Photo-optical method for determining fat content in meat

Claim 5

A photo-optical system for determining the fat content in a meat sample, the system comprising: at least one light source positioned adjacent the sample for illuminating the sample and causing reflections therefrom; lens means positioned adjacent the meat sample for collimating the reflections along a first light path; mirror means interposed at a point along the first light path to divert the reflections along a second light path; interference filter means interposed at a point along the second light path as that the diverted reflections are incident to the filter means; drive means connected to the mirror which continually moves the mirror between two preselected limit positions for changing the angle of incidence of diverted reflections impinging upon the filter means thus changing the wavelength of light passing through the filter over a frequency band, corresponding to the absorption band of meat fat; detector means positioned behind the filter means for detecting the energy associated with the reflections from the meat fat; circuit means connected to the output of the detector means for measuring the change in the energy divided by the average energy, as the light wavelength changes; and means connected to the circuit means for transposing the measurement to a value indicative of the fat content of the sample.

Claim 6

A photo-optical system for determining the fat content in a meat sample, the system comprising: at least one light source positioned adjacent the sample for illuminating the sample and causing reflections therefrom; lens means positioned adjacent the meat sample for collimating the reflections along a first light path; mirror means interposed at a point along the first light path to divert the reflections along a second light path; interference filter means interposed at a point along the second light path as that the diverted reflections are incident to the filter means; drive means connected to the mirror which continually moves the mirror between two preselected limit positions for changing the angle of incidence of diverted reflections impinging upon the filter means thus changing the wavelength of light passing through the filter over a frequency band, corresponding to the absorption band of meat fat; detector means positioned behind the filter means for detecting the energy associated with the reflections from the meat fat; circuit means connected to the output of the detector means for measuring the change in the energy divided by the average energy, as the light wavelength changes; and means connected to the circuit means for transposing the measurement to a value indicative of the fat content of the sample.

Claim 7

The subject matter of claim 3 wherein the light source comprises a plurality of symmetrically positioned lamps for evenly distributing incandescent light to the surface of the sample

Claim 8

The structure defined in claim 3 wherein the drive means comprises: a pivot arm connected between a pivot point and the mirror; and oscillating drive means for alternately swinging the pivot arm between the two limit positions.

Claim 9

The strucTure of claim 3 wherein the circuit means comprises: divider means having a first input connected in circuit with the detector means and means for integrating the output from the detector means to produce a signal indicative of the average energy, a second input to the divider means connected to a circuit path comprising: means for rectifying an AC component of the signal derived from the detector means output; converting means connected to the rectifying means for integrating the rectified component to produce a corresponding DC signal; and means connecting the converting means to the second input of the divider means for measuring the change in the energy divided by the average energy, as the light wavelength changes.

Claim 10

The subject matter set forth in claim 3 wherein the calibrating means comprises: adjustable circuit means for producing a signal indicative of a predetermined measurement when a standard sample of known fat content is employed.

Claim 11

The circuitry defined in claim 3 together with a meter connected to the output of the calibrating means for providing a visual readout of the fat content.

Claim 12

The subject matter set forth in claim 3 wherein the circuit means comprises: divider means having a first input connected in circuit with the detector means and means for integrating the output from the detector means to produce a signal indicative of the average energy, a second input to the divider connected to a circuit path comprising: means for coupling an AC component of the detector output; gain control means connected to the output of the coupling means for varying the gain of the AC component in response to the mirror means as the latter travels between the respective limit positions, the gain control means producing a half wave rectified AC signal out of phase with a regular AC signal having one half the peak voltage of the half wave rectified AC signal; means connected to the output of the gain control means for adding the signals to form a full wave rectified signal having peaks of equal amplitude; and means connected to the output of the adding means for integrating the full wave rectified signal and producing a DC level corresponding to the amplitude of the AC component.

Claim 13

The subject matter as set forth in claim 3 wherein the circuit means comprises: a first function module having a first input for carrying the change in the energy ( Delta R), a second input of the module connected to a reference ''''A'''' for producing an output signal corresponding to Delta RA; a second function module having a first input connected to the output signal from the first function module, a second input of the second module carrying the average energy (R), a third input to the second module connected to a reference B'' for producing an output signal Delta RA.RB which is proportional to Delta RA/RB.

Claim 18

A photo-optical system for determining the fat content in a meat sample, the system comprising: at least one light source positioned adjacent one side of the sample for illuminating the sample and causing light transmittance therethrough; lens means positioned adjacent a second side of the meat sample for collimating the transmittance along a first light path; mirror means interposed at a point along the first light path to divert the transmittance along a second light path; interference filter means interposed at a point along the second light path so that the diverted transmittance is incident to the filter means; drive means connected to the mirror which continually moves the mirror between two preselected limit positions for changing the angle of incidence of diverted transmittance impinging upon the filter means thus changing the wavelength of light passing through the filter over a frequency band, corresponding to the absorption band of meat fat; detector means positioned behind the filter means for detecting the energy associated with the transmittance from the meat fat; circuit means connected to the output of the detector means for measuring the change in the energy divided by the average energy, as the light wavelength changes; and means connected to the circuit means for transposing the measurement to a value indicative of the fat content of the sample.

Claim 19

A photo-optical system for determining the fat content in a meat sample, the system comprising: at least one light source positioned adjacent one side of the sample for illuminating the sample and causing light transmittance therethrough; lens means positioned adjacent a second side of the meat sample for collimating the transmittance along a first light path; mirror means interposed at a point along the first light path to divert the transmittance along a second light path; interference filter means interposed at a point along the second light path so that the diverted transmittance is incident to the filter means; drive means connected to the mirror which continually moves the mirror between two preselected limit positions for changing the angle of incidence of diverted transmittance impinging upon the filter means thus changing the wavelength of light passing through the filter over a frequency band, corresponding to the absorption band of meat fat; detector means positioned behind the filter means for detecting the energy associated with the transmittance from the meat fat; circuit means connected to the output of the detector means for measuring the change in the energy divided by the average energy, as the light wavelength changes; and means connected to the circuit means for transposing the measurement to a value indicative of the fat content of the sample.

Claim 20

The subject matter of claim 13 wherein the light source comprises a plurality of symmetrically positioned lamps for evenly distributing incandescent light to the surface of the sample.

Claim 21

The structure defined in claim 13 wherein the drive means comprises: a pivot arm connected between a pivot point and the mirror; and oscillating drive means for alternately swinging the pivot arm between the two limit positions.

Claim 22

The structure claim 13 wherein the circuit means comprises: divider means having a first input connected in circuit with the detector means and means for integrating the output from the detector means to produce a signal indicative of the average energy, a second input to the divider means connected to a circuit path comprising; means for rectifying an AC component of the signal derived from the detector means output; converting means connected to the rectifying means for integrating the rectified component to produce a corresponding DC signal; and means connecting the converting means to the second input of the divider means for measuring the change in the energy divided by the average energy, as the light wavelength changes.

Claim 23

The subject matter set forth in clain 13 wherein the calibrating means comprises: adjustable circuit means for producing a signal indicative of a predetermined measurement when a standard sample of known fat content is employed.

Claim 24

The subject matter set forth in clain 13 wherein the calibrating means comprises: adjustable circuit means for producing a signal indicative of a predetermined measurement when a standard sample of known fat content is employed.

Claim 25

The circuitry defined in claim 13 together with a meter connected to the output of the calibrating means for providing a visual readout of the fat content.

Claim 26

The subject matter set forth in claim 13 wherein the circuit means comprises: divider means having a first input connected in circuit with the detector means and means for integrating the output from the detector means to produce a signal indicative of the average energy, a second input to the divider connected to a circuit path comprising: means for coupling an AC component of the detector output; gain control means connected to the output of the coupling means for varying the gain of the AC component in response to the mirror means as the later travels between the respective limit positions, the gain control means producing a half wave rectified AC signal out of phase with a regular AC signal having one half the peak voltage of the half wave rectified AC signal; means connected to the output of the gain control means for adding the signals to form a full wave rectified signal having peaks of equal amplitude; and means connected to the output of the adding means for integrating the full wave rectified signal and producing a DC component.

Claim 27

The subject matter as set forth in claim 13 wherein the circuit means comprises: a first function module having a first input for carrying the change in the energy ( Alpha T), a second input of the module connected to a reference ''''A'''' for producing an output signal corresponding to ( Delta TA); a second function module having a first input connected to the output signal from the first function module, a second input of the second module carrying the average energy (T), a third input to the second module connected to a reference B'' for producing an output signal Delta T - TB which is proportional to Delta TA/TB.