Mobile soil mapping system for collecting soil reflectance measurements
First Claim
1. A soil mapping system, comprising:
- an implement for traversing a field to be mapped; and
a reflectance module carried by the implement for collecting spectroscopic measurements of soil in the field, the reflectance module having a light source, an optical receiver for transmitting light to a spectrometer, and a shutter system for altering an optical path between the light source and the optical receiver;
said shutter system having a first position that blocks reflected light from the light source from reaching the optical receiver to provide a dark reference measurement, a second position that allows light from the light source to illuminate and reflect off a known reference material to provide a reference material measurement, and a third position that allows light to illuminate and reflect off the soil to provide soil data measurement;
wherein said reflectance module has a window located between the light source and the soil being measured, and the shutter system comprises a shutter element between the window and the light source when the shutter system is in its second position.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile soil mapping system includes an implement for traversing a field to be mapped, and a reflectance module carried by the implement for collecting spectroscopic measurements of soil in the field. The reflectance module has a light source, an optical receiver for transmitting light to a spectrometer, and a shutter system that alters the optical path between the light source and the optical receiver. The shutter system allows the system to automatically collect a dark reference measurement and a known reference material measurement at timed intervals to compensate for drift of the spectrometer and the light source. A self-cleaning window on the reflectance module has a lower surface maintained in firm contact with the soil during operation. External reference blocks are used to calibrate the system to ensure standardized, repeatable data. Additional sensors are carried by the implement to collect other soil data, such as electrical conductivity and temperature.
52 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A soil mapping system, comprising:
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an implement for traversing a field to be mapped; and a reflectance module carried by the implement for collecting spectroscopic measurements of soil in the field, the reflectance module having a light source, an optical receiver for transmitting light to a spectrometer, and a shutter system for altering an optical path between the light source and the optical receiver; said shutter system having a first position that blocks reflected light from the light source from reaching the optical receiver to provide a dark reference measurement, a second position that allows light from the light source to illuminate and reflect off a known reference material to provide a reference material measurement, and a third position that allows light to illuminate and reflect off the soil to provide soil data measurement; wherein said reflectance module has a window located between the light source and the soil being measured, and the shutter system comprises a shutter element between the window and the light source when the shutter system is in its second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A soil mapping system, comprising:
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an implement for traversing a field to be mapped; and a reflectance module carried by the implement for collecting spectroscopic measurements of soil in the field, the reflectance module having a light source, an optical receiver for transmitting light to a spectrometer, and a shutter system for altering an optical path between the light source and the optical receiver; said shutter system having a first position that blocks reflected light from the light source from reaching the optical receiver to provide a dark reference measurement, a second position that allows light from the light source to illuminate and reflect off a known reference material to provide a reference material measurement, and a third position that allows light to illuminate and reflect off the soil to provide soil data measurement; further comprising an external reference module and a means for aligning and removably securing the external reference module to the reflectance module to collect an external reference material measurement for calibrating the system; wherein the external reference module comprises a block containing a known reference material aligned with and illuminated by the light source, and at least one magnet for temporarily securing the external reference module to the reflectance module.
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12. A soil mapping system, comprising:
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an implement for traversing a field to be mapped; and a reflectance module carried by the implement for collecting spectroscopic measurements of soil in the field, the reflectance module having a light source, an optical receiver for transmitting light to a spectrometer, and a window located between the light source and the soil being measured; said window having a lower surface arranged to maintain firm contact with the soil during operation to prevent dust, mud and ambient light from interfering with the spectroscopic measurements; further comprising an external reference module and a means for aligning and removably securing the external reference module to the reflectance module to collect an external reference material measurement for calibrating the system; and wherein the external reference module comprises a block containing a known reference material aligned with and illuminated by the light source, and at least one magnet for temporarily securing the external reference module to the reflectance module. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A soil mapping system, comprising:
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an implement for traversing a field to be mapped; a reflectance module carried by the implement for collecting spectroscopic measurements of soil in the field; and a first external reference module for providing a first external reference material measurement for calibrating the system, said first external reference module comprising a means for aligning and temporarily securing the first external reference module to the reflectance module, and a first known reference material aligned with a measurement window on the bottom of the reflectance module, and further aligned with and illuminated by a light source; wherein the first external reference module comprises at least one magnet for temporarily securing the first external reference module to the reflectance module. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of collecting standardized soil reflectance data, comprising:
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providing an implement for traversing a field to be mapped and a reflectance module carried by the implement for collecting spectroscopic measurements of soil in the field, the reflectance module having a light source and an optical receiver for transmitting light to a mobile spectrometer; collecting a dark reference measurement and a known internal reference material measurement within the reflectance module periodically as the implement is being used; and using the dark reference measurement and known internal reference material measurement to compensate for drift in the mobile spectrometer and light source during use; wherein a shutter system is moved within the reflectance module between a first position that blocks reflected light from the light source from reaching the optical receiver to provide the dark reference measurement, a second position that allows light from the light source to illuminate and reflect off a known reference material to provide the known reference material measurement, and a third position that allows light to illuminate and reflect off the soil to provide soil reflectance data; and further comprising; creating a first transform for calibrating a master spectrometer to known reflectance standards; creating a second transform for calibrating the mobile spectrometer to the master spectrometer; creating a third transform for calibrating the mobile spectrometer to compensate for variation in the mobile spectrometer over time; and using the first, second and third transforms to ensure that the mobile spectrometer collects soil reflectance data calibrated to known reflectance standards. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification