Back to results
US 12,677,726 B2Granted
Camera based flow detection
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorAndrew W. Harmon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for identifying a flow of commodity through a commodity distribution system. The method including providing a tank configured to contain a commodity, selectively distributing commodity from the tank to a drill assembly to be distributed to an underlying surface, and monitoring the flow of commodity from the tank to the drill assembly with a camera to identify flow characteristics.
Claims20
A method for identifying a flow of commodity through a commodity distribution system, comprising:
- providing a tank configured to contain a commodity;
- selectively distributing commodity with a meter assembly from the tank to a drill assembly to be distributed to an underlying surface;
- and
- monitoring the flow of commodity from the tank to the drill assembly with a camera to identify flow characteristics while the commodity is being directed to the drill assembly;
- wherein the camera is positioned to identify a roller type of the meter assembly.
2 more elements
An air seeding system, comprising:
- a tank configured to at least partially contain a commodity;
- a meter assembly configured to selectively distribute commodity from the tank to one or more run;
- a drill assembly configured to direct the commodity provided by the one or more run to an underlying surface;
- a camera positioned along a flow path between the meter assembly and the drill assembly at a location configured to monitor the flow of commodity from the meter assembly to the drill;
- and
- a controller in communication with the camera;
- wherein, the controller analyzes data provided by the camera to determine flow characteristics of commodity along the flow path;
- wherein the camera is positioned at a splitter and is configured to observe the flow of commodity into each of a plurality of secondary runs to determine which of the plurality of secondary runs are receiving commodity.
5 more elements
A method for identifying the flow of commodity through a system, comprising:
- providing a fluid path between a tank and a drill;
- positioning a camera to view material moving along the fluid path as the material is being directed from the tank to the drill;
- communicating image data from the camera to a controller;
- analyzing the data with the controller to identify the flow characteristics of commodity moving along the fluid path;
- and
- showing images of the image data on a user interface to be viewed by a user.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.