ON-THE-GO SOIL SENSORS AND CONTROL METHODS FOR AGRICULTURAL MACHINES

• US 20140303854A1
• Filed: 04/08/2013
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ag Leader Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ag Leader Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Zielke, Roger R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,629,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 27/00 Clod-crushers
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/06 for sowing or fertilising
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/008 Vertical adjustment of tools A01B63/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/1115 using a mechanical ground contact sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 21/00 Methods of fertilising , sowing or planting
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/062 Devices for making drills or furrows
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/068 Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/10 Devices for adjusting the seed-box ; Regulation of machines for depositing quantities at intervals
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/105 Seed sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/20 Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/203 comprising depth regulation means
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/22 for measuring depth
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/18 for measuring depth
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/26 for measuring depth
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/14 Supports; Fastening devices; Arrangements for mounting thermometers in particular locations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 19/10 Measuring moisture content, e.g. by measuring change in length of hygroscopic filament; Hygrometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/27 using photo-electric detection G01N21/31 takes precedence; circuits for computing concentration logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/223 for determining moisture content, e.g. humidity rain detectors on vehicle windows B60S1/0825
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/24 Earth materials G01N33/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/903 Monitor

Abstract

An on-the-go monitor and control means and method for an agriculture machines includes on-the-go soil sensors that can be used to control tillage and seeding depth. On seeder implements, the sensors provide information that affects uniform plant emergence.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting seed planting depth on-the-go for a row unit of a planter, the method comprising:

providing a control system operatively connected to the planter, the control system comprising a soil moisture sensor, an actuator for adjusting a seed planting depth, and an intelligent control electrically connected to the actuator, and the soil moisture sensor;

measuring moisture at the planting depth with the soil moisture sensor as seeds are planted to provide soil moisture data;

analyzing sensor data to provide seed planting depth adjustments, the sensor data including the soil moisture data; and

adjusting seed planting depth on-the-go using the actuator based on the seed planting depth adjustments.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the control system further comprises a seed trench depth sensor electrically connected to the intelligent control and the method further comprises measuring depth with the depth sensor as the seeds are planted to provide depth data and wherein the sensor data further comprises the soil contact data.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the control system further includes a soil temperature sensor electrically connected to the intelligent control and the method further comprises measuring soil temperature with the soil temperature sensor as the seeds are planted to provide soil temperature data and wherein the sensor data further comprises the soil temperature data.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the control system further comprises a soil contact sensor electrically connected to the intelligent control and the method further comprises measuring soil contact with the soil contact sensor as the seeds are planted to provide soil contact data and wherein the sensor data further comprises the soil contact data.

5. A system for providing on-the-go monitoring for use in automatically adjusting seed planting depth on-the-go in a planter having at least one row unit, the system comprising:

a seed firmer associated with a row unit of the planter;

a first sensor operatively connected to the seed firmer to provide sensor data;

an intelligent control electrically connected to the first sensor and adapted to receive the sensor data;

an actuator associated with the first sensor;

wherein the intelligent control is configured to monitor sensor data from the first sensor operatively connected to the seed firmer and automatically adjust the seed planting depth on-the-go for a row unit of the planter using the actuator associated with the first sensor.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the first sensor and the actuator are positioned within one of the at least one row unit.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the first sensor and the actuator are associated with a section, the section comprising a plurality of row units.

8. The system of claim 5 further comprising a monitor operatively connected to the intelligent control and wherein the monitor is configured to display information based on the sensor data.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein the first sensor comprises a seed trench depth sensor.

10. The system of claim 5 wherein the first sensor comprises a soil temperature sensor.

11. The system of claim 5 wherein the first sensor comprises a soil moisture sensor.

12. The system of claim 5 wherein the first sensor comprises a soil contact sensor.

13. The system of claim 5 further comprising a second sensor electrically connected to the intelligent control and wherein the intelligent control is further configured to monitor additional sensor data from the second sensor.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the first sensor is a soil moisture sensor and the second sensor is a soil contact sensor.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the first sensor is a seed trench depth sensor and the second sensor is a soil temperature sensor.

16. A system, comprising:

a planter for planting seeds, the planter having at least one row unit;

a soil moisture sensor attached to the planter;

a monitor for displaying soil moisture readings;

an actuator for adjusting seed planting depth; and

an intelligent control operatively connected to the monitor, actuator, and soil moisture sensor;

wherein the soil moisture sensor is configured to measure moisture readings at the planting depth as seeds are planted on-the-go;

wherein the intelligent control receives the moisture readings from the soil moisture sensors and displays the moisture readings on the monitor;

wherein the control system automatically adjusts seed planting depth on-the-go through the actuator in relation to level of moisture in the soil.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a seed to soil contact sensor attached to the row unit;

wherein the seed to soil contact sensor is configured to measure seed to soil contact readings at the planting depth as seeds are planted on-the-go;

wherein the intelligent control receives the seed to soil contact readings from the seed to soil contact sensors and displays the seed to soil contact readings on the planter monitor;

wherein the control system automatically adjusts row unit down pressure on-the-go through the actuator in relation to seed to soil contact.

18. The control system of claim 16, further comprising a seed firmer operatively connected to the row unit wherein the seed firmer houses the soil moisture sensor and seed to soil contact sensor.

19. The control system of claim 16, wherein the sensors are dielectric sensors.

20. The control system of claim 16, wherein the sensors are optical sensors.

21. The control system of claim 16, further comprising a thermocouple sensor associated with the control system, wherein the thermocouple sensor is in position for measuring soil temperature.

22. The control system of claim 16, further comprising a planting depth gauge associated with the control system, wherein the planting depth gauge is in position for detecting depth of a seed furrow.

23. The control system of claim 22, wherein the planting depth gauge is an optical sensor for detecting depth of a seed furrow by measuring the height of a seed furrow sidewall.

24. The control system of claim 22, wherein the planting depth gauge is a dielectric sensor for detecting depth of a seed furrow by measuring the height of a seed furrow sidewall.

25. A method of adjusting seed planting depth on-the-go, the method comprising:

providing a system comprising (a) a planter for planting seeds, the planter including at least one row unit, (b) a soil moisture sensor attached to the planter, (c) a monitor for displaying soil moisture readings, (d) an actuator for adjusting seed planting depth, and (f) an intelligent control operatively connected to the monitor, actuator, and the soil moisture sensor;

measuring moisture at the planting depth with the soil moisture sensor as seeds are planted to provide soil moisture data;

analyzing sensor data to provide seed planting depth adjustments, the sensor data including the soil moisture data; and

adjusting seed planting depth on-the-go using the actuator based on the seed planting depth adjustments.

26. A method of monitoring and displaying readings associated with a soil moisture sensor on an agricultural machine as the agricultural machine traverses a field, the method comprising:

sensing soil moisture data with the soil moisture sensor on the agricultural machine as the agricultural machine traverses the field;

displaying on a display associated with the agricultural machine a representation of soil moisture.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the representation of soil moisture comprises soil moisture as percent content of soil.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the representation of soil moisture comprises a soil moisture range in which the soil moisture falls.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the agricultural machine comprises a seed firmer and wherein the soil moisture sensor is mounted on the seed firmer.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein the soil moisture sensor is mounted on the agricultural machine to measure moisture at or proximate a bottom of a seed trench formed using the agricultural machine.

31. The method of claim 26 wherein the agricultural machine is an agricultural tillage machine and wherein the soil moisture sensor is mounted on the agricultural machine to measure moisture at a cutting depth of the agricultural tillage machine.

32. The method of claim 26 wherein the agricultural machine is an agricultural tillage machine and wherein the method further comprises automatically controlling tillage depth of the agricultural tillage machine using the soil moisture data.

33. The method of claim 26 wherein the method further comprises controlling seed trench depth.

34. The method of claim 26 further comprising automatically controlling application rate of at least one agricultural input based on the soil moisture data, the at least one agricultural input selected from the set consisting of pesticides, fertilizers, growth regulators, defoliants, and seeds.

35. A method of monitoring and displaying readings associated with a soil temperature sensor on an agricultural machine as the agricultural machine traverses a field, the method comprising:

sensing soil temperature data with the soil temperature sensor on the agricultural machine as the agricultural machine traverses the field;

displaying on a display associated with the agricultural machine a representation of soil temperature.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the representation of the soil temperature is in degrees Fahrenheit.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein the representation of the soil temperature is in degrees Celsius.

38. The method of claim 35 wherein the representation of soil temperature is in a range indicator format.

39. The method of claim 35 wherein the soil temperature sensor is mounted on a seed firmer of the agricultural machine.

40. The method of claim 35 wherein the soil temperature sensor is mounted on the agricultural machine to measure temperature at or proximate a bottom of a seed trench formed using the agricultural machine.

41. The method of claim 35 wherein the agricultural machine is an agricultural tillage machine and wherein the soil temperature sensor is mounted on the agricultural machine to measure temperature at a cutting depth of the agricultural tillage machine.

42. The method of claim 35 further comprising automatically controlling application rate of at least one agricultural input based on the soil temperature data, the at least one agricultural input selected from the set consisting of pesticides, fertilizers, growth regulators, defoliants, and seeds.

43. A method of monitoring and displaying readings associated with a sensor measuring seed to soil contact on a seeder as the seeder seeds a field, the method comprising:

sensing seed to soil contact data with the sensor on the seeder as the seeder seeds the field; and

displaying on a display associated with the agricultural machine a representation of seed to soil contact.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the representation of seed to soil contact comprises a range indicator format.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the range indicator format uses color coding to specify different ranges.

46. The method of claim 43 wherein the sensor is mounted on a seed firmer of the seeder.

47. The method of claim 43 wherein the sensor is mounted on the seeder to measure seed to soil contact at or proximate a bottom of a seed trench.

48. A method of monitoring and displaying readings associated with a sensor measuring cutting depth of a seed trench on a seeder as the seeder seeds a field, the method comprising:

sensing cutting depth with the sensor on the seeder as the seeder seeds the field; and

displaying on a display associated with the seeder a representation of cutting depth of the seed trench.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the representation of the cutting depth provides a linear distance dimension.

50. The method of claim 48 wherein the representation of the cutting depth comprises a range indicator format.

51. The method of claim 48 wherein the sensor is mounted on a seed firmer of the seeder.

52. The method of claim 48 wherein the sensing cutting depth with the sensor provides for distinguishing between plant residue on top of ground and soil and wherein the plant residue on the top of the ground is not included in the cutting depth.

53. An apparatus comprising:

a seed firmer;

a seed count sensor integrated into the seed firmer.

54. The apparatus of claim 53 further comprising an intelligent control electrically connected to the seed count sensor.

55. The apparatus of claim 54 further comprising a display operatively connected to the intelligent control.