Apparatus for inspecting meat, system for inspecting meat including the same, refrigerator including the same, and method of inspecting meat

A meat inspection system comprising:

• a meat inspection apparatus comprising:
• a light source configured to emit a plurality of inspection lights to a plurality of regions of meat, respectively;
• a light detector configured to generate a plurality of emission spectrum signals based on measuring a plurality of fluorescences emitted from the plurality of regions;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• receive the plurality of emission spectrum signals from the light detector;
• generate hyperspectral images of the meat based on the plurality of emission spectrum signals;
• and
• obtain a state of the meat based on the hyperspectral images,
• wherein the processor is further configured to obtain the state of the meat for a plurality of sub-regions in each of the plurality of regions;
• and
• a display device configured to receive state information of the meat from the meat inspection apparatus and output the state information of the meat.

A refrigerator comprising:

• a main body having a plurality of storage spaces;
• doors configured to open and close the plurality of storage spaces;
• and
• a meat inspection apparatus provided in at least one of the plurality of storage spaces,
• wherein the meat inspection apparatus comprises:
• a light source configured to emit a plurality of inspection lights to a plurality of regions of meat, respectively;
• a light detector configured to generate a plurality of emission spectrum signals based on measuring a plurality of fluorescences emitted from the plurality of regions;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• receive the plurality of emission spectrum signals from the light detector;
• generate hyperspectral images of the meat based on the plurality of emission spectrum signals;
• and
• obtain a state of the meat based on the hyperspectral images,
• wherein the processor is further configured to obtain the state of the meat for a plurality of sub-regions in each of the plurality of regions.

A meat inspection method comprising:

• emitting a plurality of inspection lights to a plurality of regions of meat;
• detecting a plurality of fluorescences emitted from the plurality of regions to generate a plurality of emission spectrum signals;
• generating hyperspectral images of the meat based on the plurality of emission spectrum signals;
• and
• obtaining a state of the meat based on the hyperspectral images,
• wherein the obtaining of the state of the meat is performed for a plurality of sub-regions of each of the plurality of regions.

A meat inspection apparatus comprising:

• a light source configured to emit a plurality of inspection lights to a plurality of regions of meat, respectively, the light source comprising:
• a first light source array;
• a second light source array that is spaced apart from the first light source array;
• and
• a transmission window disposed between the first light source array and the second light source array;
• a light detector configured to generate a plurality of emission spectrum signals based on measuring a plurality of fluorescences emitted from the plurality of regions;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• receive the plurality of emission spectrum signals from the light detector;
• generate hyperspectral images of the meat based on the plurality of emission spectrum signals;
• and
• obtain a state of the meat based on the hyperspectral images.