Control units, nodes, system, and method for transmitting and communicating data

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021321557-A1
Application number	US-202117305126-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 30, 2021
Priority date	Nov 1, 2016
Publication date	Oct 21, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Agricultural electronics include many components. The components can be connected via an electronic link that connects the various components to components of an agricultural implement. This can include the use of a component type identifier and a master module. The identifier and the module can communicate data, including identification data and instructional data, to easily acknowledge and operate various electrical components of the agricultural implement. Additional sensors can be included to provide even additional data that is communicated between the module and the components of the agricultural implement to aid in providing instructions for operation and to provide additional data information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of transmitting electronic information in an agricultural system, the method comprising:
connecting an electronic component associated with the agricultural system to a display unit via an Ethernet connection; acquiring information with the electronic component; and communicating, via the Ethernet connection, the acquired information to the display unit.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting instructions from the display unit to the electronic component via the Ethernet connection.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising transmitting operating information from the electronic component to the display unit before acquiring information.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising routing the information, via routing members connected via the Ethernet connection between the electronic component and the display unit.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic component comprises one or more of:
a. a sensor; b. a motor; c. a camera; d. a light; e. an actuator; f. a fan; g. a processing unit; h. an inertial measurement unit (IMU); or i. a router.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing information displayed on the display unit.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising connecting a plurality of electronic components to the display unit via a common Ethernet connection.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the Ethernet connection comprises a plurality of physical Ethernet conduits connected to the display unit.

10 . A system for controlling the transmission of data within an agricultural system, the system comprising:
a display unit for displaying information associated with the agricultural system; a plurality of electronic components, the plurality of electronic components configured to perform an operation associated with the agricultural system; and an Ethernet connection connecting the plurality of electronic components and the display unit to control the transmission of data between the plurality of electronic components and the display unit of the agricultural system.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the electronic component comprises one or more of:
a. a sensor; b. a motor; c. a camera; d. a light; e. an actuator; f. a fan; g. a processing unit; h. an inertial measurement unit (IMU); or i. a router.

12 . The system of claim 10 , further comprising one or more motor controls connected, via Ethernet, to the electronic component to provide controls to said electronic component.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the Ethernet connection comprises one or more Ethernet cables, wherein each of the one or more Ethernet cables are connected to one or more electronic components.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more Ethernet cable are combined prior to the display unit.

15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the agricultural system comprises a prime mover and a towed implement, and wherein the display unit is positioned at the prime mover and the electronic components are positioned at one or both of the prime mover and the towed implement.

16 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the display unit is positioned in a tractor, and the plurality of electronic components are positioned on a towed agricultural implement.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the display unit is a user interface to allow a user to adjust or alter the operation of one or more of the electronic components.

18 . An agricultural system, comprising:
a tractor; an agricultural implement connected to the tractor and comprising a plurality of electronic components to perform one or more tasks associated with an agricultural operation; a display unit in the tractor, wherein said display unit conveying information related to one or more of the electronic components; and an Ethernet connection between the one or more electronic components and the display unit, said Ethernet connection transmitting information, data, and/or instructions between the display unit and each of the plurality of electronic components.

19 . The agricultural system of claim 18 , wherein the agricultural implement is an agricultural planter, and said electronic components performing tasks associated with planting.

20 . The agricultural system of claim 19 , wherein the display unit is a user interface to allow a user to adjust or alter the operation of one or more of the electronic components.

Assignees

• Kinze Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Taylor Max
• Legge Ryan
• Wilhelmi Matthew J
• Hahn Dustan
• Shults Jamie
• Taylor Ryan
• Schoon Jason
• Minton Kelly
• Mcmahan Ryan
• Moeller Matthew
• Whiteman Will

Classifications

• A01B59/00 Primary

  Devices specially adapted for connection between animals or tractors and agricultural machines or implements · CPC title

• G06F13/00

  Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units (interface circuits for specific input/output devices G06F3/00 {; multiprogram control therefor  G06F9/46}; multiprocessor systems  G06F15/16 ) · CPC title

• A01C7/00

  Sowing · CPC title

• A01B69/004

  automatic · CPC title

• E02F9/265

  with follow-up actions (e.g. control signals sent to actuate the work tool) · CPC title