Automated Plant Container Suitability Determination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ordinary users face difficulties in determining whether a container for a plant is suitable for the plant's growth and maintenance, as existing containers vary in size, shape, and material, potentially restricting plant growth and causing adverse effects.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that use image acquisition and processing to identify the shape and actual size of a container, and match this information against a database of suitable container sizes for different plant species, determining suitability for plant maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If containers with various sizes, shapes, and materials are provided for plant maintenance, then the adaptability for different plant species is improved, but it becomes difficult for ordinary users to determine suitability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer adaptabilityVSAvoiduser ability to determine suitability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of visually assessing container suitability with an automated image recognition and calculation system. The system captures images of containers and plants, automatically calculates container dimensions, identifies plant species, and determines suitability through database comparison, eliminating the need for users to manually evaluate multiple container parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary computational system that acts as a mediator between the user and the container-plant matching process. This intermediary automatically processes container images, calculates dimensions, identifies plant species, and provides suitability determination, serving as a bridge that simplifies the interaction for ordinary users while maintaining high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If container size and shape variations increase, then the suitability for different plant growth requirements is improved, but the complexity of selection increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer suitability for plant growthVSAvoidselection process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex manual selection process with an automated computational system that handles image capture, dimension calculation, plant species identification, and suitability determination. This substitution transforms a complex multi-parameter selection task into a simple image-input process for the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing a database of suitable container sizes for different plant species and pre-programming the image recognition and calculation algorithms. This preliminary preparation enables the system to quickly determine suitability without requiring users to understand complex selection criteria during the actual selection process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If manual measurement and assessment methods are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and reliability of suitability determination deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidcontainer size measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual measurement methods with an automated image-based measurement system that uses camera capture and computational algorithms to calculate container dimensions. This substitution significantly improves measurement precision and reliability while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through software-based solutions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a digital copy of the container through image capture and processing, allowing for precise measurement and analysis without physically measuring the container. This digital copying approach enables accurate dimension determination while simplifying the measurement process compared to traditional manual methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS20250111491A1Method and apparatus for determining whether container of plant is suitable for plant maintenance

Publication Date: 2025.04.03 HANGZHOU RUISHENG SOFTWARE CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for determining whether a container of a plant is suitable for plant maintenance. Disclosed is the method for determining whether the container of the plant is suitable for plant maintenance, including: identifying a shape of the container and calculating actual size information of the container based on an image including the container acquired by a camera and associated camera information; identifying a species of the plant based on an image including the plant; and determining whether the actual size information of the container is within a container size range suitable for the identified species based on the identified species, the identified shape of the container, and the calculated actual size information of the container, so as to determine whether the container is suitable for plant maintenance.