Nondestructive Brix Meter Ｎ－１
User manual・Warranty

Mechatronics Inc.

Ver. 1.5

【Table of Contents】
Product Features……………………………………

Measurement Procedure2……………………………

4………………………………………………

5

Item Selection ………………………………………

6

Offset Setting………………………………………

7

E r r o r Ty p e s…………………………………………

8

Battery Replacement ………………………………

9

Checking Supported Items………………………

9

Range of Measurements…………………………

10

Wa r n i n g

Honey Dew Measurement for apples……………

11Offset Setting Principles…………………………………

12

Notes on Measurement……………………………………

13………………………………………

16

Wa r r a n t y … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

17

Specification-1-

【ProductFeatures-2-(Measuringside)】【Product Features (Liquid Crystal Display Side)】-3-【Measurement Procedure】
Hold the measuring head against the fruit and press the Measuring Button
for 2 seconds.
The device will beep once when beginning measuring and twice whenfinishing measuring, then the results will show on the screen.
Hold the measuring head straight against the fruit as shown in fig. 1. There
will be a larger error if the measuring head is tilted like fig. 2 or fig. 3.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig.3-4-【Warning】
1. Depending on the method of cultivation and the breed, there may bevariations in the readings. Always adjust the value in comparison with arefractometer.
2. The error is larger when the fruit has just been taken out of a refrigerator
because of temperature differences with the skin and the inside. Please
conduct measurements once the fruit has been to the surrounding temperature.
80mm - 90mm fruit should be ready for measurements after 5 - 6 hours.
3. Please conduct measurements 1 hour after moving the N-1 to a environment
with a large temperature difference to avoid inaccurate measurements.
4. When there is not sufficient contact between the measuring head and the fruit,measurements will be inaccurate. Please practice until the data can berepeated consistently.
5. It is most accurate with ripe fruit. Unripe or overripe fruit will not produce
accurate readings.
6. The measurement will be canceled if the button is not held until the device
beeps twice.
7. Avoid touching the measuring area.

-5-

【Item Selection】

Press the item button to enter item selection
mode. The item button can be pressed withthe tip of a pen.

Instructions for item selection are listed
below.

1. When the item button is pressed once there will be 3 beeps and the device willenter item selection mode. the items that have been set will be displayed. *●will be flashing on the display when in item selection mode.
2.

The display will change as follows every time the button is pressed. *Only theitem numbers that are supported by the device will be displayed.
(Example)

3. To select an item, display the wanted item and wait for 10 seconds. There will
be a long beep to notify the change in setting. The device will turn off
automatically and enter measuring mode.

*Press the offset button while in item selection mode to enter offset setting mode
for the selected item.

-6-【Offset Setting】

If the offset button is pressed, it willenter offset setting mode where sugar
content measurement deviations can becorrected.
The offset button can be pressed withthe tip of a pen.
In the offset setting mode, the offset
value can be set up to ±9%, with 0.5%
increments. The procedure is as follows.

1. When the offset button is pressed there will be 3 short beeps, and it will enter offset mode for the selected item. The offset values will be displayed.
*● will flash on the screen while in offset setting mode,
2. The screen will change as follows every time the offset button is pressed.

3. To set an offset value, display the wanted value for 10 seconds. There will be along beep when it finishes. The device will automatically turn off and return tomeasuring mode.

*If the item button is pressed while in offset mode, the offset value will be updated
and it will enter item selection mode.

-7-

【Error Types】
Low Battery. Flashes when low, lights up when dead. Please
replace battery.

Sensor Saturation. Occurs in bright light environments.
Please avoid direct sun light.

AGC saturation error. It is too bright because the measuring head
does not have sufficient contact with the fruit, etc.
LED breaking error. Can occur when there is not a
subject to be measured.

Synchronous noise error. Can occur when there is a interfering
light source (fluorescent light) emitting the same frequency
light.
*This error can occur when the battery life is low. If it occurs frequently,
please change the batteries.
Invalid measurement error. Caused by insufficient contact,
movement during the measurement, etc.
*If the device beeps repetitively during a measurement,
it is detecting movement or shaky hands. Once it stabilizes aproper measurement can be taken.

*Other Errors～
These errors will generally not occur, however, if they do, pleasecontact the Sales agent.

-8-【Battery Replacement】

Remove the battery lid shown in the instructions above and insert AAbatteries in the proper direction.
* If it is not in use for long periods of time, remove the batteries.

【Checking Supported Items】
When the measuring button is pressed during measuring mode, an icon,, will appear on the screen. This icon shows the item supported byyour device. The numbering of the fruit is shown below.
01102202030405
AppleGreen Mango

Ripe Mango

PeachPearPersimmon*Items can be added. To check the newest items please visit ourhomepage. (http://mechatronics.co.jp)

The item supported on your N-1 is-9-

【Range of Measurement】
The N-1 is measuring a circular area with a diameter of approx. 30mm starting at
the center of the measuring head. It is determining the average sugar content
within the area, not the whole fruit. For example, for an apple, there should beabout 0.5 to 1 percent variation throughout.
The sugar content formula by extracting a cylindrical shaped sample withdiameter 35mm and height 15mm and crushing it. The brix sugar content isdetermined from this test. The N-1 is calibrated from these measurements.

- 10 -

【Honey Dew Measurement for apples】
Honey Dew Measurement is only available for N-1 devices that have thehoneydew measuring function.
This option can be added after purchase.
When the sugar content is measured, it will display the sugar content first, thenthe honeydew condition in 3 stages.

High chance that it contains honeydew

Possibility of containing honeydew

No honeydew※ honeydew measuring is for Fuji and Sanfuji Apples. Additionally, thehoneydew measuring tends to be less reliable than the sugar content
measurement. Please make a few measurements across the circumference of theapple and take an average to get an idea of the honeydew condition.

- 11 -

Offset Setting Principles
What is an offset?
It is the addition or subtraction of a particular value from a normal
measurement result.
Why is it necessary?
To remove a definite difference between the result of measurement using
N-1 saccharimeter against that using a refractometer-type saccharimeter(destructive saccharimeter).
The deviation of N-1 saccharimeter is adjusted using actual fruits before
shipment.
However, there may be certain levels of deviation due to the differences inharvest timing and cultivation method used by different farmers.
Setting Examples
Fruit

N1 measurement
result (%)

Measurement result of arefractometer-typesaccharimeter (%)

Valuedeviation (%)

11.6

12.8

-1.2

9.7

10.6

-0.9

10.6

11.2

-0.6

11.7

12.5

-0.8

9.5

10.7

-1.2

The average deviation of the values measured by N1 to those measured bya refractometer-type saccharimeter can be obtained by adding all the“value deviations” in the table and divide it by the number of fruits.
Average value
deviation-1.2 + -0.9 + -0.6 + -0.8 + -1.2 = -4.7
-4.7 ÷ 5 = -0.94

The values measured using N-1 in the above example was found todeviate by -0.94% on average from that measures using a
refractometer-type saccharimeter (actual sugar content).
Since the offset setting of N-1 can be done in 0.5% increments, in thisexample, it is better to set it at +1.0%. Using more fruits for checking the- 12 -

value deviation will produce better adjustment accuracy.
For N-1 offset setting, please refer to “Offset Setting” (6P) page.

Notes on Measurement*The operation method and notes are explained in detail in the attached DVD. Pleasewatch it before using.

○Measure by placing the measurement probe straight on the fruit○Measure on a relatively flat surface- 13 -

○Confirm the contact surface of the measurement head while measuring(Measure by bringing the center part of the head into close contact with the fruit)

How to measure accurately

Measurement can be done while looking at the contact point
and making sure that the central part of the measuring headdirectly contacts with the fruit.

Inaccurate measurement

If the measurement is done by looking at the display directly, as
shown in the above figure, the center part of the head may not be inclose contact with the fruit surface.
The measurement error will increase if the central part of the headis separated from the fruit surface.

- 14 -

○ Unwanted movement is minimized

Measure the fruit at the same temperature with the surrounding, as shown inthe left figure.
(Leaving a refrigerated fruit at room temperature for about half a day will
improve the measurement accuracy.)○ Movement due to pressing can be minimized
Place the tip of your thumb to touch the case, not the button.
By pushing the button using the part slightly under the tip of your thumb, themovement due to pressing can be minimized and a stable measurement can beperformed.

- 15 -【Specification】
Specification

Remarks

Thee-Fiber-Based
Diffuse ReflectanceSpectroscopy(TFDRS)

Determines the sugar content
though the absorbance of light
LED is used as the light source

Power supply

AA Battery×2

Can measure once every 5
seconds, up to 5000 times(when using alkaline batteries)

Dimensions

181mm×52mm×42mm(Length×Width×Height)

Weight200g

Includes Battery Weight

Operatingtemperature

15℃～30℃

Needs a stable temperature

Case, etc.

Case Dimensions (Lengthwithout Handle×Width×Height)
210mm×180mm×70mm
User Manual, Explanatory
DVD, AA Battery×4、Hood (Use when an error occurs
because of excess brightness)

1 year warranty
5 year warranty period

Excludes cases where there isclear signs of misuse.
Free of charge if there is aproblem with manufacturing.
(It may be possible to repair
after the 5 year period, so pleasecontact us)

Measurement
MethodAccessories

Warranty

This product is under a license of Japanese Patent No. 3903147 owned by the Nagasaki
Prefecture, and developed by the technical cooperation of the Industrial Technology Centerof Nagasaki.

- 16 -【Warranty】◇Buyer◇Model

Ｎ－１Nondestructive Brix Meter◇Serial number◇Supported Item
◇Shipping Date
◇Warranty Period◇Warning
・ The free warranty will last one year after shipping. However, shock, water damage
and other signs of clear misuse will not be supported by the warranty even if it iswithin the warranty period.
・ The device will be repaired for free even if the warranty period is past if there is aproblem stemming from manufacturing.
・ The Paid repair period is 5 years after shipping, but if there is a stock of parts, theproduct can be repaired past this period.

【Contact】
Sales agent : FUJIHIRA INDUSTRY Inc.
Address：6-11-6 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, JAPANTEL：0081-3-3812-2270
FAX：0081-3-3812-3663
E-mail : liu.ha@fujihira.co.jp
URL : http://www.fujihira.co.jp
Manufacturer : Mechatronics Inc.
Address：4-4-26 Setogoshi, Sasebo, Nagasaki, 857-0134, JAPANURL: http://www.mechatronics.co.jp- 17 -