Environmental Monitoring and Agricultural Imaging System

Publication ID: 24-11857375_0007_PTD

Published: October 28, 2025

Category:New Applications & Use Cases

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Environmental Monitoring and Agricultural Imaging System,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857375_0007_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857375_0007_PTD

This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,375.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

A novel system that repurposes medical imaging technology for environmental monitoring and agricultural applications, enabling accurate and efficient detection of pollution, wildfires, and crop diseases.

Background and Problem Solved

The original medical imaging system patent has limitations in its application scope. The new inventive concept addresses the need for a system that can effectively monitor environmental pollution and agricultural crops, leveraging the core technology of the original patent to provide a solution.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The environmental monitoring and agricultural imaging system comprises a processor configured to acquire and analyze images of polluted areas or crops using a multi-modal imaging apparatus. The system can be mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or an agricultural vehicle to capture images from various angles. The processor analyzes the images to detect signs of pollution, wildfires, or crop diseases, providing valuable insights for environmental conservation and agricultural management.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims introduce a novel application of medical imaging technology to environmental monitoring and agricultural imaging, which is non-obvious and distinct from the original patent's medical imaging focus.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the system could include the use of different types of imaging apparatuses, such as hyperspectral or thermal imaging, or the integration of additional sensors for more comprehensive monitoring. Variations of the system could also be designed for specific industries, such as forestry or wildlife conservation.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The environmental monitoring and agricultural imaging system has significant commercial potential in industries such as environmental conservation, agriculture, forestry, and wildlife conservation. The system's ability to provide accurate and efficient monitoring capabilities could lead to cost savings, improved decision-making, and enhanced sustainability.

CPC Classifications

Section	Class	Group
A	A61	A61B8/5261
A	A61	A61B8/0825
A	A61	A61B8/403
A	A61	A61B8/4416
A	A61	A61B8/469
A	A61	A61B8/54

Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)

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Field of Art

Medical imaging and sensor technologies, with expertise in multi-modal image acquisition, processing, and analysis across diagnostic and monitoring applications

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A skilled professional with advanced training in medical imaging, sensor engineering, and signal processing, capable of adapting imaging technologies across different technical domains

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the core principles of medical imaging - precise image acquisition, multi-modal sensing, and computational analysis - can be readily translated from medical diagnostics to environmental and agricultural monitoring applications. The fundamental technological framework of capturing, processing, and analyzing images remains consistent across different domains, making the PTD's variations predictable extensions of existing medical imaging techniques.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element

Medical imaging system with processor configured to acquire images of a fixed object using multiple imaging modalities

PTD Variation

Adapting medical imaging processor to capture environmental or agricultural images using UAV or vehicle-mounted systems

Obviousness Reasoning

Transferring image acquisition techniques between domains represents a known design adaptation with predictable results, where the core computational and sensing principles remain unchanged

Source Patent Element

Compression and positioning techniques for precise medical image capture

PTD Variation

Using similar positioning and stabilization methods for environmental monitoring from moving platforms like UAVs

Obviousness Reasoning

Image stabilization and precise positioning are common engineering challenges across imaging domains, making cross-domain adaptation an obvious technical solution

Source Patent Element

Multi-modal image processing for detecting anatomical variations

PTD Variation

Applying similar multi-modal processing techniques to detect environmental changes like pollution or crop diseases

Obviousness Reasoning

Signal processing and pattern recognition algorithms are fundamentally transferable between diagnostic and monitoring applications, representing a predictable technological extension

Source Patent Element

Processor configured to analyze positional information and capture region-of-interest images

PTD Variation

Using similar region-of-interest detection for identifying specific environmental or agricultural anomalies

Obviousness Reasoning

Computational methods for identifying and isolating regions of interest are standard techniques that can be readily adapted across different imaging contexts

Source Patent Element

Medical imaging system using different imaging modalities (radiation, ultrasonic)

PTD Variation

Incorporating multiple sensor types like thermal, hyperspectral, and standard imaging for comprehensive environmental monitoring

Obviousness Reasoning

Integrating diverse sensor technologies represents a standard engineering approach for enhancing monitoring capabilities, with predictable technical outcomes

35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11857375 and the principles of medical imaging technology, the claimed variations in environmental and agricultural monitoring systems would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention. The fundamental technological framework of multi-modal image acquisition, processing, and analysis can be readily translated across diagnostic and monitoring domains, rendering the proposed technical variations predictable extensions of existing medical imaging techniques.

Original Patent Information

Patent Number	US 11,857,375
Title	Medical imaging system
Assignee(s)	FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.