Optical Grain Evaluation Shielding Air Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical grain evaluation devices face challenges with high manufacturing costs due to the direct entry of light from the light-projecting part into the light-receiving part, necessitating expensive optical fibers and complex structures.
Innovation Solution
The optical grain evaluation device separates the light source and light-projecting part from the light-receiving part using air transmission areas, eliminating the need for expensive optical fibers and complex structures, and incorporates a shutter and correction mechanism for accurate measurement and correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If optical fibers and complex structures are used to prevent direct light entry, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a shielding part as an intermediary element between the light source and light-receiving part. This shielding structure acts as a mediator that blocks direct light paths while allowing the system to use simple air transmission areas instead of expensive optical fibers, thereby maintaining measurement precision without increasing manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the expensive optical fibers and complex light-guiding structures from the system. By taking out these unnecessary components and replacing them with simple air transmission areas combined with a shielding part, the system achieves the same light isolation function at lower manufacturing cost
2Measurement precision
If shielding structures are added to prevent direct light entry, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding part serves as a simple intermediary element that provides the necessary light blocking function without introducing complex structures. It is a straightforward component that separates the light source area from the light-receiving area, maintaining measurement accuracy while minimizing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a simple, inexpensive shielding structure instead of complex, expensive light-guiding systems. The shielding part is a basic component that effectively prevents direct light entry without requiring sophisticated design or expensive materials, thereby improving measurement accuracy without significantly increasing device 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
This configuration reduces manufacturing costs while ensuring accurate grain evaluation by preventing direct light entry and allowing for effective light utilization through air transmission areas and a simple, efficient shutter mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a light source that is arranged along a discharge duct of a farm machine such as a harvester, and is configured to irradiate the flow of cereal grain flowing in the discharge duct
Implementation Method 2
a device that uses diffuse reflectance characteristics of near-infrared light to measure the moisture content, protein and the like that are contained in flowing grain
Implementation Method 3
a shielding part that separates an area between the light source and the light-projecting part from an area between the light-receiving part and the grain evaluation unit, and prevents light from the light-projecting part from directly entering the light-receiving part
Data Source
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AI summary
An optical grain evaluation device is provided with: a light-projecting part 58 through which light from a light source is projected to grain; a light-receiving part 59 on which light transmitted through the grain is incident; a grain evaluation unit 60 configured to evaluate the grain based on information relating to the received light; and a shielding part SH that separates an area between the light source 50 and the light-projecting part 59 from an area between the light-receiving part 59 and the grain evaluation unit 60, and prevents light from the light-projecting part 58 from directly entering the light-receiving part 59. The area between the light source 50 and the light-projecting part 58, and the area between the light-receiving part 59 and the grain evaluation unit 60 are configured, over the entirety of the areas, as air transmission areas in which light is transmitted through air.