# US 2024/0198331 A1 · Agricultural sampling system and related methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0198331 A1 - Document ID: US20240198331A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/555,919 - Filed: 2022-05-25 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-06-22 - Assignees: Precision Planting LLC - Applicants: Precision Planting LLC - Inventors: Todd Swanson; Adam Vaccari; Timothy A. Schaefer; Riley Litwiller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240198331A1 ## CPC - B01L 3/502715: {characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces} - G01N 33/24: Earth materials (G01N33/42 takes precedence) - G01N 33/245: {for agricultural purposes} - B01L 2200/027: for microfluidic devices - B01L 2200/147: Employing temperature sensors - B01L 2200/148: Specific details about calibrations - B01L 2300/0887: Laminated structure - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding first to produce a sample slurry. The system includes a multi-layered microfluidic manifold chemical analysis substrate configured to provide a temperature-compensated concentration of analytes or other chemical properties associated with the sample. The system utilizes a programmable controller, temperature sensor, and absorbance measurement device for that purpose. The system can be used to analyze various type of agricultural-related samples including soil, vegetation, manure, milk or other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A microfluidic manifold for analyzing an agricultural sample comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of microfluidic devices fluidly coupled together by microchannels configured to convey a sample fluid derived from the agricultural sample; a measurement device mounted to the substrate, the measurement device configured to measure an absorbance value associated with an analyte in the sample fluid; a temperature sensor configured to measure a real-time temperature of the sample fluid; and a programmable controller operably coupled to the measurement device and temperature sensor, the controller being configured to determine a temperature-compensated concentration of the analyte based on the measured absorbance value and real-time temperature. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The microfluidic manifold according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is embedded internally in the substrate proximate to the sample fluid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The microfluidic manifold according to claim 2, wherein the temperature sensor is mounted in a measurement bore formed through the substrate from a first outer surface of the substrate. ### Claim 4 The microfluidic manifold according to 3, wherein the microfluidic device includes at least one micropump, the temperature sensor being configured to measure the real-time temperature of the sample fluid in the at least one micropump. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The microfluidic manifold according to claim 4, wherein the measurement bore comprises a closed terminal end separated from the micropump by a partition wall formed from the substrate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The microfluidic manifold according to claim 4, wherein the at least one micropump is located upstream of and proximate to the measurement device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 7) The microfluidic manifold according to claim 7, wherein the at least one micropump is fluidly coupled to the measurement device through a microvalve configured to control flow of the sample fluid between the at least one micropump and the measurement device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The microfluidic manifold according to claim 3, wherein the measurement bore and temperature sensor are configured and arranged to measure the real-time temperature of the sample fluid upstream of the measurement device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The microfluidic manifold according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is a thermistor or a thermocouple. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The microfluidic manifold according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive the absorbance value from the measurement device and correlate the absorbance value to the concentration of analyte using a preprogrammed base calibration curve. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The microfluidic manifold according to claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to: receive the real-time temperature of the sample fluid from the temperature sensor; and automatically adjust the base calibration curve based on the real-time temperature. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The microfluidic manifold according to claim 10, wherein the controller uses a plurality of preprogrammed temperature compensation curves to adjust the base calibration curve based on the real-time temperature of the sample fluid received from the temperature sensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The microfluidic manifold according to claim 12, wherein the temperature compensation curves provide a variance of absorbance versus a range of temperatures for plural calibration standard fluids each having a different know concentration of the analyte. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The microfluidic manifold according to claim 1, wherein the measurement device is an optical absorbance measurement device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The microfluidic manifold according to claim 1, wherein the measurement device is mounted in a mounting aperture extending through and between opposite first and second major sides of the substrate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The microfluidic manifold according to claim 15, wherein the measurement device includes a transmitter printed circuit board mounted adjacent to the first major side and an opposing detector printed circuit board mounted adjacent to the second major side. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The microfluidic manifold according to claim 14, wherein the measurement device includes an elongated measurement passageway formed between a pair of transparent windows, an inlet fluidly coupled to the measurement passageway and configured to receive the sample fluid from one of the microchannels, and an outlet fluidly coupled to the measurement passageway and configured to receive the sample fluid therefrom and return the sample fluid to another one of the microchannels. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The microfluidic manifold according to claim 17, wherein the measurement passageway is vertically oriented and operable to carry entrained gas in the sample fluid out of the measurement passageway. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The microfluidic manifold according to claim 18, wherein the sample fluid flows upwards in the measurement passageway. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The microfluidic manifold according to claim 1, wherein the measurement device is threadably coupled to the substrate by fasteners. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The microfluidic manifold according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is multi-layered comprised of a plurality of layers formed of polymeric material joined together. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The microfluidic manifold according to claim 21, wherein the microfluidic devices are embedded within the layers between opposing outer major surfaces of the substrate. ### Claim 23 A method for analyzing an agricultural sample comprising: providing a substrate comprising a plurality of microfluidic devices fluidly coupled together by microchannels configured to convey a sample fluid derived from the agricultural sample; measuring an absorbance value associated with an analyte in the sample fluid with a measurement device; measuring a real-time temperature of the sample fluid with a temperature sensor; and determining with programmable controller a temperature-compensated concentration of the analyte based on the measured absorbance value and real-time temperature. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23, wherein the controller receives the absorbance value from the measurement device and correlates the absorbance value to the concentration of analyte using a preprogrammed base calibration curve. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, wherein the controller receives the real-time temperature of the sample fluid from the temperature sensor and automatically adjusts the base calibration curve based on the real-time temperature. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, wherein the controller uses a plurality of preprogrammed temperature compensation curves to adjust the base calibration curve based on the real-time temperature of the sample fluid received from the temperature sensor. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26, wherein the temperature compensation curves provide a variance of absorbance versus a range of temperatures for different calibration standard fluids each having a different know concentration of the analyte. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23, wherein the measurement device is an optical absorbance measurement device. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23, wherein the step of measuring the absorbance value associated with the analyte further comprises flowing the sample fluid vertically upwards through a measurement passageway of the measurement device. ### Claim 30 A system for analyzing an agricultural sample comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of flow control devices fluidly coupled together by flow conduits configured to convey a sample fluid derived from the agricultural sample; a measurement device configured to measure an absorbance value associated with an analyte in the sample fluid; a temperature sensor configured to measure a real-time temperature of the sample fluid; and a programmable controller operably coupled to the measurement device and temperature sensor, the controller being configured to determine a temperature-compensated concentration of the analyte based on the measured absorbance and real-time temperature.