Automatic mass-flow sensor calibration for a yield monitor

• US 20040050138A1
• Filed: 09/18/2002
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Pickett, Terrence D., Beck, Andy D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,820,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/1.16
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/1271 for measuring crop flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/10 of flowmeters

Abstract

A system and method is provided for remotely and automatically calibrating a mass-flow sensor in a yield monitor of a combine. The invention uses a wireless communication device installed on a combine and a remote wireless communication device installed on a grain carrier or truck carrier. Once an actual weight is obtained, calibration information is sent to the combine to calibrate the mass-flow sensor.

Claims

1. A method of calibrating a mass-flow sensor on a yield monitor of a combine, comprising the steps of:

harvesting grain using the combine;

transferring the harvested grain to a location where its actual weight can be determined;

providing a wireless communication device on the combine;

transmitting information relating to the actual weight of the harvested grain to the wireless communication device on the combine; and

calibrating the mass-flow sensor using the information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the harvested grain is transferred using a grain carrier.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a grain carrier for transferring the harvested grain; and

weighing the grain on the grain carrier.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of

providing a remote wireless communication device on the grain carrier for transmitting the information to the combine.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a truck for transferring the harvested grain; and

weighing the grain on the truck.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of

providing a remote wireless communication device on the truck for transmitting the information to the combine.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is transmitted to the wireless communication device on the combine automatically.

8. A system for calibrating a mass-flow sensor on a yield monitor of a combine, comprising the steps of:

a first wireless transceiver operatively connected to the yield monitor; and

a second wireless transceiver operatively connected to a grain carrier for transmitting calibration information to the first wireless transceiver.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein grain harvested by the combine is transferred to the grain carrier.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the calibration information includes information relating to the weight of the grain in the grain carrier.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the calibration information is transmitted to the first wireless transceiver automatically.

12. A method of remotely calibrating a sensor on a combine, comprising the steps of:

providing a wireless communication device on the combine;

providing a remote wireless communication device;

after harvesting an agricultural product, removing the harvested agricultural product from the combine;

determining certain properties of the harvested agricultural product;

transmitting information from the remote wireless communication device to the wireless communication device on the combine; and

using the information to calibrate the sensor.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the sensor is a mass-flow sensor.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the determined properties of the harvested agricultural product include the weight of the product.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the remote wireless communication device is installed on a grain carrier.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the grain carrier is a grain cart.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

providing a weighing system on the grain cart;

filling the grain cart with the harvested product; and

weighing the grain in the grain cart to generate the information that is transmitted.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the information includes calibration information.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the sensor is a moisture sensor.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the determined properties of the agricultural product include the sensed moisture content of the product.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of

providing a moisture sensor in the grain cart, filling the grain cart with the harvest product;

and determining the moisture in the grain cart to generate the information that is transmitted.