# US 10,869,426 B2 · Mowing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,869,426 B2 - Document ID: US10869426B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/823,090 - Filed: 2017-11-27 - Published: 2019-05-30 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-27 - Assignees: Lely Patent N.V. - Applicants: Lely Patent N.V - Inventors: Willem Jacobus Reijersen Van Buuren - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10869426B2 ## CPC - A01D 34/54: Cutting-height adjustment - A01D 34/008: {for automated or remotely controlled operation} - A01D 34/74: Cutting-height adjustment - A01D 34/664: {Disc cutter bars} - A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING ## Abstract A mower system for mowing a field with a grass containing crop comprises a frame, a mowing device that is connected to the frame and has an adjustable mowing height, a sensor device arranged to sense a species composition related parameter, such as a ration grass-to-clover, of a part of the field, and to generate data based on the sensed parameter, and a control device that is operatively connected to the sensor device to receive the generated data, and is operatively connected to the mowing device and arranged to adjust the mowing height on the basis of the received data. This enables to adjust the mowing height dynamically, i.e. position dependently, based on the detected parameter. The mowing height influences the regrowth of e.g. grass and clover differently, so that the ratio can be influenced locally. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mower system for mowing a field with a grass containing crop, and comprising: a frame; a mowing device connected to the frame and having an adjustable mowing height; a sensor device arranged to sense a species composition related parameter of a part of the field, and to generate data based on the sensed parameter; and a control device operatively connected to the sensor device to receive the generated data, and operatively connected to the mowing device and arranged to adjust the mowing height on the basis of the received data, wherein the species composition related parameter comprises a type of crop to be cut. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mower system of claim 1, wherein the control device is arranged to adjust the mowing height during mowing of the field. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The mower system of claim 1, wherein the control device is arranged to adjust the mowing height for the part of the field for which the parameter was sensed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The mower system of claim 1, wherein the sensor device comprises a camera that generates an image of the part of the field, and an image processing device that processes the image and generates the data. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The mower system of claim 1, wherein the control device is arranged: to contain a desired value or value range for the determined parameter value reflected by the data; to compare the determined parameter value and the desired value or value range; and to adjust the mowing height on the basis of the comparison. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The mower system of claim 4, wherein the sensor device comprises an additional sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The mower system of claim 6, wherein the additional sensor is an ultrasound sensor or an optical NIR sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The mower system of claim 1, wherein the control device is arranged: to contain a desired value or value range for data; to compare the data and the desired value or value range to determine a ratio; and to adjust the mowing height on the basis of the comparison. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The mower system of claim 8, wherein the control device is arranged to adjust the mowing height to a first mowing height value, if the determined ratio is lower than a predetermined low threshold value, and to adjust the mowing height to a second mowing height value, if the determined ratio is higher than a predetermined high threshold value, and wherein the first mowing height is lower than the second mowing height. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The mower system of claim 9, wherein the first mowing height is lower than 6 cm, and wherein the second mowing height is higher than 6 cm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The mower system of claim 1, wherein the mower is a towable mower, arranged to be towed behind a towing vehicle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The mower system of claim 1, wherein the mower is an autonomous mower, and comprises a propelling system for propelling the mower over the field. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The mower system of claim 1, wherein the control device is arranged to adjust the mowing height during mowing of the field repeatedly or continuously on the basis of the received data. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The mower system of claim 9, wherein the first mowing height is lower than 5 cm, and wherein the second mowing height is higher than 7 cm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The mower system of claim 2, wherein the control device is arranged to adjust the mowing height for the part of the field for which the parameter was sensed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The mower system of claim 2, wherein the sensor device comprises a camera that generates an image of the piece of the field, and an image processing device that processes the image and generates the data. ### Claim 17 A mower system for mowing a field with a grass containing crop, and comprising: a frame; a mowing device connected to the frame and having an adjustable mowing height; a sensor device arranged to sense a species composition related parameter of a part of the field, and to generate data based on the sensed parameter; and a control device operatively connected to the sensor device to receive the generated data, and operatively connected to the mowing device and arranged to adjust the mowing height on the basis of the received data, wherein the sensor device is arranged to recognize at least one forage legume in the image. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The mower system of claim 17, wherein the at least one forage legume is a clover species, alfalfa or lucerne, and wherein the image processing device is arranged to recognize the at least one forage legume and grass in the image. ### Claim 19 A mower system for mowing a field with a grass containing crop, and comprising: a frame; a mowing device connected to the frame and having an adjustable mowing height; a sensor device arranged to sense a species composition related parameter of a part of the field, and to generate data based on the sensed parameter; and a control device operatively connected to the sensor device to receive the generated data, and operatively connected to the mowing device and arranged to adjust the mowing height on the basis of the received data, wherein the species composition related parameter comprises a ratio of at least one of a forage legume to a grass. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The mower system of claim 19, wherein the ratio is a coverage ratio of the field, of the at least one of a forage legume to a grass, the at least one forage legume being a clover species, alfalfa or lucerne, and wherein the data reflects or comprises the ratio.