Wireless Caliper Growth Measurement for Protected Fruit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for assessing fruit harvest readiness, such as banana bunches, are inefficient, leading to waste and workforce inefficiencies due to manual, labor-intensive diameter measurements through calipers, which require opening protective bags and are not frequent enough to optimize harvesting.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication system with a growth measuring device comprising a length measuring tool and wireless transmitters that measure and store growth parameters, allowing remote assessment without opening protective bags, using a caliper with a pointer to activate only one wireless tag at a time for interference-free communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual diameter measurement with calipers is used to assess fruit harvest readiness, then measurement accuracy can be achieved, but significant workforce is required and assessment frequency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical caliper measurement with an automated electronic measurement system. The caliper incorporates electronic sensors and a processor that automatically measure diameter and determine harvest readiness, eliminating the need for manual reading and interpretation while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement system is designed to be self-sufficient by integrating the measurement mechanism, electronic sensing, and decision-making logic into a single autonomous unit. The caliper automatically records measurements, compares them against predefined criteria, and determines harvest readiness without requiring continuous human intervention.
2Measurement precision
If protective bags are opened to access fruits for measurement, then accurate measurement can be obtained, but fruit protection is compromised and bags cannot be efficiently reclosed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the protective bag itself as the measurement interface by integrating the caliper mechanism through the bag material. The bag acts as an intermediary that allows measurement signals to pass through while maintaining its protective function, eliminating the need to open the bag for measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective bag serves dual functions: it continues to protect the fruit from environmental factors while simultaneously serving as the measurement interface. The integrated caliper system allows the bag to function both as protection and as part of the measurement apparatus.
3Manufacturing precision
If frequent growth assessments are conducted to optimize harvest timing, then harvest quality improves, but labor requirements and time investment increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous monitoring of fruit growth by leaving the electronic caliper attached to the fruit throughout its development. The system continuously tracks diameter changes and automatically determines when harvest criteria are met, eliminating the need for discrete, periodic manual assessments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces repeated manual assessment trips with an automated electronic monitoring system that continuously or periodically measures growth without requiring human presence, significantly reducing time and labor investment while enabling frequent assessments.
4Quantity of substance
If multiple wireless tags are used to monitor different fruits, then comprehensive growth data is collected, but communication interference occurs between tags
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the monitoring system into individually addressable wireless tags, each assigned to a specific fruit or location. Each tag operates independently with unique identification, allowing multiple tags to coexist without interference through spatial and addressing segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates acknowledgment and collision detection protocols where tags receive feedback from the reading device about successful communication. If interference is detected, the system can retry transmission or adjust timing, ensuring reliable data collection from multiple tags.
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
Accurately determines when and where to harvest fruits, reducing waste, improving harvest quality, optimizing workforce, and protecting fruits from environmental factors by allowing frequent assessments without manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
a set of wireless transmitters configured to transfer to an external reader a representative parameter representing the length parameter measured by the length measuring tool
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(d)
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a growth measuring device (2) configured to measure growth of a living being (1). The growth measuring sensor (2) comprises a length measuring tool configured to measure a length of the living being (1). The growth measuring sensor (2) comprises a wireless communication tag (70) configured to transmit to a reader (9) a representative length value which is representative of the measured length measure by the length measuring tool (4). The length measuring tool includes a caliper (6).