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US 9,322,629 B2Granted
Stalk sensor apparatus, systems, and methods
AssigneePrecision Planting LLC
InventorsTimothy A. Sauder, Derek A. Sauder, Justin L. Koch, Troy L. Plattner, David Huber
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Abstract
Systems, methods and apparatus for detecting stalks processed by a combine harvester, for measuring stalk diameters, and for displaying harvest metrics and yield data to a user based on stalk locations and stalk diameters.
Claims20
A method of measuring stalk diameter as an agricultural combine traverses a field, comprising:
- moving a first stalk sensor associated with a row unit of the combine past a first stalk in the field, said first stalk sensor generating a first signal related to a position of said first stalk sensor relative to said first stalk;
- storing said first signal in memory;
- determining a diameter of said first stalk based on said first signal;
- recording a geo-referenced position of a global positioning receiver, said global positioning receiver disposed at a first offset from said first stalk sensor;
- determining a geo-referenced position of said first stalk based on said first offset;
- and
- storing in memory a first association between said first stalk diameter and said geo-referenced position of said first stalk.
4 more elements
A method of measuring a diameter of a stalk processed by an agricultural combine as the combine traverses a field, comprising:
- providing a stalk sensor associated with a row unit of the combine;
- moving said stalk sensor past a stalk in the field;
- generating a signal using said stalk sensor, said signal related to a position of the stalk sensor relative to said stalk;
- storing said signal in memory;
- adding to a stalk count based on said signal, said stalk count representing a number of stalks harvested by the row unit during a sampling period;
- and
- displaying harvest data to a user in the combine, said harvest data based on said stalk count, wherein said harvest data is related to the number of stalks harvested by the combine during said sampling period.
4 more elements
A stalk sensor system for use with an agricultural combine harvester while the harvester traverses a field, comprising:
- a first stalk sensor associated with a first combine row unit;
- a second stalk sensor associated with a second combine row unit;
- a yield sensor configured to generate a signal related to a quantity of grain harvested by the combine harvester;
- a global positioning receiver mounted to the combine harvester and configured to generate a position signal, said position signal related to a position of the combine harvester;
- and
- processing circuitry in electrical communication with said first stalk sensor, said second stalk sensor, said yield sensor and said global positioning receiver, said processing circuitry configured to determine stalk diameter measurements and stalk measurement locations based on signals generated by said first and second stalk sensors, wherein said stalk measurement locations of said first stalk sensor are based on a first offset between said global positioning receiver to said first stalk sensor and said stalk locations of said second stalk sensor are based on a second offset between said global positioning receiver to said second stalk sensor, said processing circuitry further configured to generate a map, said map associating said stalk measurement locations with said stalk diameter measurements.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.