Sensor and method of detecting the condition of a turf grass
First Claim
1. A method of detecting the foliage density of a turf grass, said method comprising the steps of:
- attaching an active sensor to a mower;
traversing a section of turf grass;
providing an illuminating pattern of light to said turf grass;
receiving a reflected pattern of light which is coincident with said illuminating pattern of light; and
processing an output of said active sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of detecting the condition of a turf grass is described. According to one aspect of the invention, the method comprises steps of attaching an active sensor to a mower; traversing a section of turf grass; and processing the output of the sensor. A device for detecting the condition of turf grass is also disclosed. The device comprises an array of illuminating devices generating a pattern of illuminating light; a detecting device receiving a pattern of reflected light which is coincident with the pattern of illuminating light; a detecting device adapted to detect stray light from the array of illuminating devices; and a feedback loop controlling the array of illuminating devices. A system employing the device is also disclosed.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. A method of detecting the foliage density of a turf grass, said method comprising the steps of:
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attaching an active sensor to a mower;
traversing a section of turf grass;
providing an illuminating pattern of light to said turf grass;
receiving a reflected pattern of light which is coincident with said illuminating pattern of light; and
processing an output of said active sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of detecting a condition of a turf grass, said method comprising the steps of:
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attaching an active sensor to a mower;
providing an illuminating pattern of light to said turf grass; and
receiving a reflected pattern of light which is coincident with said illuminating pattern of light. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of detecting a condition of a turf grass, said method comprising the steps of:
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attaching an active sensor to a mower;
providing a first wavelength of light and a second wavelength of light to simultaneously illuminate an area; and
detecting both reflected light signals simultaneously. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A method of detecting a condition of a turf grass, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of illumination devices;
coupling a feedback circuit to adjust an output of each illuminating device of said plurality of illuminating devices;
detecting an irradiance of each illuminating device of said plurality of illuminating devices; and
adjusting the irradiance of an illuminating device of said plurality of illuminating devices. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of detecting the a condition of a turf grass, said method comprising the steps of:
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attaching an active sensor to a mower, wherein the active sensor is free of collection optics;
sensing a condition of said turf grass; and
detecting a geographic position of said active sensor while sensing the condition of said turf grass. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A device for detecting a condition of turf grass, said device comprising:
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an array of illuminating devices generating a pattern of illuminating light;
a detecting device receiving a pattern of reflected light which is coincident with said pattern of illuminating light;
a detecting device adapted to detect an entity proportional to a light output from said array of illuminating devices; and
a feedback loop controlling said array of illuminating devices. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 45)
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37. A device for detecting a condition of turf grass, said device comprising:
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an array of LEDs generating a cone of illuminating light;
a photodetector receiving a cone of reflected light which is coincident with said cone of illuminating light;
one or more photodetectors adapted to detect light from said array of LEDs; and
a feedback loop controlling said array of LEDs based upon light from said array of LEDs. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A device for detecting a condition of turf grass, said device comprising:
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an array of LEDs generating a pattern of illuminating light;
at least one photodetector receiving a pattern of reflected light which is coincident with said pattern of illuminating light;
one or more photodetectors adapted to detect stray light from said array of LEDs;
a feedback loop controlling said array of LEDs based upon stray light from said array of LEDs;
a circuit for providing offset correction, said circuit comprising a first offset correction circuit for a first frequency and a second offset correction circuit for a second frequency; and
a background light subtraction circuit.
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46. A method of detecting a condition of a turf grass, said method comprising the steps of:
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attaching an active sensor to a mower;
providing more than two wavelengths of light to illuminate an area; and
detecting reflected light signals. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
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49. A method of detecting a condition of a turf grass, the method comprising:
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attaching an active sensor to a mower;
traversing a section of turf grass; and
processing an output of the active sensor;
wherein the active sensor comprises a window with anti-fog coating.
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50. A method of detecting a condition of a turf grass, the method comprising:
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attaching an active sensor to a mower;
traversing a section of turf grass; and
processing an output of the active sensor;
wherein the active sensor comprises a window with a heating mechanism.
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51. A method of detecting a condition of a turf grass, the method comprising:
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attaching an active sensor to a mower;
traversing a section of turf grass; and
processing an output of the active sensor;
wherein the active sensor comprises;
a window;
an anti-fog heater; and
a heater driver controlling the anti-fog heater.
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52. A method of detecting a condition of a turf grass, the method comprising:
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attaching an active sensor to a mower;
traversing a section of turf grass; and
processing an output of the active sensor;
wherein the active sensor is free of collection optics, whereby the active sensor is insensitive to depth-of-field and height variations.
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Specification