Seeding apparatus and method of determining a seed spacing variability value
First Claim
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1. A seeding apparatus comprising:
- a row unit having a seed meter adapted to sequentially discharge seeds and a seed sensor to generate a seed signal in response to a passing seed;
a visual display; and
a processor operably coupled to the seed sensor for receiving the generated seed signals, the processor configured to determine a numeric seed spacing variability value based on intervals between adjacent seeds, the processor further operably coupled to the visual display to display the seed spacing variability value in real time during operation of the apparatus.
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Abstract
A seeding apparatus and a method is disclosed in which a seed spacing variability value is determined and displayed to the operator during a planting operation. Any method of determining variability among a set of data can be used to determine the seed spacing variability value. Three examples are shown: standard deviation; coefficient of variation; and coefficient of uniformity. Data can be stored for later comparison with harvest yield data to determine the effects of seed spacing on yield.
21 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A seeding apparatus comprising:
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a row unit having a seed meter adapted to sequentially discharge seeds and a seed sensor to generate a seed signal in response to a passing seed; a visual display; and a processor operably coupled to the seed sensor for receiving the generated seed signals, the processor configured to determine a numeric seed spacing variability value based on intervals between adjacent seeds, the processor further operably coupled to the visual display to display the seed spacing variability value in real time during operation of the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of planting seeds using an apparatus having a row unit with a seed meter and a seed sensor, the method comprising:
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sequentially discharging seeds from the seed meter; sensing discharged seeds with the seed sensor and generating a seed signal in response to each seed; processing the seed signals to determine a numeric seed spacing variability value based on time intervals between seed signals; and displaying to an operator the seed spacing variability value in real-time. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A seeding apparatus comprising:
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a row unit having a seed meter adapted to sequentially discharge seeds and a seed sensor to generate a seed signal in response to a passing seed; a visual display; at least one processor operably coupled to the seed sensor for receiving the generated seed signals, the processor configured to determine a numeric seed spacing variability value the processor further operably coupled to the visual display to display the seed spacing variability value in real time during operation of the apparatus; memory configured to store seed spacing variability value data collected over multiple rows of a field in which the seeding apparatus is planting seed and geographic location data which permits location of the seed spacing variability data in the field; and the at least one processor configured to access the stored seed spacing variability data and location data to effect a field map of the seed spacing variability data for multiple rows of the field over which the seeding apparatus has planted seed.
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16. A seeding apparatus comprising:
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a row unit having a seed meter adapted to sequentially discharge seeds and a seed sensor to generate a seed signal in response to a passing seed; a visual display; a processor operably coupled to the seed sensor to receive the generated seed signals, the processor configured to determine a numeric seed spacing variability value, the processor further operably coupled to the visual display to display the seed spacing variability value in real time during operation of the apparatus in a field, the seed spacing variability value comprising a unitless number selected from the group consisting of a standard deviation, coefficient variation, coefficient of uniformity, wherein the unitless number permits correlation of seed spacing and actual harvest data over the field to determine a desired seed spacing.
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Specification