Method and apparatus for detecting organic materials and objects from multispectral reflected light

• US 8,030,615 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bowling Green State University
• Original Assignee: Bowling Green State University
• Inventors: Sridhar, B. B. Maruthi, Vincent, Robert K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, MINDY D
• Application Number:
  US12/456,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20100002224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 250/339.01, 250/339.11
• US Class Current: 250/339.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0208 using focussing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or mirrors; performing aberration correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0229 using masks, aperture plates, spatial light modulators or spatial filters, e.g. reflective filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0235 using means for replacing an element by another, for replacing a filter or a grating
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0237 Adjustable, e.g. focussing
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0264 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0272 Handheld
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0294 Multi-channel spectroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2823 Imaging spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3563 for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/359 using near infrared light

Abstract

The present invention is a method of determining the presence of keratin, particularly hard keratin, such as exists in mammalian hair and feathers, and objects comprising such materials. The method of the present invention also includes displaying information derived from such a determination, as well as a measurement method followed by transmission of data to a remote processing site for analysis or display. The invention also includes devices for carrying out the determination, display and/or transmission.

Claims

1. A device for remotely sensing the presence of hard keratin, comprising:

a. at least one photodetector adapted to detect light in the near and short wave infrared wavelength region;

b. a microprocessor having programming instructions with one or more algorithms to determine whether hard keratin is present in said area based upon the identification of at least one spectral characteristic that is indicative of the presence of hard keratin; and

c. a signaling device adapted to provide a signal in response to a positive determination of said at least one spectral characteristic.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the identification of at least one spectral characteristic that is indicative of the presence of hard keratin comprises the identification of at least one reflectance minimum or maximum in the short wavelength wave infrared region.

3. A device according to claim 2, additionally comprising a filter adapted to filter said light in the short wave infrared wavelength region so as to filter out light of wavelengths not in the wavelength region wherein said at least one reflectance minimum or maximum occurs.

4. A device according to claim 2, additionally comprising a filter adapted to filter said light in the short wavelength infrared wavelength region so as to filter out light of wavelengths not in at least one of the following ranges:

5. A device according to claim 2, wherein said at least one reflectance minimum or maximum occurs in the wavelength range of from about 1350 to about 2350 nanometers.

6. A device according to claim 2, wherein said at least one reflectance minimum or maximum is selected from the group consisting of:

7. A device according to claim 2, wherein said at least one reflectance minimum or maximum is selected from the group consisting of:

8. A device according to claim 2, wherein said at least one photodetector comprises a photodetector array having at least two photodetectors adapted to detect light in the short wave infrared wavelength region from respective at least two wavelengths in at least two of the following ranges:

9. A device for remotely sensing the presence of objects comprising hard keratin in an area comprising both objects comprising keratin and non-keratin objects, and displaying a representation of such objects in that area, said device comprising:

a. a photodetector array having a plurality of photodetectors adapted to detect light in respective at least two wavelength ranges in the short wave infrared wavelength region;

b. a microprocessor having programming instructions to determine whether hard keratin is present in said area based upon the identification of at least one spectral characteristic that is indicative of the presence of hard keratin in the light detected by each of said plurality of photodetectors; and

c. a display device adapted to provide a visual display in accordance with the determination of the presence of said at least one spectral characteristic in the light detected by each of said plurality of photodetectors, so as to distinguish said at least one object comprising hard keratin from said non-hard keratin objects in said area.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein the identification of at least one spectral characteristic that is indicative of the presence of hard keratin comprises the identification of at least one reflectance minimum or maximum in the short wave infrared wavelength region.

11. A device according to claim 10, additionally comprising a filter adapted to filter said light in the short wavelength infrared wavelength region so as to filter out light of wavelengths not in the wavelength region wherein said at least one reflectance minimum or maximum occurs.

12. A device according to claim 10, additionally comprising a filter adapted to filter said light in the near and short wavelength infrared wavelength region so as to filter out light of wavelengths in at least one of the following ranges:

13. A device according to claim 10, wherein said at least one reflectance minimum or maximum occurs in the wavelength range of from about 1350 to about 2350 nanometers.

14. A device according to claim 10, wherein said at least one reflectance minimum or maximum is selected from the group consisting of:

15. A device according to claim 10, wherein said at least one reflectance minimum or maximum is selected from the group consisting of:

16. A device according to claim 10, additionally comprising a photodetector adapted to detect the heat signature of objects in said area, and wherein said display device is additionally adapted to display the heat signature of said objects in said area.

17. A device according to claim 10, wherein said determination generates data, and additionally comprising displaying the data in a visual display so as to identify any objects in said area that comprise hard keratin.

18. A device according to claim 17 wherein said determination generates data from a scan of said area indicating the presence of hard keratin objects in said area and the presence of non-hard keratin objects in said area, and additionally comprising a display for displaying the data in a visual display so as to distinguish said at least one object comprising hard keratin from said non-hard keratin objects in said area.

19. A device according to claim 18 additionally comprising a detector adapted to determine the heat signature of objects in said area, and additionally comprising a display for displaying the heat signature of said objects in said area.