Optical Spectrum Food State Measuring Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumers lack convenient and accurate methods to determine the freshness and safety of foods, particularly in traditional markets where products are not packaged with valid dates, limiting their ability to purchase clean and fresh foods.

Innovation Solution

A food state measuring device that uses an optical spectrum acquiring unit to image foods, compare the acquired spectra with stored natural spectra in a database, and inform users about the food's state, including freshness, through a control unit and output unit, potentially combined with a smart device and olfactory sensors for enhanced accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If consumers use traditional methods (salesperson explanations or naked eye inspection) to determine food freshness, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision and reliability of food state determination are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood state measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual inspection methods (naked eye observation and salesperson explanations) with an automated optical measurement system. The optical spectrum acquiring unit captures spectral data, which is then processed by a control unit to determine food freshness and safety, substituting human judgment with objective optical analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an optical spectrum as an intermediary between the food and the measurement result. Instead of directly assessing food quality through visual inspection, the system uses optical spectrum acquisition to obtain intermediate spectral data, which is then analyzed to determine food state, providing a more accurate and objective measurement pathway.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If consumers want to accurately determine food freshness and safety, then the measurement precision improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the need for specialized measurement devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood safety determination reliabilityVSAvoiddevice usability by consumers

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables consumers to independently determine food freshness and safety without relying on salesperson explanations or complex professional equipment. The portable measurement device allows end-users to perform self-inspection of food quality, making the system accessible and easy to operate for general consumers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the complex task of food quality assessment into a simple operational process. By changing the measurement parameters from subjective visual inspection to objective optical spectrum analysis, the system maintains high reliability while simplifying the user interaction to basic operations like placing food on the measurement platform.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If no measurement device is used and only visual inspection is performed, then the device complexity remains minimal, but the loss of information about food internal state increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood internal state informationVSAvoidmeasurement system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces superficial visual inspection with deep optical spectrum analysis. Instead of relying on external appearance alone, the optical spectrum acquiring unit penetrates to capture internal food state information through spectral characteristics, substituting surface-level observation with comprehensive internal state detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a measurement system that can determine multiple food attributes simultaneously (freshness, safety, composition) through a single optical spectrum acquisition process. This multi-functional capability reduces information loss across various food quality parameters while maintaining reasonable device complexity through integrated measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 users to accurately measure food freshness and safety without direct contact, providing reliable information on food type, components, and freshness levels, enhancing consumer choices and food quality assurance.

Implementation Method 1

an optical spectrum acquiring unit configured to image a food to acquire an optical spectrum of the food

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical spectrum imaging: Absorption Spectroscopy

Data Source

PatentUS10788418B2Food state measuring device, food state measuring module, and smart device including the same

Publication Date: 2020.09.29 PI DO YEON

AI summary

Disclosed are a food state measuring device, a food state measuring module, and a smart device including the same. The food state measuring device includes an optical spectrum acquiring unit configured to image a food to acquire an optical spectrum of the food, a database configured to store natural optical spectrum information for at least one food or a component of a food, and a control unit configured to measure a state of the food by comparing the natural optical spectrum stored in the database and the optical spectrum acquired by the optical spectrum acquiring unit.