An Apparatus and Method for Identifying Plant Varieties from Leaf Samples Taken Whilst in the Field
AssigneeAvicennia Investments Pty Ltd
InventorJames Warren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for identifying plant varieties from leaf or flower samples taken whilst in the field comprises a scanning device having a backlight so as to enable a detailed image of a sample to be recorded digitally, a computer for uploading the image for analysis, a computer program which allocates user prescribed parameters such as leaf venation, leaf shape, base position and shape and leaf curvature to the image, and utilising the data produced by the computer program and applying an algorithm to it for matching the data against a database of plant varieties to determine the highest match probability.
Claims4
An apparatus for identifying plant varieties from leaf or flower samples taken whilst in the field comprising:
- a scanning device having an image sensor and an LED backlight so as to enable a detailed image of a sample to be recorded digitally;
- a computer for uploading the image for analysis;
- a computer program which allocates user prescribed parameters such as leaf venation, leaf shape, base position and shape and leaf curvature to the image;
- utilising the data produced by the computer program and applying an algorithm to it for matching the data against a database of plant varieties to determine the highest match probability.
A method for identifying plant varieties from leaf or flower samples taken whilst in the field including the steps:
- (i) acquiring a scanned image of a leaf or flower sample using an apparatus comprising an LED back lit scanning device having an image sensor and an LED backlight and a computer for uploading the image for analysis;
- (ii) applying an image manipulation algorithm to the scanned image to enhance venation data recorded;
- (iii) producing a venation line drawing;
- (iv) cross-referencing venation line drawing data with a set of identification data;
- (v) comparing venation and identification data with known samples stored in a database;
- (vi) choosing and displaying the most probable match for plant variety according to the sample analysis.
A method for identifying plant varieties from leaf or flower samples taken whilst in the field including the steps:
- (i) harvesting a leaf or flower sample;
- (ii) taking a photographic image of the leaf or flower sample using a back lit scanning device having an image sensor and an LED backlight;
- (iii) extracting a set of identification parameters from the photographic image including leaf venation, leaf shape, base position and shape and leaf curvature;
- (iv) applying an identification algorithm to the extracted identification parameters;
- (v) presenting the results of the algorithmic analysis on a screen of a computer or hand held device;
- (vi) comparing the sample with illustrations of known leaf samples;
- (vii) choosing and displaying the most probable match for plant variety according to the sample analysis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.