Grain drill monitor
First Claim
1. A monitor for a machine having a plurality of members to be monitored and a plurality of sensor means respectively associated with said monitored members for producing predetermined signals in response to predetermined conditions of the associated monitored members, said monitor comprising:
- a common signal line coupled to said sensor means, a plurality of sensor circuit means coupled in series circuit, one of said sensor circuit means being coupled intermediate each of said sensor means and said common signal line, said sensor circuit means being individually and sequentially selectable for causing a signal condition on said common signal line which corresponds in a predetermined fashion to the response of said sensor means, and monitoring circuit means coupled to said common signal line and to said series-coupled sensor circuit means and including means for sequentially selecting said series-coupled sensor circuit means and means responsive to said signal conditions for producing indication signals corresponding to the conditions of the respective monitored members.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A monitor is provided for a field planting machine having a plurality of planting units and a plurality of seed sensors respectively associated with the planting units for producing seed signals in response to the dispensing of seeds thereby. The monitor comprises a plurality of sensor circuits coupled in series circuit, one of the sensor circuits being coupled intermediate each of the sensors and a common signal line. These sensor circuits and the associated sensors are sequentially selectable for causing a first condition on the common signal line in response to production of seed signals at or above a predetermined rate and a second condition on the common signal line in response to the non-production of seed signals at or above the predetermined rate.
38 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A monitor for a machine having a plurality of members to be monitored and a plurality of sensor means respectively associated with said monitored members for producing predetermined signals in response to predetermined conditions of the associated monitored members, said monitor comprising:
- a common signal line coupled to said sensor means, a plurality of sensor circuit means coupled in series circuit, one of said sensor circuit means being coupled intermediate each of said sensor means and said common signal line, said sensor circuit means being individually and sequentially selectable for causing a signal condition on said common signal line which corresponds in a predetermined fashion to the response of said sensor means, and monitoring circuit means coupled to said common signal line and to said series-coupled sensor circuit means and including means for sequentially selecting said series-coupled sensor circuit means and means responsive to said signal conditions for producing indication signals corresponding to the conditions of the respective monitored members.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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13. An auxiliary circuit for use with a monitoring system for a machine including a plurality of monitored members, a sensor associated with each monitored member for producing predetermined sensor signals in response to predetermined conditions of the monitored member and a microprocessor operatively coupled for response to said sensor signals in a predetermined sequence, said auxiliary circuit comprising:
- data storage means separate and distinct from said microprocessor and coupled for bidirectional data transfer with said microprocessor for receiving and storing predetermined data and operative independently of the microprocessor for retaining the stored data even in the event of loss of said data by said microprocessor; and
write control means coupled to said microprocessor and responsive to the switching off of power to the microprocessor for preventing the transfer of additional data to said data storage means, said data storage means thereby retaining data previously transferred thereto. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- data storage means separate and distinct from said microprocessor and coupled for bidirectional data transfer with said microprocessor for receiving and storing predetermined data and operative independently of the microprocessor for retaining the stored data even in the event of loss of said data by said microprocessor; and
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19. A monitor for a field planting machine having a plurality of planting units and a plurality of sensor means including seed sensor means respectively associated with said planting units for producing seed signals in response to the dispensing of seeds thereby, said monitor comprising:
- a plurality of sensor circuit means coupled in series circuit, one of said sensor circuit means being coupled intermediate each of said sensor means and a common signal line, said sensor circuit means being sequentially selectable for causing a signal condition on said common signal line which corresponds in a predetermined fashion to the response of the associated sensor means.
- View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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31. An area monitoring circuit for use with a monitoring system for an agricultural implement including distance sensor means for producing a predetermined number of electrical signal pulses per unit of distance traveled by said implement and said monitoring system including a microprocessor for operating upon input data derived from said electrical signal pulses to produce output data corresponding to the area covered by said implement, said area monitoring circuit comprising:
- input circuit means coupled intermediate said distance sensor means and said microprocessor for producing predetermined input data for input to the microprocessor in response to said electrical signal pulses, said microprocessor generating said output data in response to said input data and data storage means separate and distinct from said microprocessor and coupled for bidirectional data transfer with said microprocessor for receiving and storing said output data, said data storage means operating to retain said received and stored output data even in the event of loss of said input data and/or said output data by said microprocessor.
Specification