Planter monitor
First Claim
1. A monitoring apparatus for monitoring a plurality of selectable functions of an agricultural planter, said planter including a plurality of seed sensors each associated with a corresponding seed dispensing unit and each generating a seed signal representative of the depositing of each seed by the associated seed dispensing unit, said monitoring apparatus comprising:
- memory means for cumulatively storing population data, said population data including an associated cumulative count of seeds dispensed by each of said dispensing units, and a cumulative count of seeds dispensed by all said dispensing units; and
a microprocessor responsive to receipt of a seed signal from one or more of said seed sensors for asynchronously accumulating and updating said cumulative counts associated with said selected seed sensors, and for asynchronously storing said updated cumulative counts in said memory means, wherein said seed signals are received simultaneously by said microprocessor and are provided to said microprocessor asynchronously relative to an operating speed of said microprocessor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A stand-alone monitoring apparatus is provided for monitoring a plurality of selectable functions of an agricultural planter. The planter includes a plurality of seed sensors, each associated with a corresponding seed dispensing unit and generating a seed signal representative of the depositing of a seed by the associated seed dispensing unit. The monitoring apparatus includes memory for cumulatively storing population data. The population data includes a cumulative count of seeds dispensed by each dispensing unit, and a cumulative count of seeds dispensed by all the dispensing units. A microprocessor simultaneously receives seed signals from selected seed sensors, asynchronously accumulates and updates the cumulative counts associated with the selected seed sensors, and asynchronously stores the updated cumulative counts in the memory. The monitoring apparatus is intended to monitor signals from up to 16 seed sensors. In a related implementation, multiple data collectors are used to monitor and collect population data locally, i.e., proximate the monitored rows and sensors. The collected data is then serially communicated to a monitor unit in the tractor cab to cut down on the necessary cabling.
73 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A monitoring apparatus for monitoring a plurality of selectable functions of an agricultural planter, said planter including a plurality of seed sensors each associated with a corresponding seed dispensing unit and each generating a seed signal representative of the depositing of each seed by the associated seed dispensing unit, said monitoring apparatus comprising:
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memory means for cumulatively storing population data, said population data including an associated cumulative count of seeds dispensed by each of said dispensing units, and a cumulative count of seeds dispensed by all said dispensing units; and a microprocessor responsive to receipt of a seed signal from one or more of said seed sensors for asynchronously accumulating and updating said cumulative counts associated with said selected seed sensors, and for asynchronously storing said updated cumulative counts in said memory means, wherein said seed signals are received simultaneously by said microprocessor and are provided to said microprocessor asynchronously relative to an operating speed of said microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A monitor system for monitoring a plurality of selectable functions of an agricultural planter, said planter including a plurality of groups of seed sensors, each seed sensor associated with a corresponding seed dispensing unit, and each seed sensor providing a seed signal representative of the depositing of each seed by the associated seed dispensing unit, said monitor system comprising:
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a plurality of data collectors, each data collector associated with a corresponding one of said groups of seed sensors, and responsive to respective seed signals therefrom, each said data collector including; data collector memory means for cumulatively storing population data counts with respect to each of associated ones of said dispensing units, and a cumulative count of said stored population data counts; and a data collector microprocessor responsive to receipt of a seed signal from one or more of said seed sensors for asynchronously accumulating and updating said corresponding population data count for each said selected seed sensors, and for asynchronously storing said updated population data counts and said cumulative count in said data collector memory means, wherein said seed signals are received simultaneously by said microprocessor and are provided to said microprocessor asynchronously relative to an operating speed of said microprocessor; and a monitor remotely coupled to said data collectors for selectively receiving at least one of said population data counts and said cumulative count from each said data collectors upon demand. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification