Optical device for detecting abnormalities in milk

摘要

An method and system for detecting color changes in fluids detects the color intensities, and includes a white light emitter and a detector that generates signals representing the detected intensity of red, blue, green, and white light. A processor receives the generated signals and calculates values representing the ratio of detected red to white light, blue to white light, and green to white light. The processor further compares the calculated ratios with reference values and generates a signal when the results of the comparison indicate that the ratios differ from the reference values. By generating the ratio of intensity of each received color to the intensity of received white light, the values are rendered virtually self-compensating and thus largely insensitive to variations in temperature and in intensity that may occur over time with aging of the components.

主权项

1. A system that detects color changes in a fluid, comprising:
a color sensor (40) that detects fluid color within a container that carries the fluid, wherein the fluid is flowing or stationary milk or a product derived from milk, the color sensor including i) a white light emitter (410) that emits white light into the container and into the fluid carried in the container to thereby illuminate the fluid, wherein the white light illuminates the fluid and is reflected off the fluid as reflected light, ii) a detector (420) that detects the reflected light from the fluid, and generates signals respectively representing a detected intensity of red light, blue light, green light, and white light from the detected reflected light, and iii) a processor (440) connected to receive the signals respectively representing the detected intensity of red light, blue light, green light, and white light from the detector (420), calculate values representing a) a ratio of detected red light to detected white light, b) a ratio of detected blue light to detected white light, and c) a ratio of detected green light to detected white light, and compare each said ratio with a corresponding reference value to generate a signal when a result of the comparison indicates the ratios differing from the reference values to indicate a change in color of the fluid, and said container is arranged to carry flowing or stationary milk or the product derived from milk.