Deere + Company

J. I. Case Company

Phoenix International Corporation

John C Thomas

John D Paulson

Jon Thomas Jacobson

Kevin L Brekkestran

Trevor D Fuss

Daryl N Roehrich

Christopher Jason Skarie

Jeffrey Gerald Hopman

Douglas L Hauck

Karl-Heinz Otto Mertins

Jason J Wanner

Paul R Bramel

A seed monitor includes a planter master unit having one or more planter counting units connected to the planter master unit, with each planter counting unit associated with a different seed tube. Each planter counting unit includes a light source, a means for forming a light beam that traverses a sensing area of a seed tube, a detector and a processor. The circuit board connects the detector and light source with a processor. The processor adjusts the intensity of the light source and selects an output amplifier gain that is appropriate for the counting of seeds. In this manner, the planter monitoring system adjusts for long-term dust and dirt accumulation and aging of components. The processor processes the selected stage of amplified output from the detector and determines the number of seeds that have traversed the sensing area of the associated seed tube. The planter master unit receives binary data of the counted seed, and from this data, provides an output to the operator. In a preferred embodiment, plural planter counting units are connected to the planter master unit in a series connection.

Seed planter monitoring system with optical sensors

An apparatus and method for removably attaching one or more optical fibers so as to be in alignment with a respective electro-optic component on a circuit board within an enclosure. In a first embodiment, the header attaches to an aperture of an enclosure, thereby protecting the circuit board from dust and liquids. In a second embodiment, the header and protective enclosure are one integral unit. The invention enables one or more optical fibers to be detachably attached to a first side of a header or header/enclosure, and for a circuit board having one or more electro-optic components precisely positioned thereon to be attached to the other side thereof and accessed by the attached fiber by a through-hole in the header. A ferrule surrounds at least one optical fiber near an end thereof and includes a seating surface which seats on the exterior side of the header or header/enclosure. When two optical fibers having free ends of different length are carried by the connector, ferrules attached to each connector enable the optical fiber ends to be accurately positioned at different heights above respective electro-optic components on the circuit board.

Apparatus and method for removably positioning optical fiber to circuit

A particle blockage monitoring system employs a flexible piezoelectric particle sensor element in a portion of a particle flow path so that a number of particles traveling in the particle flow path strike the flexible particle sensor element while preventing damage to the particles and maintaining the forward momentum of all the particles in the particle flow path. In order to provide flexibility in monitoring particles of different types and to increase the information rate, the use of a one-shot multivibrator to temporarily store a particle detection signal as in the prior art is avoided. Also, serial sampling of the particle sensor data is avoided to increase the information rate. Instead, a comparator that includes a diode in a feedback loop so as to function as a latch is used in conjunction with a serial shift register that has parallel data input lines. This enables a microprocessor to monitor the output from a multiple-bit memory element which stores a digital representation of the outputs of plural sensor elements at a higher rate than attainable in the prior art. As a result of the increased rate at which information can be obtained from the particle sensor elements, the microprocessor can not only provide particle flow blockage status data but can also provide particle flow rates for the monitored particle flow paths.

Air seeder blockage monitoring system

A seed blockage monitoring system employs a flexible, generally flat piezoelectric seed sensor element inserted at an acute angle of about 13 degrees into a seed flow path so that a portion of seeds traveling in the seed flow path strike the seed sensor element, preventing damage to the seeds and maintaining forward momentum of all seeds in the seed flow path. In order to provide flexibility in monitoring seeds of different types and to increase the data rate that information can be obtained from numerous multiple seed sensor elements, the use of a one-shot to temporarily store a seed detection signal and serial sampling of the temporarily stored signals from the sensors as in the prior art is avoided. Instead, a comparator that includes a diode in a feedback loop so as to function as a latch is used in conjunction with a serial shift register that has parallel data input lines. This enables the microprocessor to monitor outputs from one or more sensor elements, or a digital representation thereof, at a higher rate than attainable in the prior art seed blockage monitors. As a result of the increased rate at which information can be obtained from the seed sensor elements, the microprocessor can not only provide seed blockage data but can also provide relative flow data for the various monitored seed flow paths and compute an overall seeding rate.

A method and circuit for determining whether a sensor 2 is attached to a connection point 5 of a sensor interface circuit 1 of a seed monitoring system. When it is desired to determine whether a sensor is attached to a connection point, the method applies a time varying detection signal at terminal 3 to the connection point 5 via a reactive element, such as capacitor 4. The connection point 5 is connected to a first input of a comparator 9 having its other input set at a first reference voltage which maintains the comparator in a first state in the absence of a detection signal being applied. Even when a detection signal is applied, the comparator is not driven into a second state if an operable sensor is connected to the connection point 5. When the sensor is not connected to the connection point, or is inoperable, the voltage produced by the detection signal at the first input of the comparator is high enough to trip the comparator into a second state, which may be latched. Thus, the interface output 7 following a detection signal provides an indication whether an operable sensor is connected to the seed monitoring system at the connection point 5. In a preferred embodiment, the comparator may be selectively switched to a second reference voltage. In this condition, the interface output 7 is indicative of a seed being sensed by a sensor connected to the connection point 5.

Method and circuit for determining if seed sensor is operably connected

A microprocessor-based electronic control system for a powershift transmission having at least one proportional actuator, such as a solenoid-operated proportional valve, is disclosed. The controller operates a plurality of on-off solenoid valves and the solenoid-operated proportional valve to provide operator-selected gear shifts in both forward and reverse directions having controlled clutch engagements achieved by modulations of clutch engagement pressure by the proportional valve. The key parameters associated with the gradual clutch engagement are all easily varied by the controller, most under program control during operation, to provide for optimized clutch engagements for smooth gearshifts. The key parameters include: fast-fill clutch delay, initial clutch engagement pressure, rate of increase of clutch engagement pressure, and the length of the reduced pressure clutch engagement interval. The electronic controller also automatically modifies selected parameters in accordance with sensed changes in temperature, magnetic flux coupling between solenoids, and variations in the voltage supply provided to the series combination of the solenoid coil of proportional valve and its solenoid driver circuit. Preferred methods of operating the electronic controller and powershift transmission are also disclosed.

Electronic control system for powershift transmission with compensation

A microprocessor-based electronic control system for a powershift transmission having at least one proportional actuator, such as a solenoid-operated proportional valve, is disclosed. The controller operates a plurality of on-off solenoid valves and solenoid-operated proportional valve to provide operator-selected gear shifts in both forward and reverse directions having controlled clutch engagements achieved by modulation of clutch engagement pressure by the proportional valve. The key parameters associated with the gradual clutch engagement are all easily varied by the controller, most under program control during operation, to provide for optimized clutch engagements for smooth gearshifts. The key parameters include: fast-fill clutch delay, initial clutch engagement pressure, rate of increase of clutch engagement pressure, and the length of the reduced pressure clutch engagement interval. The electronic controller also automatically modifies selected parameters in accordance with sensed changes in temperature, magnetic flux coupling between solenoids, and variations in the voltage supply provided to the series combination of the solenoid coil of proportional valve and its solenoid driver circuit. Preferred methods of operating the electronic controller and powershift transmission are also disclosed.

A microprocessor-based electronic control system for a powershift transmission having at least one proportional actuator, such as a solenoid-operated proportional valve, is disclosed. The controller operates a plurality of on-off solenoid valves and the solenoid-operated proportional valve to provide operator-selected gear shifts in both forward and reverse directions having controlled clutch engagements achieved by modulation of clutch engagement pressure by the proportional valve. The key parameters associated with the gradual clutch engagement are all easily varied by the controller, most under program control during operation, to provide for optimized clutch engagements for smooth gearshifts. The key parameters include: fast-fill clutch delay, initial clutch engagement pressure, rate of increase of clutch engagement pressure, and the length of the reduced pressure clutch engagement interval. The electronic controller also automatically modifies selected parameters in accordance with sensed changes in temperature, magnetic flux coupling between solenoids, and variations in the voltage supply provided to the series combination of the solenoid coil of proportional valve and its solenoid driver circuit. Preferred methods of operating the electronic controller and powershift transmission are also disclosed.

Electronic control system for powershift transmission

A microprocessor-based electronic control system for a powershift transmission having at least one proportional actuator, such as a solenoid-operated proportional valve, is disclosed. The controller operates a plurality of on-off solenoid valves and the solenoid-operated proportional valve to provide operator-selected gear shifts in both forward and reverse directions having controlled clutch engagements achieved by modulation of clutch engagement pressure by the proportional valve. The key parameters associated with the gradual clutch engagement are all easily varied by the controller, most under program control during operation, to provide for optimized clutch engagments for smooth gearshifts. The key parameters include: fast-fill clutch delay, initial clutch engagement pressure, rate of increase of clutch engagement pressure, and the length of the reduced pressure clutch engagement interval. The electronic controller also automatically modifies selected parameters in accordance with sensed changes in temperature, magnetic flux coupling between solenoids, and variations in the voltage supply provide to the series combination of the solenoid coil of proportional valve and its solenoid driver circuit. Preferred methods of operating the electronic controller and powershift transmission are also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Fargo, ND, United States of America

John C Thomas