Precision depth control of seed planting units of an agricultural implement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11019762-B2
Application number	US-201816033552-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2018
Priority date	Jul 12, 2018
Publication date	Jun 1, 2021
Grant date	Jun 1, 2021

Abstract

A method of precision depth control for seed planting units of an agricultural implement. The agricultural implement can include a plurality of seed planting units, with each seed planting unit being configured to provide an individually adjustable depth setting and having a visual indicator associated therewith. The method can include receiving a selection of a seed planting unit of the plurality of seed planting units, visually indicating the selected seed planting unit with the visual indicator associated therewith, receiving depth adjustment data for the selected seed planting unit, and adjusting the depth of the selected seed planting unit based on the depth adjustment data.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of precision depth control for seed planting units of an agricultural implement, the agricultural implement comprising a plurality of seed planting units, each seed planting unit being configured to provide an individually adjustable depth setting and having a visual indicator located thereon, the method comprising:
receiving a selection of a seed planting unit of the plurality of seed planting units;
visually indicating the selected seed planting unit with a first visual indication on the visual indicator located on the selected seed planting unit;
receiving depth adjustment data for the selected seed planting unit;
adjusting the depth of the selected seed planting unit based on the depth adjustment data;
during adjustment of the depth of the selected seed planning unit, visually indicating with a second visual indication on the visual indicator located on the selected seed planting unit; and
visually indicated with a third visual indication on the visual indicator located on the selected seed planning unit after adjustment of the depth of the selected seed planning unit is complete.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein visually indicating with the first, second and third visual indications comprises illuminating the visual indicator located on the selected seed planting unit with a particular color.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the depth of the selected seed planting unit has been correctly adjusted; and
visually indicating with the third visual indication on the visual indicator located on the selected seed planning unit is responsive to determining that depth of the selected seed planting unit has been correctly adjusted.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein visually indicating with the third visual indication comprises illuminating the visual indicator located on the selected seed planting unit with a particular color.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the seed planting unit comprises one of a subset of seed planting units of the plurality of seed planting units and each subset of seed planting units having a visual indicator located thereon;
receiving the selection comprises receiving a selection of the subset of seed planting units;
visually indicating the selected seed planting unit comprises visually indicating the selected subset of seed planting units with at least one of the visual indicators located thereon;
receiving depth adjustment data comprises receiving depth adjustment data for the selected subset of seed planting units; and
adjusting the depth comprises adjusting the depths of the selected subset of seed planting units based on the depth adjustment data.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
determining that the depths of the selected subset of seed planting units has been correctly adjusted; and
visually indicating the correct adjustment of the selected subset of seed planting units with the visual indicators located thereon.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the selected subset comprises one of a plurality of predetermined subsets of seed planting units.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the depth of the selected seed planting unit has been incorrectly adjusted; and
visually indicating with a fourth visual indication on the visual indicator located on the selected seed planning unit is responsive to determining that depth of the selected seed planting unit has been incorrectly adjusted.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
readjusting the depth of the selected seed planting to a default depth or a depth within a margin of error of the depth adjustment data.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Wright Jared S
• Marciniuk Corey Neal

Classifications

• A01B63/22

  operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01B76/00

  Parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, not provided for in groups A01B51/00 - A01B75/00 · CPC title

• A01B63/008 Primary

  Vertical adjustment of tools (A01B63/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01C7/203 Primary

  comprising depth regulation means · CPC title

• A01C5/068

  Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels · CPC title