On-the go soil sensors and control methods for agricultural machines

• US 9,629,304 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2013
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ag Leader Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ag Leader Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Zielke, Roger R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jabr, Fadey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahne, Kevin P
• Application Number:
  US13/858,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20140303854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,478 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 27/00 Clod-crushers
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/06 for sowing or fertilising
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/008 Vertical adjustment of tools A01B63/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/1115 using a mechanical ground contact sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 21/00 Methods of fertilising , sowing or planting
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/062 Devices for making drills or furrows
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/068 Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/10 Devices for adjusting the seed-box ; Regulation of machines for depositing quantities at intervals
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/105 Seed sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/20 Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/203 comprising depth regulation means
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/22 for measuring depth
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/18 for measuring depth
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/26 for measuring depth
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/14 Supports; Fastening devices; Arrangements for mounting thermometers in particular locations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 19/10 Measuring moisture content, e.g. by measuring change in length of hygroscopic filament; Hygrometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/27 using photo-electric detection G01N21/31 takes precedence; circuits for computing concentration logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/223 for determining moisture content, e.g. humidity rain detectors on vehicle windows B60S1/0825
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/24 Earth materials G01N33/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/903 Monitor

Abstract

An on-the-go monitor and control means and method for an agriculture machines includes on-the-go soil sensors that can be used to control tillage and seeding depth. On seeder implements, the sensors provide information that affects uniform plant emergence.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting seed planting depth on-the-go for a row unit of a planter, the method comprising:

providing a control system operatively connected to the planter, the control system comprising a soil moisture sensor, an actuator for adjusting a seed planting depth, and an intelligent control electrically connected to the actuator and the soil moisture sensor;

measuring moisture at the planting depth of seeds with the soil moisture sensor as seeds are planted to provide soil moisture data;

analyzing sensor data to provide seed planting depth adjustments, the sensor data including the soil moisture data; and

automatically adjusting seed planting depth on-the-go as seeds are planted in a row by the row unit using the actuator based on the seed planting depth adjustments;

wherein the control system further includes a soil temperature sensor electrically connected to the intelligent control and the method further comprises measuring soil temperature with the soil temperature sensor as the seeds are planted to provide soil temperature data and wherein the sensor data-further comprises the soil temperature; and

the control system further comprises a soil contact sensor electrically connected to the intelligent control and the method further comprises measuring seed-to-soil contact with the soil contact sensor as the seeds are planted.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the control system further comprises a seed trench depth sensor electrically connected to the intelligent control and the method further comprises measuring depth with the depth sensor as the seeds are planted to provide depth data and wherein the sensor data further comprises the depth data.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensor data further comprises the soil contact data.

4. A method of adjusting seed planting depth on-the-go for a row unit of a planter, the method comprising:

providing a control system operatively connected to the planter, the control system comprising a soil moisture sensor, an actuator for adjusting a seed planting depth, and an intelligent control electrically connected to the actuator and the soil moisture sensor;

measuring moisture at the planting depth of seeds with the soil moisture sensor as seeds are planted to provide soil moisture data;

analyzing sensor data to provide seed planting depth adjustments, the sensor data including the soil moisture data; and

automatically adjusting seed planting depth on-the-go as seeds are planted in a row by the row unit using the actuator based on the seed planting depth adjustments;

wherein the control system further comprises a seed trench depth sensor electrically connected to the intelligent control and the method further comprises measuring depth with the depth sensor as the seeds are planted to provide depth data and wherein the sensor data further comprises the depth data;

wherein the control system further comprises a soil contact sensor electrically connected to the intelligent control and the method further comprises measuring seed-to-soil contact with the soil contact sensor as the seeds are planted.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the control system further includes a soil temperature sensor electrically connected to the intelligent control and the method further comprises measuring soil temperature with the soil temperature sensor as the seeds are planted to provide soil temperature data and wherein the sensor data further comprises the soil temperature data.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the sensor data further comprises the soil contact data.

7. A method of adjusting seed planting depth on-the-go for a row unit of a planter, the method comprising:

providing a control system operatively connected to the planter, the control system comprising a soil moisture sensor, an actuator for adjusting a seed planting depth, and an intelligent control electrically connected to the actuator and the soil moisture sensor;

measuring moisture at the planting depth with the soil moisture sensor as seeds are planted to provide soil moisture data;

analyzing sensor data to provide seed planting depth adjustments, the sensor data including the soil moisture data; and

automatically adjusting seed planting depth on-the-go as seeds are planted in a row by the row unit using the actuator based on the seed planting depth adjustments;

wherein the control system further comprises a soil contact sensor electrically connected to the intelligent control and the method further comprises measuring seed-to-soil contact of seeds with the soil contact sensor as the seeds are planted to provide soil contact data.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the control system further comprises a seed trench depth sensor electrically connected to the intelligent control and the method further comprises measuring depth with the depth sensor as the seeds are planted to provide depth data and wherein the sensor data further comprises the depth data.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the control system further includes a soil temperature sensor electrically connected to the intelligent control and the method further comprises measuring soil temperature with the soil temperature sensor as the seeds are planted to provide soil temperature data and wherein the sensor data further comprises the soil temperature data.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the sensor data further comprises the soil contact data.