Development of Tobacco Ripeness Grading Meter Using the Color Sensor

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A tobacco ripeness grading meter was designed and constructed using the color sensor, its performance was evaluated. A degree of ripeness grading of a leaf is very closely related to the measured tobacco leaf color. Measuring the small amount of the reflectance precisely depends on the apparatus including color sensor, light source, detector sensitivity, and geometric characteristics of appratus. To analyze and minimize the variational effects, experiments to select the proper condition were performed. Because of the combined effect mentioned above, the system has some variation on its response. Basis on the results of the experiments, prototype was developed and interfaced to a computer system. The main components of prototype included a tungsten lamp as a light source, Amorphous full color sensor with three filters, regulated D.C. power supply, OP - AMP(741 TC) for amplification, AR - B3001 board for interfacing to a computer with analog to digital conversion, and a compatible IBM PC XT computer. The experimental results of the developed ripeness tobacco leaf measurement system are summarized as following: [1] The output readings of ripeness grade meter for tobacco leaf, which is based on harvesting time, showed the apparent difference in variety of different quality. It was considered suitable that three filters(red, green, blue) in Amorphous full color sensor could be used in four different ripeness degree measurement of tobacco leaf. [2] The output readings of ripeness grade meter for tobacco leaf, which is based on government procurement, showed apparent difference in variety of different quality. Tobacco leaf varieties to stalk position are divided into tips, leaf, cutters, and primings, It is considered suitable that only red filter in the sensor could be used to classify the grade of tobacco leaf within the same kind tobacco stalk. However, the ripeness grade meter was not adequate to classify all the tobacco grades in the four different tobacco leaves.