Adaptable Illumination Systems for Diverse Industries
Legal Citation
Summary of the Inventive Concept
The inventive concept applies the core technology of the original eye-imaging system to various industries, enabling uniform illumination and high-quality imaging in food inspection, agricultural product analysis, industrial equipment inspection, solar panel defect detection, and plant health monitoring.
Background and Problem Solved
The original eye-imaging system was limited to ophthalmoscopic applications. However, the need for uniform illumination and high-quality imaging exists in other industries, where current solutions often struggle with inconsistent lighting, leading to inaccurate results. The new inventive concept addresses this limitation by adapting the core technology to cater to diverse industries.
Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept
The inventive concept comprises a light source, one or more optical lenses defining an imaging path, and illuminator fibers having a skewed fiber angle. This configuration enables uniform illumination of various subjects, including food products, agricultural products, industrial equipment, solar panels, and plants. The skewed fiber angle ensures that the light output pointing lines are at an optimal angle relative to each other, resulting in high-quality images. The system can be integrated into various applications, such as robotic systems, to automate inspection and analysis processes.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The new claims introduce a novel application of the original eye-imaging system's core technology to diverse industries, demonstrating an inventive step by adapting the illuminator fibers' skewed angle to accommodate varying subjects and imaging requirements.
Alternative Embodiments and Variations
Alternative embodiments may include adjusting the numerical aperture of the illuminator fibers, modifying the arrangement of the fibers, or incorporating additional optical components to enhance the system's flexibility and adaptability. Variations may also include integrating the inventive concept with machine learning algorithms to improve image analysis and automate decision-making processes.
Potential Commercial Applications and Market
The inventive concept has significant commercial potential in various industries, including food safety, agriculture, industrial inspection, renewable energy, and agriculture technology. The market demand for adaptable illumination systems is substantial, with potential applications in quality control, defect detection, and process automation.
CPC Classifications
| Section | Class | Group |
|---|---|---|
| A | A61 | A61B3/14 |
| A | A61 | A61B3/0008 |
| A | A61 | A61B3/125 |
| A | A61 | A61B3/1208 |
| A | A61 | A61B3/1241 |
| G | G02 | G02B6/0008 |
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
Field of Art
Optical imaging systems, particularly biomedical and industrial imaging technologies involving specialized fiber optic illumination configurations
Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile
An optical engineer or imaging systems specialist with expertise in fiber optics, lens design, and multi-spectral illumination techniques, possessing knowledge of optical system adaptation across different technical domains
Obviousness Rationale
A PHOSITA would recognize that the core illumination fiber technology from the eye-imaging system can be readily adapted to alternative inspection and imaging applications by maintaining the fundamental skewed fiber angle configuration. The systematic transfer of optical illumination principles across different imaging contexts represents a predictable engineering solution that does not require inventive complexity. The PTD demonstrates straightforward technological translation by preserving the critical optical design elements while expanding the application domain.
Obvious Combinations & Variations
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,261 |
|---|---|
| Title | Eye-imaging system and apparatus with coordinated illuminator fibers having a skewed fiber angle |