Plant Product Fluorescence Detection Without Dark Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting plant product properties, such as fruit quality and maturity, are often inaccurate or too expensive, and require dark adaptation, which is not suitable for outdoor or rapid assessments.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus using UV and polarized VIS/NIR light to distinguish between fluorescence and diffuse reflection, employing a spectrometer polarizer to block specular reflection and transmit depolarized light for analysis, allowing for rapid and accurate detection of plant product properties without dark adaptation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If PAM fluorometers use time-resolved measurement to evaluate plant physiology parameters, then measurement precision is improved, but the sample must be dark-adapted for 15 minutes which causes loss of time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameters by using steady-state fluorescence measurement instead of time-resolved measurement, and by using specific wavelength filtering (488nm excitation, 520nm emission) to achieve accurate plant product property detection without requiring dark adaptation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a simple, inexpensive apparatus configuration using basic optical components (light source, filters, spectrometer) rather than complex PAM fluorometer systems, enabling rapid one-time measurement without the need for dark adaptation infrastructure
2Ease of operation
If visible colour sorting is used to measure plant product quality, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates because visible colour is a poor indicator of quality and ripeness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/visual colour sorting system with an optical spectroscopy system that measures fluorescence emission spectra, providing objective, precise quantitative data about plant product properties while maintaining operational simplicity
3Measurement precision
If existing colourimeters and spectrophotometers are used to detect plant product properties, then measurement precision may be improved, but device complexity and cost increase making them unsuitable for outdoor use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential functional components needed for fluorescence measurement (light source, excitation filter, emission filter, spectrometer) from complex existing systems, creating a simplified apparatus that maintains measurement precision while enabling portable outdoor use
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal apparatus that can detect multiple plant product properties (maturity, quality, stress disorders) through a single fluorescence measurement system, eliminating the need for multiple specialized devices
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 rapid and accurate detection of plant product properties by distinguishing fluorescence and diffuse reflection, providing background-free spectra for improved quality and maturity assessment.
Implementation Method 1
Ultraviolet (UV) illumination of a region of a skin or a surface of a plant product, including a piece of fruit or a vegetable (including a leaf or flower), can produce emission of electromagnetic radiation in the visible (VIS) to near-infrared (NIR) range due to electronic excitation and relaxation in one or more pigment molecules present in the skin or surface of the plant product
Implementation Method 2
blocking the polarized VIS/NIR light of the source light and polarized specular reflection from the region from being transmitted to a visible and/or near-infrared (VIS/NIR) spectrometer; transmitting a portion of emitted light caused by fluorescence and/or diffuse reflection from the region of the plant product to the visible and/or near-infrared (VIS/NIR) spectrometer
Data Source
AI summary
A method for detecting at least one property of a plant product, the method including: directing source light including ultraviolet (UV) light at UV wavelengths and polarized visible and/or near-infrared (VIS/NIR) light at VIS/NIR wavelengths onto a region of the plant product; blocking the polarized VIS/NIR light of the source light, and blocking polarized specular reflection from the region of the plant product, from being transmitted to a visible and/or near-infrared (VIS/NIR) spectrometer; and transmitting a portion of emitted light caused by fluorescence and/or diffuse reflection from the region of the plant product to the visible and/or near-infrared (VIS/NIR) spectrometer.