Photoelectric sensor for seed dispensing system
AssigneeTSI Incorporated
InventorsBarry C. Mears, Kyle T. Kalk
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A seed dispensing system is provided with a photoelectric sensor for monitoring the dispensing of seeds from a seed dispenser comprising a discharge conveyor with conveyor flights that transport seeds through the seed dispenser. The sensor outputs a signal representative of obstructions to the flow of light in an optical path of the sensor, and a computing unit is adapted to distinguish portions of the output signal that are attributable to the passage of one or more seeds from portions of the output signal that are attributable to the passage of a conveyor flight.
Claims20
A device for monitoring the dispensing of seeds, comprising:
- a photoelectric sensor comprising a light-emitting element and a light-responsive element for detecting changes in light flow through an optical path between the light-emitting element and a light-responsive element, and for outputting a signal conveying detected changes in the light flow;
- and
- a computing device adapted to receive and process signal waveforms based on the output signal of the photoelectric sensor to measure one or more parameters of the signal waveform, and to distinguish portions of the signal waveform based on the one or more measured parameters of the signal waveform,
- wherein the computing device is adapted to distinguish portions of the signal waveform that are attributable to disturbances in the light flow based on the passage of one or more seeds through the optical path of the photoelectric sensor from portions of the signal waveform that are attributable to disturbances in the light flow based on the passage of non-seed elements through the optical path of the photoelectric sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.