WO2015072944A1

WO2015072944A1 - Non-invasive milk deterioration system and method based on laser speckle contrast imaging

Info

Publication number: WO2015072944A1
Application number: PCT/TR2014/000422
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hazal ER; Kaan AKSIT; Hakan Urey
Original assignee: Koc Universitesi
Priority date: 2013-11-15
Filing date: 2014-11-13
Publication date: 2015-05-21

Abstract

The present invention relates to a milk deterioration detection system (1) and method (100) which detects deterioration or spoiling of milk non-invasively (without contact) via laser speckle contrast imaging. A milk sample (S) is held in a transparent container and deterioration of milk causes the roughness of a transparent surface of said container to change, said changes being monitored by laser speckle contrast imaging.

Description

DESCRIPTION

NON-INVASIVE MILK DETERIORATION SYSTEM AND METHOD BASED ON

LASER SPECKLE CONTRAST IMAGING

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a milk deterioration detection system and method which detect deterioration of milk non-invasively (without contact) via speckle photography using laser.

Background of the Invention

Currently there are systems which can detect whether the milk has deteriorated or not. Most of these applications take a sample from the milk that will be controlled and analyze it. In the next step, whether the milk is spoiled or not is tested by chemical methods. The said methods require direct contact with the surface of the milk or the milk content. United States patent application no. US2012321759 (Al), one of the current related methods, discloses a system and measurement method which enables to measure freshness of the food materials. The said system is based on comparison of the opto-magnetic fingerprints of the food. Additionally, it also provides information about the content of the food.

United States patent application no. US2004130714 (Al), another current method, discloses a method for determining status of agricultural products. The method employs a laser and Capacitive (CCD) camera. It can also measure freshness of the products. United States patent application no. US2004130714 (Al), another current method, discloses a system which enables to identify cancer and autoimmune diseases by determining DNA sequencing. This system employs camera and laser beams. A plurality of wavelengths is used in the systems disclosed in the documents in the state of the art. Furthermore, direct contact with milk is required in all of the disclosed systems. The invention of the present application is an optical and image processing based system operating with a single wavelength. In addition to the above mentioned inventions, the plate colony counting and E.coli lactose fermentation methods used in the state of the art contact the milk sample and detect deterioration but this causes failure to be able to use the milk sample again. Summary of the Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a milk deterioration detection system and method which detect deterioration of milk non-invasively via speckle photography using laser. >

Another object of the present invention is to provide a milk deterioration detection system and method which enable to reuse the milk sample by performing detection non-invasively (without contact). Detailed Description of the Invention

A milk deterioration detection system and method developed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which;

Figure 1 is a milk deterioration detection system. Figure 2 is a milk deterioration detection method.

The components in the figures are given reference numbers as follows: 1. Milk deterioration detection system

2. Laser light source

3. Camera

4. Optical lens

5. Optical diffuser

6. Control unit

S. Milk sample

A milk deterioration detection system (1) which detects possibility of milk deterioration non-invasively via laser speckle photography basically comprises - at least one laser light source (2) which provides light to the milk sample (S), at least one camera (3) which enables to capture an image of the milk sample

(S),

at least one control unit (6) which is adapted to receive image information from the camera (3) and to decide on deterioration state of the milk sample (S) by evaluating the pixels in this image.

In the milk deterioration detection system (1), the laser light source (2) illuminates the milk sample (S). The laser light source (2) can be projected on the milk sample (S) from different angles. The laser light source (2) projects a light of a single wavelength (preferably with a bandwidth of approximately 5-10 nm).

In the milk deterioration detection system (1 ), the camera (3) captures an image of the milk sample (S). The camera (3) is preferably located such that it will view the milk sample (S) directly. Camera (3) can capture an image even if the milk sample (S) is within a transparent container or behind a transparent surface. Camera (3) can transmit the image of the milk sample (S) that it has captured to the control unit (6) by wire or wireless means. The camera (3) can be a CCD (charge coupled device), a CMOS (Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) or other types of cameras. In one of the embodiment of the invention, the milk deterioration detection system (1) comprises at least one optical lens (4) which enables the camera (3) to focus when capturing an image. The optical lens (4) enables to obtain a clearer image of the milk sample. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the optical lens (4) can be adjusted according to the distance, i.e. according to the distance of the milk sample (S) to the camera (3).

In one of the embodiment of the invention, the milk deterioration detection system (1) comprises at least one optical diffuser (5) which enables the beams from the laser light source (2) to be diffused homogenously. The optical diffuser (5) can be mounted to the end of the laser light source (2) and enables the lights from the laser light source (2) to be scattered and projected homogenously on the milk sample (S). The optical diffuser (5) can filter the light when the amount of the light is needed to be reduced.

The control unit (6) monitors the change of the pixels in time by means of the periodic images received from the camera (3). In one embodiment of the invention, the control unit (6) monitors the contrast difference between the pixels and is adapted to decide about milk sample deterioration according to the ratios of pixels with different contrast values. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, speckle contrast of a specific region in the captured photographs is calculated. Speckle contrast is calculated by a ratio of standard deviation to mean intensity on the concerned region. These values which are calculated for each photograph are monitored in time. The change of the value in time informs us about deterioration of the milk. This is because speckle contrast value is proportional to the amount of the roughness on the surface. In spoiled milks, the surface has more roughness. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, in the milk deterioration detection system (1), light is provided to the milk sample (S) by the laser light source (2) and image of the milk sample (S) is captured by the camera (3). Additionally, during image capturing, the optical lens (4) enables the camera (3) to focus and capture sharp images. Homogenous diffusion of the beams from the laser light source (2) is provided by an optical diffuser (5). Collection of the information coming from the camera (3), performing processes on the incoming image and deciding on deterioration state of the milk sample (S) are carried out by the control unit (6).

A milk deterioration detection method (100), which detects deterioration of milk non-invasively (without contact) via speckle photography using laser, basically comprises the following steps:

101. Illuminating the surface of the milk sample (S) by providing light to the milk sample (S) by the laser light source (2),

102. Capturing image of the illuminated milk sample (S) by the camera (3),

103. Transmitting the captured image to the control unit (6) by the camera (3), 104. The control unit (6) calculating the speckle contrast by viewing the pixel contrasts on the captured image,

105. The control unit (6) checking whether the calculated contrast is within the deterioration range,

106. The control unit (6) deciding on deterioration state of the milk sample (S) and giving an alert according to the deterioration state of the milk sample (S).

In the milk deterioration detection method (100), light is provided to the milk sample (S) by the laser light source (2) via the optical diffuser (5). This way, surface of the milk sample (S) is illuminated (101). Image of the illuminated milk sample (S) is captured by the camera (3) via the optical lens (4) (102). The captured image is transmitted to the control unit (6) by the camera (3) (103). The control unit (6) performs the required speckle contrast calculations by viewing the pixel contrasts on the captured image (104). The control unit (6) checks whether the calculated contrast is within the deterioration range (105) and then the control unit (6) decides on the deterioration state of the milk sample (S). An alert is given depending on the deterioration state of the milk sample (S) (106).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, milk deterioration detection system (1) and method (100) are used in new generation smart refrigerators, half-open refrigerator structures in markets, transportation vehicles with refrigerators used for moving, and milk filling plants.

In another embodiment of the invention, the milk deterioration detection system (1) is remote controlled; and starting of the process, collecting the information and deciding on the deterioration state are performed remotely.

Claims

1. A milk deterioration detection system (1), which detects possibility of milk deterioration non-invasively via laser speckle photography, basically characterized by

at least one laser light source (2) which provides light to the milk sample (S), at least one camera (3) to capture an image of the milk sample (S), at least one control unit (6) which is adapted to receive image information from the camera (3) and to decide on deterioration state of the milk sample (S) by evaluating the pixels in this image.

2. A milk deterioration detection system (1) according to Claiml characterized by at least one optical lens (4) which enables the camera (3) to focus when capturing an image.

3. A milk deterioration detection system (1) according to Claiml and 2 characterized by at least an optical diffuser (5) which enables the beams from the laser light source (2) to be diffused homogenously.

4. A milk deterioration detection system (1) according to Claiml characterized by the laser light source (2) which projects light on the milk sample (S) from different angles and preferably at a single wavelength.

5. A milk deterioration detection system (1) according to Claiml characterized by the camera (3) which can capture an image even if the milk sample (S) is within a transparent container or behind a transparent surface.

6. A milk deterioration detection system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized by the camera (3) which can transmit the image of the milk sample (S) that it has captured to the control unit (6) by wired or wireless means.

7. A milk deterioration detection system (1) according to Claim 2 to 6 characterized by the optical lens (4) which can be adjusted according to the distance of the milk sample (S) with the camera (3).

8. A milk deterioration detection system (1) according to Claim 3 to 7 characterized by the optical diffuser (5) which is mounted to the end of the laser light source (2) to scatter the light across the milk sample and to filter the light

9. A milk deterioration detection method (100), which detects possibility of milk deterioration non-invasively via laser speckle photography, basically comprising the steps of

- Illuminating the surface of the milk sample (S) by providing light to the milk sample (S) by the laser light source (2) (101),

Capturing image of the illuminated milk sample (S) by the camera (3) (102),

Transmitting the captured image to the control unit (6) by the camera (3) (103),

The control unit (6) calculating the speckle contrast by viewing the pixel contrasts on the captured image (104),

The control unit (6) checking whether the calculated contrast is within the deterioration range (105),

- The control unit (6) deciding on deterioration state of the milk sample (S) and giving an alert according to the deterioration state of the milk sample ■ (S) (106).

10. A milk deterioration detection system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the control unit (6) which is adapted to receive the data from the camera (3) by wire or wireless means.

11. A milk deterioration detection system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the control unit (6) which transmits the information about milk sample deterioration to an audio or light alert indicator via wired or wireless means and which is adapted to transmit this information to a different unit.