Patent Document ID: 9435732
Application ID: 13379443
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A non-invasive method for detecting the present condition of an avian egg, comprising the steps of: obtaining a test measurement with a hyperspectral camera by measuring, at a predefined portion of a field of view of the hyperspectral camera, an amount of light of at least one predetermined wavelength corresponding to a reflectance or transmittance feature of an avian egg; comparing the test measurement to a reference measurement at substantially the same predetermined wavelength; confirming presence of an avian egg within the field of view of said camera when a difference between the test measurement and the reference measurement exceeds a predetermined threshold; obtaining, with the hyperspectral camera, at least one spectrum of the confirmed avian egg over a predetermined wavelength range; using a neural network algorithm to compare said spectrum with a predefined database of spectra defining possible values of said present condition; and, using the results of said comparison to assess the present condition of said avian egg.