# US 12,765,446 B2 · Systems and methods for monitoring seed placement within the ground > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,765,446 B2 - Document ID: US12765446B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/514,860 - Filed: 2021-10-29 - Published: 2023-05-04 - Granted: 2026-10-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-10-29 - Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC - Applicants: CNH Industrial America LLC - Inventors: Michael Christopher Conboy; Trevor Stanhope - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12765446B2 ## CPC - A01C 7/105: {Seed sensors} - A01C 5/062: {Devices for making drills or furrows} - A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00) ## Abstract A method for monitoring seed placement within the ground during the performance of a planting operation includes receiving, with a computing device, a timing signal associated with a detection of a seed to be deposited within soil by a row unit as the row unit is actively depositing seeds within the soil, and identifying, with the computing device, a time associated with when the seed will pass through a detection zone of a seed placement sensor supported relative to the row unit based on the timing signal. The seed placement sensor is configured to detect the seed as planted underneath a surface of the soil. In addition, the method includes evaluating, with the computing device, data collected by the seed placement sensor during the identified time to determine a seed placement parameter associated with seed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for monitoring seed placement within the ground during the performance of a planting operation, the method comprising: receiving, with a computing device, a timing signal associated with a detection of a seed to be deposited within soil by a row unit as the row unit is actively depositing seeds within the soil; identifying, with the computing device, an evaluation window associated with when the seed will pass through a detection zone of a seed placement sensor supported relative to the row unit based on the timing signal, the seed placement sensor configured to detect the seed as planted underneath a surface of the soil; selectively utilizing, with the computing device, the seed placement sensor based on the evaluation window; and evaluating, with the computing device, data collected by the seed placement sensor during the evaluation window to determine a seed placement parameter associated with seed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the timing signal comprises receiving the timing signal from a timing sensor configured to detect the seed as it passes through a component of the row unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the timing signal from the timing sensor comprises receiving the timing signal from a seed tube sensor configured to detect the seed passing through a seed tube of the row unit or receiving the timing signal from a seed meter sensor configured to detect the seed passing through a seed meter of the row unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the evaluation window associated with when the seed will pass through the detection zone of the seed placement sensor comprises determining a time delay between an instance at which the seed is detected for generating the timing signal and an instance at which the seed is about to or begins to pass through the detection zone of the seed placement sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the evaluation window opens following the time delay. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein selectively utilizing the seed placement sensor based on the identified time comprises temporarily activating the seed placement sensor over the evaluation window such that the seed placement sensor collects the data as the seed passes through the detection zone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein selectively utilizing the seed placement sensor based on the identified time comprises sampling a subset of the data collected by the seed placement sensor over the evaluation window; wherein evaluating the data collected by the seed placement sensor comprises evaluating the sampled subset of the data collected by the seed placement sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting, with the computing device, an operating parameter of the seed placement sensor based on the evaluation window. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, with the computing device, a seed spacing or seed population for the seeds deposited within the soil by the row unit based at least in part on the determined seed placement parameter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically adjusting, with the computing device, operation of the row unit based on the seed placement parameter. ### Claim 11 A system for monitoring seed placement within the ground during the performance of a planting operation, the system comprising: a row unit configured to deposit seeds within the soil, the row unit including a furrow opening assembly configured to create a furrow in the soil for depositing seeds and a furrow closing assembly configured to close the furrow after the seeds having been deposited therein; a timing sensor supported relative to the row unit and being configured to detect a seed to be deposited within the soil by the row unit; a seed placement sensor supported relative to the row unit and being configured to detect the seed as planted underneath a surface of the soil; and a computing system communicatively coupled to the timing sensor and the seed placement sensor, the computing system being configured to: receive a timing signal from the timing sensor associated with the detection of the seed to be deposited within the soil by the row unit; identify an evaluation window associated with when the seed will pass through a detection zone of the seed placement sensor based on the timing signal; selectively utilize the seed placement sensor based on the evaluation window; and evaluate data collected by the seed placement sensor during the evaluation window to determine a seed placement parameter associated with seed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the timing sensor is configured to detect the seed as it passes through a component of the row unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the timing sensor comprises one of a seed tube sensor configured to detect the seed passing through a seed tube of the row unit or a seed meter sensor configured to detect the seed passing through a seed meter of the row unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the computing system is configured to identify the evaluation window at least in part by determining a time delay between an instance at which the seed is detected by the timing sensor and an instance at which the seed is about to or begins to pass through the detection zone of the seed placement sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the computing system is further configured to selectively utilize the seed placement sensor over the evaluation window after expiration of the time delay. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the computing system is configured to selectively utilize the seed placement sensor by temporarily activating the seed placement sensor over the evaluation window such that the seed placement sensor collects the data as the seed passes through the detection zone. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the computing system is configured to selectively utilize the seed placement sensor by sampling a subset of the data collected by the seed placement sensor over the evaluation window, the sampled subset of the data being evaluated to determine the seed placement parameter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the seed placement parameter comprises at least one of a position or depth of the seed. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the seed placement sensor comprises a ground-penetrating radar. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the detection zone of the ground penetrating radar is located aft of the closer assembly relative to a direction of travel of the row unit.