Grain Sensing
AssigneeAGCO International GmbH
InventorDan Hermann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sensor is provided for monitoring one or more grain parameters associated with material processed by a harvesting machine. The sensor includes a sensing surface; a first transducer element operably coupled to the sensing surface and responsive, in use, to movement of the sensing surface; and a second transducer element operably coupled to the sensing surface and operable, in use, to apply a test signal to the sensing surface. The sensor response of the first transducer element to the test signal is used to determine an operational characteristic of the sensor.
Claims19
A sensor for monitoring one or more grain parameters associated with material processed by a harvesting machine, the sensor comprising:
- a sensing surface;
- a first transducer element operably coupled to the sensing surface and responsive, in use, to movement of the sensing surface;
- a second transducer element operably coupled to the sensing surface and operable, in use, to apply a test signal to the sensing surface;
- and
- a communication unit for outputting sensor data indicative of a sensor response of the first transducer element for analysis to determine an operational characteristic of the sensor therefrom.
A system comprising:
- a sensor for monitoring one or more grain parameters associated with material processed by a harvesting machine, the sensor comprising:
- a sensing surface,
- a first transducer element operably coupled to the sensing surface and responsive, in use, to movement of the sensing surface,
- a second transducer element operably coupled to the sensing surface and operable, in use, to apply a test signal to the sensing surface, and
- a communication unit for outputting sensor data indicative of a sensor response of the first transducer element for analysis to determine an operational characteristic of the sensor therefrom;
- and
- a control system for the sensor, the control system comprising one or more controllers and being configured to:
- generate and output a test signal for controlling output of the test signal by the second transducer element,
- receive sensor data indicative of the sensor response of the first transducer element to the test signal,
- process the sensor data to determine an operational characteristic for the sensor, and
- generate and output one or more control signals for controlling one or more operable components associated with the harvesting machine in dependence on the determined operational characteristic.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.