HYPERSPECTRAL IDENTIFICATION OF EGG FERTILITY AND GENDER

• US 20130044210A1
• Filed: 06/27/2010
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ltd. (Hebrew University of Jerusalem), Ramot at Tel Aviv University Limited (Tel Aviv University)
• Original Assignee: Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ltd. (Hebrew University of Jerusalem), Ramot at Tel Aviv University Limited (Tel Aviv University)
• Inventors: Rozenboim, Israel, Ben Dor, Eyal
• Granted Patent: US 9,435,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/135
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3155 Measuring in two spectral ranges, e.g. UV and visible
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3563 for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/1296 using neural networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/08 Eggs, e.g. by candling

Abstract

A hyperspectral method for detecting the present condition of an avian egg is disclosed in which a neural network algorithm is used to compare the spectrum of a test egg against a spectral library. The method can detect fertility with greater than 90% reliability on the day of laying and the gender of the chick with greater than 75% reliability on the 12th day after laying.

Claims

1-90. -90. (canceled)

91. A non-invasive method for detecting the present condition of an avian egg, comprising the steps of:

measuring at least one spectrum of said avian egg over at least one predetermined wavelength range;

using a neural network algorithm to compare said spectrum with a predefined database of spectra defining possible values of said present condition; and

,

using the results of said comparison to assess the present condition of said avian egg.

92. The method according to claim 91, further comprising a step of discarding any egg for which said present condition does not match a predefined condition.

93. The method according to claim 91, wherein said step of using a neural network algorithm comprises steps of:

using principal component analysis to transform a data set;

selecting the first m scores from each sample; and

,

inputting said m scores into a neural network comprising n neurons, a transfer function in the hidden layer, and a linear transfer function for the output.

94. The method according to claim 93, wherein m=5, n=3, and said transfer function in the hidden layer is the “

tansig”

function.

95. The method according to claim 91, wherein said step of using a neural network algorithm to compare said spectrum with a predefined database of spectra defining possible values of said present condition further comprises an additional step of preprocessing the spectral data.

96. The method according to claim 95, wherein said additional step of preprocessing the spectral data further comprises a step chosen from the group consisting of (a) performing dimension reduction and (b) performing spectral enhancement.

97. The method of claim 91, further comprising the additional steps of

obtaining at least one reference spectrum;

obtaining at least one calibration spectrum;

obtaining at least one test spectrum;

using said at least one reference spectrum to correct said at least one test spectrum; and

,

using said calibration spectrum to calibrate at least one spectral feature.

98. The method according to claim 97, wherein said step of obtaining a reference spectrum further comprises an additional step chosen from the group consisting of (a) constructing a reference spectrum according to a predetermined physical model and (b) obtaining a reference spectrum by means of physical measurement.

99. The method according to claim 91, wherein said step of measuring at least one spectrum of said avian egg over at least one predetermined wavelength range further comprises the additional steps of:

obtaining a hyperspectral camera capable of recording spectra over said predetermined wavelength range;

placing said avian egg within the field of view of said hyperspectral camera; and

,

using said hyperspectral camera to obtain at least one spectrum of said avian egg.

100. The method according to claim 99, wherein said step of measuring said at least one spectrum of said avian egg over a predetermined wavelength is preceded by a step of confirming that said avian egg is within the field of view of said hyperspectral camera, said step of confirming that said avian egg is within the field of view of said hyperspectral cameral comprising:

obtaining a test measurement by measuring the amount of light of at least one predetermined wavelength corresponding to an absorption feature of said avian egg reaching a predefined portion of the field of view of said hyperspectral camera; and

,

comparing said test measurement to a reference measurement at substantially the same at least one predetermined wavelength;

wherein the presence of said avian egg within the field of view of said camera is confirmed when the results of step of comparing said test measurement to said reference measurement show a difference between the two measurements that exceeds a predetermined threshold.

101. The method according to claim 100, wherein said at least one predetermined wavelength is within the calcite absorption band centered at about 2340 nm.

102. The method according to claim 91, further comprising the additional step of placing said avian egg in a sample holder adapted for holding an avian egg during spectral analysis, said sample holder chosen from the group consisting of:

a sample holder comprising means for excluding ambient light;

means for permitting light from a light source to illuminate said egg; and

, means for permitting at least a portion of the light reflected from said egg to impinge on a detector; and

,

a sample holder comprising a casing;

two substantially parallel rods rotatably mounted within said casing and arranged to support an avian egg placed thereupon;

at least one motor in mechanical connection with said rods, said at least one motor adapted to rotate each of said rods about its longitudinal axis;

light admitting means for admitting light emitted by a light source into said casing, said light admitting means disposed such that at least a portion of said light illuminates an avian egg placed upon said rods; and

means for admitting one end of a fiber optic cable into said casing such that at least a portion of said light admitted via said light admitting means and reflected from said avian egg enters said fiber optic cable.

103. The method according to claim 91, wherein said present condition is gender, and further wherein said determination is made not more than two weeks after the time said egg is settled in the incubator.

104. The method according to claim 91, wherein said at least one spectrum is chosen from the group consisting of (a) a reflectance spectrum and (b) a transmittance spectrum.

105. The method according to claim 91, wherein said spectrum extends from the near-UV to the mid-IR.

106. The method according to claim 91, wherein said spectrum is a derivative spectrum.

107. A sample holder for collecting a spectrum of an avian egg, said sample holder comprising:

an outer casing;

an inner casing that defines a test volume;

means for introducing at least one fiber optic cable into the interior of said sample holder; and

,

means for separating at least part of the upper portion of said sample holder from the lower portion of said sample holder;

wherein said sample holder is adapted to exclude ambient light during said collection of said spectrum.

108. An apparatus for non-invasively determining the present condition of at least one avian egg, said apparatus comprising:

a sample holder according to claim 107;

spectrometer means adapted for obtaining at least one spectrum of an avian egg placed within said sample holder;

data transfer means for transferring said at least one spectrum to a computing device;

computing means installed on said computing device, adapted to analyze said at least one spectrum according to a predetermined algorithm.

109. A sample holder for collecting a spectrum of an avian egg, said sample holder comprising:

a casing;

two substantially parallel rods rotatably mounted within said casing and arranged to support an avian egg placed thereupon;

at least one motor in mechanical connection with said rods, said at least one motor adapted to rotate each of said rods about its longitudinal axis;

light admitting means for admitting light emitted by a light source into said casing, said light admitting means disposed such that at least a portion of said light illuminates an avian egg placed upon said rods; and

,

means for admitting one end of a fiber optic cable into said casing such that at least a portion of said light admitted via said light admitting means and reflected from said avian egg enters said fiber optic cable,

wherein rotation of said avian egg enables collection of spectral data from the entire circumference of said avian egg.

110. An apparatus for non-invasively determining the present condition of at least one avian egg, said apparatus comprising:

a sample holder according to claim 109;

spectrometer means adapted for obtaining at least one spectrum of an avian egg placed within said sample holder;

data transfer means for transferring said at least one spectrum to a computing device; and

,

computing means installed on said computing device, adapted to analyze said at least one spectrum according to a predetermined algorithm.