On-the-go soil sensors and control methods for agricultural machines
AssigneeAg Leader Technology
InventorRoger R. Zielke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An on-the-go monitor and control means and method for an agriculture machines includes on-the-go soil sensors that can be used to control tillage and seeding depth. On seeder implements, the sensors provide information that affects uniform plant emergence.
Claims29
A method of monitoring and displaying readings associated with a sensor measuring seed-to-soil contact on a seeder as the seeder seeds a field, the seeder comprising one or more row units creating seed trenches in the soil, the method comprising:
- a. sensing seed-to-soil contact data with the sensor on a row unit of the seeder as the seeder seeds the field, the seed-to-soil contact data comprising data related to sensed voids in soil or voids caused by clods at or proximate a bottom, side, or both of the seed trench at or near the bottom of the seed trench in the soil created by the row unit while planting the seeds on-the-go that could affect uniform seed to soil contact between seed and soil;
- and
- b. displaying on a display on an agricultural machine associated with the seeder a representation of seed-to-soil contact.
A seeding machine having a row unit for seeding a field comprising:
- a. a seed-to-soil contact sensor at each row unit producing seed-to-soil contact readings the seed-to-soil readings related to sensed voids in soil or voids caused by clods at or proximate a bottom, side, or both of the seed trench at or near the bottom of the seed trench in the soil created by the row unit while planting the seeds on-the-go that could affect uniform seed to soil contact between seed and soil;
- b. an adjustable a trash cleaner tool or tillage tool mounted ahead of the row unit to remove or pulverize clods;
- and
- c. a controller having
- 1. an input receiving the seed-to-soil contact readings;
- and
- 2. an output to adjust the trash cleaner tool or tillage tool based on the seed-to-soil contact readings.
A seeding machine with a row unit with adjustable planting depth or downforce for seeding a field and a trash cleaner tool or tillage tool mounted ahead of the row unit to remove or pulverize clods, comprising:
- a. a seed firmer on the row unit of the seeding machine;
- b. a seed-to-soil contact sensor on the seed firmer and producing seed-to-soil contact readings, the seed-to-soil contact readings relating to whether there is uniform seed-to-soil contact along a seed trench formed by the seeding machine, the seed-to-soil readings related to sensed voids in soil or voids caused by clods at or proximate a bottom, side, or both of the seed trench at or near the bottom of the seed trench in the soil created by the row unit while planting the seeds on-the-go that could affect uniform seed to soil contact between seed and soil;
- c. a controller having
- i. an input receiving the seed-to-soil contact readings;
- and
- ii. an output comprising a representation of uniform seed-to-soil contact from the seed-to- soil contact readings;
- d. a display on an agricultural machine associated with the seeding machine presenting the representation of seed to soil contact from the output of the controller;
- e. adjusting the trash cleaner tool or tillage tool based on the seed-to-soil contact readings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.