High rate seed sensor
First Claim
1. An improved circuit for a seed sensor which includes a light source and light responsive means respectively positioned along a path of travel of seeds for producing a momentary change in signal level from the light responsive means in response to a momentary change of level of light incident thereupon from said light source due to the passage of one or more seeds therebetween, said circuit comprising:
- a switching circuit responsive to said change in signal level from said light responsive means for producing an output signal including a discrete pulse signal in response to the initiation of said change in signal level and thereafter a further discrete pulse signal in response to each change in the direction of said change in signal level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit is provided for a seed sensor which includes a light source and a light responsive element respectively positioned along a path of travel of seeds for producing a momentary change in signal level from the light responsive element in response to a momentary change of level of light incident thereupon from the light source due to the passage of one or more seeds therebetween. In accordance with the invention, the circuit comprises a pulse-producing circuit responsive to the change in signal level from the light responsive element for producing a discrete pulse signal in response to each change in the direction of the change in signal level. Predetermined ones of the discrete pulse signals are selected for counting.
61 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An improved circuit for a seed sensor which includes a light source and light responsive means respectively positioned along a path of travel of seeds for producing a momentary change in signal level from the light responsive means in response to a momentary change of level of light incident thereupon from said light source due to the passage of one or more seeds therebetween, said circuit comprising:
- a switching circuit responsive to said change in signal level from said light responsive means for producing an output signal including a discrete pulse signal in response to the initiation of said change in signal level and thereafter a further discrete pulse signal in response to each change in the direction of said change in signal level.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A circuit for a seed sensor which includes a light source and light responsive means respectively positioned with respect to a path of travel of seeds for producing a changing signal level from said light responsive means in response to a changing level of light incident thereupon from said light source due to the passage of one or more seeds along said path of travel therebetween, said circuit comprising:
- means providing a predetermined reference level; and
switching circuit means coupled to receive said predetermined reference level and to receive said changing signal level from said light responsive means, said switching circuit means being responsive to said reference level and said changing signal level for producing an output signal which reverses in sense about said reference level in response to each change in the direction of the changing signal level of said light responsive means. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- means providing a predetermined reference level; and
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14. An improved circuit for a seed sensor which includes a light source and light responsive means respectively positioned along a path of travel of seeds for producing a momentary change in signal level from the light responsive means in response to a momentary change of level of light incident thereupon from said light source due to the passage of one or more seeds therebetween, said circuit comprising;
- pulse-producing circuit means responsive to said change in signal level from said light responsive means for producing a first pulse signal in response to initiation of said change in signal level and a further pulse signal in response to each change in the direction of said change in signal level thereafter, whereby two pulse signals are produced in response to each seed; and
second pulse-producing circuit means responsive to one of each said two pulse signals produced for producing a single counting pulse. - View Dependent Claims (15)
- pulse-producing circuit means responsive to said change in signal level from said light responsive means for producing a first pulse signal in response to initiation of said change in signal level and a further pulse signal in response to each change in the direction of said change in signal level thereafter, whereby two pulse signals are produced in response to each seed; and
Specification