SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT TRENCH DEPTH CONTORL AND SOIL MONITORING
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A monitoring system for an agricultural implement having a plurality of row units comprising:
- a soil reflectivity sensor comprising light-emitting diodes and disposed in an implement associated with at least one row unit and configured to resiliently engage a bottom of a soil trench opened a soil surface by said at least one row unit to measure light reflected from said soil within said soil trench;
a processor in electrical communication with said soil reflectivity sensor; and
a display, said display in electrical communication with said processor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring soil properties including soil moisture and soil temperature during an agricultural input application. Embodiments include a soil moisture sensor and/or a soil temperature sensor mounted to a seed firmer for measuring moisture and temperature in a planting trench. Additionally, systems, methods and apparatus are provided for adjusting depth based on the monitored soil properties.
13 Citations
38 Claims
-
1. A monitoring system for an agricultural implement having a plurality of row units comprising:
-
a soil reflectivity sensor comprising light-emitting diodes and disposed in an implement associated with at least one row unit and configured to resiliently engage a bottom of a soil trench opened a soil surface by said at least one row unit to measure light reflected from said soil within said soil trench; a processor in electrical communication with said soil reflectivity sensor; and a display, said display in electrical communication with said processor.
-
-
2. An agricultural planter comprising:
-
a planter row unit having a furrow opener for creating a furrow in which seeds are deposited; a sensor carried by the agricultural planter for measuring at least one soil property, said sensor comprising at least one of an optical module for collecting soil reflectance data, a soil electrical conductivity measurement device for collecting soil electrical conductivity data, a soil moisture measurement device for collecting soil moisture data, and a soil temperature measurement device for collecting soil temperature data; and means for controlling a soil penetration depth of said furrow opener to control planting depth based on said at least one soil property measured by said sensor; wherein said means for controlling said soil penetration depth of said furrow opener comprises an automatic adjustment means for adjusting said soil penetration depth of said furrow opener in real time based on said at least one soil property measured by said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An agricultural planter, comprising:
-
a planter row unit having a furrow opener for creating a furrow in which seeds are deposited as the planter row unit travels in a forward direction of travel; a sensor carried by the agricultural planter for measuring at least one soil property, said sensor comprising at least one of an optical module for collecting soil reflectance data, a soil electrical conductivity measurement device for collecting soil electrical conductivity data, a soil moisture measurement device for collecting soil moisture data, and a soil temperature measurement device for collecting soil temperature data; and a depth control mechanism arranged to automatically vary a depth of soil penetration of said furrow opener to adjust planting depth in real time based on said at least one soil property measured by said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A system for measuring multiple soil properties on-the-go, comprising:
-
an implement for traversing a field; an optical module carried by said implement for collecting soil reflectance data from soil in said field; a soil electrical conductivity measurement device carried by said implement for collecting soil electrical conductivity data from soil in said field; a soil moisture measurement device carried by said implement for collecting soil moisture data from soil in said field; whereby said optical module, said soil electrical conductivity measurement device and said soil moisture measurement device are arranged to measure soil reflectance, soil electrical conductivity and soil moisture, respectively, at approximately the same soil depth; wherein said soil electrical conductivity measurement device and said soil moisture measurement device are arranged to measure soil electrical conductivity and soil moisture, respectively, in proximity to said optical module; wherein said soil electrical conductivity measurement device and said soil moisture measurement device include at least one soil contact member carried by said implement, said at least one soil contact member being arranged for collecting both soil electrical conductivity data and soil moisture data from soil in said field; and wherein said optical module includes a hardened wear plate with a window, and wherein said at least one soil contact member protrudes from or is exposed on a bottom side of said hardened wear plate. - View Dependent Claims (21)
-
-
22. A system for measuring multiple soil properties on-the-go, comprising:
-
an implement for traversing a field; an optical module carried by said implement for collecting soil reflectance data from soil in said field; a soil electrical conductivity measurement device carried by said implement for collecting soil electrical conductivity data from soil in said field; a soil moisture measurement device carried by said implement for collecting soil moisture data from soil in said field; and means for calibrating said soil electrical conductivity data based on said soil moisture data to minimize the effect of soil moisture variations on said soil electrical conductivity data; said optical module, said soil electrical conductivity measurement device and said soil moisture measurement device are arranged to measure soil reflectance, soil electrical conductivity and soil moisture, respectively, at approximately the same soil depth.
-
-
23. A system for measuring soil properties on-the-go, comprising:
-
an implement for traversing a field; a sensor carried by said implement for measuring at least one soil property, said sensor including at least one of an optical module for collecting soil reflectance data, a soil electrical conductivity measurement device for collecting soil electrical conductivity data, and a soil moisture measurement device for collecting soil moisture data; and means for measuring a depth of operation of said sensor on-the-go while said sensor is measuring said at least one soil property; wherein said sensor further includes an optical module arranged for collecting soil reflectance data from soil in said field; and wherein said optical module includes a hardened wear plate with a window that protrudes from or is embedded in a bottom side of said hardened wear plate; and wherein said sensor further includes at least one soil contact member for collecting soil electrical conductivity data and/or soil moisture data. - View Dependent Claims (24)
-
-
25. A system for measuring multiple soil properties on-the-go, comprising:
-
an implement for traversing a field; at least one soil contact member carried by said implement, said at least one soil contact member being arranged for collecting data of both soil electrical conductivity and soil moisture from soil in said field; and a phase lock loop connected to said at least one soil contact member for capturing readings of both soil electrical conductivity and soil moisture simultaneously.
-
-
26. An agricultural planter comprising:
-
a planter row unit having a furrow opener for creating a furrow in which seeds are deposited; an optical measurement device for collecting soil reflectance data; a soil electrical conductivity measurement device for collecting soil electrical conductivity data; a soil moisture measurement device for collecting soil moisture data; and means for varying a seeding rate of the planter on-the-go based on the data collected by said optical measurement device, said soil electrical conductivity measurement device and said soil moisture measurement device. - View Dependent Claims (27)
-
-
28. An agricultural planter, comprising:
-
a planter row unit having a furrow opener for creating a furrow in which seeds are deposited; a sensor for collecting measurements of at least one soil property; and a controller for varying a seeding rate of said planter on-the-go based on said measurements collected by said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
-
Specification