate filter specification information to the security processor without requiring complex sensing or measurement systems.
4Productivity
If real-time index calculation is implemented, then productivity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The security processor performs real-time calculation of only the specific proprietary indices that are currently configured and needed, rather than computing all possible indices continuously. This partial action approach provides real-time productivity for critical parameters while minimizing unnecessary computational energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A camera has two or more color elements that are removable and replaceable. The color elements may include a lens, a color filter with a filter data interface, and an image sensor. A security processor includes a private key, firmware, and has storage room for one or more vegetation indices. The security processor securely decrypts, stores, and uses the indices. Firmware checks license terms and installed filters required in a selected index, and analyzes images based on a formula in the index, thresholds for the index value, and thresholds for an object's height above ground level. A positioning receiver (e.g. GPS) determines time and position, which the firmware uses for the license check and for the height AGL calculation. Differences in camera position allow determining a parallax calculation on correlated groups of pixels. The camera provides on-the-fly analysis, and tags and stores images for which alert conditions are met.