Agricultural input selection system, methods and apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9615504-B2
Application number	US-201314653183-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2013
Priority date	Dec 21, 2012
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatus for applying varying agricultural inputs in accordance with a prescription map. The system includes a plurality of input sources each containing different agricultural inputs. A variety selector selectively places the different inputs from the plurality of input sources in communication with a meter for dispensing the inputs in accordance with the prescription map to minimize prescription errors.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for selecting agricultural inputs for application on a field, comprising:
a first input source containing a first agricultural input for application in a first region of a field;
a second input source containing a second agricultural input for application on a second region of the field;
a first meter configured to meter said first and second agricultural inputs;
a variety selector configured to selectively place said first and second agricultural inputs from said first and second input sources in fluid communication with said first meter; and
a first pre-meter sensor disposed along a first seed supply line to sense passage of said agricultural inputs through said first seed supply line, said first seed supply line extending between said variety selector and said first meter;
whereby, said first pre-meter sensor senses passage of said agricultural inputs from said first and second input sources to said first meter.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second meter configured to meter said first and second agricultural inputs, said second meter in fluid communication with said variety selector, wherein said variety selector is configured to selectively place said first input source and said second input source in fluid communication with said first meter and said second meter.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a second pre-meter sensor disposed along a second seed supply line to sense passage of said first and second agricultural inputs through said second seed supply line, said second seed supply line extending between said variety selector and said second meter.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first post-meter sensor disposed to sense said first and second agricultural inputs metered by said first meter after said first and second agricultural inputs are metered by said first meter.

5. The system of claim 3 , further comprising:
a second post-meter sensor disposed to sense said first and second agricultural inputs metered by said second meter after said first and second agricultural inputs are metered by said second meter.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a monitor capable of controlling said variety selector and capable of receiving signals from said pre-meter sensor, said monitor capable of estimating an amount of said first and second agricultural inputs communicated to said first meter.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said monitor has a prescription map stored in memory and is in communication with a global positioning receiver, said prescription map associating said first agricultural input with a first region of the field, said prescription map associating said second agricultural input with a second region of the field, a boundary between said first region and said second region defining an event occurrence, whereby said monitor selectively positions said variety selector to apply said first agricultural input in said first region and said second agricultural input in said second region in response to an input switch command corresponding to said event occurrence.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein said monitor is capable of timing said input switch command based on said estimate.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein said monitor is capable of determining a number of seeds to a variety switch event, wherein said monitor is configured to compare said number of seeds to said estimate, and wherein said monitor is configured to send said input switch command when said number of seeds is approximately equal to said estimate.

10. The system of claim 6 , further comprising:
a row switch in fluid communication with said first meter and said variety selector, said row switch disposed to prevent said first or second agricultural inputs from communicating between said variety selector to said first meter.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein said monitor is capable of sending a row shutoff signal to said row switch to prevent agricultural input from communication between said variety selector to said first meter in response to said row shutoff signal.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein said monitor is capable of estimating of an amount of agricultural input contained in said first meter, and capable of timing said row shutoff signal to minimize a prescription error.

13. The system of claim 12 , further including:
a staging pool disposed downstream of said row switch, said staging pool configured to prevent seed from entering a agricultural input pool of said first meter.

14. A method of varying agricultural inputs in a field during planting operations, comprising:
determining a distance of a row unit to an event occurrence on a prescription map;
counting a first number of seeds transmitted to a seed meter;
counting a second number of seeds deposited by said seed meter;
estimating a seed pool count based on said first number of seeds and said second number of seeds;
estimating a number of seeds-to-event; and
selecting a variety switch position based on said number of seeds-to-event in relation to said estimated seed pool count, in order to minimize a prescription error.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said event occurrence is a row shutoff state.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said event occurrence is a change in seed variety.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
modifying said variety switch position when said seed pool count is greater than or equal to said number of seeds-to-event.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
modifying a row shutoff state in order to minimize a prescription error.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein said step of modifying said row shutoff state includes comparing said estimated seed pool count to a threshold.

20. A multi-variety seed planter, comprising:
a plurality of row units, each row unit supporting a seed meter;
a plurality of seed hoppers each containing a different seed variety corresponding to seed variety regions of a prescription map of a field to be planted;
a variety selector disposed to permit communication of said different seed varieties from each of said plurality of seed hoppers to said seed meter of each of said plurality of row units;
a pre-meter sensor associated with each seed meter, said pre-meter sensor disposed along a seed supply line, said pre-meter sensor configured to detect said seeds communicated to said seed meter;
a post-meter sensor associated with each seed meter to detect said seeds dispensed by said seed meter; and
a monitor in communication with a GPS receiver to detect heading and position of each row unit in relation to boundaries on said prescription map defining post-event seed varieties and pre-event seed varieties as the row units pass over said boundaries, said monitor capable of determining a quantity of seeds communicated to said seed meter detected by said pre-meter sensor and capable of determining a quantity of seeds dispensed by said seed meter detected by said post-meter sensor so as to determine seeds-to-event of each of said plurality of row units, said monitor controlling said variety selector based on said determined seeds-to-event so as to switch from communicating said pre-event seed varieties to said post-event seed varieties to minimize prescription errors as said row units pass over said boundaries.

Assignees

• Prec Planting Llc

Inventors

• Sauder Timothy
• Baurer Phil
• Plattner Troy

Classifications

• A01B79/005

  Precision agriculture · CPC title

• A01C7/00 Primary

  Sowing · CPC title

• A01C21/005 Primary

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