System and method for measuring grain cart weight

• US 10,760,946 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2014
• Issued: 09/01/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bitstrata Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bitstrata Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Meier, Ian, Lockerbie, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Barbee, Manuel L
• Application Number:
  US15/526,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20170370765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,118 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/08 for incorporation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/086 wherein the vehicle mass is dynamically estimated
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/12 having electrical weight-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/01 Testing or calibrating of weighing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/18 Indicating devices, e.g. for remote indication; Recording devices; Scales, e.g. graduated
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/00 Beacons or beacon systems transmitting signals having a characteristic or characteristics capable of being detected by non-directional receivers and defining directions, positions, or position lines fixed relatively to the beacon transmitters; Receivers co-operating therewith position fixing by co-ordinating a plurality of determinations of direction or position lines G01S5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/02 Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining

Abstract

A system of improved weighing utilizes accelerometers to compensate for measurement dynamics and non-level sensor orientation. Fill level of remote combines can be estimated by utilizing their historical harvesting performance and elapsed time or area harvested. Failure and degradation of weight sensors is detected by testing sensor half bridges. Loading and unloading weights can be tied to specific vehicles by utilizing RF beacons. Display location diversity is enhanced utilizing a mirror located as necessary while reversing the displayed image.

Claims

1. A system for displaying information about the loading and unloading of a container on a vehicle to an operator of the vehicle, comprising:

a weight sensor coupled with the container and operative to dynamically detect a dynamic weight of the container;

an operation detector coupled with the weight sensor and operative to automatically detect whether the container is being loaded or unloaded;

a display for displaying dynamic loading and unloading statistics to the operator; and

a controller coupled with the weight sensor, operation detector and display and operative to receive information from the operation detector and the weight sensor and generate the loading or unloading statistics for the display, said controller automatically reversing the display of the dynamic loading or unloading statistics during loading or unloading of the container based on information received from the operation detector.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein an operator cab from which the vehicle is operated comprises the display and a mirror positioned relative to the display such that the operator of the vehicle may indirectly view the display reflected in the mirror when in a first operator position and directly view the display when in a second operator position.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the first position is facing in a direction different from a direction in which the second position is facing.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the display is comprised by a wireless mobile device.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the wireless mobile device is mounted in an operator cab from which the vehicle is operated.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the operation detector is comprised by the wireless mobile device.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the weight sensor is operative to generate a weight signal; and

the operation detector is operative to determine whether the container is being loaded or unloaded based on the weight signal.

8. A method of displaying information about the loading and unloading of a container on a vehicle to an operator of the vehicle, comprising:

detecting, automatically, whether the container is being loaded or unloaded;

detecting, dynamically, a dynamic weight of the container;

displaying, on a display, dynamic loading or unloading statistics to a person in the vehicle depending on whether the container is being loaded or unloaded; and

reversing, automatically, the display of the dynamic loading or unloading statistics during loading or unloading of the container based on whether the container is being loaded or unloaded.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the display is comprised by a wireless mobile device.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising positioning the display and a mirror in an operator cab from which the vehicle is operated, wherein the mirror positioned relative to the display such that the operator of the vehicle may indirectly view the display reflected in the mirror when in a first operator position and directly view the display when in a second operator position.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein:

the detecting of the dynamic weight further comprises generating a weight signal; and

the detecting of whether the container is being loaded or unloaded further comprises analyzing the weight signal to determine whether the container is being loaded or unloaded.

12. A system for displaying information about the loading and unloading of a container on a vehicle to an operator of the vehicle, comprising:

a weight sensor coupled with the container operative to dynamically detect a dynamic weight of the container;

an operation detector coupled with the weight sensor and operative to automatically detect whether the container is being loaded or unloaded;

a display coupled with the operation detector for displaying dynamic loading or unloading statistics to the operator depending on whether the container is being loaded or unloaded; and

a controller coupled with the weight sensor, operation detector and display and operative to receive information from the operation detector and the weight sensor and generate the loading or unloading statistics for the display, said controller automatically reversing the display of the dynamic loading or unloading statistics during loading or unloading of the container based on information received from the operation detector.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the display and operation detector are comprised by a wireless mobile device.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein:

the weight sensor is operative to generate a weight signal; and

the operation detector is operative to determine whether the container is being loaded or unloaded based on the weight signal.