Detection of defects in food by detecting pattern of current flow
AssigneeUniversity of Alaska
InventorsChristopher G. Bublitz, Gour S. Choudhury
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Abstract
A method for examining an edible product, such as fresh fish flesh, for dielectric inclusions, such as encysted parasites. The product is subjected to a current flow, which may be perturbed or deviated by any hidden inclusions. An electromagnetic effect of perturbed current flow is detected. In a preferred implementation, one or more scans of the external magnetic consequences of the effect of an inclusion allows the discovery and removal of the inclusion.
Claims3
A method of examining an edible product having a first conductivity for the presence of foreign inclusions having a second conductivity substantially different from said first conductivity, comprising the steps of:
- flowing a current through the product;
- and
- detecting values of a pattern associated with the current along the flow path of the current in the product at a plurality of positions laterally disposed with respect to the flow path to indicate a relative distortion of current flow, the detecting step including one of (a) the step of employing a magnetometer and (b) the step of employing means for detecting current and voltage values.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.