Stalk sensor apparatus, systems, and methods
First Claim
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1. A method of measuring stalk diameter as an agricultural combine traverses a field, comprising:
- measuring a quantity of grain harvested by the agricultural combine with a yield sensor;
determining a yield value based on said quantity of grain;
associating said yield value with a region of the field;
moving a first stalk sensor associated with a row unit of the agricultural combine past a first stalk in the field, said first stalk sensor generating a first signal related to a position of said first stalk sensor relative to said first stalk;
storing said first signal in memory;
determining a first stalk diameter of said first stalk based on said first signal;
generating a subsequent signal, said subsequent signal related to a position of said first stalk sensor relative to a subsequent stalk;
storing said subsequent signal in memory;
determining a subsequent stalk diameter of said subsequent stalk based on said subsequent signal;
associating a subset of said yield value with a subset of said region of the field based on said first stalk diameter and said subsequent stalk diameter; and
displaying a yield map associating a graphical representation of said subset of said region of the field with said subset of said yield value.
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Abstract
Systems, methods and apparatus for detecting stalks processed by a combine harvester, for measuring stalk diameters, and for displaying harvest metrics and yield data to a user based on stalk locations and stalk diameters.
16 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of measuring stalk diameter as an agricultural combine traverses a field, comprising:
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measuring a quantity of grain harvested by the agricultural combine with a yield sensor; determining a yield value based on said quantity of grain; associating said yield value with a region of the field; moving a first stalk sensor associated with a row unit of the agricultural combine past a first stalk in the field, said first stalk sensor generating a first signal related to a position of said first stalk sensor relative to said first stalk; storing said first signal in memory; determining a first stalk diameter of said first stalk based on said first signal; generating a subsequent signal, said subsequent signal related to a position of said first stalk sensor relative to a subsequent stalk; storing said subsequent signal in memory; determining a subsequent stalk diameter of said subsequent stalk based on said subsequent signal; associating a subset of said yield value with a subset of said region of the field based on said first stalk diameter and said subsequent stalk diameter; and displaying a yield map associating a graphical representation of said subset of said region of the field with said subset of said yield value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of measuring a diameter of a stalk processed by an agricultural combine as the agricultural combine traverses a field, comprising:
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providing a stalk sensor associated with a row unit of the agricultural combine; moving said stalk sensor past a stalk in the field; generating a signal using said stalk sensor, said signal related to a position of the stalk sensor relative to said stalk; storing said signal in memory; adding to a stalk count based on said signal, said stalk count representing a number of stalks harvested by the row unit during a sampling period; and displaying harvest data to a user in the agricultural combine, said harvest data based on said stalk count. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A stalk sensor system for use with an agricultural combine harvester while the agricultural combine harvester traverses a field, comprising:
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a first stalk sensor associated with a first combine row unit; a second stalk sensor associated with a second combine row unit; a yield sensor configured to generate a signal related to a quantity of grain harvested by the agricultural combine harvester; a global positioning receiver mounted to the agricultural combine harvester and configured to generate a position signal, said position signal related to a position of the agricultural combine harvester; and processing circuitry in electrical communication with said first stalk sensor, said second stalk sensor, said yield sensor and said global positioning receiver, said processing circuitry configured to determine stalk diameter measurements and stalk measurement locations based on signals generated by said first and second stalk sensors, said processing circuitry further configured to generate a map, said map associating said stalk measurement locations with said stalk diameter measurements. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification