The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 12, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 31, 1997
Satoru Satake, Tokyo, JP;
Nobuhiko Nakamura, Hiroshima, JP;
Satake Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A content measuring apparatus has a light source for irradiating near infrared light on a leaf, a light intensity detecting device for receiving transmitted light from the leaf, an operation means for calculating the light absorbance of the leaf from the intensity of transmitted light and computing a content percent of the leaf based on a content percent estimation equation. The light source includes light emitting elements which are disposed so as to have predetermined angles with respect to a diffuse reflectance plate coated with mat paint, a light reflection path which shades direct light from the light emitting elements, is arranged in a vertical direction at a substantial center of the diffuse reflectance plate and conducts the reflected light from the diffuse reflectance plate, light reflection path also being coated with mat paint, and a diffuse transmittance plate which is provided at a light radiating side of the reflected light path for making the reflected light uniform whereby the radiation light from the diffuse transmittance plate is irradiated on the leaf. In fabricating the device, the mechanical process for forming a sphere surface as required in an integration sphere can be dispensed with so that the cost for fabrication is low, and the variations in the light intensity are no larger than those in the integration sphere.