Systems, methods, and apparatus for multi-row agriculturalimplement control and monitoring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9332689-B2
Application number	US-201314417146-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 25, 2013
Priority date	Jul 25, 2012
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring and controlling an agricultural implement, including seed planting implements. Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for detecting seeds being conveyed by seed conveyor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A monitoring system for an agricultural implement having a plurality of row units, comprising:
a seed meter;
a seed conveyor having a forward side and a rearward side, said seed conveyor being disposed to receive seeds from said seed meter, said seed conveyor comprising a belt, said belt having a plurality of flights configured to convey seeds, wherein said seed conveyor is configured guide down said forward side of said seed conveyor to a lower end of said seed conveyor, wherein said seed conveyor is configured to release seeds from said lower end, wherein said flights ascend said rearward side without seeds;
a first seed sensor mounted to said forward side of said conveyor, said first seed sensor disposed to detect the presence of seeds and flights descending said forward side of said conveyor; and
a second seed sensor mounted to said rearward side of said conveyor, said second seed sensor disposed to detect the presence of flights ascending said rearward side of said conveyor.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said first seed sensor comprises an optical sensor, and wherein said second seed sensor comprises an optical sensor.

3. The monitoring system of claim 1 , further including:
a monitor including a processor, said monitor being in data communication with said first seed sensor, and said monitor being in data communication with said second seed sensor.

4. The monitoring system of claim 3 , wherein said monitor is configured to record a first signal generated by said first seed sensor, and wherein said monitor is configured to record a second signal generated by said second seed sensor.

5. The monitoring system of claim 4 , wherein said monitor is configured to generate a corrected signal based on said first signal and said second signal.

6. The monitoring system of claim 4 , wherein said monitor is configured to subtract from the amplitude of a first signal portion of said first signal based on the amplitude of a second signal portion of said second signal.

7. The monitoring system of claim 6 , wherein said monitor is configured to apply a time shift to said second signal.

8. The monitoring system of claim 7 , wherein said time shift is related to the relative position of the first and second seed sensor and the distance between adjacent flights.

9. The monitoring system of claim 7 , wherein said time shift is related to the time between a pulse in said first signal and an immediately subsequent pulse in said second signal.

10. The monitoring system of claim 4 , wherein said first signal includes a seed pulse portion and a flight pulse portion, and wherein said monitor is configured to distinguish between said seed pulse portion and said flight pulse portion by comparing said first signal to said second signal.

11. The monitoring system of claim 10 , wherein said monitor is configured to identify said seed pulse portion based on the timing of a flight pulse in said second signal.

12. The monitoring system of claim 11 , wherein said monitor is configured to apply a time shift to said second signal.

13. The monitoring system of claim 12 , wherein said time shift is related to one of the relative position of the first and second seed sensor and the distance between adjacent flights and the time between a pulse in said first signal and an immediately subsequent pulse in said second signal.

14. A method for monitoring an agricultural implement, comprising:
receiving seeds into an upper portion of a seed conveyor, said seed conveyor including a belt having a plurality of flights;
conveying seeds between said flights from an upper portion of said seed conveyor to a lower portion of said seed conveyor;
releasing seeds from said lower portion of said seed conveyor;
detecting passage of both seeds and flights past a first location past which seeds and flights travel from said upper portion of said seed conveyor to said lower portion of said seed conveyor; and
detecting passage of flights past a second location past which flights travel toward said upper portion of said seed conveyor after seeds are released from between said flights.

15. The method of claim 14 , further including:
distinguishing seeds from flights at said first location based on a time at which flights are detected at said second location.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of distinguishing seeds from flights is carried out by:
generating a raw seed signal indicative of passage of seeds and flights past said first location;
generating a flight signal indicative of passage of flights past said second location; and
identifying a seed pulse within said raw seed signal based on said flight signal.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of identifying a seed pulse within said raw seed signal based on said flight signal is carried out by:
applying a time shift to one of said flight signal and said raw seed signal;
identifying flight passage portions of said raw seed signal by comparing said flight signal to said raw seed signal; and
identifying seed passage portions of said raw seed signal by comparing portions other than said flight passage portions to a seed event threshold.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said time shift is related to the relative position of the first and second location and the distance between adjacent flights.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein said time shift is related to the time between a pulse in said raw seed signal and an immediately subsequent pulse in said flight signal.

20. The method of claim 15 , further including:
applying a speed modification to an operational speed of said seed conveyor.

21. The method of claim 20 , further including:
determining a travel speed of said seed conveyor, wherein said speed modification is based on said travel speed.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein said travel speed is a row-unit specific speed.

23. The method of claim 20 , further including:
sensing a tractor travel speed with a speed sensor, said speed sensor in electrical communication with a monitor having a monitor bus node, said bus node being in electrical communication with an implement bus.

24. The method of claim 23 , further including:
transmitting said tractor travel speed to a central processor via said implement bus, said central processor having a central processor bus node; and
transmitting said tractor travel speed to a multi-row control module via said implement bus, said multi-row control module having a control module bus node, said multi-row control module being in electrical communication with a row bus, said row bus being in electrical communication with a first drive module, a second drive module, a first conveyor module, and a second conveyor module, wherein said first drive module comprises an electrical assembly mounted directly to a first seed meter drive motor, said first seed meter drive motor configured to drive a seed disc via a gearbox, wherein said electrical assembly includes a circuit board including a bus node, a processor, a motor PWM driver, and a motor encoder signal conditioning chip.

25. The method of claim 24 , further including:
calculating individual desired operating speeds for said first drive module, said second drive module, said first conveyor module, and said second conveyor module; and
transmitting said desired operating speeds via said row bus to said first drive module, said second drive

Assignees

• Prec Planting Llc

Inventors

• Baurer Phil
• Sauder Tim
• Stoller Jason
• Sauder Derek
• Hodel Jeremy

Classifications

• A01C7/06

  Seeders combined with fertilising apparatus · CPC title

• A01C7/128

  Cell discs · CPC title

• A01C21/005

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

• A01C7/102

  Regulating or controlling the seed rate · CPC title

• A01C7/105 Primary

  Seed sensors · CPC title