Planter population monitor

A monitoring apparatus for use with a multi-row seed planting machine comprising an electronic circuit including means for simultaneously and continually detecting data corresponding to the planting of seeds in all rows of said multi-row planting machine and means for storing the detected data.

A monitoring apparatus for a multi-row seed planting machine, comprising:

• a plurality of seed sensor means respectively associated with each row of said multi-row planting machine and each for providing a seed signal responsive to the planting of each seed in the associated row, electronic circuit means for continually and simultaneously receiving and storing a cumulative count of the seed signals from all of said sensor means, distance measuring means for producing distance signals corresponding to the distance travelled by the planting machine over the ground, said electronic circuit means being further responsive to said distance signals for storing successive cumulative counts of said seed signals occurring in each row within successive predetermined increments of distance travelled by said planting apparatus, display means, and control means accessible to an operator for causing said electronic circuit means to energize said display means for producing an observable indication of the seed population for each row in seeds per unit distance, and an observable indication of the identity of the row whose seed population is being displayed.

A special purpose computer operating in accordance with a predetermined program for continually and simultaneously determining the actual seed population planted in each row of a multi-row seed planting machine while the planting machine is travelling over any given distance, and for producing an observable indication of seed planting to an operator of said multi-row seed planting machine.

A monitoring apparatus for a seed planting machine having seed sensing means for producing a seed signal for each seed delivered to the ground to be planted and distance sensor means for providing distance signals corresponding to the distance travelled by the planting machine over the ground, said monitoring apparatus comprising:

• microprocessor means operating in accordance with a predetermined program for receiving said storing said seed signals and said distance signals and including means for counting the number of said seed signals which are received over a predetermined increment of travel as determined by said distance signals, means for calculating seed population planted in seeds per acre and means for storing a predetermined plural number of said population calculations made over sequential ones of said increments of distance, display means, and means for energizing said display means to produce an observable indication corresponding to the average of said stored calculated seed populations.

A monitoring apparatus for a seed planting machine including seed sensor means for producing a seed signal in response to delivery of a seed to the ground to be planted and distance sensing means for producing distance signals corresponding to the distance travelled by the seed planting machine over the ground, said monitoring apparatus comprising:

• microprocessor means operating in accordance with a predetermined program and including means for modifying said predetermined program to achieve customizing of the monitoring apparatus for use with a given seed planting machine, said last-mentioned means including operator accessible control means for delivering signals to said microprocessor for modifying said program to receive data corresponding to the number of rows simultaneously planted by said multi-row seed planting machine and data corresponding to the spacing between adjacent ones of said rows.

A monitoring apparatus for a seed planting machine including seed sensor means for producing a seed signal in response to each seed planted, and distance sensor means for producing distance signals corresponding to given increments of distance travelled by the seed planting machine, said monitoring apparatus comprising:

• microprocessor means for operating in accordance with a predetermined program for receiving and storing said seed signals and said distance signals, and operator accessible control means for delivering data to said microprocessor corresponding to the weight of a predetermined number of the particular seeds being planted, said microprocessor further including means for calculating the weight of seeds planted per unit of area, and display means responsive to said microprocessor means for producing an observable indication of the weight of seeds planted per unit area.

A monitoring apparatus for a seed planting machine including seed sensor means for producing a seed signal in response to each seed planted and distance sensor means for producing a distance pulse signal for each predetermined increment of distance travelled by said seed planting machine, said monitoring apparatus comprising:

• a microprocessor operating in accordance with a predetermined program to receive and store said seed signals and said distance pulse signals, and operator accessible control means for delivering data to said microprocessor corresponding to the number of pulses produced by said distance sensor means in response to travel over a predetermined increment of distance, said microprocessor including means for calculating the number of seeds dispensed per unit distance travelled by the seed planting machine, in accordance with the particular distance sensor means associated with the seed planting machine.