Systems, methods, and apparatus for multi-row agricultural implement control and monitoring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9872424-B2
Application number	US-201615150403-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2016
Priority date	Jul 25, 2012
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

A monitoring system and method for modify a motor speed driving a seed conveyor on an implement so that the seed release speed is matched to the travel speed of the implement. A speed sensor measures the travel speed of the implement. A seed conveyor having a plurality of flights receives seeds from a seed meter. A monitor is in communication with the speed sensor, the motor driving the seed conveyor, a first sensor disposed to detect the passing of seeds and the flights as they travel toward the soil and a second sensor disposed to detect the passing of flights after the seed is released, wherein the monitor modifies the motor speed of the conveyor based on the speed sensor and signals generated by the first sensor and second sensor.

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 said seeds, wherein said seed conveyor is configured to guide said seeds down said forward side of said seed conveyor to a lower end of said seed conveyor, and wherein said seed conveyor is configured to release said seeds from said lower end, wherein said flights ascend said rearward side without said 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 seed conveyor;
a motor configured to drive said seed conveyor;
a speed sensor configured to measure a travel speed of the row unit associated with said seed conveyor;
a second seed sensor mounted to said rearward side of said seed conveyor, said second seed sensor disposed to detect the presence of flights ascending said rearward side of said seed conveyor;
a monitor including a processor, said monitor being in data communication with said motor, said speed sensor, said first seed sensor and said second seed sensor, wherein said monitor determines a desired motor speed to match a seed release speed to said travel speed, and wherein said monitor commands said motor to modify an actual speed of said motor to said desired motor speed.

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 , 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.

4. The monitoring system of claim 3 , wherein said monitor is configured to generate a corrected signal based on said first signal and said second signal.

5. The monitoring system of claim 3 , 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.

6. The monitoring system of claim 5 , wherein said monitor is configured to apply a time shift to said second signal.

7. The monitoring system of claim 6 , wherein said time shift is related to the relative position of the first and second seed sensor and the distance between adjacent flights.

8. The monitoring system of claim 6 , 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.

9. The monitoring system of claim 3 , 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.

10. The monitoring system of claim 9 , wherein said monitor is configured to identify said seed pulse portion based on the timing of a flight pulse in said second signal.

11. The monitoring system of claim 10 , wherein said monitor is configured to apply a time shift to said second signal.

12. The monitoring system of claim 11 , 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.

13. 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;
with a first sensor, detecting both said seeds and said flights passing a first location as said seeds and said flights travel from said upper portion of said seed conveyor to said lower portion of said seed conveyor, wherein said first sensor is mounted to a first portion of said seed conveyor, wherein said flights pass through said first portion in a generally downward direction, and wherein said flights convey seeds in a generally downward direction through said first portion; and
with a second sensor, detecting said flights passing a second location as said flights travel from said lower portion of said seed conveyor toward said upper portion of said seed conveyor after said seeds are released from between said flights, wherein said second sensor is mounted to a second portion of said seed conveyor, wherein said flights pass through said second portion in a generally upward direction, and wherein said flights do not convey seeds through said second portion.

14. The method of claim 13 , further including:
distinguishing seeds from flights at said first location based on a time at which flights are detected at said second location.

15. The method of claim 14 , 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.

16. The method of claim 15 , 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.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said time shift is related to the relative position of the first and second location and the distance between adjacent flights.

18. The method of claim 16 , 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.

19. The method of claim 14 , further including:
applying a speed modification to an operational speed of said seed conveyor.

20. The method of claim 19 , further including:
determining a travel speed of said seed conveyor, wherein said speed modification is based on said travel speed.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein said travel speed is a row-unit specific speed.

22. The method of claim 19 , 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.

23. The method of claim 22 , 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-ro

Assignees

• Prec Planting Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A01C5/068

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

• A01C19/02

  by a motor · CPC title

• A01C7/105 Primary

  Seed sensors · CPC title

• A01C21/005

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

• A01M9/0092

  Regulating or controlling systems (the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06) · CPC title