Method of detecting the condition of a turf grass

• US 7,362,439 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2003
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Li & S Company Limited (Yesco Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Li & S Company Limited (Yesco Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ediger, Kevin, Franzen, David, Demetriades-Shah, Tanvir, Welles, Jonathan M., Biggs, Greg, Rada, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Toatley, Jr.; Gregory J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Valentin, II; Juan D
• Application Number:
  US10/655,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20050024213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 356/445
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/006 Control or measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/55 Specular reflectivity

Abstract

A method of detecting the condition of a turf grass is described. According to one aspect of the invention, the method comprises steps of attaching an active sensor to a mower; traversing a section of turf grass; and processing the output of the sensor. A device for detecting the condition of turf grass is also disclosed. The device comprises an array of illuminating devices generating a pattern of illuminating light; a detecting device receiving a pattern of reflected light which is coincident with the pattern of illuminating light; a detecting device adapted to detect stray light from the array of illuminating devices; and a feedback loop controlling the array of illuminating devices. A system employing the device is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of detecting foliage density of a turf grass, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching an active sensor to a mower;

traversing a section of turf grass;

detecting when said mower is mowing said turf grass using an electrical signal provided by said mower which is in one electrical state when reels of said mower are in a mowing position and are mowing and is in a different electrical state when said reels of said mower are not in the mowing position or are not mowing;

providing an illuminating pattern of light to said turf grass;

receiving a reflected pattern of light which is coincident with said illuminating pattern of light; and

processing an output of said active sensor.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of attaching an active sensor to a mower comprises attaching an active sensor to a back of said mower.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising a step of attaching a second sensor to a front of said mower.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of processing an output of said active sensor comprises a step of processing an output of said active sensor at said mower.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of processing an output of said active sensor comprises providing data output by said active sensor to a remote location.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of providing data output by said active sensor to a remote location comprises transmitting said data output by said active sensor to a base station by way of a wireless connection.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing data output by said active sensor to a base station by way of a wireless connection comprises transmitting said data when said mower is off.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of aligning sensor data with position data.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of providing a report of said condition of said turf grass.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of automatically detecting an active sensor type.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of calibrating said active sensor.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said stop of providing an illuminating pattern of light further comprises using a laser light source for alignment of said active sensor.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of detecting anomalies in said turf grass.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising synchronizing oversampled sensed data with position data.

15. A method for detecting a condition of turf grass, the method comprising:

(a) mowing turf grass with a mower;

(b) providing a first light source and a second light source projecting light of distinct wavelengths;

(c) with a sensor moving with the mower, simultaneously receiving light from the first light source and the second light source reflected from an area of the turf grass mowed by the mower; and

(d) processing an output of the sensor including computing a mean value of the output of the sensor in a region of the turf grass and subtracting the mean value from the output.

16. A method for detecting a condition of turf grass, the method comprising:

(a) mowing turf grass with a mower;

(b) providing a first light source and a second light source projecting light of distinct wavelengths;

(c) with a sensor moving with the mower, simultaneously receiving light from the first light source and the second light source reflected from an area of the turf grass mowed by the mower; and

(d) processing an output of the sensor including computing a median value of the output of the sensor in a region of the turf grass and subtracting the median value from the output.

17. A method for detecting a condition of turf grass, the method comprising:

(a) mowing turf grass with a mower;

(b) providing a first light source and a second light source projecting light of distinct wavelengths;

(c) with a sensor moving with the mower, simultaneously receiving light from the first light source and the second light source reflected from an area of the turf grass mowed by the mower; and

(d) processing an output of the sensor including computing a product of a mean value and standard deviation for the output of the sensor and mapping the product.

18. A method for detecting a condition of turf grass, the method comprising:

(a) mowing turf grass with a mower;

(b) providing a first light source and a second light source projecting light of distinct wavelengths;

(c) with a sensor moving with the mower, simultaneously receiving light from the first light source and the second light source reflected from an area of the turf grass mowed by the mower; and

(d) processing an output of the sensor; and

(e) sampling the output of the sensor when the turf grass is in a known condition.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the known condition comprises at least one of the following conditions:

the turf grass having a length that is consistent over a fairway, the turf grass having water droplets removed from its blades, the turf grass being rolled by the mower, and the turf grass being mechanically positioned by the mower.

20. A method for detecting a condition of turf grass, the method comprising:

(a) mowing turf grass with a mower;

(b) providing a first light source and a second light source projecting light of distinct wavelengths;

(c) with a sensor moving with the mower, simultaneously receiving light from the first light source and the second light source reflected from an area of the turf grass mowed by the mower; and

(d) processing an output of the sensor; and

(e) sampling the output of the sensor in response to receiving a signal indicating that reels of the mower are active.