Optical analyzer for agricultural products

Optics: measuring and testing – Refraction testing – Prism engaging specimen

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350266, 350315, 350318, 356210, G01J 348

Patent

active

040379701

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 automatically inserted in three linear equations which are solved to obtain readings representing the true percentages of oil, water and protein contained in the specimen. Each time a new specimen is loaded for testing, the instrument is automatically calibrated against a standard sample, preferably Teflon (Trademark). The output of the photocells is amplified in a special circuit which subtracts the level of dark period current from the output when the photocells are illuminated.

REFERENCES:
patent: 2406318 (1946-08-01), Brace
patent: 2427790 (1947-09-01), Korman
patent: 2670400 (1954-02-01), Grunwald
patent: 2852693 (1958-09-01), Hughes et al.
patent: 2960909 (1960-11-01), Shipley
patent: 2984146 (1961-05-01), Kwart et al.
patent: 3205355 (1965-09-01), Ehlert
patent: 3457002 (1969-07-01), Magrath
patent: 3492478 (1970-01-01), Smith
patent: 3776642 (1973-12-01), Anson et al.
patent: 3828173 (1974-08-01), Knepler
Hunter, Journal of the Optical Society of America, vol. 51, No. 5, pp. 552-554, May 1961.
Dickey-John brochure distributed at news conference on Aug. 5, 1971 in Illinois.
Neotec brochure distributed at news conference on Aug. 5, 1971 in Illinois.

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