Optical analyzer for agricultural products
US4037970A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 30, 1976 |
| Grant date | Jul 26, 1977 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 30, 1996 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2201/1283
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An automatic test instrument for gaging the percentage of various constituents in organic substances by comparing the reflective optical density of the subject at various wavelengths. Narrow band optical filters are connected together in the form of a rotatable paddle wheel positioned so that the filters can be individually swept through the incident light path between the specimen and wideband light source. As the filter wheel turns, the band of light passed by each filter is progressively shifted with the changing angle of the filter relative to the light path. The filter wheel configuration includes opaque vanes extending from the ends of the filters to periodically interrupt the passage of light to the specimen. Photocells are positioned to sense the level of light reflected from the specimen. The output of the photocells is sampled at predetermined times relative to the rotation of the filter wheel to yield values indicative of reflected intensity at certain wavelengths. Using these values, an electronic circuit in one embodiment calculates three optical density difference values corresponding to moisture, protein and oil content of the specimen. The difference values are auto…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.