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US 6,646,264 B1Granted
Methods and devices for analyzing agricultural products
AssigneeMonsanto Technology LLC
InventorsSteven H. Modiano, Kevin L. Deppermann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a device and method for analyzing agricultural products. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device and method for real time, non-destructive analysis of the physical and chemical characteristics of one or more seeds.
Claims209
A method for determining whether a seed exhibits a trait, comprising the steps of:
- (A) receiving said seed;
- (B) directing light from a light source to said seed, thereby forming emitted light;
- (C) dispersing said emitted light to form dispersed light;
- (D) receiving said dispersed light in a light measuring device comprising an array of multiple datapoints, the array including a spatial dimension defining multiple sample points on the seed and a spectral dimension defining spectral data for the dispersed light from each of the multiple sample points;
- (E) outputting a spectral data signal for each of said multiple datapoints with said light measuring device;
- and,
- (F) determining whether said seed exhibits said trait at individual ones of the multiple sample points based on said spectral data signals.
4 more elements
A method for determining whether a plant tissue exhibits a trait comprising the steps of:
- (A) receiving said plant tissue;
- (B) directing light from a light source to said plant tissue, thereby forming transmitted or reflected light;
- (C) dispersing said transmitted or reflected light to form dispersed light;
- (D) receiving said dispersed light in a light measuring device comprising an array of multiple datapoints, the array including a spatial dimension defining multiple sample points on the plant tissue and a spectral dimension defining spectral data for the dispersed light from each of the multiple sample points;
- (E) outputting a spectral data signal for each of said multiple datapoints with said light measuring device;
- and,
- (F) determining whether plant tissue exhibits said trait at individual ones of the multiple sample points based on said spectral data signals.
4 more elements
A method for determining whether a batch of seeds contains seeds which exhibit a trait comprising:
- (A) receiving said batch of seeds;
- (B) directing light from a light source to said batch of seeds, thereby forming transmitted or reflected light;
- (C) dispersing said transmitted or reflected light to form dispersed light;
- (D) receiving said dispersed light in a light measuring device comprising an array of multiple datapoints, the array including a spatial dimension defining multiple sample points on the batch of seeds and a spectral dimension defining spectral data for the dispersed light from each of the multiple sample points;
- (E) outputting a spectral data signal for each of said multiple datapoints with said light measuring device;
- and,
- (F) determining whether individual seeds in said batch of seeds exhibit said trait based on said spectral data signals, wherein said step of determining comprises the step of associating said individual seeds with corresponding ones of the multiple sample points.
4 more elements
A method for determining whether a sample exhibits a trait, comprising the steps of:
- directing light on the sample to produce light of mixed wavelengths emitted at a plurality of discrete spatial sample points from the sample;
- dispersing the emitted light of mixed wavelengths for each discrete spatial sample points into a corresponding spectral image comprising a plurality of component wavelengths;
- detecting, with respect to each discrete spatial sample point, component wavelengths within the corresponding spectral image;
- and
- processing the detected component wavelengths against a model to determine whether the sample exhibits a certain trait at each of the discrete spatial sample points, the model associating the existence of certain component wavelengths in the spectral image with the presence of the exhibited certain trait at the corresponding discrete spatial sample point for the sample.
2 more elements
Apparatus for determining whether a sample exhibits a trait, comprising:
- a light source directing light on the sample to produce light of mixed wavelengths emitted at a plurality of discrete spatial sample points from the sample;
- a spectrograph that disperses the emitted light of mixed wavelengths for each discrete spatial sample point into a corresponding spectral image comprising a plurality of component wavelengths;
- a camera including a detector for detecting, with respect to each discrete spatial sample point, component wavelengths within the corresponding spectral image;
- and
- a processor operable to compare the detected component wavelengths against a model to determine whether the sample exhibits a certain trait at each of the discrete spatial sample points, the model associating the existence of certain component wavelengths in the spectral image with the presence of the exhibited certain trait at the corresponding discrete spatial sample point for the sample.
2 more elements
A method, comprising the steps of
- (A) directing a line of light on a portion of an agricultural sample to produce emitted light;
- (B) dispersing the emitted light into a corresponding spectral image comprising a plurality of component wavelengths for each of a plurality of discrete spatial sample points on portion of the agricultural sample along the line of light;
- (C) detecting, with respect to each discrete spatial sample point along the line of light, component wavelengths within the corresponding spectral image;
- (D) repeating steps (A)-(C) to scan each portion of the agricultural sample;
- and
- (E) producing from the detected component wavelengths at each discrete spatial sample point for each of the scanned portions a hyperspectral datacube for the agricultural sample.
3 more elements
An apparatus, comprising the steps of:
- a light source directing a line of light on a portion of the agricultural sample to produce emitted light,
- a spectrograph dispersing the emitted light into a corresponding spectral image comprising a plurality of component wavelengths for each of a plurality of discrete spatial sample points on the portion of the agricultural sample along the line of light;
- a camera including a detector for detecting, with respect to each discrete spatial sample point, component wavelengths within the corresponding spectral image;
- means for moving the agricultural sample relative to the line of light to scan each portion of the agricultural sample;
- and
- a processor operable to produce from the detected component wavelengths at each discrete spatial sample point for each of the scanned portions a hyperspectral datacube for the agricultural sample.
3 more elements
A method for introgressing a trait into a plant, comprising the steps of
- (A) directing light from a light source to a seed, thereby forming emitted light;
- (B) dispersing said emitted light to form dispersed light;
- (C) receiving said dispersed light in a light measuring device comprising an array of multiple datapoints, the array including a spatial dimension defining multiple sample points on the seed and a spectral dimension defining spectral data for the dispersed light from each of the multiple sample points;
- (D) outputting a spectral data signal for each of said multiple datapoints with said light measuring device;
- (E) determining whether said seed exhibits a trait of interest at individual ones of the multiple sample points based on said spectral data signals;
- (F) selecting the seed for breeding if the step of determining identifies the seed as exhibits the trait of interest;
- (G) growing a fertile plant from the selected seed;
- and
- (H) using the fertile plant as a parent plant in a cross with another plant.
6 more elements
Apparatus for determining whether a seed exhibits a trait, comprising:
- a sampling device for holding said seed;
- a light source directing light to said seed, thereby forming emitted light;
- a spectrograph dispersing said emitted light to form dispersed light;
- a light measuring device that receives said dispersed light, the device comprising an array of multiple datapoints, the array including a spatial dimension defining multiple sample points on the seed and a spectral dimension defining spectral data for the dispersed light from each of the multiple sample points, the device outputting a spectral data signal for each of said multiple datapoints;
- and
- a processor for determining whether said seed exhibits said trait at individual ones of the multiple sample points based on said spectral data signals.
3 more elements
A method for differentiating haploid samples from non-haploid samples, comprising the steps of:
- directing light on a seed to produce light of mixed wavelengths emitted at a plurality of discrete spatial sample points from the seed;
- dispersing the emitted light of mixed wavelengths for each discrete spatial sample point into a corresponding spectral image comprising a plurality of component wavelengths;
- detecting, with respect to each discrete spatial sample point, component wavelengths within the corresponding spectral image;
- and
- processing the detected component wavelengths for each of the discrete spatial sample points on the seed against a model to determine whether the seed is a haploid, the model associating the existence of certain component wavelengths in the spectral image with a phenotype produced by a haploid trait.
2 more elements
Apparatus for differentiating haploid samples from non-haploid samples, comprising:
- a light source directing light on a seed agricultural product to produce light of mixed wavelengths emitted at a plurality of discrete spatial sample points from the seed;
- a spectrograph that disperses the emitted light of mixed wavelengths for each discrete spatial sample point into a corresponding spectral image comprising a plurality of component wavelengths;
- a camera including a detector for detecting, with respect to each discrete spatial sample point, component wavelengths within the corresponding spectral image;
- and
- a processor operable to compare the detected component wavelengths for each of the discrete spatial sample points on the seed against a model to determine whether the seed is a haploid, the model associating the existence of certain component wavelengths in the spectral image with a phenotype produced by a haploid trait.
2 more elements
A method for differentially analyzing portions of an agricultural sample, comprising the steps of:
- directing light on an agricultural sample to produce light of mixed wavelengths emitted at a plurality of discrete spatial sample points from the agricultural sample;
- dispersing the emitted light of mixed wavelengths for each discrete spatial sample point into a corresponding spectral image comprising a plurality of component wavelengths;
- detecting, with respect to each discrete spatial sample point, component wavelengths within the corresponding spectral image;
- and
- processing the detected component wavelengths for each of the discrete spatial sample points on the agricultural sample against a model to identify one or more discrete spatial sample points as being associated with a certain portion of the agricultural sample, the model associating the existence of certain component wavelengths in the spectral image with certain portions of the agricultural sample.
2 more elements
Apparatus for differentially analyzing portions of an agricultural sample, comprising:
- a light source directing light on the agricultural sample to produce light of mixed wavelengths emitted at a plurality of discrete spatial sample points from the agricultural sample;
- a spectrograph that disperses the emitted light of mixed wavelengths for each discrete spatial sample point into a corresponding spectral image comprising a plurality of component wavelengths;
- a camera including a detector for detecting, with respect to each discrete spatial sample point, component wavelengths within the corresponding spectral image;
- and
- a processor operable to compare the detected component wavelengths for each of the discrete spatial sample points on the agricultural sample against a model to identify one or more discrete spatial sample points as being associated with a certain portion of the agricultural sample, the model associating the existence of certain component wavelengths in the spectral image with certain portions of the agricultural sample.
2 more elements
The apparatus of claim 143 wherein the agricultural sample comprises a batch of seeds, and the certain portion comprises an individual seed in the batch of seeds, and the processor further operates to identify the discrete spatial sample points associated with the individual seeds.
A method, comprising the steps of:
- directing light on an agricultural sample to produce light of mixed wavelengths emitted at a plurality of discrete spatial sample points from the agricultural sample;
- dispersing the emitted light of mixed wavelengths for each discrete spatial sample points into a corresponding spectral image comprising a plurality of component wavelengths;
- detecting, with respect to each discrete spatial sample point, component wavelengths within the corresponding spectral image;
- and
- processing the detected component wavelengths to determine whether the agricultural sample exhibits a trait at individual ones of the discrete spatial sample points based on the component wavelengths within the corresponding spectral image.
2 more elements
Apparatus, comprising:
- a light source that directs light on an agricultural sample to produce light of mixed wavelengths emitted at a plurality of discrete spatial sample points from the agricultural sample;
- a spectrograph that disperses the emitted light of mixed wavelengths for each discrete spatial sample points into a corresponding spectral image comprising a plurality of component wavelengths;
- a light measuring device that detects, with respect to each discrete spatial sample point, component wavelengths within the corresponding spectral image;
- and
- a processor operable to determine from detected component wavelengths whether the agricultural sample exhibits a trait at individual ones of the discrete spatial sample points based on the component wavelengths within the corresponding spectral image.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.