Radar based seed sensor for use with agricultural systems, methods, and apparatus
AssigneeKinze Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsRyan Taylor, Dustan Hahn, Scott Porter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sensor assembly includes a sensor in the form of a microwave radar device to dispense microwaves in an area where seed or other particulate material is to be sensed. This may be a seed tube of a row unit. The microwaves of the radar provide an accurate determination if a seed or other particulate material has passed through the field of vision of the sensor to provide an accurate sensing of a seed event. This information can be used to determine the rate of planting, skips, doubles, as well as any other information related to the passing of a seed or other particulate material.
Claims20
A row unit of an agricultural planter, comprising:
- a seed meter;
- a seed delivery system operatively connected to the seed meter to deliver seed from the seed meter and towards a furrow;
- and
- a seed sensor assembly operatively connected to the seed delivery system, the seed sensory assembly including a seed sensor comprising a microwave radar device at least partially within a housing, and wherein the housing comprises a radar absorbing material to direct the field of view of the radar device.
A row unit, comprising:
- a seed tube;
- a microwave radar device is associated with the seed tube and generates and receives electromagnetic waves, said microwave radar device comprising a seed sensor assembly operatively connected to the seed delivery system, the seed sensory assembly including a seed sensor comprising a microwave radar device at least partially within a housing, and wherein the housing comprises a radar absorbing material to direct the field of view of the radar device;
- wherein signal processing components electronically process the transmitted and received waves and generate electronic signals that represent the presence of a seed.
A method of sensing seed and other particulate at a planter row unit, the method comprising:
- generating electromagnetic waves with a seed sensor positioned in a seed tube of the row unit;
- receiving electromagnetic waves with the seed sensor;
- processing the electromagnetic waves according to properties associated therewith, said properties comprising energy, time delay, and frequency shift;
- and
- generating electromagnetic signals that represent the presence of a seed and characteristics associated therewith, said characteristics comprising size, shape, orientation, material, distance, and velocity of the seed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.