Optical analyzer for agricultural products
US4040747A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 15, 1974 |
| Grant date | Aug 9, 1977 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 15, 1994 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S250/91
- 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 pedetermined 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 autom…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.