Selective weed discrimination
First Claim
1. An apparatus for selectively discriminating vegetation or plant matter, the apparatus comprising:
- light emitter for generating a beam of light that can be directed onto plants or plant matter over which the light emitter moves relative to the plants or plant matter;
light sensor for sensing light transmitted from said light emitter and reflected from said plants or plant matter, and generating a reflection signal in response to said sensing;
distance sensor arranged to measure the relative distance moved by said light emitter in relation to said plants or plant matter and further arranged to generate a distance signal in response to said measurement; and
,processor operatively connected to said light sensor and distance sensor for combining said reflection signal and distance signal whereby, in use, different types of plants or plant matter can be discriminated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (22) for selectively discriminating vegetation or plant matter (28) comprises a light emitting means (24), a light sensing means (30) and a distance sensing means (34). The light emitting means generates a beam of light (26) that can be directed onto plants or plant matter moving relative to the apparatus. The light sensing means senses light transmitted from said light emitting means and reflected from the plants or plant matter, and generates a reflection signal in response to the sensing of the reflected light. The distance sensing means senses the relative distance moved and generates a distance signal. A processing means (32) is operatively connected to the light sensing means and the distance sensing means to combine the reflection signal and distance signal to discriminate different types of plants or plant matter.
42 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for selectively discriminating vegetation or plant matter, the apparatus comprising:
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light emitter for generating a beam of light that can be directed onto plants or plant matter over which the light emitter moves relative to the plants or plant matter; light sensor for sensing light transmitted from said light emitter and reflected from said plants or plant matter, and generating a reflection signal in response to said sensing; distance sensor arranged to measure the relative distance moved by said light emitter in relation to said plants or plant matter and further arranged to generate a distance signal in response to said measurement; and
,processor operatively connected to said light sensor and distance sensor for combining said reflection signal and distance signal whereby, in use, different types of plants or plant matter can be discriminated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for selectively discriminating vegetation, or plant matter, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating a beam of light that can be directed onto plants or plant matter over which a light emitter moves relative to the plant or plant matter; sensing light transmitted from said light emitter and reflected from said plants or plant matter, and generating a reflection signal in response to said sensing; sensing the distance moved relative to said plants or plant matter by said light emitter and generating a distance signal in response to said sensing; and
,processing said reflection signal and distance signal to determine the spectral characteristics and size and/or shape of the plants or plant matter whereby, in use, different types of plants or plant matter, including weeds, can be discriminated. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification