Other

Sundstrand Corporation

Ag Leader Technology

Allen P Myers

Roger Zielke

Richard W Reynolds

Daniel J Foley

A method and apparatus are described for creating a pass marker in a field. During planting, planting of seed is stopped and started on pass marker rows differently than on adjacent rows to create a visible offset to assist a harvester or applicator to find and drive down the right row to prevent skips and overlaps.

Agricultural implement pass marker system

The present invention relates to an electronic sound generating system and more particularly to a sound pickup apparatus. By using microwave field, as sound pickup medium, the present invention reduces the noise and hums inherent to the conventional sound pickup device, without sacrificing the sound quality.

Sound pickup device

A method for continuously correcting for the baseline drift of a sensor which measures a cyclically varying parameter. The output signal of the sensor is sampled rapidly over an integer number of cycles of the measured parameter. The sampled values of the output signal are stored as a data set in a memory circuit for subsequent analysis by a computing circuit to determine the actual baseline level of the sensor, which drifts at a rate relatively slowly in comparison to the time interval during which the data set was collected. In one embodiment of the invention, baseline level is calculated as the average of a fixed percentage of the points in the data set which have the lowest values found in the data set. In another embodiment, a data mask with multiple selection segments spaced at time intervals equal to the period of the cyclically varying measured parameter is used to determine those points from the data set which are averaged to calculate the baseline level. The data mask is placed at multiple positions on the data set, and the lowest calculated baseline level is chosen as best representing the actual baseline level of the sensor. This method is particularly useful for continually determining the baseline level of a grain mass flow rate sensor which is used in a harvester. The baseline level of this type of sensor drifts significantly due to varying thermal, mechanical and operating conditions. Correction for this drift by continually recalculating the baseline level allows accurate measurement of grain mass flow rate at all times.

Method and apparatus for baseline drift correction for a sensor

A method and apparatus for storing and accessing a large amount of hierarchally organized data obtained by a yield monitor for agricultural harvesters. Data can be collected for any number of fields, each containing any number of loads. After the data has been collected, any load data value or field total value can be displayed by first selecting either the field or load level of the hierarchy, and then moving between fields or loads using up and down arrow keys on a keypad. A data display is divided into multiple partitions, one for displaying the selected field number, or a selected load number within the selected field, and two other partitions for displaying data recorded or computed for the selected field or load. Additional keys associated with these displays allow selection of many alternate data values for each display partition.

Method and apparatus for storage and display of hierarchally organized

A system and method for continuously measuring mass flow rate of grain in a harvester where an impact plate is disposed to be impacted by grain exiting a power driven conveyor which is a normal part of the harvester. The impact plate is mounted on force measuring apparatus which generates an electrical signal proportional to grain impact force. Computing apparatus in electrical communication with the force measuring apparatus calculates the average value of grain impact force, adjusts this value to compensate for the difference between an actual measured operating speed of the conveyor and a constant reference speed, and calculates grain mass flow rate utilizing a mass flow calibration characteristic which relates grain mass flow rate to average grain impact force, where this calibration characteristic is non-linear and has different values for different grain types and different grain moisture contents. Optionally, the operating speed of the conveyor is calculated by analyzing the signal received from the force measuring apparatus to determine a characteristic frequency which is directly proportional to operating speed. Also optionally, electrodes are mounted on the impact plate for generating an electrical signal which is indicative of grain moisture content, and this electrical signal is used in combination with a moisture calibration characteristic to determine grain moisture content. Harvester travel speed is measured and the area rate of harvesting is calculated by multiplying this speed by a preset swath width. Instantaneous crop yield is computed by dividing grain mass flow rate by area harvesting rate. Total weight of grain harvested and total field area harvested are calculated by integrating grain mass flow rate and area rate of harvesting, respectively. Electronic display apparatus displays measured and calculated values to the harvester operator, while an electronic memory device stores calculated values from multiple field areas. Optionally, the memory device is removable from the grain mass flow measuring system on a harvester to provide convenient transfer of data to a remote computing device.

Method and apparatus for measuring grain mass flow rate in harvesters

A method and apparatus for determining the calibration characteristic of a sensor which produces an output signal which has a non-linear relationship to the value of a measured parameter. In one embodiment of the invention, the non-linear input/output characteristic of the sensor is represented by an equation of a curve. In another embodiment of the invention, the non-linear input/output characteristic is approximated by a series of straight lines which correspond to a series of ranges in the output signal. During periods of measurement, the output signal of the sensor is repeatedly sampled and used to calculate running totals of data sums which are subsequently used in combination with the characteristic parameters for the curve or series of straight lines for calculating the time integral of the measured parameter. The actual value of the quantity represented by the time integral is also measured by separate means. After obtaining several corresponding calculated and actual values of the time integrals, the parameters of the curve or the series of straight lines are adjusted so that subsequent calculated values more closely approximate actual values. This method is particularly useful for determining calibration characteristics of a grain mass flow rate sensor which is used on a harvester. The calculated time integrals represent the masses of quantities of grain which are accumulated over different harvesting periods. Actual masses of these quantities of grain are separately measured by weighing them after they are unloaded from the harvester.

Calibration of a non-linear sensor

An electronic constant speed control for a hydrostatic transmission having a variable displacement hydraulic pump with a displacement controlling member movable to various positions at either side of a neutral position and having an input shaft connectable to a prime mover and a hydraulic motor having an output shaft, an electric controller for positioning siad displacement controlling member, a command potentiometer for establishing a set constant speed signal representing a desired constant speed between zero and maximum speed in either direction of rotation for said output shaft, a speed detecting device for establishing a pump input shaft speed signal, a circuit for generating a position control signal representing the required position of the displacement controlling member for the set speed which is responsive to the constant speed and pump input shaft speed signals, a speed detecting device for establishing an output shaft speed signal, a circuit for comparing the output shaft speed signal with said set constant speed signal and integrating any error therebetween and generating a speed error control signal, and a summing circuit for summing said position and speed error control signals to provide a control signal to said electric controller.

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Hampstead, MD, United States of America

Allen P Myers