US 11,982,616 B2
Spectrally resolved imaging for agricultural product assessment
Kwok-Keung Wong, Bolton, MA (US)
Assigned to Headwall Photonics Inc., Bolton, MA (US)
Filed by Headwall Photonics Inc., Bolton, MA (US)
Filed on Mar. 4, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/653,514.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/158,666, filed on Mar. 9, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/158,653, filed on Mar. 9, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0291120 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. G01J 3/28 (2006.01); G01N 21/31 (2006.01); G01N 33/02 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 21/314 (2013.01) [G01J 3/2823 (2013.01); G01N 33/025 (2013.01); G01J 2003/2833 (2013.01); G01J 2003/2836 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for sorting an agricultural product, comprising:
providing a relative movement between a light detector and a plurality of agricultural products disposed in a container in a vehicle;
receiving a received light at a light detector, the received light comprising reflected, scattered, refracted, and/or deflected light from the agricultural product;
transmitting the received light to a spectrometer;
producing AP spectral data of the received light using the spectrometer;
in a computer in electrical communication with the spectrometer, comparing the AP spectral data to reference spectral data to determine whether the agricultural products have a quality condition, the reference spectral data corresponding to known quality conditions of the agricultural product;
when the exposed agricultural product has the quality condition:
sending an output signal to an automated product sorter; and
activating a gate to provide or restrict access to a direction of travel for the vehicle.