Sensor and method of detecting the condition of a turf grass
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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.
92 Citations
44 Claims
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1-13. -13. (canceled)
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14. A method of detecting a condition of a turf grass, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first light source and a second light source projecting light of distinct wavelengths onto said turf grass; attaching an active sensor to a mower, wherein the active sensor is free of collection optics; sensing a condition of said turf grass by sensing the light reflected from the first and second light source; and detecting a geographic position of said active sensor while sensing the condition of said turf grass. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. 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 (20, 21, 22)
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23-29. -29. (canceled)
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30. 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. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. 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 simultaneously detecting reflected light signals. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A method of detecting a condition of a turf grass, the method comprising:
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providing a first light source and a second light source projecting light of distinct wavelengths; attaching an active sensor to a mower; traversing a section of turf grass and simultaneously sensing light reflected from the first and second light sources; and processing an output of the active sensor; wherein the active sensor comprises a window with anti-fog coating.
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36. A method of detecting a condition of a turf grass, the method comprising:
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providing a first light source and a second light source projecting light of distinct wavelengths; attaching an active sensor to a mower; traversing a section of turf grass and simultaneously sensing light reflected from the first and second light sources; and processing an output of the active sensor; wherein the active sensor comprises a window with a heating mechanism.
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37. A method of detecting a condition of a turf grass, the method comprising:
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providing a first light source and a second light source projecting light of distinct wavelengths; attaching an active sensor to a mower; traversing a section of turf grass and simultaneously sensing light reflected from the first and second light sources; 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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38. 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 in the turf grass.
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39. An apparatus comprising:
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a first circuit board comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes and at least one photodiode; and a second circuit board comprising a plurality of holes sized to receive the plurality of light-emitting diodes; whereby when the first circuit board is coupled with the second circuit board, the second circuit board directs stray illumination light from the plurality of light-emitting diodes to the at least one photodiode and blocks a substantial amount of reflected illumination light from reaching the at least one photodiode. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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41. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of light-emitting diodes; at least one photodiode; and circuitry operative to provide a constant output by the plurality of light-emitting diodes in response a representative portion of light sensed by the at least one photodiode; wherein the plurality of light-emitting diodes and the at least one photodiode are positioned with respect to one another to provide an even weighting of light into the at least one photodiode. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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44-55. -55. (canceled)
Specification