Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12222290-B2
Publication Date
2025-02-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
A detection method according to the present embodiment comprises the steps of (a) photographing a first reference color area indicated by a first reference color, a second reference color area indicated by a second reference color, and a detection region reacting with a target so as to change color, (b) converting a photography result into a single element, (c) extracting a single element gradation value from the converted photography result, (d) converting the extracted single element gradation value into a standard gradation value, and (e) detecting the concentration of the target from the standard gradation value.
Core Innovation
A detection method photographs a first reference color area displayed in a first reference color, a second reference color area displayed in a second reference color, and a detection area of which a color is changed in response to a target. The photographed image is converted into a single factor, and a single factor gradation value is extracted from the converted photography result. The extracted single factor gradation value is then converted into a standard gradation value.
The method detects a concentration of the target from the standard gradation value. The converting into a standard gradation value includes converting gradation scaling between a single factor gradation value of the first reference color and a single factor gradation value of the second reference color, where the second reference color gradation value is 2^(n−1) for a natural number n greater than 4 and the first reference color gradation value is 0. The method compensates for influence between gradations of the reference color areas so that the extracted detection-area gradation value is converted to the standard gradation value.
The converting of the extracted single factor gradation value into the standard gradation value supports color/gradation correction using conversion into color-space components or grayscale forms, and the single factor can be selected from RGB color space components, HSV components, CMYK components, CIELAB components, or linear combinations of these components. The detection of the target concentration can be performed by searching a memory storing a target concentration associated with a standard gradation value obtained in the converting.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims with additional dependent claims that refine conversion, gradation scaling, detection-area geometry, and pad composition. The inventive features center on photographing reference and target-reactive regions, converting the photography result into a single factor and gradation values, mapping to a standard gradation value, and detecting concentration, and on a detection pad layout using a QR code with orientation markers plus a defined reference point and arc-based reagent-patch arrangement.
Reference-based photographic single-factor gradation mapping
Photographing a first reference color area, a second reference color area, and a detection area of which a color is changed in response to a target; converting a photography result into a single factor; extracting a single factor gradation value; converting the extracted single factor gradation value into a standard gradation value; and detecting a concentration of the target from the standard gradation value.
QR-code detection pad with arc-based reagent patch layout
A detection pad for testing a target in a fluid comprising a machine-readable code displayed in a first reference color, a second reference color area for removing an influence of a color change caused by the fluid, and reagent patches each including a reagent of which a color is changed in response to the target, wherein the machine-readable code is a quick response (QR) code of a quadrangle having three vertices at which orientation markers are displayed, wherein a center point is located between two orientation markers diagonally located in the quadrangle, wherein a reference point is located at a distance corresponding to a predetermined ratio of a length between the orientation markers from the center point, and wherein all the reagent patches are located in a detection area along an arc defined by rotating the reference point by a first angle θ1 and a second angle θ2 with respect to the center point located within a display of the machine-readable code.
Overall, claim coverage centers on photographing two reference color areas and a target-reactive detection area, converting the photography result into a single factor, extracting and converting a gradation value to a standard gradation value, and then detecting target concentration; and on a detection pad that uses a QR code with orientation markers plus a center point and reference point to place reagent patches along an arc within a detection area.
Stated Advantages
Compensating for an influence of a color change caused by the fluid using a second reference color area.
Documented Applications
Testing a target in a fluid using a detection method based on photographing reference and target-reactive areas.
Testing a target in a fluid using a detection pad including reagent patches whose colors change in response to the target.
Interested in licensing this patent?