Biomass impact sensor having a conformal encasement enveloping a pressure sensitive film
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsCurtis R. Hammer, Jonathan J. Nelson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A biomass impact sensor for sensing impacts of biomass material may include a pressure sensitive film having a first sensing face and a second opposite face, a first layer of a first material composition directly abutting the first sensing face having a first stiffness, and a second layer of a second material composition directly abutting the second opposite face. The first layer and the second layer may be joined along opposite edges of the pressure sensitive film to envelope the sensing material layer on the opposite edges.
Claims20
A biomass impact sensor for sensing impacts of biomass material, the sensor comprising:
- a pressure sensitive film having a first sensing face and a second opposite face;
- a conformal encasement enveloping the pressure sensitive film so as to directly abut the first sensing face and the second opposite face, the conformal encasement comprising:
- a first portion adjacent the first sensing face having a first stiffness;
- a second portion adjacent the second opposite face having a second stiffness less than the first stiffness;
- and
- a third portion extending from the first portion to the second portion along side edges of the pressure sensitive film.
A biomass impact sensor comprising:
- a pressure sensitive film having a first sensing face and a second opposite face;
- a first mat of a first fiber having a first stiffness proximate the first sensing face;
- a second mat of a second fiber having a second stiffness less than the first stiffness and proximate the second opposite face;
- a single continuous unitary mass of resin having a first portion impregnating the first mat, impregnating the second mat and extending between the first mat and the second mat along opposite edges of the pressure sensitive film to envelop the film along the opposite edges.
A harvester comprising:
- a crop gathering portion to separate crops from a growing medium;
- structures defining a pathway extending from the crop gathering portion and through which at least a portion of the crop is directed;
- a sensor along the pathway having a sensing face impacted by the portion of the crop, the sensor comprising:
- a pressure sensitive film having a first sensing face and a second opposite face;
- a conformal encasement enveloping the pressure sensitive film so as to directly abut the first sensing face and the second opposite face, the conformal encasement comprising:
- a first portion adjacent the first sensing face having a first stiffness;
- a second portion adjacent the second opposite face having a second stiffness less than the first stiffness;
- and
- a third portion extending from the first portion to the second portion along side edges of the pressure sensitive film.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.