Implement recognition lighting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11827286-B2
Application number	US-202016949420-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2020
Priority date	Apr 30, 2020
Publication date	Nov 28, 2023
Grant date	Nov 28, 2023

Abstract

Systems and methods for targeted illumination of an object coupled to a machine, such as an implement coupled to an agricultural vehicle, are disclosed. The systems and methods include sensing an area adjacent to the machine, determining whether an implement is present in the sensed area, and providing targeted illumination to the detected object while avoiding the provision of light to the area that is not occupied by the object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An illumination control system comprising:
a lighting system comprising a plurality of light sources having an arrangement in which each light source provides selective illumination to different regions of an area;
a sensor that detects an object within the area surrounding the lighting system; and
a controller communicably coupled to the lighting system and the sensor to receive a signal from the sensor indicative of a condition of the area, to determine whether the condition reflects an object being positioned adjacent to the lighting system, and selectively to activate one or more of the plurality of light sources to provide targeted visible illumination to visibly illuminate a detected object while preventing visible illumination to portions of the area not occupied by the detected object.

2. The illumination control system of claim 1 , further comprising an agent resident on the controller, the agent comprising a machine learning model that utilizes machine learning to detect an object using the signal from the sensor.

3. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light sources are arranged such that each light source directs visible illumination to a portion of the area that is different from portions of the area to which the other light sources of the plurality of light sources direct visible illumination.

4. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein visible illumination provided by the plurality of light sources combine to form an illumination matrix that surrounds the lighting system, wherein each light source provides visible illumination to a different portion of the illumination matrix.

5. The illumination system of claim 4 , wherein the controller selectively activates the light sources that provide visible illumination to portions of the illumination matrix occupied by the detected object.

6. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the plurality of light sources provide visible illumination that combine to form an illumination zone.

7. The illumination control system of claim 6 , wherein the illumination zone defines an annular ring or portion of an annular ring that surrounds the lighting system.

8. The illumination control system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light sources are arranged in two or more groups, wherein collective visible illumination from each group defines an illumination zone, and wherein the illumination zones is radially offset from each other.

9. The illumination control system of claim 8 , wherein light sources within each group provide visible illumination to a discrete portion of the illumination zone, the discrete portions combining to form the illumination zone.

10. A method of selectively illuminating an area, the method comprising:
sensing, with a sensor, a condition of an area;
determining the presence of an object within the area based on the sensed condition using machine learning; and
selectively actuating one or more light sources to provide targeted visible illumination to a portion of the area occupied by a detected object and prevent actuating one or more other light sources that provides visible illumination to portions of the area not occupied by the detected object.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the sensor is selected from a group consisting of a camera, a light sensor, or a lidar.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more light sources comprises a plurality of light sources, wherein visible illumination provided by the plurality of light sources combine to form an illumination matrix, wherein each light source provides visible illumination to a different portion of the illumination matrix.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein sensing, with a sensor, a condition of an area comprises receiving one or more images of the area.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining the presence of an object within the area based on the sensed condition using machine learning comprises determining a portion of the area occupied by the detected object.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein selectively actuating one or more light sources to provide targeted visible illumination to a portion of the area occupied by a detected object and prevent actuating one or more other light sources that provides visible illumination to portions of the area not occupied by the detected object comprises selectively actuating the one or more light sources to fully illuminate the detected object.

16. An agricultural vehicle comprising:
a body;
an implement connector;
a lighting system coupled to a first portion of the body, the lighting system comprising a plurality of light sources;
a plurality of sensors distributed along a second portion of the body that senses an area adjacent to at least a portion of the body; and
a controller communicably coupled to the lighting system and the plurality of sensors, the controller operable to receive signals from the plurality of sensors, determine the presence of an implement within the sensed area, and selectively actuate one or more of the light sources to provide targeted visible illumination to a detected implement while preventing actuation of other light sources of the plurality of light sources that is to provide visible illumination to a portion of the area not occupied by the detected implement.

17. The agricultural vehicle of claim 16 , wherein determination of the presence of an implement is performed using machine learning.

18. The agricultural vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the implement is coupled to the implement connector.

19. The agricultural vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of light sources are arranged such that each light sources provides visible illumination to a particular portion of the area.

20. The agricultural vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the signals from the plurality of sensors comprise image data.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Demski Nathan R
• Huenink Brian M
• Keen Eric A

Classifications

• B62D49/0614 Primary

  equipped with visual aids for positioning implements or to control working condition (optical signalling for vehicles in general B60Q1/26) · CPC title

• A01B76/00

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

• F21S41/657

  by moving light sources · CPC title

• H05B47/115

  by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings · CPC title

• H05B47/155

  Coordinated control of two or more light sources · CPC title