Methods and systems for seed variety selection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10455757-B2
Application number	US-201415024398-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2014
Priority date	Sep 30, 2013
Publication date	Oct 29, 2019
Grant date	Oct 29, 2019

Abstract

Described herein are methods and systems for planting seed. A system includes a row unit configured to open a planting trench. A first seed meter has a first coding scheme and receives a first seed type from a first hopper having the first coding scheme. A second meter has a second coding scheme and receives a second seed type from a second hopper having the second coding scheme.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for planting seed, comprising:
a first row unit configured to open a first planting trench;
a first seed meter having a first coded indicator with a first coding scheme, said first seed meter receiving a first seed type from a first hopper having a coded indicator with said first coding scheme, said first seed meter mounted to said first row unit; and
a second seed meter having a second coded indicator with a second coding scheme different from said first coding scheme, said second seed meter receiving a second seed type from a second hopper having a coded indicator with said second coding scheme, said second seed meter mounted to said first row unit;
wherein each of said coded indicators is disposed to be viewable and visually readable by an operator during planting operations.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first outlet receiving seed from said first hopper, said first outlet having a coded indicator with said first coding scheme;
a second outlet receiving seed from said second hopper, said second outlet having a coded indicator with said second coding scheme;
a first line fitting configured to be removably attached to said first outlet, said first line fitting having a coded indicator with said first coding scheme; and
a second line fitting configured to be removably attached to said second outlet, said second line fitting having a coded indicator with said second coding scheme.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first meter inlet receiving seed from said first hopper, said first meter inlet having a coded indicator with said first coding scheme;
a second meter inlet receiving seed from said second hopper, said second meter inlet having a coded indicator with said second coding scheme;
a first meter inlet fitting configured to be removably attached to said first meter inlet, said first meter inlet fitting having a coded indicator with said first coding scheme; and
a second meter inlet fitting configured to be removably attached to said second meter inlet, said second meter inlet fitting having a coded indicator with said second coding scheme.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second row unit configured to open a second planting trench;
a third seed meter having a coded indicator with said first coding scheme, said third seed meter receiving said first seed type from said first hopper, said third seed meter mounted to said second row unit; and
a fourth seed meter having a coded indicator with said second coding scheme, said fourth seed meter receiving said second seed type from said second hopper, said fourth seed meter mounted to said second row unit.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a first splitter, said first splitter dividing flow of said first seed type between said first seed meter and said third seed meter; and
a second splitter, said second splitter dividing flow of said second seed type between said second seed meter and said fourth seed meter.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein said first splitter has a coded indicator with said first coding scheme, and wherein said second splitter has a coded indicator with said second coding scheme.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first coding scheme comprises one of a first color or a first pattern, and wherein said second coding scheme comprises one of a second color or a second pattern.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first coding scheme comprises a first alphanumeric coding scheme, and wherein said second coding scheme comprises a second alphanumeric coding scheme.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a planter monitor having a memory, a processor, and a user interface, wherein said planter monitor displays a spatial hybrid map including a first hybrid planting area and a second hybrid planting area, wherein said first hybrid planting area has a coded indicator with said first coding scheme, and wherein said second hybrid planting area has a coded indicator with said second coding scheme.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein said spatial hybrid map comprises a prescription map, wherein said planter monitor is configured to command said first and second seed meters to plant according to said prescription map.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein said spatial hybrid map comprises a coverage map.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein said first coding scheme comprises one of a first color or a first pattern, and wherein said second coding scheme comprises one of a second color or a second pattern.

13. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:
an electrical harness;
a first drive driving said first seed meter;
a second drive driving said second seed meter;
a first pair of separable plugs cooperatively placing said electrical harness in communication with said first seed meter, wherein said first pair of separable plugs has a coded indicator with said first coding scheme, wherein said planter monitor transmits a first planting rate command to said first drive via said first pair of separable plugs; and
a second pair of separable plugs cooperatively placing said electrical harness in communication with said second seed meter, wherein said second pair of separable plugs has a coded indicator with said second coding scheme, wherein said planter monitor transmits a second planting rate command to said second drive via said second pair of separable plugs.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an electrical harness;
a first drive driving said first seed meter;
a second drive driving said second seed meter;
a first pair of separable plugs cooperatively placing said electrical harness in communication with said first seed meter, wherein said first pair of separable plugs has a coded indicator with said first coding scheme; and
a second pair of separable plugs cooperatively placing said electrical harness in communication with said second seed meter, wherein said second pair of separable plugs has a coded indicator with said second coding scheme.

15. A method of selectively planting different seed types in a field, comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving, via processing logic, an input which uniquely identifies a first seed type;
(b) receiving, via said processing logic, an input which uniquely identifies a bulk hopper to be filled with first seed type;
(c) receiving, via said processing logic, an input which uniquely identifies an auxiliary hopper associated with a seed meter of a row unit of a planter;
(d) determining, via said processing logic, whether said first seed type or another seed type has been stored in memory in association with said identified bulk hopper; and
(e) planting said first seed type from said identified bulk hopper upon determining that said row unit of said planter is located in the field in an area of a prescription map corresponding to said first seed type;
wherein said area of said prescription map has a coded indicator with a first coding scheme, wherein another area of said prescription map has a coded indicator with a second coding scheme different from said first coding scheme, wherein said identified bulk hopper has a coded indicator with said first coding scheme, and wherein said coded indicator is disposed to be viewable and is visually readable by an operator of the planter during planting operations.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein if said step (d) determines that said first seed type or another seed type has not been stored in memory in association with said identified bulk hopper, further comprising the step of:
requesting confirmation to

Assignees

• Prec Planting Llc

Inventors

• Sauder Derek
• Koch Dale
• Sauder Doug

Classifications

• A01C21/005 Primary

  Following a specific plan, e.g. pattern · CPC title

• A01C7/081

  Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01C7/128

  Cell discs · CPC title

• A01C7/046 Primary

  with perforated seeding discs · CPC title